The Small Screen Diaries: 05/13/26
Netflix just went nuts yesterday at their upfront. They did announce some new shows, but they also announced some renewals, including an early Season 4 renewal for My Life With The Walter Boys, an expected pickup for the 11th season of Love Is Blind, a 3rd season of Quarterback, a somewhat surprising vote of confidence for Running Point for its 3rd season even after a ratings dip, and a 2nd season of Big Mistakes as Dan Levy also inks a development deal with Netflix. Sadly, they also confirmed that the upcoming fifth season of The Lincoln Lawyer will be its … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 05/13/26
Going In Blind: Strange Journey: The Rocky Horror Story
It is the review you’ve been waiting for. You might even say, you’re shivering with…. Anticipation. Strange Journey, directed by Linus O’Brien, son of Rocky Horror creator Richard o’Brien, is fan service to the max. But, after 50 years of Rocky Horror, what kind of fan service is appropriate? Last year, I reviewed a documentary titled Metallica Saved My Life, which while is about the origins of the rock band, is also about the fans, their stories, and how Metallica became a fundamental part of their lives. In an era where streaming services are dying for content creation, it seems … Continue reading Going In Blind: Strange Journey: The Rocky Horror Story
Going In Blind: Blue Film
I don’t think we will get a more controversial, daring, edgier, wholly original film this year than Blue Film. it is the film seemingly no one wanted, but everyone should have. For the Letterboxed generation seeking A24 vibes and deep diving into the Criterion collection, some of that is meant to make you uncomfortable. It is meant to make you think about something you don’t, or never would have. When people reach out and start rewatching Come and See, because the internet has pushed interest its direction, it isn’t because that film is an easy film to sit through. Quite … Continue reading Going In Blind: Blue Film
The Punisher: One Last Kill
Apparently, watching Frank Castle’s family die over and over is a necessary ingredient in The Punisher formula, much like needing to watch The Wayne’s die, and those pearls hit the ground, or Uncle Ben meet his demise in Spider-Man. We hold these truths to be self evident, all heroes have emotional baggage. Boy, does Frank have baggage. In the opening moments of the MArvel Special Presentation, we can tell Frank Castle is not doing well. And he only has 44 minutes to do better. Haunted by the ghosts of his past, the show leans on that literally by manifesting fake … Continue reading The Punisher: One Last Kill
The Small Screen Diaries: 05/12/26
Disney announced a few dates yesterday. Avatar: Fire and Ash is premiering June 24th on Disney Plus, to see if anyone will still care about it six months after its theatrical release. VisionQuest is coming to Disney Plus in October. Asoka is returning in early 2027. Camp Rock 3 will premiere in August. X-Men 97 is coming back sometime this summer, and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man returns in the fall. TV Shows Watched: American Idol: S24E15 (Disney Plus) no audio description, The NIght Agent: S3E7 (Netflix) with audio description, Imperfect Women: S1E6 (Apple) with audio description, The Miniature Wife: S1E1 … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 05/12/26
Landman: Season 2
Taylor Sheridan is running awfully close to oversaturation that has killed Ryan Murphy and Tyler Perry, and as an even hotter take, Dick Wolf. These mega-producers ahve too many irons in the fire, and Sheridan has basically kept Paramount Plus alive single handedly. It is baffling that Paramount let his contract expire, so he could sign with universal. I can’t even fathom what their service would look like without Landman, Tulsa King, Mayor Of Kings Town, Lioness, The Madison, and the multitude of Yellowstone spinoffs. Paramount owes more to Taylor Sheridan right now than they do their own controversial CEO. … Continue reading Landman: Season 2
Beef: Season 2
Arby’s may have the meats, but Netflix has the Beef. The first season helped put director Jake Schrier on the map to direct Thunderbolts, and now the upcoming X-Men reboot for Marvel. Series creator Lee Sung Jin is also working on the upcoming X-Men film, having created Beef following a lengthy career in TV on shows like Its Always Sunny and Undone. The first season of Beef was unexpected, taking a simple bad day interaction, and showing how that moment would irrevocably change lives forever. The evolution of the first season was really putting its leads through the wringer. People … Continue reading Beef: Season 2
The Small Screen Diaries: 05/11/26
Amazon gave a very early renewal to Reacher for a 5th season, with Season 4 set to premiere later this year, but a date has not been set. Also, ABC confirmed the pickup of The Rookie: North, and it plans to air both the new spinoff and The Rookie back-to-back starting at midseason. TV Shows Watched: Lord Of The Flies: S1E4 (Netflix) with audio description, The Count Of Monte Cristo: S1E8 (PBS) with audio description, Top Chef: S24E6 (Peacock) with audio description, Will Trent: S4E9 (Disney Plus) with audio description, Marshals: S1E5 (Paramount) with audio description, and LAst Week Tonight: … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 05/11/26
