What was the last TV show you watched?

[Benzadmiral]

"And They Painted Daisies on His Coffin," an early 1st season episode of the original Hawaii Five-O. It begins with a rather modern situation: McGarrett's right-hand man, Danny Williams (James Macarthur), the famous "Danno" of the series, has to draw and fire his gun in a police situation. He accidentally kills the 18-year-old boy who has been shooting at him. But the kid's gun has vanished, spirited away by the dead boy's junkie girlfriend, and Danno cannot prove his story.

I watched this because it featured the first appearance of Gavin Macleod as "Big Chicken," a 3-time loser ex-con who is now a very careful fence for stolen goods -- and a drug pusher. If you have never seen Macleod in anything but his cuddly roles, like witty newswriter Murray on Mary Tyler Moore or Captain Steubing on Love Boat, you will be surprised. Macleod spent a lot of his career before the big MTM break playing criminals, and Big Chicken is particularly slimy and scary.

Chicken appears again in an episode later in this season, facing McGarrett in a prison hostage situation. I suspect there's a good reason I've remembered the episode and the character all these years.

 

[MisterCairo]

Stuck in quarters, I am watching some more Boardwalk Empire, season four. I had forgotten how much I hated the character of Dr. Valentin Narcisse...

 

[Fading Fast]

Stuck in quarters, I am watching some more Boardwalk Empire, season four. I had forgotten how much I hated the character of Dr. Valentin Narcisse...

His character and acting always seemed a bit forced, a bit over stylized for me. But then I think I was suffering PTTVD (post traumatic TV disorder) after having lived through the Gyp Rosetti character's arc on that show. Now that was one scary dude as he was cunning, smart but also crazy so no rules applied but his plans weren't irrational - they were psychotic but almost brilliant.

 

[MisterCairo]

His character and acting always seemed a bit forced, a bit over stylized for me. But then I think I was suffering PTTVD (post traumatic TV disorder) after having lived through the Gyp Rosetti character's arc on that show. Now that was one scary dude as he was cunning, smart but also crazy so no rules applied but his plans weren't irrational - they were psychotic but almost brilliant.

Gyp I liked for those very reasons. I know Narcisse was based on an historical figure, but man, what a cold blooded (if articulate) s.o.b.!

 

[Fading Fast]

Gyp I liked for those very reasons. I know Narcisse was based on an historical figure, but man, what a cold blooded (if articulate) s.o.b.!

Gyp's character was one of the best on BE - no question. Every scene with him was incredibly intense, even if he was just having a casual conversation. But I was completely exhausted from those scenes, which only reflects how well they were done.

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

Snowfall. This is one sharp looking series. No surprise for FX. They clearly have some of the bigger budgets on cable TV, but even then, I'm impressed. The pilot was better than most movies. It slumped a bit there, but it's back to being a top-quality series. I've really enjoyed it.

Insecure. What an episode. Ha! Though, I've heard very similar conversations when working as a student. Again, a foreign culture that is our neighbors and co-workers. I feel the obvious weakness is Issa Rae's acting. It's a little rough. I don't think anyone else could know the character like she does. That's the twist. She wrote the character. It isn't likely anyone else is going to play her as "accurately". I don't know. Maybe a better actress with a different interpretation would be every bit as good. I mean, that's how most roles are. Something about this show tells me it could only work with Rae in front of the camera, even with her lesser talent in that area.

I'M DYING TO SIT DOWN AND WATCH GoT. D-Y-I-N-G.

 

[Touchofevil]

Gyp's character was one of the best on BE - no question. Every scene with him was incredibly intense, even if he was just having a casual conversation. But I was completely exhausted from those scenes, which only reflects how well they were done.

The whole show was don't blink or you'll miss something really important or very entertaining. There were so many incredibly enjoyably despicable characters in each episode. What a show it was!

 

[Touchofevil]

Manhunt:Unabomber and Preacher

 

[Harp]

Stuck in quarters, I am watching some more Boardwalk Empire, season four...

I caught a bit of BE hither-and-yon, looked good. One series I wouldn't mind sitting down and watching start to finish.

 

[Touchofevil]

The Andy Griffith Show! Always makes me laugh.

 

[MisterCairo]

A couple more episodes of Downton Abbey, season five. Getting quite nail biting at this point in the story!

 

[Worf]

Binged "Full Metal Alchemist - Brotherhood" over the weekend. Never saw the end. Great Anime.

Worf

 

[Doctor Strange]

The newest iteration of The Tick on Amazon.

Eh, it's okay, but so far I like both the 90s animated version and the 2000s live action version (which unfortunately didn't even get a full season) better. The changes to better parody today's superhero films/shows - like "Overkill", who's got aspects of both Deadpool and Batman - is no improvement on earlier, better characters like American Maid and Batmanuel. And really, Patrick Warburton (Puddy on Seinfeld) was a far better Tick. The guy doing it now is going way too Adam West. Yeah, this show has a bigger budget and better effects... but it mostly just makes me miss the old series more.

 

[MisterCairo]

Finished off the last couple of episodes of Boardwalk Empire, season 4. I had forgotten how good the ending was...

 

[Fading Fast]

Finished off the last couple of episodes of Boardwalk Empire, season 4. I had forgotten how good the ending was...

Outstanding show. Our goal is to wait a few more years and then watch it all the way through again.

 

[Stormy]

[QUOTE="MisterCairo, post: 2292990, I know Narcisse was based on an historical figure, but man, what a cold blooded (if articulate) s.o.b.![/QUOTE]
Who? Garvey?

 

[Stormy]

I absolutely LOVE hanging out in the lounge! And could someone please tell my why it is that every time I come to this forum, I have the inkling to go watch an old film? Think I'm up for To Have and Have Not right now. Perhaps because I need a match (or something) to light this gas stove so I can make some tea

 

[Benzadmiral]

I absolutely LOVE hanging out in the lounge! And could someone please tell my why it is that every time I come to this forum, I have the inkling to go watch an old film? Think I'm up for To Have and Have Not right now. Perhaps because I need a match (or something) to light this gas stove so I can make some tea

Oops. The secret's out about our mental control system. Somebody tell the Watchers!

 

[MisterCairo]

Wikipedia has a great site for character comparisons (the blu-ray disks also have great extras about many of the characters being based on real historic figures).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Boardwalk_Empire_characters

Narcisse was loosely based on one Casper Holstein, specific link below:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casper_Holstein

[QUOTE="MisterCairo, post: 2292990, I know Narcisse was based on an historical figure, but man, what a cold blooded (if articulate) s.o.b.!

Who? Garvey?[/QUOTE]

 

[Fading Fast]

Wikipedia has a great site for character comparisons (the blu-ray disks also have great extras about many of the characters being based on real historic figures).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Boardwalk_Empire_characters

Narcisse was loosely based on one Casper Holstein, specific link below:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casper_Holstein


Who? Garvey?

[/QUOTE]

Disappointed that Chalky White didn't have a real life counterpart

Glad that Gyp Rosette didn't have a real life counterpart as the world is better off not having someone like that in it

Growing up, I believe the local numbers racket used the last four digits of the attendance at Belmont (or various racetracks) for its daily draw - while unclear (according to the Wikipedia link), it seems that Dr Narcisse's real life counterpart might have had a hand it inventing that system.