Tag Archives: TV

2018/2019 Fall TV is here!

Posted in Around the house by

I’m a little behind in my highly-anticipated annual post on fall television. Please accept my apologies, friends. And for those shows that have already debuted? That’s what OnDemand is for.

What am I watching now? As I write this, I’m watching the series finale of Shooter (USA). Ballers (HBO), The Purge (a new one from USA), and Barry (Showtime) have also been in rotation. It seems like every year I’m less and less excited about the new shows. This year is no different. Maybe you know something I don’t? Tell me what I should be watching and help get me jazzed!

What will I be watching? Welcome back to my returning favorites:

  • The Deuce, HBO (Sept. 9, 8 p.m.)
  • Bull, CBS (Sept. 24, 10 p.m.)  
  • The Goldbergs, ABC (Sept. 26, 8 p.m.)
  • Modern Family, ABC (Sept. 26, 9 p.m.)
  • The Good Place, NBC (Sept. 27, 8 p.m.)
  • Law & Order: SVU, NBC (Sept. 27, 9 p.m.)
  • How to Get Away With Murder, ABC (Sept. 27, 10 p.m.)
  • The Simpsons, FOX (Sept. 30, 8 p.m.)
  • Superstore, NBC (Oct. 4, 8 p.m.)
  • Riverdale, The CW (Oct. 10, 8 p.m.)
  • House of Cards, Netflix (Nov. 2)

Two of my favorites will be returning mid-season:

  • Good Girls, NBC
  • Jane the Virgin, The CW 

And now for the new shows I’ll be adding to the DVR and following until I decide I hate them:

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Amazon (Aug. 31)

Author Tom Clancy introduced the character of Jack Ryan in a series of books before Ryan headed to the big screen in several films. Now the former U.S. Marine is featured in an episodic series for the first time, with John Krasinski portraying Ryan in this Amazon original thriller that centers on Ryan as an up-and-coming CIA analyst. He is thrust into a dangerous field assignment for the first time and uncovers a pattern in terrorist communication. That launches him into the middle of a dangerous gambit with a new breed of terrorism that threatens destruction on a global scale.

Kidding, Showtime (Sept. 9, 10 p.m.)

Jeff, aka Mr. Pickles, is an icon of children’s television, a beacon of kindness and wisdom to America’s impressionable young minds; when his family begins to implode, Jeff finds that no fairy tale, fable or puppet can guide him through the crisis.

The Good Cop, Netflix (Sept. 21)

The Good Cop is an upcoming American television drama created by Andy Breckman based on the Israeli show of the same name created by Erez and Tomer Aviram and produced by Yoav Gross. It will consist of ten episodes, and will be released on Netflix.

New Amsterdam, NBC (Sept. 25, 10 p.m.)

Dr. Max Goodwin is brilliant, charming — and the new medical director at America’s oldest public hospital. While he’s set on tearing down the bureaucracy to provide exceptional care, the doctors and staff are not so sure. They’ve heard this before, and no one else has delivered on those promises. Not taking no for an answer, Max disrupts the status quo and proves he will stop at nothing to breathe new life into this understaffed, underfunded and underappreciated hospital — the only one in the world capable of treating Ebola patients, prisoners from Rikers Island and the president of the United States all under one roof — and return it to the glory that put it on the map. Inspired by Bellevue in New York City.

Single Parents, ABC (Sept. 26, 9:30 p.m.)

This ensemble comedy follows some single parents as they lean on each other to help raise their 7-year-old kids and maintain some kind of personal lives outside of parenthood. When the parents in the group meet Will, a 30-something guy who’s been so focused on raising his daughter that he’s lost sight of who he is as a man, they see just how far down the rabbit hole of PTA, parenting and princesses he has gone. The friends decide to band together to get him out in the dating world and make him realize that being a great parent doesn’t mean sacrificing everything about his own identity.

A Million Little Things, ABC (Sept. 26, 10 p.m.)

