Today’s STREAMING VOD TV Guide RECOMMENDATIONS – Youtube EDITION!
YOUTUBE:
Life
Best and Worst Police Procedural’s on Amazon Prime! Under Construction
THE SHIELD- Shawn Ryan’s THE SHIELD is a show glorifying a racist bunch of dirty cops, and the un-redeeming stereotypes they beat on. It’s a dire, depressing, largely detestable show, that is not dissimilar to a slog through the sewers.
I watched a couple episodes in season #1 and then an episode in season #7, and there is absolutely no growth in the show, what a waste. Three episodes more than enough of this show. A classic example of Black faces, White messages. It’s a modern day minstrel show.
How it made it seven seasons, says something about the acceptance of great doses of bigotry. Not my thing. Pass on this and see either HOMICIDE or NYPD BLUE Season 1 instead.
NYPD BLUE- I’ve never been a fan of police procedurals, but the first season of NYPD BLUE was something else, a game changer in terms of dramatic intensity for television, and a clinic in style and the acting prowess of David Caruso. He was effectively the show. Which left later seasons… uninteresting. Get season 1, forget the rest.
JUSTIFIED- I found this modern cowboy drama incredibly uninteresting in the first season with largely unlikeable characters. Pass on this and see LONGMIRE or DEADWOOD instead.
LIFE- Both seasons are fantastic. Transcends a simple police procedural, by its protagonists quirky pursuit of Zen and Justice.
COPPER- Police work late 19th century style. Not really interested.
LUTHER- First few episodes are magnificent, though it loses its way toward the end, but still season 1 is a recommended view. Season 2 however is utter garbage.
HOMICIDE- Clearly the best police procedural ever, and largely because it is not about the procedure. A rich, ethnically strong cast of powerhouse actors, especially Andre Braugher in a star making performance, creates that rarest of television shows… a smart one. Highest recommendation.
What I’m Watching! Free Shows on ROKU/Amazon Prime!
THE GREAT
GRIMM Season 1- Surprisingly entertaining fantasy show that works in a way that other shows such as WAREHOUSE 13 do not
LIFE Season 1- A wry and off-kilter and charming and undeniably different tv drama. tinged with a whimsy and a bit of magical realism that makes it more than a simple police procedural
TOP SHOT Season 1, 2, 4- I’m not a ‘reality’ tv fan, but this history channel competition show is nothing short of fantastic. Additive and fun watching
THE OKAY
TOP SHOT Season 3 – One competitor and the drama he introduces (the words functional psychopath come to mind) almost makes the season unwatchable. Thankfully he gets removed, and allows for an exciting season finale.
PRIMEVIL Season 1, 2
THE MEDIOCRE OR JUST PLAIN AWFUL
24 Season 1
24 Season 2- horrible and moronic writing and painfully contrived plot choices, and overblown performances makes this ultimately a waste of time
WEDNESDAYS WORDS
WEDNESDAYS WORDS is a new weekly installment that ranks the most interesting, intriguing books of the week (old, new, reissues, digital, etc). Contributors represent a variety of genres and sources. Each book includes Title and publisher blurb.
A one item, abbreviated WEDNESDAYS WORDS. Enjoy 🙂 :
Collected Stories of Ray Bradbury: A Critical Edition : 1938-1943
Book Description
Publication Date: February 21, 2011 | Series: Collected Stories of Ray Bradbury
Inaugurating a critical edition of one of America’s most popular storytellers
In the past, collections of Bradbury’s works have juxtaposed stories with no indication as to the different time periods in which they were written. Even the mid- and late-career collections that Bradbury himself compiled contained stories that were written much earlier–a situation that has given rise to misconceptions about the origins of the stories themselves. In this new edition, editors William F. Touponce and Jonathan R. Eller present for the first time the stories of Ray Bradbury in the order in which they were written. Moreover, they use texts that reflect Bradbury’s earliest settled intention for each tale. By examining his relationships with his agent, editor, and publisher, Touponce and Eller’s textual commentaries document the transformation of the stories–and Bradbury’s creative understanding of genre fiction–from their original forms to the versions known and loved today.
