10 Well Loved Shows I Havent Watched

 

If you follow my blog you know I've seen alot of movies and TV shows. Of course there is so much content out there you can't watch everything. So I decided to compile a list of 10 show's old and fairly new that are beloved and I've never seen. Hopefully I'll get to some of these one day.

10. Succession

A modern era drama about the big business of wealthy people, death, taxes and inheritance as a family awaits the demise of a media mogul and the family's patriarchy. Now that is drama as we've just seen with the Murdoch family (which the family in the series is loosely based on.) I've heard the show is also funny and has high praise from critics to common folks. I think I thought the show was about the stock market more than family drama, so I didnt give it a chance. It's on my list to watch so maybe one day.

9. Chicago Fire

First I knew Chicago Fire has been on the air for a while, I had no idea it debuted in 2012 and is now entering it's 14th season. I've never really been into TV shows about fire departments, and thats the likely reason I haven't tuned into this NBC staple.

8. Curb Your Enthusiasm 

Larry David's HBO series which debuted in 2000 and across several years just ended it's 14th season in 2024. The largely improvised mockumentary style show about the nitty gritty days of life, I probably would really enjoy if I turned it on. I just havent made my way to turning it on yet.

7 Schitt$ Creek

Starring comedy legend Eugene Levy, his son Dan Levy, Annie Murphy and Catherine O'Hara more famously known as the mom from the Home Alone films. The quartet play a formerly wealthy family who must rebuild their lives in a small hometown they own after losing everything. It's relatively unknown network Pop TV's most popular show. Has gained a cult following and won several awards, and yet I've never watched it.

6 Sons Of Anarchy

This FX drama about a motorcycle club that dabbles in criminal enterprise and alot of family drama was extremely popular during it's original run from 2008-2014. I know alot of people loved it but past knowing Peggy Bundy was in it, and seeing a few clips. I couldn't tell you anything about Son's Of Anarchy.

5. Big Bang Theory

Working in I.T. the assumption is that I'm well intuned in "geek" culture. While I enjoy superheroes and sci-fi properties that is furthest from the truth, which maybe why I never really watched Big Bang Theory. These social akward brianics are on another level in geekdom, and remind me several socially awkward people I've worked with over the years. So in my mind there's no need to watch the show, cause I know real life people like the characters.

4 How To Get Away With Murder

Every Thursday evening in the late 2010's my wife was in front of the TV, immersed in Shondaland. How To Get Away With Murder alongside Scandal were two of her favorite shows during their airings. And I always was watching something else while it was one. My understanding is the show was dramatic, high stakes, and soap operaish. With rapid fire witty dialogue and storylines you just never knew how they would end. Even with all that hype, I always passed on it.

3. The Office

A show that made the mockumentary style sitcom popular in the mid 2000's, well into the 2010's and beyond. Helped make Steve Carell a star and is still very relevant today. Never seen a single episode, seen plenty of clips and memes though. I will admit dry humor shows are hit or miss to me and sometimes I just don't give them a chance. Which I think is the case here despite all the good reviews the show has.

2. Better Call Saul

This one I consider kind of a oxymoron. I loved Breaking Bad and think it's one of the greatest TV dramas ever. As for Better Call Saul never gave it two minutes of my time. My wife said it's just as good as Breaking Bad, but I think since the character of Saul on the OG show. I could take or leave, I didn't see the point of him having his own show and I never tuned in.

1. Homicide Life On The Streets

One of the greatest cop TV dramas ever, filmed in my hometown of Baltimore and I've never seen it. In my defense the show debuted in 1993 on my 7th birthday, and it wasn't a show I should have watched nor 7 year old me would care for. As the years passed I just never sat down and watched it and it took a while to make it to streaming. It's sitting in my peacock queue waiting for me to press play.

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Five Cult Classic Beach Movies

 

Heading into the fourth of July holiday and the dog days of summer, many people are making plans to hit the beach to beat the heat. I randomly thought about beach movies and while everyone know's films like JAWS, Weekend At Bernies or Baywatch. I started thinking about the cult classic beach movies that deserve more love. With that let's get started on five cult classic beach movies.