It has been said that friendship isn’t one big thing, it’s a million little things. That is certainly true for a group of friends from Boston who bonded under unexpected circumstances. Some have achieved success, others are struggling in their careers and relationships, but all of them feel stuck in life. After one of them dies unexpectedly, it’s just the wake-up call the others need to finally start living. Along the way, they discover that friends may be the one thing that can save them from themselves. 

I Feel Bad, NBC (Oct. 4, 9:30 p.m.)

Emet is the perfect mom, boss, wife, friend and daughter. OK, she’s not perfect. In fact, she’s just figuring it out like the rest of us. Sure, she feels bad when she has a sexy dream about someone other than her husband, David, or when she pretends not to know her kids, Lily and Louie, when they misbehave in public, or when she uses her staff to help solve personal problems. But nobody can have it all without making a few mistakes — and Emet’s realizing that as long as she doesn’t become her mother, it’s all going to work out pretty great.

Camping, HBO (Oct. 14, 10 p.m.)

An obsessively organized and aggressively controlling woman gathers together her meek sister, her holier-than-thou ex-best friend, and a free-spirited tagalong for a back-to-nature camping trip to celebrate her husband’s 44th birthday.

The Rookie, ABC (Oct. 16, 10 p.m.)

Starting over isn’t easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan, who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of becoming an LAPD officer. As the force’s oldest rookie, he’s met with skepticism from some higher-ups who see him as just a walking midlife crisis. If he can’t keep up with the young cops and the criminals, he’ll be risking lives — including his own — but if he can use his life experience, determination and sense of humor to give him an edge, he may just become successful in this new chapter of his life.

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Netflix (Oct. 26)

As her 16th birthday nears, Sabrina must choose between the witch world of her family and the human world of her friends; based on the “Archie” comic. (Think Sabrina the Teenage Witch meets Riverdale!)

Grand Hotel, ABC (mid-season, likely 2019)

Eva Longoria executive produces this bold, provocative drama set at the last family-owned hotel in multicultural Miami Beach. Charismatic Santiago Mendoza owns the hotel, while his glamorous second wife, Gigi, and their adult children enjoy the spoils of success.The hotel’s loyal staff round out a contemporary, fresh take on an upstairs/downstairs story. Wealthy and beautiful guests bask in luxury, but scandals, escalating debt and explosive secrets hide beneath the picture-perfect exterior. The show is based on the Spanish series.

The Gilded Age, NBC (mid-season, likely 2019)

When the population of the US doubled at the end of the 19th century, transforming America, disparities between rich and poor sparked passionate debate. Food, coal, steel and oil made fortunes for some, but seldom for the workers on the front lines of industry.

Abby’s, NBC (mid-season, likely 2019)

The oddball cast of characters that hang out at Abby’s believe everyone needs a bar to call home. Theirs just happens to be an unlicensed watering hole in Abby’s backyard, where the drinks are cheap and the laughs abound. But what really makes this place so special is Abby. She’s a tough cookie with no time for nonsense. She doesn’t allow cellphones, earning a seat at the bar takes time, and losing a challenge means drinking a limey, sugary, non-beer cocktail — and her regulars wouldn’t have it any other way.

Set those DVRs and tell me what I should be watching to help get me jazzed for the new shows!

{2017/2018} Fall TV updates: What I’m still watching and going to miss

Posted in Around the house by

Every September I write about my hopes and dreams for the upcoming fall TV season. Read last year’s post here.

And then around this time every year, as the shows are wrapping up for the season, I take some time to reflect on what I thought of the shows, and how I feel about their fate to return for next season. Read last year’s RIP fall TV post here.

