Flee to your TV

Comedy
*It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (seasons 1-3)- Thanks to a lot of knitting requests, I finally decided to watch this show that a bunch of people have suggested. I started losing interest a bit as the seasons go on - I can't believe how many there are ! - so I do not know how many I will watch. I know people are big fans of it, but with all the other good smart comedies on right now I am not sure this one holds up that well, but there are a couple funny episodes.
*Daily Show - Trevor Noah came back after Thanksgiving really swinging. He's by far my favorite late night show now, when I really need to laugh - everyone else is just making me more and more depressed with their rants, even when I agree with them.
*Atlanta - still killing it!
*Bob's Burgers - Really enjoyed the double episode weekend for Thanksgiving. The accountant-saxophonist especially made me laugh.
*Insecure - This show's hilarious! I especially love seeing small nonprofit life on screen! And I find myself with "Broken Pussy" stuck in my head from time to time. Makes me want to go back and watch some of her other work.
Drama
*Divorce - I guess the point of this show is that both of the characters are terrible so they deserve each other, but it didn't work out? I do not get it or its appeal.
*Project Runway (season 15) - Another show to knit along to, and try to ignore or fast forward through all the ridiculous product placements that I will never buy. The sleep deprivation seems more on display this season, which makes me feel especially guilty for watching it all.
News/Doc.
*News Hour - Lately, I have been spending more time with the News Hour. While I still love NPR and my Sunday Times, the News Hour's coverage just feels better to me. Maybe its their combination of depth, conversations, and integrity, but it just feels like such a breath of fresh air. I am still so sad about the loss of Gwen Ifill - she was such a fantastic journalist; her presence will be sorely missed.
*Hypernormalisation - Terrifying but very highly recommended. Don't make the mistake I did and watch the whole thing at once right before bed. We are headed toward bad times indeed.
*Weiner - Watching this seems like a distant memory to me now, but it is impressive the footage they got and I thought the directors did a good job meditating on personal & political ethics.

Rabbit's Return

So...been a while but thought it might be fun to come back on here.  I am dropping the color coding source in favor of (rough) genres 'cause cable cutting's gotten so complex lately, involving so many different roku channels, Netflix constantly pushing its content in your face, and now I am also using screen-casting (with flaws, but good for some shows that only have apps but not Roku channels for who knows what reason?). I am contemplating whether it's worth a foray into Amazon. I can't promise I will catch up on everything I missed posting about, but here's at least the latest.
Comedy
*Atlanta - I love this show about my former hometown. A celebration of black culture (apparently such celebrations are in short supply there these days) - its understated humor is so rare. Really enjoyable!
*Louie (Season 5) - Still enjoyable, but nothing to write home about.
*Love - This was not all that great, but I started it and just watched the rest in hopes that it would get better. I am not sure I would bother with another season.
*Better Call Saul - I never made it through Breaking Bad, but luckily you don't have to with this great spin-off - a great dark comedy.
*A Young Doctor's Notebook - This one's been on the queue for a while and during the drought of summer watching I finally got to it. Meh. It was just ok.
*Rita (Seasons 1-3) - Another hidden gem in Netflix Instant about a bad ass teacher. Great to the end!
*Master of None (Season 1) - Aziz Ansari is so funny! Great to see him break out with his own show.
*Vice Principals (Season 1) - This is another one I finished watching just because I started it (maybe I had a good knitting project?). I am not sure we need an "Eastbound & Down" set in the schools.
*Girls (Seasom 5) - It is fun to watch the girls grow up and move in different directions.
*Daily Show with Trevor Noah - I know opinions have been mixed, but I really like Trevor. He's handsome and hilarious, and he's leading a good team in a year where we need all the laughs we can get. A good antidote to the daily news. I was bummed that Larry Wilmore's show was discontinued, and I hope we get to see him and the other regulars on his show reappear - I thought they were all super funny, it's a shame that the show didn't have longer to make things work.
*Full Frontal with Samantha Bee - She is really scathing, and it's good to have this year especially!  Sometimes (like with John Oliver) it's too much for me, though. And speaking of...
*Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - I can credit this show with blunting some of my obsessive news reading online so that all I ever read about is Drumpf. He does a nice job bringing attention to stories that (sadly) people do not pay enough attention to.
News
*Frontline - The Choice. In this election cycle pretty much the only thing that does not fill me with dread is the comfort of PBS. They did a great presentation of the candidates, and their news coverage has been stellar as always on the News Hour.
Drama
*The Americans (Season 3) - I am well behind (having to wait on DVDs for this one) and I still enjoy it, but I think this show's run its course already. It feels like it's had more than 3 seasons, and the fact that there's still 3 more makes me wonder how much I will enjoy the rest of it.
*Fargo (Season 2) - The second season did not disappoint, despite how dark and bloody it was. Really memorable characters, and lots of great nods to fans of the Coen Brother's works.
*Orphan Black (Season 4) - This one also feels like it's stretched on a bit long, though I still really love watching Tatiana Maslany kill it playing all the leads at once - so impressive!
*Stranger Things - I am not usually one for scary shows, but this was a fun bit of 80s nostalgia with minimal scariness and - yay -  Winona Rider!
*Rectify (Season 3) - This continues to be great TV watching, though the resolution of some of the central story lines has started to take some of the air out of the drama.
*Night Of - This miniseries was really enthralling to watch. Despite a couple mis-steps, it was really compelling.
*Orange is the New Black (Season 4) - I enjoyed this season a little more than I expected. I think they're doing a good job pushing it into new directions.
*Occupied - This was a really great political thriller. One of those hidden treasures on Netflix Instant.
*House of Cards (Season 4) - I enjoy this less and less as the seasons go on, but there's still some Baltimore spots in the background, so I'll keep watching it I guess out of hometown pride.