5. Miracle Beach

Miracle Beach is a 1992 film that was a staple of the Showtime/The Movie Channel family back in the day. It stars Dean Cameron who while never a big star, was one of those consistent working actors when you see him you go oh that guy. And Ami Dolenz who is best known as Fran in 1987's Can't Buy Me Love. Legendary actor Pat Morita has a role in the film as a older wise friend of Dean's character Scotty. Scotty is a beach bum who stumbles upon a Genie's lamp and out comes Jeannie played by Ami.

While Jeannie grant's Scotty his three wishes leading to riches and popularity on the beach, as well as a supermodel girlfriend. She can't help but fall in love with him, while he has to learn the tough lesson of what really matters. That's the plot of the movie nothing more, nothing less. It has the makings of a 90's film, corny dialogue and lots of nudity. The actors try but it is a straight b-movie, that has developed a cult following over the years. I recently saw it available to stream which highlights the hold it has to this day.

4. Back To The Beach

                                                       

During the 1960's Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon starred in an series of Beach themed films. These films catered to teens of that time were very formulaic. They were generally comedies, very limited plots, campy acting, surfing and the beach life were the main topics and most of all spread the message to have a good time and party. The genre died out by the 60's into the 70's and in the mid 80's someone had a light bulb moment to revisit that time.

Back At The Beach features Annette and Frankie as a middle aged couple who return back to the beach for a family vacation and in the process rekindle their relationship both romantically and with their children. Much like Coming 2 America, the film is essentially a homage to their original beach films. With plenty of references and gags to tie things together. Cameo's but actors of those films, and pop culture celebs of the 80's. Pee-Wee Herman even make's an appearance in the film. It's a very campy movie, but it is fun and mindless and does not take itself serious at all. It use to come back local Baltimore station WNUV Channel 54 all the time when it was an independent channel, which is how I watched it. Let your mind free, give a watch and you may become a big Kahuna.

3.Blue Crush

                                                          

Blue Crush is a 2002 film starring Kate Bosworth, Michelle Rodriguez, and actual surfer turned model and actress Sanoe Lake. Along with Bosworth's character's Anne younger sister (Mika Boorman), the four live in Hawaii experiencing the daily grind with hopes of one day surfing on the North Shore of Hawaii. Anne was a aspiring surfer who experienced a terrifying wipeout that left her frightened of the big waves. With the support of her friends and family, and her new love interest in a NFL quarterback Matt Tollman. She soon overcomes those fears, surprising herself and making waves.

The film is about overcoming fears, determination, friendship and sisterhood and of course relationships. In addition competing and being successful in male dominated spaces. It is a great film for young people and the surfing scenes are very realistic. It also play's and updated Banarama's Cruel Summer classic, which anytime that song get's love is a win in my book. 

2. Phat Beach

Phat Beach the  1996 B-move classic stars Jermaine "Huggy" Hopkin and Brian Hooks. Jermaine plays Benny a daydreaming writer, who get's into mischief with his playboy buddy Durrell. Expecting a dismal summer dictated by his parents, Durrell decides to cheer Benny up by devising a scheme to travel to the beach. They take Benny's father's mercedes and head's on down the road, experiencing lust, potential love, some volleyball even Coolio while at the beach. 

The film is considered a hip-hop beach film, which still maybe the only film of that genre almost 30 years later. It has some heart to it, as Benny deals with self-esteem issues and experiencing a first love. It's another film that offers plenty of gratuitous nudity which was a staple of films like this. It's another film if you let your mind free, you really will enjoy it.

1. The Inkwell

I'll admit I did not appreciate The Inkwell until I got older. This 1994 film stars Larenz Tate and Jada Pinkett Smith, with supporting cast members like Duane Martin, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Joe Morton, Suzanne Douglas, Glynn Turman, and Morris Chestnut. Tate play's Drew, a shy loner 16 year that is just different from typical teenage boys his age. His parent's decide to spend a couple of weeks at Martha's Vineyard with relatives, who happen to be very successful and comfortable. Which was a rarity for Black's in America at that time. 

