Tag: TV

How The Great North Pivoted From a One-Character Show to an Ensemble Animated Classic

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When The Great North premiered on Fox in 2021, viewers were excited to welcome a new animated family into their lives. Starring the voice talents of Nick Offerman, Jenny Slate, and Will Forte, the animated series is set on a family living in Alaska, led by their patriarch, Beef Tobin. The other characters to round out the series are Beef’s children Judy, Ham, Moon, Wolf, and Wolf’s wife Honeybee.

The first episodes of the new series focused exclusively on young Judy, the only girl in the family surrounded by three brothers. We watched as she dealt with crushes, mean girls, and going home to the chaotic family that she adores. Almost every episode of this first season began and ended with Judy going out on the roof of the Tobin home to talk to her imaginary friend, Alanis Morissette. (Voiced by THE Morrisette. I don’t know how they pulled that off either.) The first season is a strong offering, but I will be the first to admit that I stopped watching after the season was finished. I couldn’t give you a specific reason at the time, but I can confidently say now that I was a little tired of Judy being the main focus of the show. 

Twin siblings, Judy and Ham Tobin

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy watching Judy and her chaos. A favorite episode of mine from the first season is when Judy develops a big crush on the new boy in town, Crispin. Crispin comes to the Tobin house, meets her family, and agrees to accompany her to the big dance… because he has a crush on Ham. A theater girl has to fall in love with a gay boy at some point, it’s just a right of passage. But for the gay boy to fall in love with her twin brother? A perfect episode if you ask me. 

I relate to Judy’s goody two shoes and try-hard nature. I do believe she brings a lot of laughs to the show. But I didn’t realize just how much the show could grow until the writers chose to shift away from Judy. 

Season two opens with another Judy-centric episode, but slowly begins to pan outward on other characters. We watch as Ham joins a punk band, Beef begins to branch out and date, Honeybee attempts to infiltrate local politics, Moon hides the siblings’ report cards because he’s failing math, and Wolf joins a children of divorced parents support group. 

We start to see individual relationships between characters become solidified throughout the season. My personal favorite pairing is Honeybee and Moon. Who would have thought that the youngest Tobin child and the newest addition to the Tobin family could get along so well? Watching these two characters bond has been one of my favorite parts of the show. 

The Great North is one of my favorite animated comedies currently on the air. It’s a great addition to the Fox lineup, especially when it’s aired alongside Bob’s Burgers. Two wholesome, hilarious, eccentric families just trying to make it in this world. I believe we need more of that.

The Great North can provide that as long as it zooms out and continues to showcase its wide variety of worthy characters.

The Great North airs Sunday nights on FOX and is available to stream on Hulu.

Why Lisa Simpson Is One of My Role Models

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Note: Enjoy this quick essay I wrote as a part of my grad school application! I wanted to write something a little less serious but still heartfelt as a part of my writing portfolio. I bounced around between topics, characters, and media in my head for a while before landing on my favorite girl, Lisa Marie Simpson. Let’s hope the admissions offices enjoy it, too!

When The Simpsons premiered in December 1989, I doubt that creator Matt Groening could have predicted even an ounce of the cultural impact that the series would have over the four decades it has aired. Even more dubious, if he heard that Lisa Simpson would become a role model for a young girl born in Iowa in the 90s, I bet he would have a question or two. 

On paper, it may sound ridiculous that one of the consistent role models of my life has been a fictional eight-year-old girl. My sixth-grade English teacher laughed when I wrote that I aspired to “learn like Lisa” on a poster board meant to show her our goals for the year. But I was undeterred. I knew what she didn’t – that Lisa Simpson is one of the most influential characters on television. 

Not one of the most influential animated characters. Not one of the most influential female characters. One of the most influential characters to ever be on television. 

When the Simpson family was first shown on The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987, Lisa was her big brother Bart’s sidekick. They got into mischief together, driving their parents crazy as a team. This dynamic continued through The Simpsons first season. As a Simpsons fan would know, the series first revolved around the idea of Bart vs. Homer. Bart was the lovable rascal next door, and Homer was the hard-ass father who tried to keep him in line. Bart was essentially the main character of the show in these earliest seasons. He wouldn’t be for long, though.