Re-Emerging

House of Cards - this new season's so good (despite the lack of Baltimore background scenes). I am watching with a friend and being really disciplined waiting for the next one.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt  - the opening song gets so stuck in your head. There are some funny parts
Black Mirror got a bit too intense and creepy for me.
Food, Inc. a review of a lot of the issues with agribusiness; not much I didn't already know, but a pretty good reminder of why I'm vegan.
Fresh off the Boat - This show's still pretty funny.
Last Man on Earth - Only two episodes into this one, and it's just okay.
Top Chef - Finally got to finish out the season - it had a good, exciting finale.
Broad City - This show is so hilarious. I'm re-watching the first season, too.
The Nightly Show - I came around about Larry Wilmore. I still skip most of the panel discussions, but the first half of the show is always really solid and funny.
American Denial- A remarkable documentary about racism, particularly focusing on the social/psychological dimensions as well as some fascinating history studying those issues.
Seeking Asian Female - I heard a radio program about this, and the movie itself was good but I wish it had gotten a little more into the phenomena at the beginning before turning to the particular story.
Putin's Way - Another amazing Frontline investigative report into Russian corruption.
Good Wife - After a long break, it's back! Hooray!
Bob's Burgers - I could skip the musical one, but the other one episodes this last month have been great.
My book club picked a winner this month with Burial Rites - not something I would normally pick up, but I am really glad I read it. Can't we talk about Something More Pleasant was hard to read (and hard to get from the library). I guess I would like to stay living in denial a bit longer about the issues it confronts.

Cold, Dark Days

I spent this month going through some older things on my queue.
The Honourable Woman - I still haven't quite tied up all the pieces of this amazing show -- an intricate and involved story that captures interest.
Black Mirror - Just started these freaky shows about social media - done in the style of the Twilight Zone so each episode differs. So good, but so intense - definitely not good for binge watching, but good, twisted dystopian tales.
We Steal Secrets - I already knew a fair amount from a good Frontline, but this was a good review of it.
Nurse Jackie - This season focuses on the fall. You're still rooting for her, but you know she's got a long way down to go.
The Wire (Seasons 1-3) - I watched this in HD over the holidays but forgot to list it. I enjoyed revisiting this, I find I appreciate more of the details to it the longer I live in Baltimore.
Fresh off the Boat - A fun new sitcom with some 90s rap nostalgia! Just when I was lacking in the comedy department.
Top Chef - This comes in fits and starts on Hulu, so it's hard to stay engaged in the season but it's kept my interest into the final four.
Bob's Burgers  - It's the best! Community gardens, go-kart races, school elections, what's not to love?
The Nightly Show - I want to like this, but I can't get into the group discussion.
Being Mortal - Tough to watch, but worthwhile to think hard about final days.
SNL 40th Anniversary -  Some nice moments, but  probably not worth the time investment.
A Path Appears - Tough topics tackled by celebrities. I just couldn't hack it through all the episodes.
I finished the fantastic Fourth of July Creek - an unusual tale involving the rural midwest featuring a social worker. One of those stories that feels so true to life. It's been long enough since I saw the movie to appreciate Blue is the Warmest Color, a graphic ode to love - bittersweet and beautiful. I just began both Behind the Beautiful Forevers and The Savage Detectives while on a trip, and am not sure I will make it through either, even though they both seem really worthwhile.

