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safenoe
Daria
Parker Lewis Can't Lose
Community
M*A*S*H
Degrassi Junior High
Turning Point with David Jeremiah
Facing the Canon (interview series with J John)
Degrassi High
Charles Stanley
21 Jump Street (the ones when Johnny Depp was still invested in the series)
As Time Goes By
Monk
Duckman
New Tricks
Inspector Lynley
Touch of Frost
Midsomer Murders
Shakespeare and Hathaway
The Coroner
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Diagnosis Murder
The Simpsons (the first 10 seasons)
Rosemary and Thyme
DCI Banks
Vera
Lewis
Tales of the Unexpected
Tales from the Darkside (but only the opening theme)
Bergerac
Backup (an underrated British police drama)
Saturday Night Live
Ratings
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Reviews
The White Lotus: Abductions (2022)
Beatrice Granno's episode
So here we are with Abductions, the penultimate episode of season two of The White Lotus, and I must admit the portrayal of Tanya and her descent into ennui is quite tiresome and boring, but what do I know because Jennifer Coolidge won an Emmy Award. Anyway, Beatrice Granno's rendition of You Belong to Me in the resort lounge was so beautiful and emotional, and she stole the scene and almost the whole episode, especially with her birthday entertainment for Valentina towards the end of the episode. Also Jack is getting tiresome and obnoxious and all init. Anyway, still no resolution on the dead bodies from episode one.
Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man: In the Nam of the Father (1995)
A moving episode
Duckman is one of the underrated animation series from the 1990s, along with Dr Katz, Professional Therapist and Daria. Of course The Simpsons dominated the 1990s (for me the first ten seasons represent the golden years), and Dan Castellaneta (who voices Homer Simpson and many other Simpsons characters) lent his voice to this Duckman episode, In the Nam of the Father. I remember watching this episode soon in the 1990s, and it was quite poignant and moving.
Margaret Cho was the voice of Mai Lin, and it's a shame she didn't appear in more episodes of Duckman. Anyway, Duckman is definitely worth watching.
The Monkees (1965)
Underrated
Sometimes critics get a bit lazy and derisively label The Monkees a "manufactured band", but for a manufactured band, their popularity has endured beyond the supposed expiry date, and all credit to them, with the Monkees being over 60 years old and counting. Anyway, I must admit I didn't see every episode of The Monkees, but the ones I saw had a sense of humor and a wink to the audience init. The Beatles had a cartoon series in the 1960s, but they didn't lend their voices to the series init. Anyway, The Monkees is a gem of a series and all credit to everyone involved in the creative effort init.
The White Lotus: That's Amore (2022)
Who's your uncle
I'm still wondering which bodies floated in the first episode and how they ended up there, and That's Amore features the beautiful singing voice of Beatrice Granno as Mia, crooning That's Amore in the resort lounge, as she's been given the gig until Giuseppe (Federico Scribani Rossi) recovers from his amore with Mia with the ablets and all. Anyway, the ending was very shocking with Jack and Quentin doing the two beasts together, with Tania discovering them, and she's shocked and no doubt the audience was meant to be shocked init. Anyway, maybe in the next episode the big reveal about the bodies will be made.
The White Lotus: In the Sandbox (2022)
Tom Hollander as Quentin
Tom Hollander, a British actor who I first saw in the mini-series The Night Manager, stamps his presence as Quention, and in a way this episode is like Mr. Men from all angles. Anyway, we're now at the mid-stage of season two, and Aubrey Plaza (who plays the long-suffering Harper Spiller) resembles the British actress Jenny Agutter, and Michael Imperioli (who plays Dominic Di Grasso) could play Anthony Bourdain in a biopic. Anyway, Beatrice Granno is impressive as Mia, and one hope she manages to get the gig as the resort's lounge piano player. Anyway, the gorgeous scenery is a huge part of season two.
The White Lotus: Bull Elephants (2022)
Sunny Lotus
Here is the third episode of season two, and one advantage of the beautiful and sensual Sicilian location is that the characters can venture far afield, whereas in season one the Hawaiian resort (which was stunning of course) kind of limited the movements of the cast of characters. Greg Hunt (Jon Gries) for instance was able to take leave from the unbearable Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge), who seems to have too much money. Anyway, Tom Hollander as Quentin finally makes an appearance at the end, albeit with no lines, but that sets the scene for episode four I guess.