Volume 1 covers the years 1938 to 1943 and contains thirteen stories that have never appeared in a Bradbury collection. For those that were previously published, the original serial forms recovered in this volume differ in significant ways from the versions that Bradbury popularized over the ensuing years. By documenting the ways the stories evolved over time, Touponce and Eller unveil significant new information about Bradbury’s development as a master of short fiction.
Each volume in the proposed three-volume edition includes a general introduction, chronology, summary of unpublished stories, textual commentary for each story, textual apparatus, and chronological catalog. The Collected Stories of Ray Bradbury is edited to the highest scholarly standards by the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies and bears the Modern Language Association’s seal of approval for scholarly editions.
I have my doubts in regards to people dusting off early, arguably rough draft versions of Bradbury’s stories and compiling these as if they are offering something significantly new. However the statement that these stories, have not been collected before is intriguing.
Though perhaps the reason they have not been collected is because, they were the imperfect forms of stories that Ray Bradbury went on to perfect.
So beyond the obvious… he got better, I’m unsure what, of value, can be mined from this approach. And what critical analysis one can offer on Bradbury’s stories, that are not inherent in a/the stories themselves or b/ Bradbury’s discussion of his stories that thankfully the great man left us with, in multiple forms, from books, radio, television, and even film. Bradbury being perhaps one of the most consulted and interviewed writers of our time.
Rather than a best of compilation, or even a chronological compilation, the selling point of this book would seemingly be… this is the rough draft compilation.
I’m not sure if that’s the collection, that any writer wants of their work.
But this is all guesswork. I’ll withhold final judgment till I can get a reading copy. And the fact that I’m intrigued enough to give this a look means it is… WEDNESDAYS WORDS material.
The WEDNESDAYS WORDS column is a new blog feature, appearing (you guessed it!) every Wednesday. Come back next week to see which books make the list!
If you’re a publisher, writer, or other creative representative looking to submit items for WEDNESDAYS WORDS, just leave a comment on this post with your email/contact info, comments don’t get posted they come right to me, and I’ll reach out to you with the snail mail details.
And as far as readers, if you see items on WEDNESDAYS WORDS you’re considering purchasing then, if you are able and would like to support this blog, please utilize the attached links.
Your helpful purchases through those links, generates much appreciated pennies to keep this blog running. Your feedback and support… just way cool, and way appreciated. Thanks!
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On Eartha Kitt, Catwoman, Julie NewMar and Life
I just found out that Eartha Kitt, the multi-talented one, Catwoman has passed away.
A touchstone of my youth, on Dec 25th 2008, four days ago as of this writing, has departed.. has left.
My god, everyone I grew up with, all the icons of my youth, are passing away.
Ozzie Davis, Gordon Parks, Paul Winfield, James Brown, Issac Hayes, Paul Newman… now Eartha Kitt.
My Catwoman.
I grew up watching her on reruns of the old Adam West Batman, as Catwoman, a role she shared with the equally brilliant Julie Newmar.
My god, I had such a crush on those two women.
Eartha Kitt had a career that was far larger than her guest role as Catwoman, that role was just a small piece of a grand and varied career, that included music, dancing, theater, and films… but for a little kid, that small piece of her career, playing a purring, feline felon, was the piece that mattered.
Those two women, for me, were the twin suns of my youthful sky. And now one of them has set.
And the world is that much dimmer.
But I’d like to believe someplace else… is far brighter.
Thanks Eartha, for my youth. And wherever you are… dazzle them.
*******
On a related note, TCM (Turner Classic Movies) every year, does their TCM remembers segment. It’s one reason TCM is my favorite channel. They understand history, the importance of it. And the importance of people. Every year their TCM segment breaks my heart, and enriches it. Breaks it for the share number of those who have passed, enriches it, in the knowledge that they will be remembered. Years 2005 through 2008 are available on Youtube for viewing.
I recommend it.
****************
And turning toward life.
My other Catwoman, the ravishing Julie Newmar, the sun that still lights up my horizon, is still wowing people, and has a book coming out in 2009. Go swing by her site and give her much love.
Heroic Times 