The Small Screen Diaries: 05/10/26
Some news came down the pike yesterday that Marvel confirmed that Season 3 of Daredevil: Born Again will have a time jump. How big? One year. You know, how long it is naturally between seasons. They are oddly adapting a Daredevil comic titled The Devil In Cell Block D, where Matt has to deal with being in prison at Rikers, and also having everyone know he’s Daredevil. The problem is, in the comic book, he’s in there with Kingpin, and the show decidedly went in a different direction. So who is coming back? The Defenders. Someone has to fight crime … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 05/10/26
Going In Blind: The Autumn Summer
I certainly admire how Jared Isaac approached directing The Autumn Summer, asking his cast to live in the same house while filming went on, so they could develop a deeper connection that feels like more than actors acting, but a lived in familial experience. If it weren’t for Isaac also getting such length out of the production value of his indie film, I’d be convinced many scenes in this were family and friends just existing in the same space and enjoying the tail end of summer together. He reportedly also encouraged improvisation, or at least actors to respond to each … Continue reading Going In Blind: The Autumn Summer
The Small Screen Diaries: 05/09/26
Happy Mother’s Day! There are a lot of great films with mothers in them, depending on your mood, and where you’re coming from. I’ve been thinking a lot this year about Catherine O’Hara’s performance in Home Alone, following her passing, and her against all odds determination to make sure she’s home in time for Christmas with Kevin. Even though what Kevin is doing is inherently why anyone watches the movie, there’s something so special about her journey, and the urgency O’Hara put into the role. Whether she’s riding with a polka band, or trying to pawn jewelry for a plane … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 05/09/26
The Small Screen Diaries: 05/08/26
ABC goes for a clean sweep, renewing every scripted series they aired in the 2026-2027 season. RJ Decker officially got picked up. This has never happened before. Are you excited for more RJ Decker? TV Shows Watched: Star Wars: Maul: Shadow Lord- S1E10 (Disney Plus) with audio description, Lord Of The Flies: S1E2 (Netflix) with audio description, The Audacity: S1E2 (AMC Plus) no audio description, Bel Air: S4E5 (Peacock) with audio description, American Gladiators: S1E2 (Amazon) with audio description, and The Lincoln Lawyer: S4E5 (Netflix) with audio description Maul: Shadow Lord- I already did a full review. Again, I’m sad … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 05/08/26
Star Wars: Maul: Shadow Lord: Season 1
I actually was asked about this audio description being AI. I was agog. The fact that I needed to fact check Dave Wallace’s performative wonder was less of a question as to whether I was right, and more of a concern that his voice had been cloned and someone knew something I didn’t. That would be appropriate for a Star Wars film that follows the Clone Wars, wouldn’t it? The clones won. Yet, that was a real life human doing the narrating. And we are better for it. Wallace brings to the table the indistinguishable quality of “still human” in … Continue reading Star Wars: Maul: Shadow Lord: Season 1
Remarkably Bright Creatures
You made it this far, so you are already a remarkably bright creature. Congratulations on that achievement. And kudos to the casting director, producer, director, Netflix,and anyone who allowed one of the greatest living actresses to have a film even half with her time. I’m exhausted by the geriatric specials we keep getting where someone picks a bunch of actors past their prime and tosses them into a film. I thought Kathy Bates might never have another decent role again after watching Summer Camp, but she landed Matlock. Sally Field had to endure 80 For Brady, which our Norma Rae, … Continue reading Remarkably Bright Creatures
The Small Screen Diaries: 05/07/26
TV Shows Watched: The Boys: S5E6 (Amazon) with audio description, Criminal Record: S2E1 (Apple) with audio description, Has Been Hotel: S2E8 (Amazon) with audio description, Dynasty: The Murdocks: S1E3 (Netflix) with audio description, and Margo’s Got Money Troubles: S1E1 (Apple) with audio description The Boys: Another major character bites the dust, the finale is a big cliffhanger, but I think the most important clue to the future of the series and the finale is in what Soldier Boy is asked to do this episode. In an exchange with Bombsite, he reveals he has a very specific power that will come … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 05/07/26
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