What was the last TV show you watched?

[DesertDan]

I've been binge-watching Californication on Netflix.
Never watched it on its original run. I'm about half way into season 5.

 

[Stearmen]

Currently watching several episodes of Hogan's Heroes. Always brightens my mood.

 

[Stearmen]

I watched the end of an episode of Gunsmoke. I was thinking how sad it is, we don't really have any of those great caricature actors like Strother Martin! Sure he almost always played the same caricature, a criminal, that you hate in the beginning, but end up feeling sorry for by the end, but what the hay, he was good at it!

 

[MisterCairo]

Another Wallander episode. There are only two more left...

It is funny, it was my wife who was keen to start watching this, and she fell off the bandwagon after two episodes!

 

[Benzadmiral]

I watched the end of an episode of Gunsmoke. I was thinking how sad it is, we don't really have any of those great caricature actors like Strother Martin! Sure he almost always played the same caricature, a criminal, that you hate in the beginning, but end up feeling sorry for by the end, but what the hay, he was good at it!

I can think of two exceptions to the "criminal" rule about Strother Martin. He played the horse dealer who is ultimately outmaneuvered by Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) in True Grit: not a real criminal, a bit of a weasel, sure (where do you think the expression "horse trader" got its somewhat sleazy connotation?).

Also, he played the mine owner in Bolivia who hires the title characters to be his payroll guards in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Again, certainly sleazy and classless -- recall his frequent spitting, probably of tobacco juice, and exclaiming "Bingo!" when he hit his target -- but not a true criminal.

No question, though, that whatever he played, he did it superbly.

 

[Zombie_61]

I watched the end of an episode of Gunsmoke. I was thinking how sad it is, we don't really have any of those great caricature actors like Strother Martin! Sure he almost always played the same caricature, a criminal, that you hate in the beginning, but end up feeling sorry for by the end, but what the hay, he was good at it!

My wife and I have been watching reruns of Gunsmoke, The Andy Griffith Show, and M*A*S*H a lot lately, and it can be fun to see which actors appear in those shows, often in small roles that were very different from the roles they would later be associated with. Strother Martin, for example, became known for playing cantankerous characters regardless of which side of the law they were on, so it's amusing to see him in a subservient role comically taking abuse from one of the lead characters. I've long thought "character" actors must be having/have had more fun than "lead" actors simply because they're often allowed the leeway to "ham it up" a bit and create characters that range from "a little off" to completely outlandish.

 

[MisterCairo]

Last night's Supernatural, an amazing episode setting up the season finale, then a binge of Storage Wars from this year's new crop. Mindless, crap-filled fun...

 

[Edward]

My wife and I have been watching reruns of Gunsmoke, The Andy Griffith Show, and M*A*S*H a lot lately, and it can be fun to see which actors appear in those shows, often in small roles that were very different from the roles they would later be associated with. Strother Martin, for example, became known for playing cantankerous characters regardless of which side of the law they were on, so it's amusing to see him in a subservient role comically taking abuse from one of the lead characters. I've long thought "character" actors must be having/have had more fun than "lead" actors simply because they're often allowed the leeway to "ham it up" a bit and create characters that range from "a little off" to completely outlandish.

A year or two ago I spent a few months working through the complete MASH boxset. The cameo that amused me most, I think, was a young Patrick Swayze as a dying / ghost soldier.

 

[Stearmen]

Genius & Victorian Slum House, 1880. Maybe some one from Canada can answer this, were the Irish discriminated against the same as down here? Irish need not apply, and the like.

 

[Fading Fast]

Genius & Victorian Slum House, 1880. Maybe some one from Canada can answer this, were the Irish discriminated against the same as down here? Irish need not apply, and the like.

Watched an episode "Victorian Slum House" as well. While I enjoy the historical aspect of it as it does bring out a decent amount of history and showing how people interacted with that history can help give some perspective, the "reality show" part of it - as with similar shows like "The Manner House" or "1940s House -" feels manipulative and kinda cringe worthy. And, dear God, those were harsh times.

We've recorded "Genius," just haven't gotten to it yet. What did you think of it?

 

[Bushman]

Bill Maher last night was especially humorous.

 

[Stearmen]

We've recorded "Genius," just haven't gotten to it yet. What did you think of it?

It's not bad, but I don't like the bouncing back and forth in time. It is nice, however to see a young Albert.

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

Victorian Slum House. I'm a sucker for this kind of thing. I've enjoyed them all, from the Yukon to homesteading. I have a high tolerance for reality TV and any shortcomings that are associated with it (I'm polar opposite for the fully scripted). If there is a problem I have with this, it's that they aren't getting into the minutiae of the life and period. I don't think we needed to spend that much air time with the flowers. Even daily tasks would have been less tedious. I'm still enjoying it, though.

The Son. Not a bad series. A little too much soap opera, but it does well enough. At least as good as a few of the seasons of Hell on Wheels (which really only had one good season and good episodes here and there). I'm looking forward to the final season of Turn when The Son ends in a few weeks.

