TV Shows Watched: the Studio: S1E5 (Apple plus) with audio description, The Righteous Gemstones: S4E5 (MAX) with audio description, The Residence: S1E6 (Netflix) with audio description, The Wheel of Time: S3E5 (Amazon) with audio description, Long Bright River: S1E8 (Peacock) with audio description, Dying For Sex: S1E4 (Hulu) with audio description, deli Boys: S1E6 (Hulu) with audio description, Surface: S2E7 (Apple Plus) with audio description, and Ghosts: S4E16 (Paramount Plus) with audio description.

Best Episode: The Studio- Two of the supporting cast got to shine in an episode that had two execs facing off to see whose pet project would get made, which resulted almost in the termination of one of them. A great “anything you can do, I can do better” situation that went out of hand. However, guest appearances from Parker Finn and Owen Kline.

Runner Up: The Righteous Gemstones- A look at the past explains how these two families were the best of friends even while the Gemstone matriarch was around. Except, one person didn’t like this arrangement, and by grabbing the Golden bible, they may have had the opportunity to ruin Eli. However, this is a flashback episode, so have they just been stewing?

Worth mentioning: Long Bright River, Dying For Sex, the residence- If I was rounding out my top 5, it would be these three. Long Bright River concluded in an interesting way, and a great choice for the series. Dying For Sex had our characters exploring their BDSM side. The Residence was desperate for the testimony of The Third Man.

Best Audio Description: The Wheel Of Time- The science fiction and fantasy elements put this show over the top, even when it doesn’t have a big extended sequence, it seems like it is always finding the little magic along the way.

Runner Up: Dying For Sex- it had a flashback, but also the description in and around all the kink in the episode was great. I especially enjoyed the scene with the cage.

Worth Mentioning: Deli Boys, The Residence, long Bright River- These three would round out the top five. Deli Boys had a hilarious hostage situation to work out, The Residence had a fast paced ensemble doing a bunch of things, and Long Bright River’s consistently solid audio description solved its crime.

Best Performance: Jenny Slate (Dying For Sex)- In the great Michelle vs Jenny debate, over who really ends up at the top of the episode, I have to give it to Slate, who finishes out the episode offering forgiveness that may not feel like it, but also honors the wishes of her friend.

Runner Up: Ike Barinholtz (The Studio)- Choosing someone from this episode is hard too. I’ll give it to Ike, who has been reliably backing Seth Rogen for a few episodes, and tries to make the worst sounding Smile ripoff. However, it was the scene with his daughters, who cannot be bothered. His girls probably have everything, and yet they want nothing to do with him, nor do they even know who Eli Roth is. Did they not see Borderlands? No?

Worth mentioning: Megan Mullally (The righteous Gemstones), Amanda Seyfried (Long Bright River), and Michelle Williams (Dying For Sex), Jenifer Nettles (the righteous Gemstones), and Nicholas Pennick (Long Bright River)- it is more than five. Everyone deserves a mention. The Righteous women have excellent chemistry together. The episode gave Megan an opportunity to explore being in an emotionally abusive relationship, and Jennifer had a rare opportunity to return to the show and offer some warmth that is often missing. Amanda and Nicholas both finished out Long Bright River with some heartbreaking turns in their relationship. And, while I picked Slate, Michelle Williams does deserve praise for Dying For Sex as well.

Best Moment Of Audio Description: the cage (Dying For Sex)- this scene was so awkward, but I’m glad it got audio description.

Runner Up: Hugh Jackman? (The Residence)- i just caught that while they keep mentioning Jackman, they are going to great lengths to not show his face, which the description mentions here. Can’t they get Wolverine and his claws? they got Kylie Minogue and Al Franken.

Worst Of…- I love me some Gemstones, but I gotta wonder, in an episode where Eli directly refers to a specific bottle as housing bourbon, why is it referred to in the audio description as a whiskey bottle? Am i missing something? I would think you would just want to keep it the same just for consistency.