Restlessness

Without John Oliver or Stephen Colbert, there's definitely a comedy void. I am looking forward to both Oliver's return as well as the premiere of Larry Wilmore's show. In the meantime, there's a few Oscar movies to watch and winter season starts, but mostly restless channel surfing moments on the couch.
Girls - I was so excited about this premiere - I watched the promo for it more than once, and it did not disappoint.
Togetherness  Seems like HBO's show for people who are too old to watch Girls (which includes me). Good pilot, but hard to say for sure whether it will stay funny or veer into sentimentality.
Evolution of a Criminal played the local film festival, but I missed it so I was really excited to see it on the Independent Lens line-up. This documentary is so well made, from a voice not commonly heard in the mainstream media - an ex-convict (but who's so much more than just that label).
Rich /Hill - This was a slow, meditative documentary on Independent Lens portraying a year in the life of kids struggling with poverty in Rich Hill, Missouri.
Gunned Down: The History of the NRA - A frustrating look at how the NRA's blocked gun control time and time again. It's interesting to learn the NRA started as a gun safety organization.
Charlie Rose - Up late one night, I caught a discussion about Islam and politics on this show and was very thankful that you can hear such thoughtful conversations in such challenging times.
Downton Abbey - I think I am only going to half-watch this season. It feels like they just keep replaying the same plot.
Bob's Burgers - I love this show so much. Tina, Jean, and Louise are awesome.
The Good Wife - Is it wrong that I kind of want Alicia to loose the election?
Without much on TV, and with cold days descending, there was a lot of time to cuddle up with good books. Lorrie Moore's so good at short stories, and Bark was really funny, interesting, and unique. I read Citizen: An American Lyric after seeing Claudia Rankine on the news. The work is raw and visceral - it's hard to read and hits a nerve, but it's worth reading because it hits a nerve that needs to be hit. I am only about a hundred pages into Fourth of July Creek, but it is really good so far as well - lots of unexpected twists even early into it.

A Fond Farewell

Colbert Report - a sad sign-off, but went out with a star-studded bang! While I will miss it, I look forward to the new spin off starting, the Nightly Show, and Colbert's return next year.
Top Chef - The new season in Boston's pretty good so far. They even said something positive about a vegetarian dish!
Bob's Burgers - You can't go wrong with a dark take on girl sprouts and their crazy cookie sales.
Broad City - Hilarious! This is the funniest show I've seen since Silicon Valley.
Fargo - Extremely well done - despite what you might think about a show based on a great movie, this does it justice. Billy Bob Thornton is amazing!
Californication - Put this on in the background for a bit, but it just feels very dated - I guess the early 2000's were a while ago now. Not sure why it was on for so long other than people missing the X Files.
Fleming: The Man Who Would be Bond - A great BBC short series that's quite a feast for the eyes.
Getting On (Season 2) - I was hoping for more from the second season, but this felt a bit re-played. Still funny, though.
Olive Kitteridge - Based on a book by Elizabeth Strout (I read The Burgess Boys a little while back), this was a pretty severe portrait highlighting Frances McDormand as the main character. Still, a bit tough to get through.
Hawking - Having seen the Hollywood version, I wanted to watch the real version that got a bit more into the science and knew I could count on PBS to do that.
Fronline - North Korea - Similarly, after seeing the fiction fantasy on VOD after all the controversy, I watched the PBS real deal, which was quite good. I am not always good about watching the Frontline about international stories, so I'm glad my interest was peaked.
As for reading, I got through The Bone Clocks but enjoyed the earlier parts of the book much more than the latter parts. I took a second crack at Inherent Vice and made it through this time, making me excited about the movie. It's a wacky ride, and I'm pleased I finally made it through a Pynchon. Finally, I don't usually mention podcasts, but who can resist commenting on Serial? A fascinating and detailed program about the young man who was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend years ago in the Baltimore area. I can never resist anything that shines a light on the problems of our criminal justice system.

Fall Premieres

*Good Wife - I found the story lines pretty interesting at the beginning of this season, but they're starting to feel a little played out now.
*Bob's Burgers - What, only two new episodes and it's November 4?! C'mon, I'm hungry for more!
*Simpsons - For the first time ever I am not really watching the Simpsons. I watched one episode and the opening credits redeemed it -- sort of.
*Blackish - I am usually not one for heartwarming ABC family comedies, but I heard someone compare this to the Cosby's so I checked it out -- definitely worth some chuckles, and worth applauding for taking on race issues head-on, it's not so great as far as sexism and homophobia goes.
*Last Week Tonight - I cannot stop laughing at the dog Supreme Court video. It is so hilarious!
*Project Runway - I finished out the season and was really happy with their choice. I thought the drama around saving the Detroit designer was a bit overwrought.
*Bully - Ok, this may seem awful to write, but for a movie called "Bully" why didn't they delve into much at all about the bullies themselves? I think we can do more about this issue than release some balloons into the air, but it takes wrestling with some more deep-seated societal issues than this documentary decided to review.
*Twin Sisters - Maybe I was too engrossed in my knitting to catch the subtleties, but just watch the preview for this one and you're good.
*The Trouble with Antibiotics - Frontline seems to be recycling a lot of stories this season, and this one just didn't really tell me anything new.
*Mad Men - Finally got around to seeing the new season when it came out on DVD. Not too interesting so far, but still good solid TV.
*The Source Family - Finally got around to watching this one weekend, and it's really as amazing as everyone says! What a fascinating story.
I loved Not that Kind of Girl and knew I would after enjoying the excerpt in the New Yorker. It was a really funny, quick read. I just started The Bone Clocks and it's good so far but I am trying not to read too much before I leave on my vacation tomorrow so I have something for the plane.