What am I watching now? As I write this, I’m catching up on For the People. I’ve also been engrossed in Riverdale, Westworld, and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

Some of my favorites that left or likely will be leaving after this season: 

  • Vice Principals
    • It was only meant to be two seasons and got weird here and there, but I still miss it.
  • Scandal
    • It was time. I was surprisingly unfilled by the finale.
  • Designated Survivor
    • I figured it was nearing the end when they killed off Alex last season, but I still enjoy it!
  • Great News
    • I was fond of this show but never made it a priority. I guess I wasn’t the only one.
  • Quantico
    • I’m catching up on the current season and it’s weird. It’s time.
  • Timeless
    • This show is cute! I hope it stays on!!
  • Shades of Blue
    • I watched the first season sort of. No loss here.

And those who newbies that couldn’t make it work:

  • The Crossing
    • We’re catching up on this show and it’s good, but I’m definitely not hooked.
  • Law & Order: True Crime
    • The Mendez Brothers series was interesting. I’d like to see more stories.
  • 9JKL
    • This show was sort of cute, but ridiculous. It was time.
  • Alex, Inc.
    • I intended to watch this show but then didn’t. I guess I wasn’t the only one!
  • For the People
    • It is good but it does seem like it’s missing the mark. Maybe they’ll come back and turn it around?
  • Ghosted
    • Such potential. Such a disappointment.
  • Life Sentence
    • I thought the show was cute, and I’ll miss it. Lucy Hale’s duck lips though? Not right.
  • The Mayor
    • I gave up on this show less than one episode in. It was bad.

So, what’s on-tap for the summer TV viewing?

  • Nashville returns June 7
  • The Bold Type returns June 12
  • Young & Hungry returns June 20
  • Take Two premieres June 21
  • Westworld wraps up June 24
  • Making It premieres July 31 (I’ll still watch, even though I’m not on it. Jerks.)
  • Ballers returns August 12

Above renewal assumptions informed by Zimbio.

Tell me what else I should be watching!

Fall 2017 TV premiere dates

Posted in Around the house by

It’s about that time again: fall TV premieres!!! I don’t know about you, but I’m in a bit of a TV lull, so I’m eagerly awaiting all of the new shows to start and my favorites to return. (Plus, since I use Norwex to clean now, I have even more time for TV!)

What am I watching now? As I write this, I’m watching Shooter (USA), Ballers (HBO), and I keep re-watching Game of Thrones (HBO).  We’re also catching up on Homeland (we’re only on season 4. It’s been awhile since we have had Showtime…) and I just discovered that our new local library has House of Cards (Netflix). We’ll start back on House of Cards once we’re all caught up with Homeland! With Westworld waiting until 2018 to return, and GoT waiting until 2019, I’m hoping I love some of these new shows too!

What will I be watching? Welcome back to my returning favorites:

  • Vice Principals, HBO (Sept. 17, 10:30 p.m.)
  • The Good Place, NBC (Sept. 20, 10 p.m.)
  • The Goldbergs, ABC (Sept. 27, 8 p.m.)
  • Law & Order: SVU, NBC (Sept. 27, 9 p.m.)
  • Modern Family, ABC (Sept. 27, 9 p.m.)
  • American Housewife, ABC (Sept. 27, 9:30 p.m.)
  • Designated Survivor, ABC (Sept. 27, 10 p.m.)
  • Superstore, NBC (Sept. 28, 8 p.m.)
  • Great News, NBC (Sept. 28, 9:30 p.m.)
  • How to Get Away With Murder, ABC (Sept. 28, 10 p.m.)
  • The Simpsons, FOX (Oct. 1, 8 p.m.)
  • Scandal, ABC (Oct. 5, 9 p.m.) Final season!
  • Riverdale, The CW (Oct. 11, 8 p.m.)
  • Mr. Robot, USA Network (Oct. 11, 10 p.m.)
  • Jane the Virgin, The CW (Oct. 13, 9 p.m.)
  • Life in Pieces, CBS (Nov. 2, 9:30 p.m.)

And some of my favorites will be returning midseason:

  • Quantico
  • Nashville
  • Shades of Blue
  • Timeless

What new shows will I be watching? In addition to Law & Order’s new True Crime series (NBC, 9/26, 10 p.m.) and the Will & Grace revival (NBC, 9/28, 9 p.m.), there are a handful of other shows that have piqued my interest. All explanations are from Wikipedia unless noted below.

