friday favorites #32: top 5 tv shows of 2016

Today's Friday Favorites is a little different—I'm talking about my five favorite shows of 2016. With all the TV watching I do, I can't believe I've never done a "best of TV" post before! These shows were all airing new episodes in 2016 (which is why One Tree Hill isn't on the list 😁).

1. Pitch

Pitch is one of two new dramas created by Dan Fogelman this season. It's the less famous, less critically acclaimed of the two, but it's my favorite. The only reason it never made it into my Friday Favorites until this special edition is because I've become such a slacker about posting, but trust me, it's a favorite.

Pitch stars Kylie Bunbury as pitcher Ginny Baker, the first female to play in the Major Leagues. It also stars a nearly-unrecognizable (until you know it's him) Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Mike Lawson, Ginny's catcher. It took me about one episode to be all in on this show.

It's only 10 episodes long, and all 10 have already aired and are available on Hulu. Remember how I said that Pitch isn't nearly as famous or acclaimed as Fogelman's other show? Well, it's apparently a bubble show, meaning it could go either way as far as cancellation or renewal. Here's hoping FOX doesn't pull the trigger and gives us a second season of "Bawson"! (Terrible name, I know. But what other option was there? Gike? Minny? Laker? All awful.)

Guilty pleasure... Watching fan-made shipper videos on YouTube. Veronica & Logan, Pacey & Joey, Lucas & Peyton, and now Ginny & Mike from @pitchonfox. Once I start, I can't stop. And yes, I am 35 years old 😂😂😂 #photochallenge #sacredholidays

A photo posted by Becky Ritta (@beckyritta) on Dec 7, 2016 at 4:30pm PST

2. This Is Us

I have actually written about This Is Us before. This Is Us is the other new show from Dan Fogelman. 

If you haven't watched and plan to, stop reading now and skip to #3. If you don't, you might feel the same anger for me that I felt for EW's social media handler when I came across a post on Facebook that said, "Now that Rory is _______, what's next?" (I left that blank in case you don't know what happens on the Gilmore Girls reboot.)

 

This Is Us follows the Pearson siblings, beginning on their 36th birthday. Kevin is a moderately successful yet deeply unhappy actor, Kate is morbidly obese and lets her weight completely define her, and Randall is a successful businessman with a beautiful family who just reconnected with his dying birth father. The present story is interspersed with stories from the past, from when the siblings' parents Jack and Rebecca were raising them. It is simply fascinating—especially the stories surrounding Randall (the 36-year-old Randall is played by the magnificent Sterling K. Brown). 

Side note: In my opinion, the biggest snub from this year's Golden Globes nominations was the exclusion of Brown for his portrayal of Randall (he was nominated for his portrayal of Chris Darden in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, a role he won an Emmy for earlier this year). The Screen Actor's Guild got it right, though, nominating Brown for both This Is Us and People v. O.J.

3. The Flash

Apparently I talk about The Flash a lot. While I enjoy all of the DC shows on the CW (well, I have a love/hate relationship with Arrow), The Flash is by far my favorite. It's so much fun! This season, I've enjoyed that a) "Flashpoint" (when Barry went back and changed the timeline to save his mother) didn't last forever and b) there are major repercussions for his actions. I also love that Tom Cavanagh is portraying a third version of Harrison Wells. This season's version, H.R., just might be my favorite yet.  

4. Fuller House

Critics hate Fuller House. In fact, I just saw it on a list of worst shows of 2016. But I really enjoy it! Season one pushed all the right nostalgia buttons, and, while I've only seen the first two episodes of season two so far, I assume I'll like it just as much. And I'm still 100% Team Steve.

5. The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story

When I heard that Ryan Murphy (Glee, American Horror Story) was making a series about the O.J. Simpson trial, I was skeptical. But I was curious enough to tune in for the first episode, and I was immediately hooked. This series is done so well! I watched every episode, and I can't stop telling people how good it is. Seriously. If you haven't watched it, do it as soon as it hits Netflix!

I do have two complaints: I think John Travolta as Robert Shapiro and Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. Simpson were a bit miscast. But everything else was absolutely spot on!

There's my list ... but why no Gilmore Girls? Because I haven't watched it yet. (And I also hear that people hated the 2nd and 3rd installments.) I think I'm one of two Gilmore fans in the world who hasn't watched yet...the other being my sister. But we're going to remedy that this weekend!