New Deal

Not much time to post lately, so here's the last couple months' viewing:
*Good Wife is back on for the new season, along with the comfort of Sunday night television rituals.
*The Roosevelts - the annual fall cold hit me around the premiere, so I managed to watch all 14 hours. The progressive themes impressed me, as did learning about how the Roosevelts formed the basis of the federal government we know today, but after a while, all the intimate details got to be a bit repetitive. A shorter version of the highlights should be created, because I think more people would have watched that.
*Last Week Tonight - John Oliver's tirades are starting to feel a gap that I think may be left by The Colbert Report but Colbert also had some good classic fun with papa bear's mercenary plan.
*Project Runway - For some reason, this season's pulled me in again, even with it starting to feel like hour long commercials for dolls and diamonds.
*Masters of Sex - I had this on the DVD list for a while, and with the awards started to really look forward to it. While it starts out strong, halfway through the season, it begins to feel overly dramatic.
*Happy Valley - British crime dramas tend to disappoint me, but this one and Top of the Lake are both superb. Both feature strong female leads along with gripping gritty details that felt very true to their location. They will give you dark nightmares, so be sure to block off 3 hours of daylight to finish the last three episodes, which beg for binge-watching.
*Spies of Mississippi and The Invisible War were both PBS docs I missed while on the television, so good to get the chance to catch them streaming. Spies of Mississippi lays bear frightening details of institutional preservation of segregation and worse in the deep South. The Invisible War should be required viewing for anyone considering joining the army.
In Zanesville deftly delves into a 1970s adolescent coming-of-age that felt very true to life. The last third of The Fault in Our Stars is worthy of the hype, but the rest was not so amazing to me. S Street Rising catalogs the author's struggle with addiction to crack alongside Washington, DC's similar struggle. It leaves one with a strong impression of the importance of journalists and amazed at the city's and author's parallel rebirth and restoration. Women in Clothes I picked up and read occasional snippets from before bed. It feels like a conversation with a very smart, dear old friend. Definitely a thoughtful contribution to the stereo-typically vapid world of fashion.

Road Rabbit

Too much travel and time outside to watch the tube much.
*Orphan Black - Loved the rest of Season 1!
*The Americans - I lost steam on this, and just have a couple episodes left but haven't been able to get to it.
*Last Week Tonight - John Oliver's done some great bits on this show. While Colbert seems to be starting to check out a bit, it's nice to have a new late night news show. Especially good to see a bit of an international bent.
*The Newburgh Sting - Fascinating and scary documentary about some folks swept up by an undercover agent.
*Louie - Really enjoyed a few of the episodes in this newest seasons - some especially great rants.
*Vicious - Watched a couple episodes of show; worth some chuckles.
I listened to Carsick on the road, and John Waters does not disappoint as a travelling companion. Burgess Boys filled a summer weekend in a cabin nicely.

O, Aereo, Aereo, wherefore art thou, aereo?

I lost my Aereo! Back to the regular rabbit ears with me.
*Orange is the New Black - Like a champ, I watched this within a week of its release. Great second season thanks to the strength of the supporting cast.
*Wilfred - New episodes did not disappoint. You would think this premise would wear thin after a couple seasons, but it's still pretty funny.
*Orphan Black - Got into this on a friend's recommendation. It's a really amazing combo of sci-fi/drama. Looking forward to finishing out season 1 and starting season 2 soon.
*The Americans - After noticing some good reviews on metafilter, I added this to the queue, and it really doesn't disappoint so far - a good drama!
*The New Black  - Maybe because I already knew so much about my home state of Maryland's quest toward marriage equality, but this one didn't interest me a lot.
*The Trials of Muhammad Ali  - Excellent documentary about pacifism and some interesting insights into Islamic traditions in America.
*Freedom Summer - Tough to slog through, but well worthwhile to see the inspiring bravery of those on the forefront of the struggle for civil rights.
*Last Week Tonight - John Oliver's always good for a chuckle - especially enjoyed his take on the world cup - he had the only spot on the sport that piqued my interest at all!
*Game of Thrones, Veep, Silicon Valley all ended enjoyable seasons recently.
I tried unsuccessfully to finish The Maid's Version, which is embarrassing because it's so short. But it was dense and I found myself not wanting to pick it up so I returned it when the third due date came around. I loved the beginning of To Rise Again at a Decent Hour but the middle part's hit a lag and it feels a bit too much like his last book.

