A couple more interesting WGA Strike tidbits. The Rings Of Power was told to continue filming without it’s showrunners (who are WGA members, and on strike). So if you were concerned about the quality last season, this could either be a good or bad thing. Probably bad though. And Evil, which was finishing filming on its fourth season, ended up wrapping filming early because the strike was too disruptive. I don’t know how you end early in a positive way. I would assume that means scenes are not being shot. I would think that affects the continuity of the show.

12) Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies (Paramount Plus)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: not Yet Renewed

Started watching whatever the hell this thinks it is. I suppose if I was totally unfamiliar with Grease, I might be able to enjoy it. it seems to have its own thing going, but that’s a problem because it’s a prequel series to Grease, so it should have more of a vibe that matches that original movie, and it doesn’t. Instead of feeling like a throwback, it feels desperately contemporary, like it was written by people who have no idea what this time period was like. The characters talk and act more modern. Everything about this is so bizarre. I really do like to try and give shows a second episode, but i had to struggle to get through the first, which says a lot because this has musical numbers in it. I want to support it so bad, but it is just… so bad.

Episode Grade: D+

11) Jury Duty (FreeVee)

English Audio Description?: No

Status: Not Yet Renewed

FreeVee has done AD before, and I’m going to try and watch the next episode in a different way. i did it through the FreeVee app on Roku, and only the Default audio track existed. This is a show that is going to be entirely based on the reactions of the one individual who is not an actor, and without that knowledge or information, this first episode felt almost like a drama. It doesn’t work for me without AD. I’m sure it’s great for sighted people. I’ve heard good things. This just made no sense.

English Audio Description?: C+

10) 8 Simple Rules (Disney Plus)

English Audio Description?: No

Status: Ended

I remember enjoying this show. The pilot is a lot. john Ritter is a lot in the first episode. Katey Sagal is not in most of the pilot. If anything, Kaley Cuoco has more scenes. But, this show is now over 20 years old, and I figured I’d walk down memory lane for a while.

Episode Grade: B-

9) Tiny Beautiful Things (Hulu)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Not Yet Renewed

I do believe this is a limited series. That didn’t stop Big little Lies from getting a second season. But, this feels like I didn’t have enough time to fully figure out the tone of the show. The beginning opened up with a montage of what to expect, which made it feel like a comedy, and it does have Kathryn Hahn, but really the pilot lands on a dramatic note. I need more before I can really judge this show.

Episode Grade: B-

8) Beef (Netflix)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Limited Series

I don’t know why this is so popular other than that A24 label. What a bizarre show, with an odd cast of characters, and sequence of events. With this centering on road rage as a catalyst, it feels very 2023, but that’s where that ends. A lot of the choices seem like they were made just because they were choices no one else would have made.

Episode Grade: B-

7) Home Improvement (Hulu)

English Audio Description?: no

Status: Ended

Brad gets his license, and gets into a fender bender where he lies to his parents about it. Not the best course of action. This episode felt like it ended abruptly and without full resolution.

Episode Grade: B

6) Boy Meets World (Disney plus)

English Audio Description?: No

Status: Ended

Cory’s Grandmother (special guest star Rue McClanahan) comes to town, and toys with his emotions. Eric gets to take Feeny’s niece on a date.

Episode Grade: B+

5) Anamaniacs (Hulu)

English Audio Description?: Yes

No Pinky and the Brain? Well, the Smash Bros parody was strong enough to carry the episode. We do get Starbox, and it would seem the alien threat is much greater than we knew.

Episode Grade: A-

4) 911 (FOX/hulu)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Moved To ABC

It’s a full moon out, and that means some crazy guy is on the loose. There’s also another man eating a guys face, and a bunch of women giving birth at the same time. There’s a bad moon on the rise.

Episode Grade: A-

3) Unstable (Netflix)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Renewed For A Second Season

Rob Lowe’s new sitcom celebrates his infectious energy. He’s really great in this show. I don’t know where it’s going in the long term, but of all the programs I started today, this was the one I felt like I got the best representation of what it wants to be, and also liked it.

Episode Grade: A-

2) All In The family (FreeVee)

English Audio Description?: No

Status: Ended

One of those very special episodes where we jump in and discuss a big topic. Here, in Season 3, we brush on the concept of interracial relationships when Lionel takes Archie’s niece out dancing unbeknownst to him. It goes almost exactly as you’d expect, but really it’s Lionel who brings the whole episode together as his usual cheery disposition is drained between the polar extremes of his uncle and Archie in their battle over what Lionel should and should not be doing.

Episode Grade: A

1) Friends (HBo MAX)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Ended

This is one of my favorite episodes of the Friends series, when the gang sits down to watch the prom video of Rachel and Monica. Ross is uncomfortable with watching, as he remembers the night very differently, and by the end of the episode we understand why. But most importantly, so does Rachel. For fans of Ross and Rachel, this is one of their best moments.

Episode Grade: A