Trashy TV/ Addictive TV

@Joyce I just did a whole post on the Blue Zones in my journal. By post I mean "novel" (that's my disclaimer 😁). I am definitely finding there is much more to longevity (not just living a longer life but living a longer, healthier life) than simply what/how you eat and exercise. There's something to be said about connection, community, laughter, purpose, and being outdoors. Ok maybe I invented that last one, but those people do seem to spend a lot of time outdoors.

I did forget to mention in my journal about the cowboy. Holy smokes he blew me away! I told my 13 year old that I don't know if I could haul my 42 year old butt up onto a horse and that 90+ year old man seemed to do it with ease. I loved watching the dancing, laughter, and overall enjoyment with each other.

I haven't heard of Spy Ops but I am intrigued. I love a good (conspiracy?) theory and find that stuff fascinating.

My husband told me about a new show on Netflix that seemed good. Something about Erin Brown? I can't remember the title.

I finished "Trying" on AppleTV and loved it.

I'm almost finished with Blue Zones, and I dig it. The areas featured have a holistic system, what we in the Veterans Health Administration would call "Whole Health". It isn't just the food we eat, the activity we do. It's also our social connections, a feeling of purpose and meaning, and a community where its members respect and care for one another. Pretty cool stuff!

I am almost finished with Spy Ops on Netflix. If anyone is into secret-squirrel spy stuff like me, you'll enjoy it. The first episode was "eh," but starts picking up steam with the Panama Invasion. Then the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul episode is simply bonkers. One of the proposed theories is that it was really a cardinal within the Vatican who ordered the hit. And that's the least crazy aspect of it.

ETA: Because of the writer's strike, I'm leaning into Korean dramas and just finished Juvenile Justice. That was so dark and overwrought, but I loved it. And I usually want to stick with fluffy and comedic tv shows, so it must have reeled me in.

I watched a docuseries on Netflix called “Living to 100 - Secrets of the Blue Zones.” I remember reading the book years ago and getting a lot out of it. So, it was nice to watch a documentary and actually see the people and places. I love that so many of them do no formal workouts and don’t diet or take supplements. It’s more like wellness is baked into their environment. They aren’t going to a gym, but the village is steep, or they walk everywhere, or they garden. So much of what these long-lived residents have in common is community, purpose, faith, and joy. They also eat a variety of traditional whole foods. I had several favorites, but I loved the 100-year old Costa Rican cowboy who is still saddling up his horse and working every day. I was also amazed by the Greek man who moved to the US, was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer at age 66 and given a few months to live. He went home to the Greek islands to die. After like 40 years of laughing, dancing, and drinking wine he was still vibrant and healthy.

Looking for some new shows to watch now that we are up to date on Winning Time. The Bear is definitely one I'll suggest to dh. I see ads for it and keep thinking we should revisit Only Murders in the Building. We only made it through a few episodes. Are we the only ones who didn't like it?

We're watching Winning Time on HBO. I'm not particularly a fan of basketball but it's a fun watch. They do that thing were they talk to the camera and we both almost gave up in the first 10 minutes, but it's not too bad and I'm glad we stuck with it. Also the sexism of the 70's and 80's is cringey and having lived through it as a teen and young adult I could do without. But we're still enjoying it. Snappy and keeps the attention.

We are maybe 4 episodes into The Bear, which I always want to call "the chef show" and it's pretty good so far. The first episode was a little bananas - I felt like I was having heart palpitations with the chaos in the kitchen and all the yelling but it definitely gets better. Like Skwigg said, it's a combination of food, a decent story line, and various character development.

I'm almost finished with season 1 of Firefly Lane...it's been pretty decent so far. I've heard season 2 is better so I'l keep going with it.

Your opinion of "And just like that" sounds like me with Ted Lasso. I loved season 1, season 2 was ok, and by season 3 I was glad I watched it but also glad it was over.

I've read so many good things about The Bear that I think I'll suggest that to dh as next on our "watch together" list. Right now we're watching the most recent season on Netflix of Alone (season 9). It's great because everyone actually seems to know what they're doing - have actual survival and hunting experience.

I watched the first episode of season 2 of And Just Like That and remembered why I didn't like season 1. Ugh I wish they had just left well enough alone. Someone let me know if I'm wrong and it gets better.

I have to laugh because every time Skwigg mentions a TV show my husband has literally just brought it up a day or 2 prior. He was telling me about The Bear and how I might like it because it has good character developement (he is a huge foodie so that's the biggest draw for him) and now I feel like I need to check it out. I am all about dysfunctional families (have I mentioned how much I loved both seasons of White Lotus?) LOL

I just started watching The Bear on Hulu. Wow! It’s intense and wonderful, like nothing I’ve ever seen. A talented chef moves home to take over the dysfunctional family burger joint. Lots of intense kitchen drama, good food, and crazy employees. I got Hulu just to watch it and I’m not regretting it at all. I can’t wait to watch more.

Just a little update here on shows my husband and I have enjoyed lately.

First of all: Taskmaster! It’s so ridiculous and fun. The UK version is the first and best…but we’ve also watched the NZ and Australian versions, and we love them, too! We love the show so much that we are now watching some of the Nordic versions with English subtitles. (You know I really love something if I’m willing to watch consistently with only subtitles. Haha!) I think I might have mentioned Taskmaster before, but I’m saying it again because it really is such a joy.

Ted Lasso was great, although my husband and I found this likely final, third season to be quite underwhelming. The first season was superb, the second season was really good…and the third season felt like the writers weren’t sure where they were going and lost their spark. It’s definitely still a show worth watching, though.