Sum Her

Aereo's quickly replacing my Netflix in terms of use - it's so great! Good thing I was always too cheap to do that lifetime Tivo deal, too.
*Independent Lens - "God Loves Uganda" sent chills down my spine - an incredibly well-made documentary about how Uganda became the dumping ground of religious right hatred of GLBTQ populations led to violence there. A really complicating documentary about some of the dangers involved in Western aid to foreign countries.
*Frontline - This two-part series on secrets put me to sleep. It could have been edited quite a bit and it really lacked a compelling frontperson to talk about why state secrecy matters.
*The Good Wife - A few better episodes - I enjoyed watching the one where Alicia doesn't know what to do with her day off, and I love all the firm drama.
*Bob's Burgers - I am never so keen on the musical episodes, so this season ended a bit on a down note. Overall, though, still beats the Simpsons for animated Sunday nights.
*Silicon Valley - So hilarious! I have watched every one of these more than once.
* Veep (Season 3) - I admit, I am a late arrival to this one, but I find this season's really growing on me. I love the comedy of political leaders bumbling through everything.
*Game of Thrones - So many twists and turns! And I thought the season started out exciting!
*Girls - Decided to marathon most of this last weekend during the Memorial Day break.
I read nothing this month except for a fun read - a YA novel, Eleanor & Park, which I finished in two days at the beach. How sad!

Spring Feverrr!

 The rabbit ears got a big boost with Aereo this week - let's go wild with it while it's still legal!
*PBS NewsHour - I grew up with MacNeill/Lehrer, so the Ifill /Woodruff combo fills a special place of in-depth coverage in my news heart.
*Independent Lens - I caught two great documentaries on here, Brothers Hypnotic (about a brass band) and Medora (about a small town basketball team) - both really compelling portraits of their subjects.
*Frontline - The solitary confinement episode was terrifying. It's truly terrible that this is the reality for 80,000 people here. They did a great job closely following a few inmates. It's a stark reminder of how ill-equipped the criminal justice system is to address mental health issues. There was a little less context than I usually like, but the materials on the website supplement it well, and it makes sense to keep the focus on the individuals whose voices are so rarely heard. I look forward to the next segment on incarceration more broadly.
*Bob's Burgers - I missed an episode here or there, but still good for a laugh.
*Good Wife - Excitement's leveled out for a bit, and it's back to its formulaic interesting case per episode.
*Mad Men - The first episode was online for free, so we watched it, but it wasn't that great. Not sure it's worth buying a season pass or just waiting for it to come out on Netflix.

Bonus bunny picture in honor of the holiday!

*Silicon Valley - This show is what I wished The Circle had been, a hilarious look at tech start-ups.
*Game of Thrones - Early-season excitement!
*House of Cards - Finally finished out the season - the conniving goes all the way to the end, but now what are they going to do?
*Colbert Report - The spot on Cliven Bundy  is so good! I had watched the sober coverage of the controversy on the NewsHour, and was awaiting a good Colbert take on it. As sad as I am to know that Colbert's moving along, I also look forward to what he does next.
Not much reading to report - just finished Americanah; enjoyable but a little lacking in the plot made it slow going. I just started The Flamethrowers.

Stacked

Travels and work got in the way of me keeping up with everything on the tube this month, but here are the highlights:
*Nurse Jackie (Season 5) - This is probably my favorite show to binge watch. Even though this season involved more fall-out than new drama, Edie Falco continues to be worth watching.
*House of Cards (Season 2) - At the halfway mark, and the latest political crisis just doesn't hold attention like the other ones so far.
*Portlandia (Season 3) - Worth a few laughs.
*Good Wife (Season 5) - A day late watching last week's episode, I barely managed to avoid the spoilers about the big surprise. It felt like this season was in a lull until then, though I have to say, I found it pretty unbelievable, but it's also unbelievable that any attorney tries an exciting case every week.
*Simpsons (Season 25) - Back from the winter break, I begrudgingly continue the Sunday night tradition.
*Bob's Burgers (Season 5) - Also back from its break, I guess its popularity led FOX to move it to a new time slot. I am constantly forgetting leading me to catch back up on Hulu. Glad something still makes me laugh on Sundays.
*Colbert Report  - I laughed so hard at the object permanence bit about new social media zones of the morning news shows.
*Top Chef (Season 5) - Ugh. A nice reminder of why I don't watch much reality TV anymore. Is it actually getting worse, or is the contrast with good TV just getting greater?
*Bhutto - Part of Independent Lens' Women's History Month #shedocs, this is a magnificent portrait of an amazing woman and a fascinating country.
*All of Me - Another great #shedoc about a group of fat-positive women in Austin whose friendships and relationships are affected by the decision by some to undergo weight loss surgery.
*Girls (Season 3) - This season flew by way too fast. I was so sad when it was over to know I have to wait until next year for new episodes. I almost made it through one episode of Doll & Em, which I had mistakenly thought might fill the hole.
*True Detective (Season 1) - People kept talking about this and I was skeptical (nothing about the plot actually appealed to me), but then I finally took the dive and couldn't stop watching it. The philosophical ramblings of Rusty Cohle plus the portrayal of the deep South felt so real; true to the last episode.
Out in L.A. at the end of last month, I read two books set in CA. The Circle (Dave Eggers), a quicker read than the length suggests, is ok. With Inherent Vice (Thomas Pynchon), I continued my long tradition of sadly never having finished a Pynchon. I am still working on Americanah (Ngozi Adiche), which I really enjoy a lot, but have had trouble finding time to finish.