9JKL, CBS (Oct. 2, 8:30 p.m.)

Josh Roberts, a divorced actor, lives in apartment 9K, with his family living in adjacent apartments: his parents live in 9J, while his brother, sister-in-law, and their newborn baby live in 9L. This unique situation prompts him to set boundaries while bonding with his family members.

The show is loosely based on Feuerstein’s experiences while shooting the USA Network series Royal Pains; in real life, however, Feuerstein lived with his wife 9JKL executive producer Dana Klein while living next to his own family.

(I love Hank and I miss Royal Pains!)

Alex, Inc., debuting midseason

The series follows Alex Schuman, a radio journalist, husband and father of two, who decides to quit his job and start his own company.

A.P. Bio, debuting midseason

Jack Griffin is a philosophy scholar who missed out on his dream job. After that happened, he gets a job at Whitlock High School where he teaches Advance Placement Biology. With a class filled with honor students, Jack plans to misdirect Principal Durbin in order to use the students’ talents to get back at his job-stealing nemesis.

Deception, debuting midseason

After his career as a magician is ruined by scandal, Las Vegas illusionist Cameron Black becomes the world’s first “consulting illusionist” as he works with the FBI to solve odd crimes.

The Deuce, HBO (Sept. 10, 9 p.m.)

In New York, the violence of the drug epidemic is worsening. Twin brothers, Vincent and Frankie Martino, become fronts for the Mob while operating out of Times Square, which is also the home of “Candy,” a sex worker who turns to the now legal emerging porn industry.

For the People, debuting midseason

Set in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) Federal Court, also known as “The Mother Court,” For the People follows brand new lawyers working for both the defense and the prosecution as they handle the most high-profile and high-stakes cases in the country – all as their personal lives intersect.

Ghosted, FOX (Oct. 7, 8:30 p.m.)

The series will follow a skeptic and a genius “true believer” in the paranormal who are recruited by an organization called The Bureau Underground to investigate a series of “unexplained” activities that are occurring in the Los Angeles area, which are supposedly tied to a mysterious entity that could threaten the existence of the human race.

Homemade Project, debuting midseason

It’s going to be hard to watch, since I’m not on it, but I’ll manage… and start working on my application for next year!

Instinct, debuting midseason

A former CIA agent (Cumming) who has become a professor and author is asked to get back into the game when the NYPD asks for help to stop a serial killer.

Life Sentence, debuting midseason

When Stella finds out her terminal cancer is cured, she’s going to have to learn to live with all the choices she made when she decided to “live like she was dying.”

The Mayor, ABC (Oct. 3, 9:30 p.m.) (information from IMDB)

A struggling hip-hop artist runs for mayor to promote his mix-tape and wins.

Reverie, debuting midseason (information from IMDB)

A former detective specializing in human behavior is brought in when the launch of an advanced virtual reality program has dangerous and unintended consequences.

What should I be watching? Let me know if there are any shows I’m missing that you think I’d enjoy!

(Look back at some of my TV viewing plans here: 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013)

 

 

The Handmade Project

Posted in Adventures, Crafts, DIY, Homemade, Parties!, Photos, Q13 by

Umm… did you know that my wildest dreams might actually come true?! It’s a long shot, but when Brandon forwarded me the application for The Handmade Project, a reality television show about crafting (!!!!), I knew that I had to apply.

It took three weeks for me to perfect my responses to the dozens of questions they asked, find my craft projects and photos, and to film just the right 3 minute video. The stars aligned last week and I submitted my application!

You have to apply to be chosen! Fingers crossed!!

I’ve never applied to a reality TV show before, but I’m guessing it’s a little bit of a popularity contest, so I’d really appreciate it if you could please watch, comment, and like my application video on YouTube, this blog post, and on my social channels. (Links in the top right!)

Who knows… you might be seeing me on the big screen in August!