The first Lisa-centric episode of the series occurs in 1×6, titled “Moaning Lisa.” It touches on heavy themes, including depression. We follow Lisa as she has a bad day at school, gets ignored at home, and sends herself to her room to decompress. While there, she hears the notes of music floating from her window. We are then introduced to one of Lisa’s role models, Bleeding Gums Murphy. Throughout the episode, we watch Lisa gain confidence and healthier coping mechanisms for her depression with music. It’s a stunning episode. Yeardley Smith, the voice of Lisa, says this episode is one of her all-time favorites. 

From here on, whenever the show turns its focus to this middle child, Lisa is learning an important life lesson. In 3×2, “Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington,” she is exposed to political corruption. In 4×4, “Lisa The Beauty Queen,” she sees the horror of vanity and the dangers of the tobacco industry. In 5×14, “Lisa Vs. Malibu Stacy,” she fights against sexism, marketing, and corporate greed. In 6×2, “Lisa’s Rival,” she grapples with her pride and the human urge to compare herself to others. 

I could go on and on, but I’ll resist. As you can see, there are many reasons why I wanted to learn like Lisa. She is unafraid to ask questions. She is brave enough to address the entire town, demand explanations, and present her ideas. She challenges corporations, small businesses, and people in power, holding them accountable for their actions. She doesn’t tamper down or hide her intelligence and passion from others. She lets herself live, big and loud, without fear of retribution. 

Lisa is a fantastic role model. At 11, I aspired to learn like her. At 26, I can confidently say I am still learning alongside her. 

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off: Netflix Original Show Review

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This post contains spoilers for Scott Pilgrim Takes Off and Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. 

I’m going to open this review with complete honesty – I wasn’t a fan of Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. 

I know, I know. It’s a cult classic. I watched it for the first time in 2021 and found myself cringing more than anything else during it. I can’t exactly explain what I found so uninteresting about it, but I know that I didn’t like how Ramona Flowers was portrayed. The manic pixie dream girl of it all was a turn off for me. I was always glad that I had finally forced myself to watch it so I could participate in conversations about it, but I was certain that I wasn’t ever going to watch it again. 

When I heard that Netflix was releasing an anime version of the story this fall, I didn’t think much of it. However, I found myself interested in the concept once it became available to stream. Curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to sit down and try it out. And let me tell you…. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is one of my favorite shows of 2023. 

But let’s back up. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is, like the film, based off of the graphic novels written by Bryan Lee O’Malley. The first episode largely follows the film plot, with Scott dreaming of and then meeting Ramona, taking her on a date, falling asleep in her bed, etc. However, the show completely changes gears at the end of the first episode. You know how Scott is supposed to win the fight against Matthew Patel, defeating Ramona’s first evil ex? Well, he doesn’t. He dies. 

Or does he?

That is the mystery that the show sets out to solve. With Scott out of the picture, we follow Ramona as she skates around town, trying to find out where Scott really went. It’s a brilliant twist that I did not see coming. 

Ramona is a fantastic protagonist. The next few episodes open with a beautiful sequence of Ramona dying her hair a new color each morning, symbolizing where we’re going on the journey in the episode. Mary Elizabeth Winstead does great voice work opposite Aubrey Plaza, Alison Pill, Mae Whitman, Chris Evans, and Brandon Routh in these episodes. 

In these episodes, we watch Ramona track down each of her ex’s to see if they are the key to finding Scott. While confronting them, we’re treated to seeing Ramona make peace with each of them and come to terms with all that she had done to contribute to the downfall of each relationship. It’s great character development for everyone involved. 

I won’t spoil how the show ends, but I will say that it comes to a satisfying conclusion. The show is billed as a limited series and if this is the last we get of this iteration of Scott Pilgrim, I think fans will be pretty happy. 