Bookbunny Black Hole

*House of Cards (Season 2) - I am still in the first 5 or 6 episodes, so I only know a couple of shockers. Lots of fun to watch mainly for the Baltimore backdrops, though this season I'm getting more drawn into the drama. I went back and re-watched the first and last episode of Season 1, too, just as a refresher.
*Portlandia (Season 3) - Is it possible to finally warm up to something after 3 seasons? I actually laughed at some of the jokes this time.
 *Compliance - Terrifying! And somehow the real story is even worse!
*Adventure Time - I am still watching this now and then when I need something short to finish knitting a row. It's nice, bite-sized background watching.
*Doc Martin - I really don't know why I tried to watch it. I think I lack the patience that British people enjoy.
*The Tudors - I still watch this from time to time when I'm desperate. I'm so close to the end, but it's just so terrible.
*Snow Patrol - A highlight of winter weather for sure is the absurdity of local newscasters trying to come up with more to say about snow. The best snippet I saw this year involved climbing onto a snow bank created by the snow shovels in order to drive home the point of how tall they are.
*Olympics - Can someone please explain to me why you can't watch the Olympics online somewhere? I would love to watch them with, say, Australian commentary. The American broadcasters are just intolerable. Why do they always assume we're rooting for America?
*Downton Abbey - I love that this was on during the Super Bowl, but I haven't been so tied to it this year. Sunday I completely forgot it was on and still haven't gone back to watch it online.
*Generation Like - I had high hopes for this Frontline, and while it was good and it led me to reading lots more of the interviews online, it somehow missed the mark because it was too focused on teenagers and the "kids these days" trope. I think it could have been a better documentary if they had broadened the focus to Internet marketing and social media more broadly. But then, maybe I'm just not a teen and not a parent and so it just didn't speak to me so much.
*Girls (Season 3)  - It's so exciting to have it back! And better than ever!
Mostly this month, my head's been stuck in all the best reads of 2013 list books that I can get the library to send me. Possibly the most deserving, which had me up all hours of the night wearing my headlamp and turning pages, was The Goldfinch. At first I thought I'd never finish all 700+ pages before it was due back, but I did finish with a week to spare because I couldn't stop reading it! This is the Story of a Happy Marriage is a collection of essays, which I don't normally enjoy, but liked quite a lot. Hyperbole and a Half is a webcomic-turned-book, quick and funny read (same goes for Alone Forever). Panopticon follows an adolescent in a group home/prison-type facility in Scotland. Clever, but not amazing.

Staycation

There's not a lot new out there, so I spent more time in movie theaters, tapping out, and catching up with friends than in front of the tube.
*Girls (Seasons 1 & 2) - I am re-watching the DVDs in preparation for the new season, which I am super excited about seeing.
*Black Books (Series 1-3) - This hilarious short British series about a misanthropic book shop owner and his wacky employee and neighbor is like finding a gem in the instant mines. It had been sitting on the queue for a while when I noticed an expiration date soon, so I'm glad I got to see it on instant while it was there.
*To Do List - Funny, but not great enough to see in the theaters.
*Dexter (Season 8)- Glad I finally made it through this series and here's hoping we see Michael C. Hall in something better soon.
*Portlandia - I only made it through hate-watching the first couple episodes.
*Adventure Time - It's like popcorn!
*Toxic Hot Seat - Really makes you not want to be sitting on your couch to watch this. A frustrating story of how lobbying leads legislation to contradict science.
*Boardwalk Empire -  It's turned from good liquor to vinegar.
*Getting On  - This show is so good; I keep looking for the British version it's based on, but I guess it's not available here.
*Treme - I am sad to see this go, though I think it's ending in a good place. The last season was great, and so far the mini-season is a fond farewell.
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena I picked up from one of the end-of-year best fiction lists and did not expect to enjoy it so much based on the setting of Chechnya, which I know next to nothing about. Its beautiful prose really enraptured me in the poignant story of a man who saves a young, precocious girl by placing in the care of a doctor who returns to Chechnya to work in a nearly-abandoned hospital.

