This week we took the show outside, and I don’t think we’re coming back in…
TJ and I played a little catchup regarding the Old Style Pizza Summit, The Walking Dead finale and then some. We also talked about the things that make us feel older, some exciting plans for the show, and TV recommendations that can carry you to the new season of Game of Thrones. Somehow The O.C. and One Tree Hill came up too, you’ll have to listen to find out why.
We’re also in the hunt for a show grill master, so if you know anybody or want to hang…?
How often do you find yourself asking your friends for TV recommendations? Maybe you just wrapped up a nice long intimate binge-watch on Netflix, or you’re looking to kill time between new Walking Dead and Game of Thrones episodes. Perhaps you’d like to have something fun to show your friends who are in a similar predicament…
Before you jump on the next bandwagon show, I recommend giving these a try while they’re still on-air. They may not necessarily be Breaking Bad, but I wouldn’t mention them if I didn’t think they’d hook you enough to get caught up. As an old friend once described my taste in television, they’re #MichaelShows.
Billions (Showtime)
Starring: Damian Lewis (Homeland) and Paul Giamatti (John Adams)
This show was an excellent surprise during the past winter season Sunday lineup. As Wall Street becomes more and more in the political campaign discussion and after films like The Big Short and 99 Homes were big successes, a show like this has never been more relevant. You’ll also feel better prepared after seeing either movie. Giamatti is a federal attorney with a hedge-fund boss in his crosshairs, played by Lewis The contrast and battle between the two sides is awesome. Just don’t let the opening S&M scene turn you off, unless you’re into that sort of thing (it’s very brief, but very fitting).
Maggie Siff (Sons of Anarchy) gives a very under-appreciated performance that I think deserves Emmy consideration. Toby Leonard Moore (Daredevil) is also very good, as is the rest of the supporting cast. It’s smart, funny, suspenseful, sexy and has very cool ties to the rock music selections played each episode.
Season 1 is available in its entirety on Showtime Anytime.
TURN: Washington’s Spies (AMC)
Starring: Jamie Bell (Jumper), Angus McFayden (Braveheart) and Heather Lind (Boardwalk Empire)
TURN is great for history buffs but even better for spy genre fans. The idea of America’s first spy ring and the means to pull that off in the 1700s is fascinating. There’s a little bit of a Q-Branch/James Bond vibe at times when period appropriate technology is introduced to the rebel spies at different points. The mythos that surrounds George Washington when he finally enters the fold, in person, as are the moments that humanize him a little.
You don’t really empathize with the British at any point but there are some characters who garner your respect, specifically “counter intelligence” officer Major John Andre (played by JJ Feild). There are also a few recognizable faces on the show that will make you go “Oh, that guy from that thing”, like Burn Gorman (Game of Thrones), Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean), and Stephen Root (Office Space). Favorite character is Caleb Brewster, played by Daniel Henshall (The Babadook).
First two seasons are available on Netflix. Season 3 premiere is April 25th.
Tyrant (FX)
Starring: Adam Rayner (Hawthorne), Ashraf Barhom (Clash of the Titans) and Jennifer Finnigan (Better With You)
It’s the closest thing you’ll find that portrays a modern realistic Game of Thrones. I think that every episode I watch. It’s unpredictable, action-packed, scary, and not necessarily for the faint of heart. One brother believes it is birthright to rule his middle eastern country, Abuddin, while the other wants to implement democracy. All the while factions like the Caliphate are brutally making life outside their kingdom all the more dangerous.
Bassam, played by Rayner, is a mix of Tyrion, Daenerys and Jon Snow. His brother Jamal, played by Barhom, is combo of Joffrey, Roose Bolton, Cersei, and the crazy parts of Stannis. You can imagine the clashes based on that description alone.
Season 1 is streaming on Hulu. Season 3 will premier this summer.
Peaky Blinders (Netflix)
Starring: Cillian Murphy (Batman Begins) and Sam Neil (Jurassic Park)
When friends ask me about shows to check out on Netflix, my mind goes immediately to Peaky Blinders. Cillian Murphy’s Thomas Shelby is one of TV’s biggest badasses, it’s shot beautifully, the music rocks, and Tom Hardy joins the cast in season 2. It’s also an incredibly quick watch, as each season is just 6 episodes and the storylines are fast paced. At times, you’re reminded of the old Guy Ritchie films like Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrells…in part because of the organized crime themes, dialogue and HEAVY accents.