Valentina (Sabrina Impacciatore) had a moving scene where she has lunch on her own away from the resort, feeding kittens. I'd like the series to explore more about the lives of the resort staff.
Poirot: The Adventure of the Western Star (1990)
Diamonds are forever maybe
Caroline Goodall plays Lady Yardly in The Adventure of the Western Star, which debuted in 1990, so that's 34 years ago, and I've been catching up on Poirot, and I especially like the shorter episodes with the whole Scooby Gang, unlike the later seasons where three of them (Hastings, Japp and Lemon) were away. Anyway, here there's a lot of intrigue about the "Chinaman", and I wondered about the lexicon, because no-one in the episode says "Germanyman" or "Franceman" or "Belgiumman" or "Englandman" init. Anyway, not a bad episode init, and worth watching once to get through the series and all init.
Paul McCartney Feat. Michael Jackson: Say Say Say (1983)
Say cubed
I've been reflecting on the songs from the 1980s, and I was reflecting that Say Say Say is over 40 years old, and it happens that one year before this song was released, Paul McCartney teamed up with Stevie Wonder to sing Ebony and Ivory, and anyway Paul teamed up with Michael for The Girl is mine, and The Man, so a trio of songs, and it was ironic because it was McCartney who encouraged Jackson to buy up song catalogs, and just a couple of years later yes, you can guess it, Jackson paid millions for the Beatles catalog, so that's ironic. Maybe, just maybe, McCartney can team up with Lenny Kravitz for a new generation of fans.
Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder: Ebony and Ivory (1982)
McCartney and Wonder
Paul McCartney had his duo phase in the 1980s, so here he sings Ebony and Ivory with the legendary Stevie Wonder, and they have a lot of fun, and the song is about bridging the racial gap, especially with what was happening in South Africa at the time. Later Paul teamed up with Michael Jackson for three songs: The Man, The Girl is Mine, and Say Say Say. Anyway, Ebony and Ivory is catchy indeed and it's a testament to the power of the song that it was released over 40 years ago and it lives on for sure in a world that's run amok with craziness init.
Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder: Ebony and Ivory.
Lenny Kravitz: Dig In (2001)
Enigmatic video
I remember seeing the Dig In music video back in 2001, and I was reflecting on the fact that the song and video was released 23 years ago, and I was really enthralled or bemused by the video (directed by Samuel Bayer) with a QVC style segment where a lady sells jewelry, and then we cut to Lenny Kravitz and his band singing Dig In, and it's on floating base somewhere. When I first saw the video I thought Lenny and the band were on an oil rig, and anyway later (well today) I learned on the internet that the video was filmed in Florida. Then the video ends with the TV shopping segment. Quite enigmatic.
Beat the Chasers: Episode #5.3 (2022)
Issa, not Issu
Issa Schultz, a Chaser from Australia, continues his stint here filling in for the Governess, and it was so hilarious when the Dark Destroyer opened proceedings with a poem for Issa, and referring to "Issu", at which point Issa corrected him, causing the Dark Destroyer to pause with dismay, and put away his poem, at which the live audience chuckled big time.
Anyway, Brad loves the live audience because he can executive his Carry On double entendres and all init. Anyway, one thing I don't like about Beat the Chaser (and it's probably the only thing) is that some of the opening questions for the cash builder are so hard, leading to the contestant being eliminated.
The Mallorca Files: The Ex-Factor (2019)
Reality and all
I've enjoyed very much watching the first season of The Mallorca Files, and I look forward to seeing season two. Anyway, The Ex-Factor, the season one finale, was very gripping and played into the fears of social media in a way that would have made Charlie Brooker incredibly envious and perhaps up the ante in future episodes of Black Mirror. Anyway, in this episode Victor von Schirach steals the episode as Jens Schimdt, and his singing performance at the end was quite poignant and all, and one even felt sorry for him and the way that the TV judge exploited him init. Anyway, I look forward to season two.