I was shocked at how much I genuinely enjoyed this series. Honestly, it was the animation style that convinced me to give it a shot, and I’m glad I did. I’m an adult animation fan, but this is the first official anime I’ve ever watched. I really enjoyed the art style and will definitely check out more in the future.

I’ll end this review with a quick list of some of my favorite changes featured in the Scott Pilgrim show versus the film. 

  1. Ramona! She’s fully fleshed out in this show and skates straight away from the manic pixie dream girl trope. 
  2. KNIVES! Oh my gosh, what a badass. She has a fantastic plot where she ends up as a valued member of Sex Bob-omb, and it’s so fun to watch. I love that girl. 
  3. More Wallace! Who doesn’t love Wallace? Kieran Culkin is brilliant as Wallace and is featured in every episode. I love that man, and I love this character. 
  4. Less Scott —- SUE ME, I’M SORRY. 
  5. Better Scott —- The Scott we see is consistently sweet and treats Ramona (and Knives) as human beings. We love to see it. 

Have you watched Scott Pilgrim Takes Off? Were you a fan of this adaptation? Let me know in the comments!

Why I’m Enjoying My Adventures with Superman as Someone Who Has Never Seen Any Superman Media

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SPOILER WARNING: This post contains spoilers for season 1 of My Adventures with Superman. 

As a pretty avid adult animation fan, I was intrigued a few months ago when I saw Jack Quaid on Instagram promoting the new animated show that he was starring in. Who was he voicing, you may ask? Only Clark Kent aka Superman aka Kal-El. 

My Adventures with Superman is an animated show currently airing new episodes on Adult Swim and Max. Other than Quaid, Alice Lee and Ishmel Sahid star as Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen. The show follows the trio as they navigate their early time at the Daily Plant, with Clark discovering who he is and who he wants Superman to be. 

As you can tell from the title, I’ve never actually seen another piece of Superman media. Not as a whole, at least. When I was young, my dad watched Smallville, and I for sure caught an episode or two with him. Now I’m determined to watch Smallville, but that’s for another day. I’ve never seen any film adaptation of Superman – not Christopher Reeve, not Brandon Routh, not Henry Cavill. The problem here is that I’m more of a Marvel fan, and I honestly don’t pay attention to DC releases that don’t involve Harley Quinn or Wonder Woman. 

All of that said, I’m thoroughly enjoying My Adventures with Superman. As someone who only knows Superman 101 I’m able to follow the story quite easily. I’m enjoying the pacing of the show as well. I particularly love that they chose not to draw out Lois not knowing that Clark was Superman for *too* long. And the reveal in episode 6 that Jimmy has known Clark’s “secret” since the day he met him? Brilliant. 

If I haven’t made it clear already, I appreciate how the writers have written the core three characters. Clark and Lois have genuine chemistry (shoutout to Quaid and Lee for their individual performances) and Jimmy, despite oftentimes being the comic relief, has had multiple opportunities for character development in only six episodes. As someone who is watching the show mostly for the laughs and the character relationships, I’m pretty much thriving. 

I can’t speak for avid Superman or DC fans, but as a casual fan of superhero content, I believe that this show is worth watching. Need more reasons to watch the show? David Cornswet, the actor recently cast as the next live action Superman, gave the trailer his stamp of approval, writing to Quaid on Instagram that he would be “watching” the show. Take it from two Supermen, folks – if you have access to Max, check out My Adventures with Superman season 1.

That ‘90s Show: A Worthy Successor or Another Ill-Advised Reboot?

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There’s one reason and one reason only why I have a soft spot for Topher Grace – in my mind, he will always be Eric Forman. That ‘70s Show is one of my favorite sitcoms of all time, boasting a young cast that the series launched into stardom. Who hasn’t seen a meme of Kitty drinking a margarita from her blender or of Red threatening to put his foot in someone’s ass? The original series is a classic for a reason. 

In 2021, following the original series enjoying a boost in popularity due to the success on streaming platforms, Netflix announced that it had ordered a spin-off series titled That ‘90s Show. In the announcement, it was confirmed that Kurtwood Smith (Red) and Debra Jo Rupp (Kitty) would reprise their roles from the original series. 