The new season begins on the BBC this May, but no date has been set for a Netflix release. Which gives you plenty of time to get caught up on the first 2 seasons. The theme song by Nick Cave is also dark and addicting.
First 2 seasons are on Netflix. Season 3 premieres on BBC Two in May.
Bosch (Amazon)
Starring: Titus Welliver (The Town) and Jamie Hector (The Wire)
Bosch was my introduction into Amazon original programming and I’m very glad it was. Welliver is one of those “That guy” actors that seems to appear in just about everything, and now he’s in a starring detective role based on a Michael Connelly book series, similar to The Lincoln Lawyer. Apparently the two eventually meet in a crossover book…
The show is dark and fills a modern crime void that’s been left by Justified, for me at least. I wouldn’t stack the writing up with Season 1 of True Detective, but you get the noir vibe. Better yet, it’s FILLED with alums from The Wire. Bosch’s partner is Jamie Hector (Marlo Stanfield from The Wire) and his boss is Lance Reddick (Lt. Daniels). There are tons of faces you’ll recognize, both regulars and guest appearances, like Scott Wilson (The Walking Dead), Sarah Clarke (24), Matthew Lillard (Scream), Jeri Ryan (Star Trek Voyager), Brent Sexton (The Killing), Annie Wersching (24), and James Ransone (The Wire, of course).
First 2 seasons are available on Amazon Prime.
Have some more recommendations? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter and I’ll add them to the list!
For a while, people used to say that Summer Television was weak on options…Reality shows, Major League Baseball, and a handful of decent premium channel programs…
Thanks to networks like FX, AMC and streaming platforms like Netflix, that simply is not the case anymore.
We’ll go network by network with premiere dates, but first…
Now Playing
Netflix
Grace and Frankie
Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Sam Waterston, Martin Sheen
Very entertaining and original. The love-square (get it, because there’s 4 of them?) between the award winning acting veterans and Sorkin TV alums is an excellent watch for those who want what’s next after The Odd Couple and Modern Family…and Sam Waterston is adorable.
The Chef’s Table
If you need inspiration to play around in the kitchen, ideas for a new a restaurant to checkout, or need a docu-series to make you hungry, this is the one for you. Beautiful cinematography, moving music selection, and I highly recommend pouring a glass of wine while you watch.
HBO/HBO GO (streaming)
Game of Thrones
Peter Dinklage, Lena Heady, Kit Harrington, Sophie Turner, Emilia Clarke
Believe it or not, some people haven’t watched this show yet…The 5th season has been slow, and even offensive at times, but there are a lot of power moves being made that seem to be leading to fireworks!…Or Dragons fire, whatever your preference is.
Silicon Valley
Thomas Middleditch, TJ Miller, Martin Starr, Kumail Nanjiani, Zach Woods
From the beautifully messed up mind of Beavis & Butthead/Office Space creator Mike Judge, Silicon Valley is a breath of fresh air to comedy television. If you’ve ever worked for a startup or in tech, you’ll actually be able to relate. If not, you’ll just laugh your ass off.
Veep
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Anna Chlumsky, Matt Walsh, Tony Hale
I have to admit, I’m catching up on this show myself…but I get why people like it. It’s that mix of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Arrested Development, and MAYBE Seinfeld kind of humor (not West Wing by any degree)…and House fans should be interested in Hugh Laurie being included in the fourth season.
Showtime/Showtime Anytime (streaming)
Penny Dreadful
Timothy Dalton, Eva Green, Josh Hartnett, Harry Treadaway
Are you one of those people who hate-watched True Blood all the way through but feel like there’s now a void where monsters, drama, and sex used to be? This show’s for you…Josh Hartnett’s acting chops are on full display. Eva Green will haunt your dreams (in good ways and bad), and it’s terrifyingly elegant.
Happyish
Steve Coogan, Kathryn Hahn, Bradley Whitford
All honesty, I plan to check this show out this holiday weekend to see what’s up. The cast is stellar but could have been as Phillip Seymour Hoffman was set to play the lead.