Poirot: The Kidnapped Prime Minister (1990)
Yes, Prime Minister
Henry Moxon plays the Prime Minister in The Kidnapped Prime Minister, and he doesn't really have many lines, and it gets quite serious when he is kidnapped believe it or not, and Poirot is called in to find him quick smart. Anyway, Anthony Chinn plays Shi Mong, and Chinn was also in A View to a Kill, one of the James Bond movies.
Lisa Harrow, who was married to Sam Neill, plays a key role, and she was part of the gruesome ending that was quite shocking for sure, and something I didn't really expect as the denouement for a series like Poirot. Anyway, this Poirot episode is worth watching init.
Beat the Chasers: Episode #5.4 (2022)
Penultimate episode of season five
Another exciting episode of Beat the Chasers, especially with the live audience, with lockdown restrictions eased in the United Kingdom at that time I guess. Issa Schultz, a Chaser from Australia, does a decent job stepping in for the Governess, who was unfortunately away due to ill health.
Melissa, a writer from Bury, England, walked away with 60,000 pounds with just a second to spare, so that was very exciting. What I don't like about the show is how some of the first questions to contestants in the cash builder are so tough, so some got eliminated just like that. I think even one of the Chasers said that was unfair init.
Beat the Chasers: Episode #5.5 (2022)
Carry on Moby
Leah Chynoweth-Tidy was one of the contestants here, and she is a singer based in the United Kingdom, and she's from Australia and she performs under the name Kissing the Flint. Brad had an interesting intro with Leah, and she emphasized being Australian not a New Zealander, but then she laughed off any rivalry between the two nations, but Brad wondered why Leah even stated it.
Anyway, Brad had a huge Carry On moment with the audience when there was a question about which book had a line about sperm, and yes the answer was Moby Dick init. Anyway, Issa Schultz, one of the Chasers (and from Australia) is fitting in well as a temporary Chaser.
Poirot: The Adventure of the Cheap Flat (1990)
Cheap flat
I'm enjoying very much finally catching up on many of the Poirot episodes that I've missed over the years, and anyway, The Adventure of the Cheap Flat debuted nearly 35 years ago, so wow, so long ago, yet I enjoyed it, seeing a pre-Bond Samantha Bond (who ironically played Miss Moneypenny in some of the 007 movies). Jenifer Landor also appears, and she has a resemblance to the Australian actress Peta Toppano. Anyway, The Adventure of the Cheap Flat sees Poirot make his way through a cubby hole to the cheap flat in question, and that was quite an amusing site init. If Poirot is ever rebooted, I nominate acclaimed British actor Danny Dyer to play the Belgian detective.
The Good Ship Murder: Casablanca (2023)
You must remember this
Dancing in the moonlight is the song that wraps up this episode of The Good Ship Murder, sung before an enthusiastic audience on the ship, pretty much all of whom would have been passengers on the ship when the episode was being filmed, so well done to them for being on TV init. Anyway, here the crew are in Casablanca, and there's a charity involved, along with social media, celebrity influencers, you name it, and it's a cocktail for murder. The ending was a bit poignant, with Omar Ayouch (Twana Omer), exonerated and all, is back on the street trying to drum up business from tourists. Definitely his episode is worth watching.
Poirot: Double Sin (1990)
Double twist
Caroline Milmoe guest stars as Mary Durrant in Double Sin, and I was reflecting that this episode of Poirot was released over 30 years ago, and without a doubt Poirot grows in popularity from one generation to the next, and thankfully I'm able to find the time to watch it. Anyway, Double Sin has a double twist of an ending init, and I never saw it coming. Anyway, I like the Poirot episodes with the Scooby Gang of Poirot, Hastings, Japp and Miss Lemon, and the absence of Hastings, Japp and Lemon was glaring in the final seasons. I'm not sure if Caroline Milmoe has continue her acting career, but it's a shame if she didn't.