Cold

Spending some time under the weather (and covers) meant time for more TV.
*Good Wife - The thrill of the initial episodes wore off a bit, but I am still really enjoying the new story line.
*Simpsons - What does it say that I can't really recall the last few episodes, and the announcement about a new season just made me sad? I'm mostly watching it looking forward to ...
*Bob's Burgers - I'm a sucker for toilet humor, so the Thanksgiving episode involving this was really funny. I went back and watched a few of the early episodes I somehow missed.
*Tudors (Season 3) -Jeez, how many wives does this king have anyway? Oh, right six. I think I might not make it through the last two. I wish they could have skipped some time and included more of the lady queens in the series, but I guess they weren't considered Tudors? I don't know much British royal history (obviously).
*Adventure Time - I saw one of these somewhere before, but came back to it. They're such wacky, nice bite-sized episodes.
*Miss Representation - A documentary about portrayal of women in the media and the importance of media literacy. A must-see if you have any young people in your life.
*Parks & Recreation - I gave this another go (I do enjoy a fluoride debate), but the characters and dynamics have just worn too thin.
*Colbert Report - Some really good bits on wealth inequality, and who wouldn't want Stephen over for Thanksgiving dinner?
*Frontline - A chilling documentary about domestic violence and the police.
*My Life as a Turkey - A pitch-perfect meditative reflection piece for the holiday on nature and wildlife with some truly insightful moments.
*Project Runway All Stars - Ehh...Not super exciting so far, but nice to see some familiar faces I guess.
*Boardwalk Empire - I keep putting off watching this; it just hasn't been as satisfying as I had hoped.
*Getting On - I think this one's going to be a really great one. I love when people find humor in sad circumstances.
*Treme - I caught up on this just in time for the new season. Last season was just so sad, so it was nice to see a few bright spots in this last season.
*Sarah Silverman: We are Miracles  - So funny!
Where'd You Go, Bernadette? follows a young girl trying to figure out where her mom disappeared to by piecing together emails and other information. It's a fun, quick read with some nice laugh-out-loud moments about moms. I only wish I'd read it while I was in the Pacific Northwest, where most of it is set. How Should a Person Be? is unusual; I'm only about half way through, but I'm really enjoying especially the philosophical parts. I wish I knew about her before I went to Toronto this summer!

Hurry up and Wait

Aside from a few bright spots, there's not much I'be heard about worth turning on the rabbit ears for.
*Good Wife - Off to an awesomely crazy start, this season's shaping up to be a good one.
*Simpsons - Started, but I'm too busy tapping out to notice much. The Homeland spoof was totally lost on me, and Treehouse of Horrors is always my least favorite one.
*Bob's Burgers - Also back, but only one gloriously adventurous episode so far (who doesn't love a good jab at the girl scouts?).
*Tudors (Season 2) - Forgot about this one for a while, but decided to finish out the season along with a sweater I was knitting.
*Skins (Season 7) - Well..it kind of peetered out after the first excitement to see the old friends again. I guess that's the thing about reunion shows.
*The Staircase - I kept reading online reviews raving about this, and maybe it's just dated, but I couldn't see what was so spectacular. Maybe I'll finish it out, but I am not sure I will bother.
*Project Runway - Fairly predictable result, but a fun ride nonetheless...
*Colbert Report - Oh, how could you leave us during the shutdown? I needed some laughs! I did really enjoy the PBS news anchor interview. What a funny juxtaposition.
*Frontline - As always, amazing investigations. Football and superbugs, definitely not high on my interest list, still fascinated me.
*The Waiting Room - An insightful documentary covering a day in a hospital waiting room, showing how gaps in our safety net and health insurance are handled by the compassionate caregivers of a general hospital.
*The Graduates - A bit of hopeful inspirational stories following a few latinas in their journey graduating from high school against the odds.
*Boardwalk Empire - Seems gratuitous this season, like a horror movie. A few good characters are left, and I want to give it time to warm up to the new ones, but part of me feels like giving up on it.
*Hello, Ladies - Should be "goodnight, ladies" because I fell asleep.
The Other Typist turned out a disappointment - trying to ride the wave of Mad Men-obsession with the Prohibition era, but really just not a very captivating story. Arcadia I picked up on a whim in NYC after passing it by several times before and absolutely loved it. The plot didn't appeal to me, but it's so well written and really captures something magical about youth. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea was a quick 33 1/3 I picked up after going to see Neutral Milk Hotel here in Baltimore and wondering more about the story behind the beloved record. I am not enough of a music nerd to care a whole lot about that sort of thing, but enjoyed knowing more of the mystery around the album.