He grow's out of his shell during the time, and experiences his first true flirtatious situation. Experiences heartbreak, and loses his virginity (which is problematic, but if you never seen the film I'll leave out why).  I thought the film was boring when I first saw it as a kid, but it perfectly captures that weird teenage phase and is a true coming of age story. Also exploring topics such as infighting within the Black community regarding the haves and the have nots and political differences. Those butterfly feelings for the first time, and just being an awkward teenager. The film is a cult classic and is still revered to this day while still highly underrated. 

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5 Random Sitcoms Set In Baltimore

 

When it come's to sitcoms the most well known sitcoms set in Baltimore are Roc, One on One and spin-off series Cutz. There have been a few sitcoms that were set in the charm city, many of them truly obscured. Once I went down the rabbit hole, I will admit most of these sitcoms I've never seen or heard of. In the spirit of sharing knowledge, even it's information you absolutely do not need. Here are 5 sitcoms based in Baltimore.

5. In The Beginning

This sitcom is probably the legendary Norman Lear's biggest sitcom failure in his storied career, next to another Baltimore based sitcom he created in the 70's Hot l Baltimore. Released in September 1978 on the CBS network, the sitcom followed Mclean Stevenson as an uptight conservative priest Father Clearly, who is assigned to an inner-city parrish. He experiences a bit of a culture clash and frequently butt's heads with a nun who is more liberal minded named Sister Agnes, portrayed by Priscilla Lopez.

The sitcom managed to only air 5 episodes, with the remaining four never to be seen. The most footage available for this sitcom is the opening intro, but beyond that nothing on this series.

4. The Ellen Burstyn Show

Looking this sitcom up, I'll be honest I only knew Ellen Burstyn as the grumpy neighbor in the Baby-sitters Club movie from the mid-90's. Watching clips of the sitcom, I also got the feeling this was inspiration for a sitcom that would premiere just a couple years later in Murphy Brown. Debuting in September 1986 on ABC, the series followed Ellen as she handled being a college professor and dealing with her busy body mother, her daughter who is getting over a divorce and her active grandson.

This sitcom did not last either, it was cancelled after eight episodes and then bought back the following year to run through the remaining episodes. 12 episodes aired, with only one never making it on-air. The biggest success story from this sitcom is probably Megan Mullally of Will & Grace fame.

Family Rules

This UPN sitcom debuted in 1999 and was an outlier of what the target audience was for the network at the time in the sitcom realm. The sitcom starred Greg Evigan as a widowed dad, raising his four daughters in Baltimore. He is the basketball coach at a university called....Morgan College, and that's probably the most Baltimoreish connection the series creates. The show was a mid-season replacement and survived for one full month, before catching the axe. No wonder no one remembers it, or that it was set in Baltimore.

Life's Work

Life's Work was a sitcom ABC that debuted in September of 1996 and lasted for only 18 episodes. It starred Lisa Ann Walter (Melissa in Abbott Elementary) as a assistant district attorney in Baltimore. Juggling the demanding job and home life of being a wife, and mother to a young daughter and toddler son. The sitcom was intended to be the next breakout sitcom of a stand up comic but it never caught on to get that far.

I don't remember this series at all, a promo clip on YouTube includes a rendering of the Inner Harbor to help drive the fact it is set in Baltimore. 

True Colors 

This Fox sitcom lasted the longest of the forgotten Baltimore sitcoms stables, it debuted in the fall of 1990 and ended in '92. The season were broken up so it really only had 2 seasons for a total of 45 episodes The sitcom starred Frankie as widowed dentist Ronald Freeman, who meets Stephanie Faracy's character Ellen, the two soon elope and blend their families together. Ronald had two teenage boys, while Ellen had a daughter and her mother who did not approve of a interracial marriage to bring into the fold.

In season 2 Frankie was replaced by Cleavon Little of Blazing Saddles fame. Cleavon was battling some health issues during this time, along with Nancy Walker who played Ellen's mom Sara. Fox cut the show from under it's leg's and cancelled it early in it's season 2 run.

There are a few full length episodes on YouTube, along with promo videos and the original intro.

I'm sure there are more sitcoms set in Baltimore and I may revisit this topic. Until then, maybe time a new sitcom rises to show Baltimore some love.