AMC
TURN: Washington’s Spies
Jamie Bell, Seth Numrich, Daniel Henshall, Heather Lind
I liked when the show was just called “TURN”, but it’s still very good and gripping. You don’t have to be a history buff (although it doesn’t hurt if you are) to appreciate this spy story. The chess game between Great Britain, the colony rebels, and their counter intelligence “divisions” is too much to not get caught up in…and at times you forget who you’re rooting for.
FX
The Comedians
Billy Crystal, Josh Gad, Stephnie Weir
I’m not totally sure what the hype was on this show before it premiered, but I am very sure The Comedians has met it. As themselves, Billy Crystal and Josh Gad are natural and hilarious…like in real life. The guest appearances and cameos are top-notch as well.
Louie
Louis C.K., Pamela Adlon
I may have stepped away from Louie for a little bit, but then I came back for season 5 and I didn’t miss a thing. I think that’s the beauty of this show. Maybe someday it will play in reruns on every network like Seinfeld and Friends….nawwwww.
Coming soon…
CBS
Under The Dome
Dean Norris, Mike Vogel, Rachelle Lefevre, Alexander Koch
WHY!? WHY WAS THIS SHOW RENEWED!?…Because jerks like me got suckered into watching the first episode, which led to the whole first season, which led to the even weirder second season…It’s really dumb, but every episode ends with a cliffhanger that makes you curious of what’s next.
Season 3 Premiere: Thursday, June 25th – 8:00 PM CT
Zoo
James Wolk, Nonso Anozie, Billy Burke, Nora Arnezeder
“We really want the whole world to fear their schnauzers,” said producer Scott Rosenberg. This adaptation from James Patterson has animals everywhere turning on humankind…I say NOPE, but you might be interested. There will be blood. At least Bob Benson’s in it.
…which may be how I feel about Zoo.
Season 1 Premiere: Tuesday, June 31st – 8:00 CT
NBC
Hannibal
Mads Mikkelsen, Hugh Dancy, Caroline Dhavernas, Gillian Anderson
If there is a show I’m looking forward to returning the most, it’s Hannibal. This is the show you wish Dexter was in the final two seasons. It’s 1,000 times gorier than you would have ever expected to find on network television yet so elegant. And it’s visually the coolest thing you could find on a Friday night, but now NBC will run it on Thursdays.
Season 3 Premiere: Thursday, June 4th – 9:00 PM CT
Aquarius
David Duchovny, Claire Holt, Emma Dumont, Gethin Anthony
David Duchovny returns to network television on the same channel and evening as his X-Files partner, Gillian Anderson. While Anderson’s character will be married to a serial killer (Hannibal), Duchovny will be hunting a famous one…Charles Manson
Season 1 Premiere: Thursday, May 28th – 8:00 PM CT
Mr. Robinson
Craig Robinson, Tim Bagley, Peri Gilpin
NBC has been on quite the comedy slump after The Office and Parks and Recreation went off the air. So they give Office alum Craig Robinson his own show as a middle school music teacher…The show is called Mr. Robinson, yet his character’s name is Craig Rice…Okay.
Season 1 Premiere Date: Wednesday, August 5th – 8:00 PM CT
ABC
The Whispers
Lily Rabe, Barry Sloane, Milo Ventimiglia
Lily Rabe is starting to fit well in horror and suspense TV shows. The American Horror Story actress now has to deal with possessed creepy children and a mysterious force that threatens all of humanity…Nothing too dramatic.
With Mad Men now off the air, The Astronaut Wives Club fills in as the new 60’s period piece. Astronauts were America’s heroes during that time, which makes this look at the women who stood by them, watched them launch, and waited for them to land safely all the more intriguing. And more Yvonne Strahovski is never a bad thing.
Season 1 Premiere: Thursday, June 18th – 7:00 PM
USA
Mr. Robot
Rami Malek, Christian Slater
Following the very recent and very famous Sony hack, USA produces a TV show about hacking…Super antisocial Rami Malek is recruited by an anarchist named ‘Mr. Robot’, and connects with people through hacking them.
Season 1 Premiere: Wednesday, June 24th – 9:00 PM
Complications
Jason O’Mara, Jessica Szohr
Jason O’Mara plays a doctor who is reeling from the death of his daughter, starts a gang war trying to save someone from a drive-by shooting, and it carries over to his hospital…Yep, complications.
