Summer gives us some great movies, but the television is bit limited (other than Big Brother and SYTYCD, of course). While some may bemoan this, I celebrate it by using this time to watch a whole lot of shows that I don’t always have the time to get around to during the regular TV season. My bingeing is greatly aided by the fact that I can watch while I am at work.
I thought I would run through the shows that I have been watching this summer, in particular order. Unless, “the order that I remembered them” is considered an order.
Chuck (First Time) – As mentioned in last week’s Crush of the Week, I fell pretty hard for both Zachary Levi and the show itself. It can be a bit corny at times, but overall, I really loved it. Fun, funny, and heaps and heaps of sexual tension.
Buying & Selling (First Time) – I definitely prefer the original Property Brothers or the OG PB as the cool kids call it. Of course, this didn’t stop me from watching a lot of it. I think my main problem with this version is that the buying is my least favorite part of OG PB.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Re-Watch) – Much like the other Fey/Carlock joint, the rewatchability factor on this is high, there is just so many hidden gems that come out on repeat viewings.
Spaced (Re-Watch) – I feel the need to bust this show out every now and then because I just love it so much. This time around, I watched each episode, then again with the original commentary, THEN AGAIN with the guest commentaries for the special edition DVD. Fun bit of trivia: My first post for this site was about Spaced. I just love it that much.
Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (First Time) – This one may warrant it’s own post, so I may not say too much here. Much like the OG WHAS, the humor here may not be for everyone but I have a major soft spot for David Wain and Co. Even if the brand of humor is not for you, the cast alone may be enough reason to watch.
The X-Files (Re-Watch in Progress) – This show was on every Sunday night in my house growing up because my mom was a huge fan of both the show and David Duchovny. I figured that I should give it a re-watch in preparation for the new series.
Rehab Addict (First Time) – Another show that is not my favorite, yet I watched all of it. While I do like her design style and dedication to restoration, Nicole gets on my nerves and it drives me nuts that it takes multiple episodes to get through one house.
Flip or Flop (First Time) – The reason I don’t like Rehab Addict is the reason I like Flip or Flop. Tarek and Christina are by no means my favorite, but I like that they get through a whole flip from buying to selling in only 20 minutes.
Fixer Upper (First Time) – BY FAR my favorite of the HGTV genre. I love their houses, I love the format, but mostly I just love Chip and Joanna so much. That being said, I wish Joanna was out of the picture so that I could marry Chip and run a renovation company with him.
Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries (First Time and then Re-Watch) – I lost track of how many times I watched this show because when I was really obsessed with it, I would just put it on in the background. Just because. If you want more of my thoughts on this one, go here.
The IT Crowd (Re-Watch) -I watch a lot of these shows while I am working, so it is nice to have an easy comedy that I can not pay a lot of attention to and still enjoy thoroughly. Very British and very silly but so funny and Chris O’Dowd is so cute.
Love It or List It (First Time) – You might be able to tell, but I went on a bit of an HGTV bender this summer. This is yet another that is not my favorite, but it was mindless entertainment for a couple days at work.
Derek (First Time) – I wrote a lengthier review of this one after I had watched all of it. I’m really surprised that it took me so long to get to this one being the fan of The Office and Extras that I am. It is very sweet and melancholy in the same way as those shows.
Catastrophe (First Time) – If you are a fan of funny yet realistic romantic comedies then this one is for you. The chemistry between the two leads (Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney) is very sweet and grounded and made fall in love with Rob. I dare you to watch and not do the same.
RuPaul’s Drag Race (First Time) – Honey, you better work. This show is just fabulous and eleganza extravaganza. Shantay, you stay on my DVR list because honey, if you can’t love yourself, how the hell you going to love someone else. Can I get an Amen? (This review is brought to you by the catchphrases of RuPaul)
Inside Amy Schumer (First Time) – This has been deemed as the Summer of Amy Schumer by media outlets, so I figured I would get on board and watch her show. I was not disappointed. Like most sketch shows, not all of the skits are amazing, but there is a lot of joy to be had from the good ones (my favorite being her Friday Night Lights spoof)
Game of Thrones (Catch Up) – I had fallen behind on this one and catching up seemed like an insurmountable task, but that’s what summer is for. Some of my experience was tarnished by spoilers I had learned through the grapevine, but this show is still pretty nuts.
Silicon Valley (First Time) – I will always support the comedies that get nominated in the Best Comedy category that are actually, you know, funny. I was happy to discover that this is one of those shows, which is not surprising when considering the people behind it and the cast.
Justified (Catch Up) – This is a show that I love but fell behind on when I didn’t have cable. This one is a really great drama that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Also, I will never be mad at Timothy Olyphant in a hat.
Orphan Black (Catch Up) – If you caught a whiff of the excitement around Tatiana Maslany’s Emmy nomination and wondered why everyone was making such a big deal, watch this show and you will totally get it. I had already watched the first season but needed to catch up on the 2nd and 3rd. I know that the 3rd has gotten some mixed reviews, but I will always love getting more Helena.
Humans (First Time) – There wasn’t a lot to binge here because it is fairly new, but I did watch all episodes one Saturday a couple of weeks ago. I found this show quite interesting and hope that more networks start picking up British imports.
I know. I have a problem.
–Ellen
Airs: Tuesdays at 10:00/9:00c on HGTV
Ben Napier is not quite as entertaining Chip, but his resourcefulness makes up for it in my book. He is quite the Mr. Fix-It and seems more than capable when it comes to building furniture, restoring construction, and coming up with solutions to make Erin’s designs work. Erin’s design aesthetic has a nice lived-in element to it, but it has variety. Every project thus far has felt different while still having her stamp on it. The best way I can describe it is that she seems to like a lot of stuff on the walls, but in a good way. The town of Laurel seems to have more of a small town quality than Waco and the houses have more historic character.
Summer is here and with it rolls in my 
Fangirly 