Freaks and Geeks — a series review

Sharon and I were talking about Taylor Swift the other day. Really, we were. I’m not just saying that to support the premise of this post. I’m not a Swiftie. I’ve heard some of her music and am mostly indifferent to it. I don’t hate it. I’m not an anti-Swiftie, by any means. Miss Swift […]

\m/15-Minute Hellmouth\m/: Buffy the Vampire Slayer DeepWatch: Season 2, Episode 1: “When She Was Bad” (airdate: Monday, September 15, 1997): Part 3 of 3

30:01 – The End Previously on \m/15-Minute Hellmouth\m/ . . . Buffy Summers has returned to Sunnydale from her summer with dad in Los Angeles, and now she seems to be competing against Cordelia Chase for Bitch-of-the-Year honors. And she’s the frontrunner. But the child-demon known as the Anointed One, along with his faithful vampire-preacher […]

**\m/15-Minute Hellmouth\m/: Buffy the Vampire Slayer DeepWatch: Season 1, Episode 8: “I, Robot . . . You Jane” (airdate: Monday, April 28, 1997): Part 1 of 3**

00:00 – 15:00 It has been two weeks since the mythically important episode “Angel” aired. We both liked that one a lot, you and me. Any episode that followed would suffer in the comparison. Case in point: “I, Robot . . . You Jane.” I mean, my issues with this episode begin with the title, […]

Welcome to Twin Peaks:/\/\ First-Watch Recap: Season 2: Ep. 2.16 “The Condemned Woman” (Original airdate Saturday, February 16, 1991) — a review

Welcome to my First-Watch of the original 30 episodes of the 1990-91 television series Twin Peaks. Below are the bulletpointed notes I jotted down while watching the episode “The Condemned Woman.” On this day in history, the Council of Lithuania declares that country’s independence, after decades of Soviet rule. Of all the movies released around […]

\m/15-Minute Hellmouth\m/: Buffy the Vampire Slayer DeepWatch: Season 1, Episode 1: “Welcome to the Hellmouth” (airdate: Monday, March 10, 1997): Part 3 of 3

30:01 – The End We were in the middle of Act III of “Welcome to the Hellmouth” when we were here last time. Buffy had her meet-cute with some mysterious guy that we know is Angel. And, we were here for the first Buffy scene set in the Bronze. At the Bronze, Buffy Summers runs […]

American Horror Story: Season 1: Murder House

Am I late to the party that is American Horror Story? Sure I am. I’m not sure why, though. I am American. I consider myself to be a fan of horror fiction. Maybe not a fanatic, but certainly a fan. I was aware that there was a popular thing known as American Horror Story. I […]

\m/15-Minute Hellmouth\m/: Buffy the Vampire Slayer DeepWatch: Season 1, Episode 1: “Welcome to the Hellmouth” (airdate: Monday, March 10, 1997): Part 2 of 3

15:01 – 30:00 The last time you and I met to talk about Buffy the Vampire Slayer, we had made it through the teaser and Act I of this important first episode. We were introduced to many characters, including: Buffy Summers and her mother, Joyce; Xander Harris; Willow Rosenberg; Jesse McNally; Principal Bob Flutie; Cordelia […]

\m/15-Minute Hellmouth\m/: Buffy the Vampire Slayer DeepWatch: Season 1, Episode 1: “Welcome to the Hellmouth” (airdate: Monday, March 10, 1997): Part 1 of 3

00:00 – 15:00 This is the first episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the television series. As most of you are no doubt aware, it was preceded by a motion picture of the same name. The 1992 film is not the same as the series, and it’s not necessary for you to watch it in […]

Welcome to Twin Peaks:/\/\ First-Watch Recap: Season 2: Ep. 2.15 “Slaves and Masters” (Original airdate Saturday, February 9, 1991) — a review

Welcome to my First-Watch of the original 30 episodes of the 1990-91 television series Twin Peaks. Below are the bulletpointed notes I jotted down while watching the episode “Slaves and Masters.” On this day in history, the #1 song in the US is “Gonna Make You Sweat,” by C + C Music Factory. Also, Adam […]

The West Wing: Season 7 — a review

My ratings for the previous six seasons of The West Wing plot a straight horizontal line, except for a tiny dip in Season 5. If you’re a betting person, the past is the best predictor of the future. You already know I liked this season, too. I can’t even fake any kind of suspense here. […]

Welcome to Twin Peaks:/\/\ First-Watch Recap: Season 2: Ep. 2.14 “Double Play” (Original airdate Saturday, February 2, 1991) — a review

Welcome to my First-Watch of the original 30 episodes of the 1990-91 television series Twin Peaks. Below are the bulletpointed notes I jotted down while watching the episode “Double Play.” On this day in history, the #1 song in the US is “The First Time,” by Surface. If you’re anything like me, you’ll listen to […]

Welcome to Twin Peaks:/\/\ First-Watch Recap: Season 2: Ep. 2.13 “Checkmate” (Original airdate Saturday, January 19, 1991) — a review

Welcome to my First-Watch of the original 30 episodes of the 1990-91 television series Twin Peaks. Below are the bulletpointed notes I jotted down while watching the episode “Checkmate.” On this day in history, actor John Russell dies. A US Marine in WWII, Russell was a supporting actor in many westerns, including three with Clint […]