What are your favorite shows of 2016?

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in defense of "fuller house"

This is what I did during lunch today...

If you haven't been living under a rock, you probably know that Fuller House, the Full House reboot/continuation hit Netflix today. I've been VERY excited to see this--after all, Full House was my favorite show before Dean Cain as Superman came along and stole my heart. 

When the critics' reviews started coming in, I wasn't too concerned. After all, Full House wasn't a critical darling, either. But I haven't seen a single positive review from a critic. The best review I saw was from TVLine, which gave the premiere a B-. Hilariously, EW gave the show a C- and the first episode an F. Really, an F? 

Here's the thing: Full House was never considered edgy, and it looks like Fuller House won't be either. And that's exactly what I want--a sweet family sitcom that reminds me of a simpler time.

I've only watched the first episode so far, but here's my snap judgement:

From the opening strains of the original theme song, which opens the first episode, to the side-by-side old and new images of the cast in the opening credits, to "Forever," to every catch phrase the show ever spawned being uttered at least once, Fuller House presses practically every nostalgia button imaginable. And I loved it.

The good (besides what I've already mentioned):

• Everyone easily slips back into their roles--especially the three who will carry the series: Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie Sweetin, and Andrea Barber.
• Steve and D.J. still have chemistry ... and both are single. The producers, at least if the first episode is any indication, are determined to give the people what they want, so I have high hopes for the happily ever after that I always assumed Steve and D.J. found.
• Andrea Barber (Kimmy Gibbler) is hilarious. Her comedic timing is spot on!
• Steve's dog is Comet Jr. Jr.--of course there's a Comet!

The bad:

• The first half of the premiere is so focused on nostalgia that the actual plot doesn't really exist. This is especially apparent in the opening scene, which is more about recognizing each actor than anything else.
• While Fuller House is definitely tamer and more family appropriate than anything not found on the Disney or Hallmark Channels, I still cringed when Kimmy's ex talked about how well-versed she was in the Kama Sutra. Wouldn't want to have to explain that to a kid!
• The Olsen twins joke: When it's said that Michelle isn't coming home because she's building her fashion empire, everyone turns to the camera and gives withering looks. This would be amusing, except it goes on far too long. It ended up feeling mean spirited, not funny.

The big question:

• Joey is clearly wearing a wedding ring--but no wife is ever mentioned. Does Joey have a secret Vegas family?

Here's what it boils down to: Fuller House is a love letter to Full House fans. If you weren't a fan of the original, you probably won't like this. But if you were, and you still enjoy sweet, family-friendly programming, then you'll definitely want to give Fuller House a look.

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five friday favorites #22: week of feb. 19, 2016

This is a Friday that could not have come soon enough. I do have to get up at 4:15 a.m. tomorrow because of speech, but I'm still thankful it's Friday! It's been a long week, even though I took Monday off as a vacation day, and I am very eagerly anticipating next Friday for two reasons. 1) We do not have a speech meet next Saturday, so Friday truly will be the last workday of the week. 2) Fuller House drops on Netflix next Friday. I absolutely cannot wait! In fact, I'm so excited, that practically all of my favorites could revolve around Fuller House ... but I'll restrain myself to one!

1. Fuller House Cast on The Tonight Show
While I've seen lots of Fuller House things in the last few weeks, this is invariably my favorite. I love pretty much everything about it!


2. Detoxinista's No Bake Peanut Butter Cup Pie
Basically, I've gone all-in with peanut butter. (Just ask my speech kids. I have a jar of peanut butter that I pull out at each meet.) I made this peanut butter cup pie as individual cupcake-pies for a Valentine's Day treat (and then I forgot to get them out when my friends were over!), and the flavor was phenomenal! However, I decided the almond meal chocolate crust was unnecessary, so I made the recipe again leaving it out and putting the peanut butter filling in mini cupcake liners. It worked wonderfully! (I also reduced the amount of sweetener a bit--the original recipe tastes wonderful, but it's also very sweet.)

I store these in the freezer and get one out when I need a dab of sweetness. So, so good!