Here are some highlights of my application, so you can know what you’re supporting:

My PR/introductory blurb:

During the day, Megan Szerwo is a real-life Leslie Knope, making her living working on behalf of the people of the City of Seattle. After hours though, Megan grabs a glass of her favorite red and she gets down to business on her real passion: crafting. A jack of all trades, Megan focuses her attention on party and holiday decor, gifts for new parents, and any and every craft possible with her endless supply of corks. Megan’s three passions in life are easily described: cats, crafts, and carafes! Megan lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband, son, and two cats.

And some of the projects that I highlight:

My Q13 debut!

My small business: Little Britches Bakery

Our homemade wood-fired oven in the backyard

My party pinatas

My mad party-throwing skills

Cork art!

And a couple of projects that are new to you as a blog reader:

Michael’s ONE HAPPY CAMPER first birthday party! I promise you’ll see it soon!

Muzzle Guzzler glassware: coming soon!

Fourth of July onesies! (Post coming only a year late, but in time for 7/4/17!)

Since it’s likely that this show would just perfectly foul up our Buffalo moving plans, it’s almost guaranteed to happen!

Don’t forget to watch my application video, tell all your friends to watch it, and like/comment on this post!

Thank you for reading and your unending support of my creative endeavors!

Fall 2016 TV premiere dates

Posted in Around the house by

The DVR has been emptied and programmed and I’m ready to plop down and spend a considerable amount of time watching… What, you ask?! Let me tell you…

First, I’d like to take a moment and pour some out for my shows that aren’t returning this year. (Did you see that Nashville is coming back!? Thank you, CMT!!!)

Next, I’d like to welcome back my returning favorites:

  • The Goldbergs, ABC (Sept. 21, 8 a.m.)
  • Modern Family, ABC (Sept. 21, 9 a.m.)
  • Superstore, NBC (Sept. 22, 8 p.m.)
  • The Blacklist, NBC (Sept. 22, 10 p.m.)
  • How to Get Away With Murder, NBC (Sept. 22, 10 p.m.)
  • The Simpsons, FOX (Sept. 25, 8 p.m.)
  • Quantico, ABC (Sept. 25, 10 p.m.)
  • Jane the Virgin, CW (Oct. 17, 9 p.m.)
  • Life in Pieces, CBS (Oct. 27, 9:30 p.m.)
Print your fall premiere guide here!

Print your fall premiere guide here!

And finally, I’ve done a bit of research and I’ve included these new shows in my list this fall: (All show explanations are from Wikipedia except for Divorce. That explanation comes directly from HBO.)

Designated Survivor, ABC (Sept. 21, 10 p.m.)

On the night of the State of the Union, an explosion claims the lives of the President and all members of the Cabinet except for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Tom Kirkman, who had been named the designated survivor. Kirkman is immediately sworn in as President, unaware that the attack is just the beginning of what is to come.

The Good Place, NBC (Sept. 22, 8:30 p.m.)

After she is struck and killed by a tractor-trailer carrying erectile dysfunction products, a woman named Eleanor wakes up to discover she has entered the afterlife. But when she is told by her mentor Michael that she is in “the good place” because she did a good deed by helping get innocent people off death row, she realizes that a mistake has been made and they think she is someone else.

Stuck in a world where no one curses or gets drunk and everyone is always nice, Eleanor finds herself caught between staying in the afterlife or trying to find a way to return to the mundane life she had back on Earth, as her entry into this spirited realm has caused a disruption since her arrival and she has to hide her not-so-perfect mortal behavioral past from everyone so they won’t send her to “the other place.”

Notorious, ABC (Sept. 22, 9 p.m.)

The show is based on real-life criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos and Larry King Live news producer Wendy Walker. It’s a drama that goes behind the scenes of the murky relationship between criminal law and the media as an influential attorney and a TV producer manipulate the headlines and public opinion

MacGyver, CBS (Sept. 23, 8 p.m.)