Community: Season 6 — a review

Reaching 100 episodes of a television series used to be a major accomplishment. It was the traditional threshold for a show to be able to enter syndication. I’m not sure if that still applies these days. Multiple streaming platforms, in addition to all the cable networks and the Big Three, have altered the television landscape […]

Welcome to Twin Peaks:/\/\ First-Watch Recap: Season 2: Ep. 2.12 “Black Widow” (Original airdate Saturday, January 12, 1991) — a review

Welcome to my First-Watch of the original 30 episodes of the 1990-91 television series Twin Peaks. Below are the bulletpointed notes I jotted down while watching the episode “Black Widow.” On this day in history, the U.S. Congress gives George H. W. Bush the authority to wage war against Iraq. “Justify My Love,” by Madonna, […]

The West Wing: Season 5 — a review

I’m going to let you in on a secret. I’m going to allow you to take a brief look at the real man behind the curtain here at Firewater Corporation. I’m about halfway through watching Season 7 of this series as I’m typing this review of Season 5. It’s been about three months since I […]

Welcome to Twin Peaks:/\/\ First-Watch Recap: Season 2: Ep. 2.11 “Masked Ball” (Original airdate Saturday, December 15, 1990) — a review

Welcome to my First-Watch of the original 30 episodes of the 1990-91 television series Twin Peaks. Below are the bulletpointed notes I jotted down while watching the episode “Masked Ball.” On this day in history, Rachel Brosnahan, who is Midge Maisel in the terrific Amazon Prime series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, is born in Milwaukee, […]

Community: Season 5 — a review

I’ve already been on record saying that Season 4 of Community was my least-favorite season of the series so far. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that this was the season without Dan Harmon, who had been fired from the show he created. For some very good reasons, I feel compelled to add, but still— […]

Welcome to Twin Peaks:/\/\ First-Watch Recap: Season 2: Ep. 2.9 “Arbitrary Law” (Original airdate Saturday, December 1, 1990) — a review

Welcome to my First-Watch of the original 30 episodes of the 1990-91 television series Twin Peaks. Below are the bulletpointed notes I jotted down while watching the episode “Arbitrary Law.” On this day in history, Ty Detmer, the Brigham Young quarterback, wins the 56th Heisman Trophy. He played professionally in the NFL for fourteen seasons, […]

The West Wing: Season 4 — a review

I was a fan of The West Wing even before I finished watching the first season. Season 4 was the only season since the first that didn’t start with the resolution of a cliffhanger. Even the relatively weak cliffhanger between the second and third seasons involving the question of whether Josiah “Jed” Bartlet (Martin Sheen) […]

Welcome to Twin Peaks:/\/\ First-Watch Recap: Season 2: Ep. 2.8 “Drive with a Dead Girl” (Original airdate Saturday, November 17, 1990) — a review

Welcome to my First-Watch of the original 30 episodes of the 1990-91 television series Twin Peaks. Below are the bulletpointed notes I jotted down while watching the episode “Drive with a Dead Girl.” On this day in history, David Crosby breaks his left leg, ankle and shoulder in a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles, California. […]

Welcome to Twin Peaks:/\/\ First-Watch Recap: Season 2: Ep. 2.7 “Lonely Souls” (Original airdate Saturday, November 10, 1990) — a review

Welcome to my First-Watch of the original 30 episodes of the 1990-91 television series Twin Peaks. Below are the bulletpointed notes I jotted down while watching the episode “Lonely Souls.” On this day in history, “Knocking Boots,” by the rapper Candyman peaked on the US Top-10 at #9. In all, it would spend two weeks […]

Welcome to Twin Peaks:/\/\ First-Watch Recap: Season 2: Ep. 2.6 “Demons” (Original airdate Saturday, November 3, 1990) — a review

Welcome to my First-Watch of the original 30 episodes of the 1990-91 television series Twin Peaks. Below are the bulletpointed notes I jotted down while watching the episode “Demons.” On this day in history, the band Warrant breaks into the US Top-10, in the #10 position, with “Cherry Pie.” I’m not sure if it’s the […]

Welcome to Twin Peaks:/\/\ First-Watch Recap: Season 2: Ep. 2.5 “The Orchid’s Curse” (Original airdate Saturday, October 27, 1990) — a review

Welcome to my First-Watch of the original 30 episodes of the 1990-91 television series Twin Peaks. Below are the bulletpointed notes I jotted down while watching the episode “The Orchid’s Curse.” On this day in history, “Suicide Blonde,” by the group INXS, reaches its peak at #9 on the US Billboard charts. Michael Hutchence, the […]

Welcome to Twin Peaks:/\/\ First-Watch Recap: Season 2: Ep. 2.1 “May the Giant Be with You” (Original airdate Sunday, September 30, 1990) — a review (Part 2 of 2)

Welcome to my First-Watch of the original 30 episodes of the 1990-91 television series Twin Peaks. Below are the bulletpointed notes I jotted down while watching the episode “May the Giant Be with You.” This is the second part of a two-part recap. Over at the Double R Diner, HANK JENNINGS is busy bussing tables […]

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