 

[Zombie_61]

The Ranch on Netflix, starring Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Debra Winger, and Sam Elliott. I had watched four or five episodes some time last year and thought it was better than most sitcoms, but not necessarily something I needed to watch more of. While visiting my wife's sister and her husband recently sis-in-law recommended it, so my wife and I binge watched several episodes over the last two days. I'm glad we did, because it's at least a little better than I remembered and my wife is enjoying it. Because it's produced by Netflix they don't have to play by the FCC rules so there is quite a bit of "language" and the occasional scene of implied sexual contact, but no nudity. I can neither recommend nor condemn it, so anyone who hasn't seen it would have to watch an episode or two to decide for themselves whether or not it's right for them; teenagers might appreciate it, but the adult themes and storylines are definitely not for children.

 

[Formeruser012523]

Into the Badlands. As I said a few days ago, I'm glad we're back in the Badlands. I was growing tired of the lower budget Mad Max Fury Road thing. It's always been there, but it wasn't so obvious in season one. It felt more kung fu, and now we're back to it. I think I'm also tired of the Quinn character, but does that ultimately mean I'm tired of the show? I was trying to imagine the series without him, and they don't have a whole lot that doesn't pivot around him. It made me realize how weak the writing and story are. I like all the other characters, but Quinn is on my nerves. He's so one-dimensional and with no room to grow. I hope they kill him off. Please. If it leaves us with a frail episode or few, I'm fine with that. All the other barrons are far more interesting at this point.

Discovered this show about a month ago & love it, but I hate Quinn SO MUCH! Shouldn't he have dropped dead by now? That tumor's the size of a baseball! How is he even able to walk or talk? The show is basically a mess, but a funny mess. I've morphed into Elaine Benes:

 

[Doctor Strange]

American Gods, which is turning out to be just as good as I hoped - gorgeous, freaky, prodigiously creative, and fearlessly boundary pushing. Ian McShane has been unleashed! Also Silicon Valley and John Oliver, great as usual.

A bit off topic... I had really enjoyed this year's new NBC series Timeless, a clever update on the old Time Tunnel idea that steadily improved as the season went along. It was canceled last week along with all the other new time-travel series (and many others, it's a bloodbath). Apparently there was a major fan outcry, and NBC has "uncanceled" the show, giving it a 10-episode order to air next spring. So of course, everyone's saying that it's actually due to show's time team secretly going back and changing things at NBC! Either way, I'm happy it's coming back.

 

[Fading Fast]

The Ranch on Netflix, starring Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Debra Winger, and Sam Elliott. I had watched four or five episodes some time last year and thought it was better than most sitcoms, but not necessarily something I needed to watch more of. While visiting my wife's sister and her husband recently sis-in-law recommended it, so my wife and I binge watched several episodes over the last two days. I'm glad we did, because it's at least a little better than I remembered and my wife is enjoying it. Because it's produced by Netflix they don't have to play by the FCC rules so there is quite a bit of "language" and the occasional scene of implied sexual contact, but no nudity. I can neither recommend nor condemn it, so anyone who hasn't seen it would have to watch an episode or two to decide for themselves whether or not it's right for them; teenagers might appreciate it, but the adult themes and storylines are definitely not for children.

Based solely on this ⇧, tried the first episode last night. I can see why you moved on at first, but also based on this ⇧, I'm going to go through several episodes before making a decision. It is fun to see Sam Elliot and Debra Winger again - hope they build out their characters and don't just turn them into sitcom cliches which is what so many sitcom writers do with older actors today.

 

[Benzadmiral]

"The Scalp Hunter," from the Nick Adams series The Rebel. "Scalp Hunter" is the first episode of two in which John Dehner plays Johnny Yuma's uncle (though he says gruffly that he's not) or godfather, John Sims. An extremely different role for Dehner, who I remember as playing mostly smooth crooked corporate guys in the Seventies. You can picture Sims as a real guy in the post-Civil War West:



Both Rebel scripts were written by Harry Julian Fink, later the creator (with his wife) of Eastwood's famous role, "Dirty" Harry Callahan.

 

[AmateisGal]

Last night's Supernatural, an amazing episode setting up the season finale, then a binge of Storage Wars from this year's new crop. Mindless, crap-filled fun...

Supernatural was TERRIFIC! Really looking forward to the season finale.

 

[Worf]

Discovered this show about a month ago & love it, but I hate Quinn SO MUCH! Shouldn't he have dropped dead by now? That tumor's the size of a baseball! How is he even able to walk or talk? The show is basically a mess, but a funny mess. I've morphed into Elaine Benes:

Mae! You ole scallywag! Where you been? I've missed you! Quinn's still alive due to his liberal use of Opium which he ingests old school style in a Chinese pipe. Chasing the Dragon like he was in an Opium Den from the '20's. The show is a hot mess but a VERY enjoyable mess. I just hate how effin' small the seasons are! I need more Kung Fu!!!!! How's am I supposed to survive till GoT comes back?

Worf