A reboot of the 1985–1992 ABC series of the same name. Angus “Mac” MacGyver creates a secret U.S. government organization where he uses his extraordinary talents for problem solving and his extensive knowledge of science to save lives. I vaguely remember the original and still think of it when I use duct tape. I’m looking forward to this!

Westworld, HBO (Oct. 2, 10 p.m.)

Described as “a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the future of sin,” the series tells the story of a futuristic theme park called Westworld. I’ve heard great things and enjoy most HBO shows, so I’m in.

Timeless,  NBC (Oct. 3, 10 p.m.)

Timeless is about a time-traveling criminal who steals a time machine in order to change the course of American history and destroy the country. It sort of looks like Forever, a show I really miss, so, I’ll give it a shot.

Insecure, HBO (Oct. 9, 10:30 p.m.)

Insecure is an upcoming HBO original series created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore, which is partially based on Rae’s web series Awkward Black Girl.

Divorce, HBO (Oct. 9, 10 p.m.)

Sarah Jessica Parker returns to HBO in the new comedy series, Divorce. Parker stars as Frances, a woman who suddenly begins to reassess her life and her marriage, and finds that making a clean break and a fresh start is harder than she thought. 

The Great Indoors, CBS (Oct. 27, 8:30 p.m.)

Jack has made a name for himself as an adventure reporter for the magazine Outdoor Limits. His days of exploring the world end when the magazine’s founder, Roland, announces its move to web-only publishing and assigns Jack to supervise the millennials who make up its online team of so-called journalists. I love Joel McHale!

A.P.B., FOX (Coming in 2017)

A tech-billionaire is given control over a Chicago Police district, hoping to close the file of a murder of a loved one. The story is loosely based on the New York Times-article “Who Runs the Streets of New Orleans?”

Let’s not forget about my favorite mid-season returners in early 2017:

  • The Catch
  • Grimm
  • Nashville
  • Pretty Little Liars (final season!)
  • Scandal
  • Shades of Blue
  • Sleepy Hollow

Let me know if there are any shows I’m missing that you think I’d enjoy! We upgraded our DVR this year, so we have the space, even if I don’t have the time to watch live!

(Look back at some of my TV viewing plans here: 2015 | 2014 | 2013)

RIP fall TV

Posted in Around the house by
Good bye, Royal Pains!

Good bye, Royal Pains!

I lost several dear friends last week: Hank, Divya, and even Evan.

With very little fanfare, Royal Pains said goodbye. A couple of months ago, Castle and Nashville ended their final season. Sadly, my endorsement of a show or product is usually the final nail in the coffin. Even if it’s expected, it’s still sad.

I want to take a few minutes to mourn my favorite shows that have recently faded into oblivion or are on their way out:

Some long-time favorites:
  • Castle — Thankfully, Castle will live on in syndication.
  • Nashville — I’m still catching up, so don’t spoil it for me. I’m hoping it ended exactly as it should.
  • Royal Pains — It ended exactly as it should have. All sunshines and lollipops. Makes me want to visit the Hamptons post haste!
  • Pretty Little Liars — There have been 15+ “A’s” and it’s probably time for the Liars to finally grow up, but I’m still going to miss this show!
  • Downton Abbey — I’m still a season behind, but I hope to binge watch soon and I’ll miss it!
  • The Soup — To be honest, I haven’t watched the Soup in years and since my DVR stopped recording it, I thought it had been cancelled a long time ago.
 New “I thought you were going to work out!” shows:
  • Grinder — This show is so stupid that it’s perfect and is perfectly cast. With Parks & Rec and now Grinder canceled, where will I got my Rob Lowe fix from?
  • The Catch — I had really high hopes for this show, but it fizzled. The characters and the plot weren’t believable anymore; I get it.
  • Telenovela — Another fun watch, but not fun enough apparently. I’ve missed seeing Eva Longoria on the small screen and I hope she lands on her feet with another show soon!
  • Sleepy Hollow killed off one of their show leads (Abbie Mills), so maybe Sleepy Hollow is on it’s way out too?
To end this on a positive note, I’d love to hear what you’re watching or looking forward to this fall season?