3. This Shirt

Ten years ago, I bought this shirt on sale at Younkers. There must have been some magic going on in the dressing room, 'cause when I got home, I realized the shirt didn't fit at all. But it was a final sale item, so returning it wasn't an option. Over the years, I cleaned out my closet multiple times, but the shirt always remained ... even though it was way too small. But yesterday I pulled it out again, and it fit! I absolutely love it. It's comfy, it's not too low, and it has a very interesting neckline. I'd go back and buy more in other colors ... if it wasn't a 2006 design!

As you can see, I still haven't quite mastered the art of the mirror selfie :-)




4. The Flash
Yes, The Flash has been one of my Friday Favorites before. But right now, it's firing on all cylinders, and I just need to gush a bit. (If you don't watch The Flash, feel free to skip down to my 5th favorite.)

Incorporating Earth-2 into this season of The Flash has added so much to the show. Not only did it allow Tom Cavanagh (Harrison Wells) to remain on the show, but Barry, Cisco, and Wells' recent trip to Earth-2 made for two of the most fun hours of TV I've seen in a long time. On Earth-2, Barry's mother is still alive, Barry is married to Iris (who is a police detective), and Barry is most definitely not The Flash.

Not only was it fun to see the doppelgangers of "our" characters (including Killer Frost and Reverb), but a mysterious new character came into play--the "man in the iron mask" who was held in Zoom's lair. Through some kind of coded communication, he got Barry and Wells' daughter to realize he was trying to say "Jay Garrick"--and he became very upset when Barry said that Jay was safe on our Earth. Is the man in the iron mask the real Jay? Is he warning Barry about Jay? Is he (and this is my favorite fan theory so far) Iris' dead fiance Eddie Thawne? And who is Zoom? So many questions--and I can't wait to uncover the answers!

(Not on the Flash bandwagon yet, but you'd like to check it out? Season one is now on Netflix.)

5. If I Run by Terri Blackstock
If you like suspense, you'll want to check out If I Run, the first novel in a new series by Terri Blackstock. Here's part of what I said in my review:

If I Run is fascinating, fast-paced suspense. It is written in first-person, present tense, alternating between Casey's and Dylan's point of view. While this perspective took a bit to get used to, once I did, I felt like I was right there with Casey and Dylan, experiencing the action as they did.

Once I finished the novel, I wished that I could pick up book two immediately!

As always, thanks for stopping by, and feel free to let me know your own favorites! I'm linking up with the usuals: Erika, Karli, and April.

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five friday favorites #20: week of jan. 15, 2016

Welcome to another Friday Favorites! It's been a while... Here's what's making me happy this week!

1. This gif from the Golden Globes

I don't know how many times I've watched it, but it cracks me up every time!

2. Justin's Maple Almond Butter
Since I have now successfully reintroduced almonds (insert round of applause here), and I'm desperately in need of food to eat at speech meets, I decided to try Justin's Almond Butter.

Best. Decision. Ever.

It's pricey, but it's oh so good. (I get mine at Walmart; you can find it for just a little more at Amazon.)

I also bought a 12-oz jar that is slightly less expensive per ounce, and it's become my go-to afternoon snack at work. Delicious! (Not sure why I had to "reintroduce" almonds? See my posts here and here.)

3. Fuller House teaser trailer

This is easily the most fun thing I saw today. I am so excited for Fuller House!

4. Dark Matter

If Firefly and Stargate had a baby, it would be Dark Matter. I tried this Syfy show on a whim and ended up powering through all 13 episodes in just a few days. The premise is that six people wake up from stasis on a spaceship with zero memories of who they are or why they are on the ship. Throughout the first season, they try to discover who they are, all while frequently fighting for their lives. I'm definitely looking forward to the second season! You can watch Season 1 on Netflix.

5. The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck

My first read of 2016, The Wedding Chapel was everything I hoped it would be and more. Here's some of what I had to say:

While Hauck's recent releases (the Royal Wedding series, which I loved) have been a bit on the fluffy side, The Wedding Chapel has much in common with her wonderful The Wedding Dress. There's a depth and realism to The Wedding Chapel that I found wholly satisfying. This is a beautifully romantic and compelling novel about secrets, sin's consequences, family, and redemption that will stick with you beyond the final page.

I highly recommend this excellent book! You can see the rest of my review here.

Thanks for stopping by! I'm linking up with the usuals: Erika, Karli, and April.


Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

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