I’m much more of a movie guy than a TV guy. I’m fully aware that the small screen features some of the greatest creative work being done these days, but it’s just not my preferred medium. I suppose it’s the time commitment and the uncertainty of renewals that keeps me from signing on to new shows.
I’ve certainly made exceptions. Breaking Bad is one of my all-time favorite achievements in any medium, and Better Call Saul nearly matched its brilliance. And my daughter and I remain devoted fans of Survivor 25 years into its run.
It’s no surprise, then, that I am all over show runner Vince Gilligan’s Pluribus, which stars Better Call Saul alum Rhea Seehorn in her first leading role. Its first season had Gilligan’s trademark tight storytelling, relatable characters, and obsession with process, and brought him back to the sci-fi milieu of his X-Files days. It’s a blast.
I’m also enjoying Season 50 of Survivor, which brings back memorable players from across the first 49 seasons.
Like Pluribus, Apple TV’s The Studio is currently between seasons, and I can’t wait to see what creators Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg come up with next. The first season was fully of celebrity cameos and Hollywood in-jokes, celebrating movies while poking delightful fun at those who make them.
My wife and I have (famously, for those in on the joke) never watched ER, but we are sure as hell hooked on The Pitt, Noah Wyle’s latest medical drama. The real-time action, compelling characters, and delightfully woke perspective make it appointment television.
Finally, I really love the turn Hulu’s Paradise has taken in its second season. What started as a compelling murder mystery set in a post-apocalyptic bunker has turned into a trippy metaphysical puzzle box that reminds me of the first few seasons of Lost. I love a show that has me spinning up my own fantastical theories while I wait to see which ones the next episode will offer.
I was down at the New Amsterdam
Staring at this yellow-haired girl
Mr. Jones strikes up a conversation
With a black-haired flamenco dancer
You know, she dances while his father plays guitar
She’s suddenly beautiful
And we all want something beautiful
Man, I wish I was beautiful
[Verse 2]
So come dance this silence down through the morning
Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-la, yeah
Uh-huh, yeah
Cut up, Maria
Show me some of them Spanish dances and
Pass me a bottle, Mr. Jones
Believe in me
Help me believe in anything
‘Cause I wanna be someone who believes
Yeah
[Chorus]
Mr. Jones and me
Tell each other fairy tales
And we stare at them beautiful women
She’s looking at you
Oh no, no, she’s looking at me
Smiling in the bright lights
Coming through in stereo
When everybody loves you
You can never be lonely
[Verse 3]
Well, I’m gon’ paint my picture
Paint myself in blue and red and black and gray
All of the beautiful colors are very, very meaningful
Yeah, well, you know gray is my favorite color
I felt so symbolic yesterday
If I knew Picasso
I would buy myself a gray guitar and play
[Chorus]
Mr. Jones and me
Look into the future
Yeah, we stare at the beautiful women
She’s looking at you
I don’t think so, she’s looking at me
Standing in the spotlight
I bought myself a gray guitar
When everybody loves me
I will never be lonely
[Post-Chorus]
I will never be lonely
Said, I’m never gonna be lonely
[Bridge]
I wanna be a lion
Yeah, everybody wanna pass as cats
We all wanna be big, big stars
Yeah, but we got different reasons for that
Believe in me
‘Cause I don’t believe in anything
And I, I wanna be someone to believe
To believe, to believe, yeah
[Chorus]
Mr. Jones and me
Stumbling through the barrio
Yeah, we stare at the beautiful women
She’s perfect for you
Man, there’s got to be somebody for me
I wanna be Bob Dylan
Mr. Jones wishes he was someone
Just a little more funky
When everybody loves you
Oh son, that’s just about as funky as you can be
Mr. Jones and me
Staring at the video
When I look at the television, I wanna see me
Staring right back at me
We all wanna be big stars
But we don’t know why and we don’t know how
But when everybody loves me
I wanna be just about as happy as I can be
[Outro]
Mr. Jones and me
We’re gonna be big stars
Meet Me In Montauk 
All great shows (though I can’t comment on Survivor, which I stopped watching after just a few seasons).
I think you have time for more quality TV, of which there is quite a lot, if you were not using the smaller medium to watch and rewatch so many movies, but to each their own…
As much as I adore films, somewhere along the line I may have switched to television being my preferred medium.
There is a luxury in being able to tell a story in the number of minutes/episodes/seasons it demands, and streaming has provided creators with more freedom than ever before to make those decisions.
I also appreciate getting to know characters deeply over time, and actors are able to more fully inhabit characters that are so fully realized.
All that is to say, I’d be happy to see you add a deep dive into Dan Fogelman’s shows, or an occasional musing on a particularly compelling episode of The Pitt (which, let’s face it, could be any of them).
Some of my favorites, in addition to those you mentioned, are Hacks, coming back for its final season,
These are all great shows! I’m somewhat the inverse where I’m watching new TV almost every night of the week, and getting to the theaters usually once a week. Each fills their role and I’m grateful to live an era where both are providing quality content on a regular basis!
Not sure if you were ever big into “Atlanta” from Donald Glover, but one of the executive producers and main directors responsible for much of its signature style, Hiro Murai, is coming out with a new show on Apple TV called “Widow’s Bay” that I’m very excited for. It releases April 29th!
If the Murai helmed episodes of “Atlanta” are any indication, this will be a top tier comedy horror. It also stars Matthew Rhys!
I loved Atlanta.. will definitely keep that one on my radar.
I really enjoy an excellent series too. You mentioned some of my favorites and I might add The Sopranos my all time favorite!