If you like period pieces, the latest series of All Creatures Great and Small is excellent. The characters make such a great ensemble crew.

It’s a movie (rather than TV), but have any of you seen the new Mario movie? It’s adorable and hilarious. Bowser is completely unhinged. LOL. There is one song in particular that you will never get out of your head, though! My nephews never stop singing it. I literally wake up with it in my head sometimes. Haha!

Two other movies that I highly recommend are Tetris and Air. They are both fascinating and entertaining at the same time. I’d love to hear if any of you have watched either of these. I learned so much in the Tetris movie that I never realized was happening at the time—and all due to a video game.

I tried to get into Platonic but after 3 episodes I gave up. I’m bummed because I love Seth Rogan and Rose Byrne so maybe I’ll try again later.

My husband and I are enjoying Jury Duty on Prime. It’s a faux trial documentary where everyone in it is an actor (including James Marsden, who plays himself) except one guy who has no idea that the whole thing is a farce. I find it hilarious and it’s nice to have something fairly light.

I’m also trying to watch Firefly Lane, which I think is good I just don’t always have the evening hours to dedicate to watching shows. We’re introducing random movies to our kids, too. Dumb & Dumber and Happy Gilmore have gone over very well as well as Speed (we did have a convo about language prior to the movie, but WOW I’d forgotten how much I loved it!), Dodgeball, and 3 Men and a Baby. I’m not sure we’re setting the best example as parents but it’s been fun

@skwiggs I often think about going back to watch Shrinking again I enjoyed it so much. I finished Workin Moms on Netflix, Ted Lasso (I may or may not have shed a tear or two) and next on my list is Platonic! I'm more than happy to watch something funny and nutty, and I love Seth Rogan and Rose Byrne.

My husband and I just finished Bad Sisters and I can't decide if I loved it or if it gave me an ulcer. 😁 I really enjoyed all of the sisters characters, but the husband was so evil and appalling and I really let him rile me up. Anyway, I think Platonic is in order after that series along with the book "Drowning" I just finished about a plane that loses its two engines and has to land (crash) in the water off the coast of a Hawaiian island. It was an excellent read but I had to get through it as quickly as possible. I lost (more) sleep for days - ha!

Has anyone watched Firefly Lane? I have a friend who keeps telling me I have to see it so it's on my list but keeps getting pushed to the bottom by other newer shows.

Also no spoilers, but I feel like the 4th season of Barry shouldn’t have happened. It’s like they didn’t know when to quit.

I loved every second of Ted Lasso and Mrs Maisel.

I’m currently enjoying Platonic with Seth Rogan and Rose Byrne on AppleTV+. It’s funny and nutty. It’s about a couple of 40-something former best friends who reunite after he gets a divorce. She’s a married stay-at-home mom and he’s a bar-owner party dude. Chaos ensues.

I also watched the first episode of Shrinking on AppleTV+. It was great! I can’t wait to watch more.

No spoilers here but just wanted to say that I loved the way Succession ended and hated the way that Barry ended. Will probably re-watch all of Succession again at some point. Barry was a wild ride but I think once was enough. lol

I'm not enjoying this season of Ted Lasso quite at much either. We've been watching the new Succession episode on Sunday nights. Then the new Barry on Monday. And then Ted Lasso the rest of the week. Dh hadn't watched it so I re-watched the earlier seasons with him and now we are catching up on the current season. I still need to watch the current season.of Somebody Somewhere. I don't think DH will be interested. This season of Barry is out of control - I'm not sure I like it but I can't look away. I hope there's a satisfying ending because right now I'm just depressed. lol

I finished season 2 of "Sex Education" and was so bummed when it came to an end. The opening scenes were usually pretty raunchy, but overall it was hilarious and heart-warming all at once. I think season 3 drops this summer, which I'm excited about.

I am struggling with the latest season of Ted Lasso. I think I'm about 7 episodes in and plodding through but almost begrudgingly.

Hubs and I started "The Last Thing He Told Me" on AppleTV last night and so far it's pretty good. I read the book a couple of years ago so I don't remember anything more than that I loved it. Jennifer Garner plays the main character so that's an added bonus.

We finished "Beef" on Netflix the other night, which I thought I was going to strongly dislike and ended up loving. The final episode was a bit meh, but overall the show was like watching a train wreck I couldn't tear myself away from. There's something about characters with seriously heavy issues (like White Lotus) that I am disturbingly attracted to.

I have "bad sisters" and the new season of "Workin Moms" on my list but I can only usually get through one show at a time. I have a feeling I'll be working on Ted Lasso for the next couple of years. It seems to take me 4 days to get through an episode 😂

Yes! I just saw Somebody Somewhere has a new season soon and I’m very excited about that. I’m going to resubscribe to Apple as soon as Ted Lasso is over and then binge it and all the other great shows there. Lol

I LOVED Shrinking on Apple! We just started Ted lasso and I am flying through Sex Education on Netflix. It makes me both cringe and laugh hysterically and I’ll be sad when it comes to an end. I might have to check out the Sisters show.

The best 3 shows I have watched lately are all on Apple TV………. So so great, Bad Sisters, Shrinked and Dear Edward

I got that notice too. I currently have Discovery+, so I guess it will save me some bucks when they merge. I’m really excited for Barry! And Mrs Maisel, and Somebody Somewhere. My days off are coming. It will be nice to have some quality TV to watch this week.