With the spin-off announcement came a familiar question. Was this show really necessary? 

Since the 2010s, the film and television industry has been attempting to revive old IP for new audiences. A few television examples include: And Just Like That…, Charmed, Will & Grace, Fuller House, Party Down and iCarly. 

Reboots and spin-offs can be a mixed bag. Take And Just Like That… as an example. The Sex & The City revival series premiered on HBO Max (now Max) in 2021. Head to TikTok or Threads after a new episode and you’ll see countless complaints about how the old characters don’t seem the same, how the new characters are dragging the show down or how the dialogue is cringey. Compare that to the iCarly revival series on Paramount+. The show was released in 2021 and has aired three seasons, with more on the way. Fan consensus on TikTok and other social media platforms shows that audiences of both the original series and the reboot are fans of the revival. They enjoy seeing Carly and the gang take on new, more adult, adventures. 

On a scale of And Just Like That…  to iCarly (2021), where does That ‘90s Show fall? In my opinion, somewhere in the middle. 

That ‘90s Show premiered in January of this year. The series follows Leia Forman, the daughter of Eric Forman and Donna Pincotti of That ‘70s Show. In the pilot, we see Leia accompany her parents to Point Place, WI in July of 1995 to visit her grandparents. While there, she meets Gwen, a young teenager living in the house next door to Red and Kitty. They become fast friends and Gwen introduces Leia to the rest of her friends – Jay Kelso (yes, of *that* Kelso family), Ozzie, Nikki and Nate. Hijinks ensue and Leia tells her parents that she wants to stay in Point Place for the rest of the summer. Cue the next nine episodes. 

That ‘90s Show is fine. It has some laughs, shows some character development and packs enough nostalgia for the original series into each episode to keep you watching. I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t a little disappointed, though. I was expecting a bit more edgier humor, similar to the original series. A fatal mistake that the show makes, in my opinion, is the age of the new set of characters. Leia turns 15 in episode six, a plot that startled me. I assumed that each of the characters had to be at least 16. To think that for four episodes we watched a 14 year old drink her first beer, smoke from her first bong and kiss multiple boys? Call me a prude, but 14 is a bit young for all of that. The writers were clearly betting on getting more seasons, a bet that did pay off. 

The show was renewed for a second season in February of this year. The second season will have more episodes, up to 16 from their 10 episode first season. 

With all this said, is That ‘90s Show a worthy successor to That ‘70s Show or another ill-advised reboot? I don’t think it’s either. 

That ‘70s Show is a superior series in almost every way. The scripts were funnier, the cast had more chemistry and the humor was edgier. The difference between a show written for network television versus a show written for streaming is on full display when you compare these two shows. 

But I also think that That ‘90s Show serves a purpose. It fills a gap in the current market – a sitcom focused on teens. Teens today have enough dramas, from Euphoria to The Summer I Turned Pretty. And, as mentioned earlier, the show has enough nostalgia for the original series to keep older viewers’ attention. 

If you’re an avid fan of the original series, I do recommend giving That ‘90s Show a chance. Honestly, it’s worth watching the pilot alone to see Eric, Donna, Kelso and Jackie. You can watch the first season on Netflix now.

Why Girls5Eva Deserves Their Third Season

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Coined by Deadline in October of 2022 as a “streaming shocker,” the news of Girls5Eva, a Peacock original, moving to Netflix for its third season was a welcome surprise to many fans. 

The musical-comedy series, starring Sara Bareillis, Busy Phillips, Paula Pell and Renee Elise Goldberry, premiered in May of 2021 as one of Peacock’s first original comedies. The series was created by Meredith Scardino, a renowned comedy writer, and boasts Tina Fey as an executive producer. Ashley Park guest stars throughout the series as the fifth member of the original Girls5Eva lineup, who passed away in an infinity pool accident in 2004. 

The first season of the series follows the surviving members of Girls5Eva as they attempt to relaunch the group. Known for one hit song, “Famous 5Eva,” they are brought back into contemporary pop culture when a rapper (coined Lil’ Stinker) samples “Famous 5Eva” in his new single. The sample is a shock to the women, who haven’t been in the music industry in years. 