House of Cards is BACK!

Posted in Around the house, Drinky drinky by

Teaser

Oh yeah! Today is a big day: House of Cards is back on Netflix! (Technically, I believe it was available this morning at midnight, so maybe you stayed up all night watching? More power to you, if yes!)

We’ve got our canned Underwood wine, so we’re ready to go.

Underwood canned wine

To refresh your memory, here is the latest on what’s going on:

Backstabbing

I found a couple of drinking games that we may or may not play. I wanted to share them with you though, just in case you want to play:

Drinkinggame2

Drinkinggame

And if you’re not into drinking and want to make a healthy game of it, or if you’re binge watching and need to try and stay awake, here is a House of Cards workout game:

Workout

Happy watching and cheers!

Fall 2015 TV viewing update

Posted in Around the house by

As some of my shows wrap up for their holiday hiatus, I thought I would give you an update as to what made the cut for my 2015 TV viewing pleasure. Here is my post on the new 2015 season.

2015-9 TV Line Premiere

The usuals:

  • Castle. Can’t Beckett and Castle just be happy together already!?
  • The Goldbergs. Love this show (especially Beverly!!) but what happened to Adam’s voice?! The actor is 16 years old in real life, so is his voice an act? I hate it.
  • Modern Family. Love the show but one thing still weighs on me: why didn’t they do a Halloween episode?! It’s Claire’s favorite holiday!
  • Nashville. Love this show!
  • Scandal. Slightly over-dramatic this season, but I’m still enjoying it!
  • How to Get Away With Murder. Interesting story line this season, but really? These poor law students. They get into so much trouble!
  • Sleepy Hollow. Love this show!
  • Jane the Virgin. Over the top, but great. And I totally identify with Jane as a new mom. (Literally all of the baby references are true and things that I have recently experienced. Except for the baby blinking thing. I didn’t realize that was a big milestone. Oops.)
  • Grimm. Love this show too, but I wish Juliette wasn’t “killed off” last season. (I know she’s still filming since I follow her on Instagram, so hopefully it’s a fake out.)

And the newbies:

  • Blindspot. This show intrigues me. We’re a couple of episodes behind, but I like it. I think there is potential here.
  • Grinder. I love Rob Lowe and this show is a lot of fun. I’d recommend it and will keep watching!
  • Quantico. I wasn’t going to tune in to this show but a friend told me that she was going to watch, so I did too. Boy am I glad! Both Brandon and I love this show and look forward to watching it each week!
  • Wicked City. I love Chuck from Gossip Girl and this new show is eerie. It’s all sorts of effed up and I kind of love it. Plus now I have Phantom of the Opera tunes floating through my head.

And those not worthy:

  • Bastard Executioner. Not even Vampire Bill (from True Blood) could make this series worth watching. I couldn’t – and didn’t – make it through the first 30 minutes of the pilot!
  • Z Nation. We finally pulled the plug on this show. It got too weird.
  • Gotham. I still record this show, but it’s usually the show I put on to doze to. Sorry, Gotham. You’re too weird too.
  • Scream Queens. This looked funny and campy, but it’s just annoying and stupid. I can’t keep the characters or the storyline straight.
  • The Player. Thought I’d like this show, but didn’t realize what it was truly about. I watched the trailer and just deleted the subsequent eight episodes saved on my DVR. Thanks but no thanks.
  • The Blacklist. This show also got weird. I’m torn on whether or not to keep watching.

What do you think about the new shows this season? Any shows you’d recommend? Do you agree with my commentary? Happy watching!

Fall 2015 TV premieres

Posted in Around the house by

Along with football season, it’s TV premiere season! (One of my favorite times of the year!)

First and foremost, here is the printable calendar. I’d recommend you print this immediately and highlight the shows you’ll be watching. (I’ve already printed, highlighted, AND confirmed the first several listings in my DVR.)

