Some TV thoughts for your weekend:
News to make you feel old
This weekend Netflix are releasing romcom series Emily In Paris. Creator Darren Star first came to prominence as the creator of a ‘lil pop culture phenomenon called Beverly Hills 90210.
On Saturday 3 October Beverly Hills 90210 celebrates the 30th anniversary of its first episode airing on Fox in the US.
I remember seeing the first episode on Channel 10 in Australia (I’m guessing in 1991/92) and have complete memory burn of watching the episode. As an 11/12 year-old at the time, this show rocked my world.
The series was a turning point in pop culture. Yes, the 80s had its MTV, but the debut of 90210 was the point where teenagers (or actors well into adulthood playing teenagers) were the featured characters in a prime time TV soap. It seems funny to say it now, but that was a pretty fresh idea. Look how hip they all looked…
You can stream the early episodes of the show at CBS All Access and Hulu in the US. In Australia they are on Ten All Access.
A great German series you should jump a wall to see
If you haven’t checked out Deutschland 83, definitely give that a look. It’s in its third season now (Season 2 is Deutschland 86 and now there’s Deutschland 89). It’s a fun(-ish) cold war spy show about a German agent sent from East Germany to West Germany where he’s confronted with freedom and a greater sense of youth culture.
In the US this is on Sundance TV. In Australia it streams on Stan.
If you’re watching The Boys, here’s a heads-up…
I understand a lot of you are watching The Boys on Amazon Prime Video. The season finale drops on the service NEXT Friday, which gives you a week for this. In the episode (and this isn’t really a spoiler - don’t freak out too much), there is a really strange homage to the movie Boogie Nights. No, I won’t explain any further. And also, no, it’s not THAT scene. Well, not exactly. But… if you have never seen Boogie Nights or you haven’t seen it since it came out… might I suggest finding a few hours this week and give it a watch. It’s a great film and it’ll give you a reference point next week.
returning:
South Park (s24), Carmen Sandiego (s3), Warrior (s2), Have I Got News For You (s6), Deutschland 83 (s3), The Simpsons (s32), Fargo (s4), Bob’s Burgers (s11), Family Guy (s19)
new:
Emily In Paris - Netflix
Stars: Lily Collins, Frédéric Anscombre, Samuel Arnold
A young American woman from the Midwest is hired by a marketing firm in Paris to provide them with an American perspective on things.
Good Morning Veronica - Netflix
Stars: Tainá Müller, Camila Morgado, Eduardo Moscovis
A serial killer with no limits. A system full of flaws and several hopeless victims. Nothing will stop Verônica’s fight for justice.
Monsterland - Hulu
Stars: Kaitlyn Dever, Mike Colter, Taylor Schilling
Encounters with Gothic beasts, including fallen angels and werewolves, broken people are driven to desperate acts in an attempt to repair their lives, ultimately showing there is a thin line between man and beast.
The Comey Rule - Showtime | Stan
Stars: Jeff Daniels, Holly Hunter, Michael Kelly, Brendan Gleeson
Jeff Daniels and Brendan Gleeson star as former FBI Dir. James Comey and President Donald J. Trump in this limited series of the story of two powerful men, whose strikingly different ethics and loyalties put them on a collision course.
Honour - ITV
Stars: Ahd, Waj Ali, Moe Bar-El
Follows the police investigation and the revelations about police failings in the run-up to the 'honour killing' of Banaz Mahmod, a 20-year-old Iraqi Kurdish woman who was murdered on the orders of her family after she left an abusive marriage for another man.
Connecting - NBC
Stars: Otmara Marrero, Parvesh Cheena, Ely Henry
Ensemble comedy series about a group of friends trying to stay connected during a global pandemic.
Until next week. Let’s be careful out there…
