What I'm Watching: Key & Peele, Season 3

If you're not watching Key & Peele, get on it. Nobody tackles modern culture and race/gender/life issues with humor and silliness and ingenuity like these guys.

Comedy Central just ran a "Best of" Seasons 1 & 2 episode, and it seems like Hulu might be airing it for free (for the time being). Here's a starter video to ease you in:

What I'm Watching: Derek

So. Ricky Gervais has a new mockumentary series. In which he plays a (possibly) mentally-handicapped/developmentally-disabled character. Without any sense of irony. Set in a nursing home. It's not a comedy (though there is plenty of humor). And while the trailer makes it seem eccentric and poignant, many of the episodes revolve around death, aging and disappointment.



Let that sink in for a minute, because casual Ricky G fans will probably stop reading now and never look back. If you only know him from The Office (British version), hosting The Golden Globes or maybe Extras, then you never saw this show coming. But if you've seen all the other random series he's experimented with (Flanimals, his stand up routine on Noah's Ark, Life's Too Short, etc.), you might get how this could work.

This show is odd, in the sense that it's very hard to place within a traditional tv show genre or structure. Gervais's keen insight into life and people is what drives it forward, and Karl Pilkington's brilliant caretaker character carries it home. But it's fairly uneven... Witty, touching and downright revelatory at times — and then at other times it swings back around and smacks you in the face with its sappiness and predictable "lessons." I cried sentimentally and cathartically as much as I strained my eyes from the rolling. And don't even get me started about the amount of Coldplay used. The fact that the final scene of the season finale is set to "Fix You" should give you a good sense of the level of emotional manipulation we're dealing with.

That said... it was strangely compelling, and I blew through all 7 episodes of season 1 in an evening. Make no mistake: this is the Gervais deep cuts. Not everyone will like it, but I really think those brave souls willing to set aside judgment and just watch with an open mind will be glad they did.

What I'm Watching: September 2013

The Tivo has been a little bare of late. Fall premieres can't get here soon enough.

*Project Runway (Lifetime) - This season is pretty entertaining, probably because they gave Tim Gunn a bigger role.

*Inside Amy Schumer (Comedy Central) - Uneven but worth it. Delightfully raunchy. She's so much funnier and less annoying than Sarah Silverman.

*Drunk History (Comedy Central) - A deft adaptation of the web series. These people are really, really drunk (like vomit, roll on the floor, slurred speech drunk) and that's just comedy gold.

*Breaking Bad (AMC) - I hate when people say they're "obsessed" with things but it's kind of true for me in this case. Best show on tv... ever? (Hmmm, ok, maybe not ever but top 10 for sure)

*Luther (BBC America) - Such fun, especially with Idris (i.e. Stringer Bell) being so British and all.

*Maron (IFC) - Technically aired a few months ago but IFC has been stingy with streaming. For those that like Louie but want more sad sack.

What I'm Watching: Orange is the New Black

Well, technically I already finished it last month but it's worth mentioning because it's so great. Can't remember the last time this many interesting, complex female characters (and actresses - welcome back Natasha Lyonne!) were on one show. Somehow satiric and genuinely touching at the same time. Beware of graphic sex talk & acts if watching with others.

Run don't walk to Netflix for this one.