Ellen and Whitney go through their favorites of 2015, everything ranging from books to music, movies and TV, performances and scenes. We’ve got you covered. Will Ellen go a full hour without talking about Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.? (Don’t count on it.) Will Whitney be able to overlook the swooniness of Oscar Isaac? (Don’t put money on it.) But still listen to find out.
You can listen and subscribe HERE on iTunes or you can go HERE to listen and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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
My Dearest Ellen,
Gracious, how long it’s been! Why, I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of your radiant company since we danced together at your brother’s wedding. Too long by half, fair cousin.
(I do apologize for the inclusion of Sam’s wayward eyebrow. Those things have no concept of personal space.)
Enclosed is a picture of me, being just too Kevin Bacon for my own damn good.
As so much has happened since we last tore it up, I beg only a few short lines to fill you in…
I started taking better care of myself.
I’m seeing someone new…
(#wordplay)
I’ve made Pinterest my prison wife.
I have resolved, many times, to watch less TV and dedicate myself to my studies. A resounding triumph, obviously.
.
And now I’ve moved home for the summer, where accommodations are decidedly less expensive.
I hope that this letter finds you well, and still the baddest of mama jamas.
I’ve also included an artists rendering of what you and I will look like in 20 years. I hope you are as trilled with the results as I am.
Yours Ever,
Whitney
Netflix released the first season of their new show Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt today, so of course, I have already watched the whole thing. And I loved it. That is going to be pretty much a guarantee if you attach Tina Fey to a new project. Tina and fellow 30 Rock executive producer Robert Carlock bring us this new show about an unbreakable girl named Kimmy Schmidt (get it?) who moves to New York for a fresh start after being released from an underground bunker where she has been living for 15 years with her apocalypse cult sisters. Did you follow that?
Admittedly, I wasn’t immediately sold on this show after the first episode, but much like 30 Rock and every other comedy, it really finds its groove as it moves along. Ellie Kemper is utterly charming as the titular Kimmy, who is just rife with sunny optimism, 90’s pop culture knowledge, and a middle school naivete (she was kidnapped 15 years ago, remember?). The rest of the cast gets plenty time to shine with Tituss Burgess as Titus Andromedon, Kimmy’s new roommate, Carol Kane as Lillian, their eccentric landlord, and Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney, I mean, Jacqueline Voorhees, Kimmy’s rich boss who hires her as a nanny.
The best praise I can give this show, though, is that it is very similar to 30 Rock in it’s pacing and humor with the sunny optimism of Parks and Recreation. If you know me at all, you know that is high praise indeed. The jokes are rapid fire, making rewatchability high, the guest stars are high caliber (I wouldn’t dare spoil some of them for you), the pop culture references are a plenty (the Olsen twins are actually the Olsen octuplets), and there are moments so bizarre that they rival “Werewolf Bar Mitzvah” (VH3’s Joe Invisible Millionaire, anyone?). Kimmy, who responds to someone calling her a bitch with “A female dog? The thing that makes puppies?”, has the same can-do spirit as Leslie Knope. Also, at first glance she may be misjudged as weak given the whole cult thing, but really she is a strong, independent woman who doesn’t get taken down easily. Also, if you like snappy theme songs that are based on fake viral videos, then this is the show for you.
To sum it all up, I’m already eager for season 2 (the only issue I have with the Netflix model of entire seasons at once) and I recommend that you join me in the wait.
–Ellen
Fangirly 