Dawn, played by Bareillis, is a New York City mom, working in her brother’s Italian restaurant. Summer, played by Phillips, is one-half of a Christian power couple (#SummerAndKev) and spends her days being ignored by her social media influencer tween and former boy band member husband. Gloria, played in the present by Paula Pell, is a successful dentist with her own practice. Finally, Wickie, played by Elise Goldberry pretends to be a successful entrepreneur online, but in reality makes her living shooting geese at an airport. 

The women band together to reignite the group and take control of their lives. The series follows the four of them as they grapple with relationship issues, money insecurity and mom shaming. 

The show was renewed by Peacock for a second season, which premiered in May of 2022. The second season takes more risks, has more guest stars and has some true banger songs. But that wasn’t enough for Peacock, who handed the show over to Netflix. 

Why does Girls5Eva deserve their third season? Here are just a few reasons. 

  1. The immensely talented cast gets more time to shine. All four actors are criminally underrated and each episode they get to show off their talent and chemistry. I’m excited to watch the girls get into more mischief in season 3. 
  2. The sometimes absurd, sometimes touching, mostly amazing music. My favorites from season 2 are “Larry’s Song,” “At The Beep” and “Bend Not Break (written by Bareillis!) 
  3. The guest stars. I’ll be honest, I’ve never really cared for the Property Brothers. But their completely unhinged appearance in the season 2 finale makes me respect them. 

Catch the first two seasons of Girls5Eva on Peacock (in the U.S., on Netflix internationally) and keep your eyes out for the third season on Netflix.

Shows I Watched on Hulu: April & May 2022

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As I’ve said before, I personally love to check out what’s streaming on Hulu over any other streaming service. I think that Hulu has the best variety of content, particularly when it comes to their television projects. I started (and finished!) a variety of shows streaming exclusively on Hulu this spring. Here are some of the most noteworthy.

The Girl from Plainville

We’re starting this list with the one show I couldn’t bring myself to finish. 😬

I wanted to enjoy this miniseries, I really did. I actually know a fair amount about the case of Conrad Roy and Michelle Carter. I was excited when I head that Elle Fanning had been cast as Michelle, as I’ve really enjoyed her acting in everything I’ve seen her in. But I knew that this show was going to be a doozy when the first episode featured so. much. Glee. As a former Gleek myself, the constant mention of Michelle’s obsession with the show made me grimace. But this wasn’t my main issue with the series. The overall tone seemed off to me. I understand that shows/films/projects like these tend to make the audience try to understand and sympathize with the person in the wrong. But I found Michelle to be so deeply unlikable that I had to stop watching. I got four episodes in and couldn’t bring myself to start the fifth. If you’re wondering whether to spend time on this miniseries, I say don’t.

Veronica Mars

I hinted in an earlier post that I was watching Veronica Mars for the first time and I’m now finished with the series. If you didn’t know, seasons 1-3 aired on the WB/CW in the early 2000s. Season 4 was released as a Hulu original in 2019. The entire series is now streaming exclusively on Hulu. Overall, I really loved this show. Does it have its issues? Of course. But I will be watching certain episodes and scenes over and over again. (*cough* anything with Logan and Veronica *cough*) Season 4 was different (in a good way) than the first 3 seasons. The character development was obvious in each character, but especially in Logan. It was refreshing to see the man in the main romantic pairing of a show discuss his feelings for once.

There were some messy moments, though. Since the season was only eight episodes long, the plots felt a bit rushed. I wish that it would have been ten episodes. I also wish that Logan wasn’t absent for basically an entire episode near the end, due to… that ending that we won’t discuss here. Issues aside, go and watch this show. I feel that it’s Kristen Bell’s best work and there are some really great episodes throughout the show’s run.