2015-9 TV Line Premiere

I’m most excited for the returning shows, in chronological order of return:

Last year I tried watching the new shows Z Nation, Gotham, and The Flash, but I think only Gotham will make it’s way back onto my DVR this season.

We’re going to be tuning in sporadically to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (On now!, 11:35 p.m., CBS) and The Daily Show With Trevor Noah (9/28, 11 p.m., Comedy Central) and will try out the following new shows:

We found Forever to be a really good show last year, and I’m bummed that it was cancelled. Stupid ABC.

My mid-season favorites will be returning toward the end of the year, including: Pretty Little Liars, Young & Hungry, Downtown Abbey (final season!), Game of Thrones, Orange Is the New Black, and my new favorites House of Cards, Ballers and The Brink, among others.

Read last year’s fall TV premiere post here and happy watching!

MegAn’s Pretty Little LiArs pArty

Posted in Crafts, DIY, Drinky drinky, Food by

As a blog reader, I’m sure that you know that I love TV. And this week is a very good week for TV because the shows are BAAAAACK!

I’m especially excited for some of my mid-season shows to return: Downton Abbey (last night), Pretty Little Liars (1/6), and Parks & Rec (1/13)!

Today’s blog post is about the Pretty Little Liars (PLL) premiere TOMORROW on ABC Family. I’m having my friends Liz and Emily over to watch the show and I know that many more of my friends will be watching… even if they pretend that Pretty Little Liars is for pre-teens. (Which it so isn’t!)

If you’re unfamiliar with Pretty Little Liars, here’s a quick tutorial:

Rosewood is a perfect little town. So quiet and pristine, you’d never guess it holds so many secrets. Some of the ugliest ones belong to the prettiest girls in town: Aria, Spencer, Hanna and Emily, four friends whose darkest secrets have been unraveling since Alison, the Queen Bee of their group disappeared. As the mystery surrounding Ali’s disappearance resurfaces, the girls begin getting messages from a mysterious “A,” who they quickly realize is out to get them. Now, after years of tormenting and numerous shocking revelations, the Liars are united and ready to kick some “A” and uncover the truth! No longer just wanting to sit by and wait for “A’s” latest cruel attack, Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer take matters into their own hands and try to finally put a stop to their tormentor. As relationships are put to the test, new and old secrets are revealed and the stakes are raised higher than ever before as the Liars come closer to the truth. Will all of their sacrifices be worth it in the end?

When Liz and Emily come over, we’re doing it up in full PLL style! Here are some of my ideas for what I’ve coined as:

M-PLL-partyAn “A” food 

Autumn apple and sausage scramble

Salad with Apple cider vinegar dressing

Asparagus, Artichoke and Mushroom Saute Over Pasta

Maybe a pizza with a pepperoni “A” on it? (We do have a wood-fired oven in the backyard…)

An "A" pizza? Maybe!!

An “A” pizza? Maybe!!

Or anything arugula! (So many “A” food options!)

A PLL beverage

The Liars are all about coffee, but I’m not, so I’m thinking wine instead. Depending on what I decide for dinner plans, I’m thinking a nice Ravenswood blend, after the PLL spinoff that got cancelled (very sadly) last year.

Decor

Since we’re having a party of three (five if you count the cats!), I’ll go easy on the decor, but have to do something!

Here are some of the ideas I’ve found on Pinterest:

"A" letters throughout the house

“A” letters throughout the house

"A" cookies, pictures, letters, oh my!

“A” cookies, pictures, letters, oh my!

Handmade notes, maybe put them in fortune cookies!?

Handmade notes, maybe put them in fortune cookies!?

Maybe some homemade wine glasses are in order?! 

Maybe some homemade wine glasses are in order?!

Very special "A" shot glasses 

Very special “A” shot glasses

So many great ideas are swirling in my mind right now! I’m so excited for the premiere and our partAy!