The White Lotus: Italian Dream (2022)
Italian-Peyton Place
Beatrice Granno, who plays Mia, demonstrates her beautiful singing when she woos the audience of guests at the hotel. Anyway, I've started watching season two of The White Lotus, having watched season one last year, and this episode is kind of like Peyton Place in a way, with relationships coming to the boil, all in a beautiful hotel resort in Sicily, Italy. Without wanting to overly compare this to season one, here there's greater scope for the characters to explore beyond the confines of the resort, so we get to see much more of an expanse in the White Lotus universe, rather than everyone being stuck on an island resort.
Food Truck Nation (2018)
Food truck food
I discovered Brad Miller's Food Truck Nation only recently, and I was able to watch some of the episodes, and it's a shame the series wasn't renewed after season two. Admittedly, the world shut down due to the pandemic after season two was broadcast, but perhaps now Miller can be brought back to explore more food trucks or even to revisit the ones he looked at in seasons one and two. Thankfully now with the internet I could see which of the food trucks have managed to continue beyond the pandemic. Brad brings a lot of passion to food truck food, and maybe he can travel overseas to the UK, Canada or Japan to explore food trucks there.
Food Truck Nation: Tacos, Drumsticks and Stuffed Waffles (2019)
Chai tea
Brad Miller travels to Nashville where he checks out That Awesome Taco Truck. I checked on the internet a moment ago and the owner sold the truck following the pandemic, and he now operates his own restaurant. Matt then checks out reimagined Indian food at DesiPDX in Portland where he lerns that chai means tea, so when he says chai tea, it comes across as tea tea. Matt wraps up the episode trying Japanese fish-shaped waffles stuffed with sweets at BeanFish in Seattle. DesiPDX and BeanFish thankfully survived the pandemic as the internet search I did a moment ago shows they are continuing to operate.
Food Truck Nation: Pork Buns, Falafel and Snow Cones (2019)
Hawaiian, falafel, sno
I'm sorry I missed the earlier episodes of Food Truck Nation hosted by the energetic Brad Miller, who clearly displays much passion for the craft of food truck food, and it's a shame there isn't a season three. In this episode, Brad heads to St. Louis, where he meets up with the owner of Buzz's Hawaiian Grill food truck. The owner lived in Hawaii awhile ago and decided to return to St. Louis and set up the truck. Brad then heads off to Falafel Salam in Seattle, and then wraps up in Nashville for a catch up with Retro Sno where he delights in snow cones and snoballs. I checked the internet and it's encouraging to see these three food trucks are still operating and thus survived the pandemic.
Food Truck Nation: Ribs, Ramen and Gooey Butter Cake (2019)
Food truck nation
Brad Miller is the perfect host for this food truck series, and he embodies the passion that the food truck owners have in serving the foodies. I discovered Food Truck Nation only recently, and I like how Brad travels around the country interviewing the food truck people and the customers, many of whom line up for ages to get their dose of food truck food. Anyway, here the ribs, ramen and gooey butter is on display, and this episode would have been filmed before the world shut down with the pandemic and all, so hopefully the food trucks managed to whether the storm and refresh and continue afterwards.
The Mallorca Files: Mallorca's Most Wanted (2019)
King Charlie
Here in Mallorca's Most Wanted, we are introduced to Charlie King played by Ben Dilloway.
Mallorca's Most Wanted is the second-last-episode (i.e. Penultimate) of the first season of The Mallorca Files, the dynamic duo of Miranda Blake (played by British-English actress Elen Rhys) and Max Winter (played by Austrian-German actor Julian Looman) starts to bond a bit. I remember from a previous episode where they were doing some flamenco dancing, and they were about to kiss I think, so who knows how that could have progressed, but maybe we'll get some progress in season two, which I'm looking forward to watching.
The Mallorca Files: Death in the Morning (2019)
Bullish
Here in Death in the Morning, from the first season of The Mallorca Files, the opening death was gruesome and operatic at the same time, and it's not something I expected. Anyway, here the dynamic duo of Miranda Blake (played by British-English actress Elen Rhys) and Max Winter (played by Austrian-German actor Julian Looman) set out to investigate, and here they venture out to Cazador in the wild interior of Mallorca, so it's a bit different to the hustle and bustle of Mallorca, so we get to admire the country scenery and ponder the ethics of bullfighting with the matadors and all, so much to ponder init.