The Televigion Week – First (8/10/24)

I’m on a kick to be writing just now, because I just finished a great writing course and I also have some life motivation to seize the day. So I think I’ll try a weekly recap of what the happenings have been going on that are in Televigion (perfect grammar, no notes).

1. Frasier Reboot – As a viewer of Cheers before I really knew what a sitcom was (thanks to excellent parents) and a deep connection with Frasier (Original Flavour), I have long meant to watch the reboot on Paramount+, tempered with the understandable thought of “it’ll never be as good”. What finally motivated me was a push notification on my phone saying that Season 2 was about to start. And I’m on episode 9 of Season 1, as of this post. They worked hard to create a new setup along the old lines – Freddy is Martin, in what could be a clever inversion but hasn’t been properly explored, Niles is David (Niles and Daphne’s son) plus Alan (Nicholas Lyndhurst, proving that getting very experienced comedy actors in is a good move, even for a shallow and not very relatable character), Daphne is Eve, mostly due to her relationship to the new Martin, and Roz is… very soon to appear in my rewatch. It’s all very season 8 and 9 of the original, as in a little bit past its best but capable of being warm and engaging. This is what I need some evenings, and it has become a comforting go-to.
2. Agatha All Along – Marvel have done a good one again! Our Televigion household is very much over the Marvel Cinematelevisual Universe, other than things that sound like they’re doing something new. And Agatha All Along is funny (VERY funny) with an incredible cast and not too much connection to others parts of the MCTU. It’s great fun, and would probably work standalone from episode 2 onwards.
3. Mortimer and Whitehouse Gone Fishing – Oh, would you like another autumnal dose of the most comforting thirty minute blanket of cozy? YES PLEASE. Wistful funny men doing a nature and winding each other up while promoting men’s health, conservation and friendship. There is nothing better for that horrible moment when you’re fed up of scrolling for new shows than an episode of this utter joy.
4. How To with John Wilson – This is a strange one, that many other people have talked about. It’s all handheld footage of New York (and other places) with a constant voiceover, showing you deep inside a man’s mind wherein there lies beautiful depth and meaning. You could easily have it on in the background and let it wash over you, but if you pay attention there is such care in the seemingly random footage enhanced and constrasted with the voiceover. It’s very funny.

Honourable Mentions

Ludwig. Everyone seems to be watching this new show where David Mitchell solves some murders¹ and I haven’t due to my distaste for murder mystery. That might be outweighed by the David Mitchell of it all, but we’ll see.

The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast – If you’re a comedy nerd like me, you’ll love to hear comedians going in depth about how unsure they were (and still are) about hugely cultural viral hit sketches they made from nearly 20 years ago. Addictive listening, and an insight into the fact that impostor syndrome is the natural state of being for most well-functioning people.

So there we go. This is a Tuesday, so I guess I’ll do an update every Tuesday? Get in touch by commenting, messaging or shouting loudly (if you’re close by).

Footnotes

1. Including the Televigion Mum! Her review follows. “It started very slowly and I nearly gave up but after the second episode I was not hooked but left wondering. In the end I watched all episodes over only a few nights as it was definitely a bit different and David Mitchell and Anna Maxwell Martin were a good mix. I liked the mystery they set out to solve over the whole series and there was also a murder every episode which was resolved. However, it was the understated comedic aspect and appearances by actors including Derek Jacobi rather than any of the denouements which kept me watching. The ending was rather contrived to set up a second series but I’m pretty sure I’ll watch another helping.”