Consortium of Seven: Year 4

        Another personally draining week, I'll be trying to use most of my Friday to catch my breath and get my bearings while still keeping some things moving.       This week's tv/streaming highlights for me came Thursday, with the fourth episode of this third (and final) season of Star Trek: Picard (Paramount+), and the first season-capper for Poker Face (Peacock.)       This season of Picard continues to be one that's understandably drawing praise, even from those older, crankier fans who continue to otherwise find so much to complain about all things modern Trek. Lots of good character moments, many including some newer faces, mixed with those of the Next Generation cast mostly reaching for a possible last adventure.       Meanwhile, Rian Johnson's creation, the lie-detecting Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne), hit that tenth episode, completing the larger story arc of season one - the inc...

    Another busy week, with more things backing up as I've not made the time for them. Time's buzzing past in a blur.       Among the many, many cuts made to operations following the regime change at Warner Bros. Discovery is one where another of the bodies - in this instance a programming change - is only now just falling at Turner Classic Movies. A virtual bloodbath of firings happened late last year, among them it turns out was Millie De Chirico. De Chirico had overseen TCM Underground since 2007, curating a mix of cult classics and often underseen films in the wee hours of Saturday or Sunday morning. The spot had been developed and launched by Eric Weber in 2006, in part as an attempt to expand the TCM brand, which had skewed ever-older and stuffier, aiming to attract younger and fringier viewers. Initially it was hosted by Rob Zombie, in a nod to classic tv horror hosts, but before long it let the host aspect fold. Still, it was quietly cu...

      We seem to have escaped the Groundhog Day loop for another year, and we're rolling into the first weekend of February. I hope you've been faring well. I'm feeling worn and off-balance, which is, unfortunately, feeling all too familiar. I have some tasks set for Friday that are personally very difficult, which is always the worst kind of difficult, no?       While I've still been watching more than I likely should - other things are being neglected - it's been a lighter viewing load, so less for me to talk about.        Before hitting the new items, I'll tout a  couple of the better ones I've already talked up in one or more previous Friday columns:       Rian Johnson's mystery of the week series, starring Natasha Lyonne, exclusive to Peacock - Poker Face - gave us the first four episodes last week, and added the fifth yesterday, and there hasn't been a bad moment in the mix. The chara...

        I know there'll be lots of (American) football interest this weekend, as the final games are played Sunday to determine which teams will be headed to the Superbowl February 12th. Locally, here in the suburbs of Philadelphia, with the Eagles being one of the teams in contention there'll be a lot of noise. I expect that heading up toward 6pm I'll definitely know if the Eagles made it simply by ambient noise.       Personally, I don't care, but it'll be more pleasant hereabouts for the next couple weeks if people are celebrating and anticipating, so, Go, Birds!     Also n ot something I've traditionally paid much active attention to, the nominees for this year's Academy Awards were announced early this week , and drew some attention in part because so many of the nominees were in commercially-successful films, and very much unlike the previous two years, no women were nominated for Best Director.    ...

  Still one more weekday to go in it, but it's been a wearing week for me. I'm already tired, and am hoping to somehow manage to both accomplish some things during this final (paid) work day of the week, and to make it to the weekend with more of a remaining charge than what I'll need to make dinner.     A couple quick notes: Tuesday night NBC launched their revival of Night Court , airing the first two episodes. (I caught them the following day over on Peacock.) The only alumnus from the original series is John Laroquette, reprising his role as attorney Dan Fielding. He appears to have stepped almost effortlessly back into the role, while also folding in some character development from the years between then and now; they didn't belabor it, but we learn that in the years between he'd loved and ultimately lost, and that his air of disdain for humanity, which used to be based in shallowness, is now used as a protective armor.        M...