Season 1 Premiere: Thursday, June 18th – 8:00 PM
TNT
The Last Ship
Eric Dane, Rhona Mitra, Adam Baldwin,
I really didn’t know how far they could stretch a show where everyone on Earth is dying from a pandemic, except those on US Naval ship…but it IS very entertaining.
Season 2 Premiere – Sunday, June 21st – 8:00 PM (2 hours)
FX
Tyrant
I found Tyrant to be one of the great TV surprises of last summer. It’s a roller coaster of suspense and power plays with a corrupt family run government in the Middle East…You could compare the Al-Fayeeds to the Lannisters from Game of Thrones, but even more dysfunctional.
Season 2 Premiere: Tuesday, June 16th – 9:00 PM CT
Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
Denis Leary, John Corbett, Elizabeth Gillies
I don’t know if this show will be any good or not, but Denis Leary as a washed up rockstar in an FX comedy is something worth rolling the dice on.
Season 1 Premiere: Thursday, July 16th – 9:00 PM
The Strain
Corey Stoll, Mia Maestro, Kevin Durand
Guillermo del Toro’s brutal and original take on vampires is like nothing else. Along with Tyrant, The Strain was another great surprise from last summer and was one of the best new TV shows as well.
Season 2 Premiere: Sunday, July 12th – 9:00 PM CT
HBO
True Detective
Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams, Taylor Kitsch
The long awaited follow up to Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson’s incredible first season is almost here. A new cast, a new crime, a new location…but let’s hope for the same dark and great writing that made the first so successful.
Season 2 Premiere: Sunday, June 21st – 8:00 PM CT
Ballers
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Rob Corddry, Omar Benson Miller
The hardest working man in showbiz, The Rock, has a new TV show about life after pro sports and “what’s next”. It feels like a beefed up sequel to Entourage but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Season 1 Premiere: Sunday, June 21st – 9:00 CT
The Brink
Jack Black, Tim Robbins, Aasif Mandvi, Pablo Schreiber
Have you noticed how AMC has been running Shawshank Redemption like crazy lately? That may be because of this Tim Robbins dark comedy about diplomacy to prevent World War 3…Yeah, that doesn’t seem too dramatic or anything…
Season 1 Premiere: Sunday, June 21st – 9:30 CT
Showtime
Ray Donovan
Liev Schreiber, John Voight, Dash Mihok, Eddie Marsan
Everyone has their show that not everyone watches…This one is mine. Liev Schreiber is a badass as Ray Donovan, leading one of the best casts you’ll find on TV. The show also adds Ian McShane and Katie Holmes for season 3, which will be very interesting to see play out.
Season 3 Premiere: Sunday, July 12th – 8:00 PM CT
Masters of Sex
Michael Sheen, Lizzy Caplan
I have been meaning to get caught up on this show. It’s remarkably smart and sexy. And if you’re drawn to period pieces and the pop culture of the past, it’s hard not to be intrigued.
Season 3 Premiere: Sunday, July 12th – 9:00 PM CT
Netflix
Orange is the New Black
Taylor Schilling, Kate Mulgrew, Natasha Lyonne, Uzo Aduba
Loved how season 2 ended and it has my psyched to see what’s next…What I’m not psyched for is more Piper and Alex drama, because that’s what it all seems to be. I do look forward to how everyone else’s stories progress.
Season 3 Premiere: Friday, June 12th
Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp
Paul Rudd, Bradley Cooper, Amy Poehler, Christopher Meloni
It’s a prequel, so I don’t think you have to have seen the classic film…but you should anyway. The cast is stellar and they have added Jon Hamm, John Slattery, Jason Schwartzman, Richard Schiff and Josh Charles. It’s going to be ridiculous…ridiculously good.
Premiere: Friday, July 17th
BoJack Horseman
Will Arnett, Aaron Paul, Allison Brie
This show is dumb. Really dumb. But it’s the kind of show that once you pop, you just can’t stop. Yes, BoJack Horseman is the Pringles of TV shows. You’re welcome.
Season 2 Premiere: Friday, July 12th
Did I miss anything? What TV shows are you looking forward to the most? Let me know on Twitter @Mike_PiFF03.
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