Dry Season

There's not much to choose from in that final summer month, but here's what I watched and read.
*Boardwalk Empire (Season 3) - Ok, it totally came together in the last few episodes of the season. Sometimes you just have to trust the slow build.
*Project Runway - Oh, you know I can't resist it.
*Colbert Report- The Colbchella 2013 montage made the summer. Hilarious!
*Silk (Series 1) - When I was a kid, I always thought Masterpiece Theater was LAME and for old people. Well, I guess I'm now lame and old, because I am really enjoying this series. I do wish it was cut into shorter episodes, though. Who has an hour and a half to spare?
*Archer: (Season 3) - How in the world did I forget to finish this? I guess the novelty's worn off, but still pretty funny here and there.
*Brooklyn Castle - I thought this might just be a repeat of Spellbound, but it's really not. It follows a chess team from a Brooklyn school that wins national championships year after year. What's interesting, though, is following the plight of the team through State budget cuts. 
*Skins (Season 7) - I just started this but am super excited to see Effy and some favorite characters again. Who cares if it's completely unrealistic to learn high finance on a rooftop deck over a bottle of champagne? I certainly don't.
I did read a few books as well. I started out with Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt. I enjoyed the illustration, but the writing just didn't pull it together for me. Maybe I already knew a lot about the stories included and thought they could have been told better by another author. After that, I opted for some female authors. Dud Avocado is about the exploits of a young American in Paris; I put it down after it became a bit too tiresome and petty, but maybe I should give it another chance because it's well written. Dare Me lured me in with promises to reveal the "dark heart of the teenage girl's soul" through a tale about high school cheerleading. It was a page turner; a pleasurable summer read. I just got into The Other Typist about a police precinct typist during prohibition era. Like Dare Me, it's about a female friendship that ultimately leads to something bad, but I don't know what that is yet.

Floored

*Orange is the New Black - I binge-watched this entire show in a week, like everyone else. I couldn't stop. Bravo, Netflix streaming! It's not perfect, but pretty enjoyable and takes on some interesting issues  and presents some characters not often seen on TV.
*How to Make it in America - I just started this one, and it's just okay. I can see why it didn't make it for very long.
*Rectify - I picked this up after reading some really good reviews. It's a very quiet, reflective and incredibly intriguing show about a man released from death row. Even the cinematography's impressive.
*Star Trek: The Next Generation (Episode 1) - A little trip down memory lane one night I decided to watch an oldie but goodie. I didn't remember Picard being so stern. Maybe he softens later in the series.
*Boardwalk Empire (Season 3)- Boring Empire is more like it. Maybe they should have brought in more new characters at the beginning of this season after loosing so many last season.
*Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer -  I loved this news story, and had high hopes, but the documentary was super disappointing.
*Project Runway - Ack. Terrible! They keep trying to introduce new tricks, and I just keep skipping as much of the in-show ads as I can and boil it down to a bit of the beginning, Tim's critique, and the runway.
*Two American Families - A very long, in-depth view of the economic situation for working Americans over the last quarter century, and how the economic recoveries have skipped over these two families.
*Life and Death in Assisted Living - As my grandpa says, "don't get old." Yikes!
I really enjoyed the rest of Tai Pei. It was so unusual and bizarre, it's always fun to see something so novel done in writing in our supposedly post-literary world. A Super Sad True Love Story was not super. I love a dystopia, and I don't mind imperfect characters, but I did not enjoy this book at all and I'm surprised it received so many accolades.

Rompin'

*Arrested Development (Season 4) - ugh. I couldn't finish the new season. I wish I hadn't believed the hype. The show just couldn't survive the real estate crash.
*Archer (Seasons 1, 2, and part of 3) - Hilarious! Plot's wearing thin in the third season, but the first two were pretty funny.
*Dexter (Season 7) - Yeah, I know, I got it again even after I said I would stop. They're recycling plots now, and the subplots continue their soap opera-y decline, but there's only one more season after this, so why not?
*Rape in the Fields - If ever there was a reason to reform immigration, this is it. Incredibly disturbing, sad, moving, devastating. It took me a while to watch because I knew it would be hard, but it is important to hear these stories.
*Game of Thrones - So much has already been said about that second to last episode. It's HBO, so you know something crazy's going to happen, and then the last episode won't be that exciting. But yeah, that was pretty gory.
*Mad Men (Season 6)- This season was definitely uneven, and they tried to make you forget that by putting a surprise at the end. As much as I've enjoyed the show, I am glad that season 7 will be the last one.
*Maron - While seeking something new to fill the summer slump, I watched an episode of Marc Maron's new show, based on positive meta-critic reviews. It's pretty funny, and would like to watch more, but it seems like they aren't adding anymore to Hulu, which is also missing the new Wilfred. It's like they want me to sign up for some kind of subscription service or something?

I read Yellow Birds this month, a novel written by a soldier about fighting in Iraq. It's a beautifully written, sad portrait of the affects of war on a young generation. I also read Fun Home, a graphic novel memoir about the author's relationship with her father. I enjoyed it, even if I missed some of the many literary references. I just started Tai Pei. Its drug-induced passive style of prose is jarring at first. The main character's constant, online self-conscious existence reminds me of the best experimental films. I always like to see something so strange be read by so many people.