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Renassiance of Black TV

    Last night HBO premiered the highly anticipated new seasons of “Ballers” and “Insecure”, along with a new episode of the Starz hit “Power” Sunday is a must-see tv night. While watching all three shows which cover different genres, characters, and stories. I sat back and thought to myself are we experiencing a Renaissance of majority good to great black tv shows?
   Think about it for decades we have asked for compelling tv shows that offer relatable characters that show the different nuances of black people in America and not just stereotypes. We all know about classics like Julia, Good Times, The Jeffersons, The Cosby Show, Martin, Living Single, A Different World, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, In Living Color, The Wire and Chapelle show. Or shows that may not be considered classics but are still universally loved Moesha, 227, Girlfriends, My Wife and Kids, Everybody hates Chris,What’s Happening, Steve Harvey show and more. If you noticed something I named mostly sitcoms and that's because for years that was the only genre given a chance on major networks.
   Within the past 3-4 years due to the rise of streaming channels, newly created networks targeted towards blacks, and more platforms for content creators to share their stories. It’s created more opportunities for more stories to be told that we can connect with and offers something for everyone.
    On the comedy and dramedy front “Insecure” definitely tackles what relationships and dating is like for black Millennials. Some of the situations in that show are so hilarious because you’ve been there or know someone who has. ABC’s “Blackish” which has DNA sprinkles of the “Cosby Show” as far as the family dynamic, and the “Hughley Show” and “My Wife and Kids” for the successful black man moving to the suburbs for a better life for his kids. Is very funny but also very socially conscious and the creators use interesting plots to teach the kids on the show relevant issues affecting our community. Give it a few years and “Blackish” will be a classic. Also on tying social commentary into humor the “Carmichael Show” tackled touchy subjects such as rape, spousal abuse, and death but the humor and care in the stories made it a one of a kind show. It’s a shame it was cancelled.
    I would be crazy if I didn't include “Atlanta” I love that show!! It tackles a guy and his friends just trying to get ahead and the mischief they get into. The story also has a dark humor that resides in a surreal reality opening up new avenues for comedy. Such as the invisible car nightclub episode, if you haven't seen an episode watch “B.A.N.” which is a satirical episode which shows the genius of this show. I’m personally disappointed we won't get season 2 until Fall 2018.
     Covering the soap opera drama front we have Scandal which I personally think started the black soap opera show format. Going into it’s final season it helped pave the way for “Being Mary Jane”,  “How to Get Away with Murder”, “Empire”, “Queen Sugar”, “Star”, and “Greenleaf”. The soap opera genre is one I don't watch so I don’t have much of an opinion on these shows.  From what I hear from folks that love these shows they are very engaging, drama filled and keep you coming back.
    Along with these heavy hitters we have shows that are new such as “Claws” starring Niecy Nash as a hairdresser mixed into some business with the Cajun mafia. “Dear White People” on Netflix based on the recent film about life race relations on a modern college campus, “Hood Adjacent with James Davis” which is a sketch comedy show like the “Chapelle Show” and “Key and Peele”. “Snowfall” on FX which covers the beginning of the crack epidemic in 1980s LA. Underrated shows like “Survivors Remorse”, and “Rebel” Mini series like “Shot’s Fired”, even recently cancelled shows that had more to offer like “Pitch” and “Underground”. Coming up we have Netflix’s “She’s Gotta have it” which is an adaptation of Spike Lee’s 1986 movie. The CW will be bring a black superhero to the fold in “Black Lightning” mid season 2018.
    All of these options we have available now are wonderful, as with anything we’ll have shows that just aren't good or don't stick for some reason. As we support more of the good shows and more shows are given opportunities it will only bring more good black tv shows to the forefront with higher standards Let’s embrace this renaissance that we’re living in and expect higher quality programming and more well rounded characters. Let’s thank our past content creators for kicking the door down(Bill Cosby, Wayans Family, Mara Brock Akil, Chris Rock, Spike Lee, Dave Chapelle, Russell Simmons, etc.) and opening these opportunities up for our current content creators such as Ava Duvernay, Shonda Rhimes, Oprah Winfrey, Kenya Barris, Tyler Perry, Issa Rae, Donald Glover, John Singleton, Lee Daniels and many many more. Thank You All!

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