The TV thread

USA cancels Psych: http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/02/05/psych-cancelled/

 

Well, kinda saw that coming, but "Psych" had a good run. TV could use more good hour-long adventure comedies.

Also read that NBC won't put Michael J. Fox's last episodes on after the Olympics are over. Not surprised, but disappointed.

 

They're going through everything so quickly there won't be any nostalgia left for a second season.

The characters are strong enough that they don't need to burn through the entire decade of nostalgia in every single episode.

 

Fiancé and I finally plowed through all of Discovery's "Klondike" (3 parts, 6 hours).

It was ... meh.

Great cast --- Richard Madden (Robb Stark from GoT), Tim Blake Nelson, Tim Roth, Sam Shepard, among others --- and really cool snowy, mountain vistas.

But like everything set between the Civil War and 1900 that has come out in the last decade, it's trying TERRIBLY hard to be "Deadwood." Blue-collar characters speechifying like third-year PhD students, characters' moral compasses being inversely proportional to how high they are on the social strata, etc.

If you haven't watched it yet, don't bother.

 

I finished Top of the Lake yesterday. It pulled me in more and more as I went along. The acting was great all the way around. Of the three atmospheric shows set in small towns with lots of secrets that I've watched somewhat recently, I'd rank them thusly:

1. Top of the Lake
2. The Returned
3. Broadchurch

They're pretty close, though. They all had their issues, but were grounded in fantastic performances and beautiful cinematography.

 

Have you seen "Rectify"? Really enjoyed that one and it grew on me more and more as I watched. Highly recommended.

 

I haven't. Thanks for the recommendation!

 

I think CBS won't touch Good Wife if it knows what's best. I don't watch the show on a regular basis but have heard nothing but praise for it. The cast is top-notch and the stories have been full of twists and turns.

If anything, I think CBS axes Mentalist on Sundays. The Red John story has been solved and that show has had six seasons. Good enough to run into the ground on TNT.

 

I was under the impression that it's been known for awhile that this was going to be Psych's last season.

Very good show...

 

HC, tell me about Slings & Arrows.

 

I love this show and have all 3 seasons on DVD. It's best watched in order as their is a long story arc over each season. There are some great Canadian performers: Paul Gross, Rachel McAdam, Sarah Polley, Mark McKinney and William Hutt among others.

Basic info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slings_%26_Arrows

This show is personal for me for several reasons - I spent a season at The Stratford Festival where I was in "Inherit the Wind" with William Hutt and my first TV role ever was playing a death row prison guard on "Due South" with Paul Gross. Also, all the pub scenes are shot at the legendary Blue Goose Tavern, the Mimico landmark where I met JR one fateful day.

It's a funny show and moving as well, especially the William Hutt season. I'm especially fond of the Season 1 theme song "Cheer up, Hamlet".

 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine has really hit its stride the past few episodes. And Suburgatory has had a great season.