Candy

I talked about this a bit in a What I Logged on Letterboxd, but oh my gosh. I loved this miniseries. I didn’t know anything about the murder of Betty Gore by Candy Montgomery before this show, but I made sure to fact check the show after watching. It seems that the show pretty accurately followed the facts of the real life case. For those who don’t know, Candy killed Betty with an axe after Betty confronted Betty about her having an affair with her husband. Jessica Biel starred as Candy, with Melanie Lynskey co-starring as Betty.

First off, the way that this series was released was unique. There were five episodes and one episode each night for five nights straight. I thought this release schedule was clever, especially since the final episode was released on Friday the 13th. The acting in this series is phenomenal. I hadn’t seen Jessica Biel in many things before Candy, but I thought she was incredible. The final shot of her in episode five is chilling. I thought that the script for each episode was tight and left you wanting more.

If you’re looking for a true crime watch, give this a shot. The first episode is a bit of a slow burn, but the rest of the episodes move quickly.

What should I watch on Hulu this summer? Up next on my watchlist is Under the Banner of Heaven. I’m also watching Felicity for the first time, which is a delight. Leave any Hulu suggestions below!

Everything New I Watched on Hulu: January – March 2022

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If I could only have access to one streaming service, I would choose Hulu. That may be a controversial opinion, but I think that Hulu has the best mix of television and film. Between the major television networks having their new episodes stream on Hulu the next day and more film studios sending their recent releases to Hulu after their theatrical release, I believe that Hulu is currently neck in neck with Netflix as the top streamer. Not to mention, Hulu is the only streaming service with Bob’s Burgers, so… I won’t be leaving the service anytime soon.

Additionally, Hulu has stepped up its game in recent years with their original series. I’m going to talk about a few of those, plus more, today.

Abbot Elementary

What can I say about Abbot Elementary that hasn’t already been said? A perfect workplace sitcom with hilarious dialogue and a fantastic ensemble cast. Quinta Brunson leads the cast, while also boasting as the creator, executive producer, and writer. If you aren’t watching it, I implore you to binge all available episodes today.

Single Drunk Female

A surprising new favorite of mine! I don’t typically watch much on Freeform. The last Freeform program I watched was Cruel Summer, (also available on Hulu) but I’m typically not drawn to much on the network. Single Drunk Female is different, though. It has a stellar ensemble cast, led by Sofia Black-D’Elia. It’s funny, poignant, and woke in all the right ways. The entire first season is streaming on Hulu now.

Pam & Tommy

The only disappointment on this list. I remember seeing the first photos of Sebastian Stan and Lily James in character in 2021 and being so excited to watch the show. The week that the first three episodes dropped, I started the first episode but turned it off after 15 minutes. I just couldn’t get into it. I don’t know what it was – the focus on the carpenter, the overall tone, or the structure of the script. But I couldn’t do it. I’m willing to give it another chance, but I have no plans to go back to it anytime soon.

Dollface: Season 2

Oh man, I love this show! Led by Kat Dennings, this female-centered ensemble comedy is a treat. It’s sweet, funny and innovative. I randomly decided to watch the first season while working from home one day and finished it that same afternoon. The second season premiered on February 11th. I’ll be honest — I still love the show, but I found season 2 to be a little less impactful than the first. Some of the story choices weren’t my cup of tea. I particularly hated seeing Lizzie feeling so insecure in her romantic relationship. That being said, I will absolutely be tuning in for season 3.

The Dropout

I am thrilled to report that this show is genuinely very good. This version of the Elizabeth Holmes/Theranos journey is based off of the ABC podcast by the same name. It was also created and brought to television by Elizabeth Meriwether, the creator of New Girl. I was originally nervous when I found out that Amanda Seyfried joined the cast as Elizabeth after Kate McKinnon dropped out of the project. But Amanda really does transform into a whole new person. She’s fantastic, along with the other actors on the show. It’s also laugh-out-loud funny at times, particularly in the fourth episode. The humor definitely drops off through the second half of the season, but overall I really enjoyed this.

Other shows on Hulu on my watchlist are: Dopesick, The Great, Pivoting and the three installments of American Crime Story. Do you have any Hulu recommendations? Leave them in the comments below!