‘Handmaid’s Tale’ Looks Beyond Gilead, Gordon Ramsay’s New Gig, ‘Archer’ Finale
A selective critical checklist of notable Wednesday TV:
The Handmaid’s Tale (streaming on Hulu): Having just returned from a vacation abroad, I get how Serena Joy (Yvonne Strahovski) feels when the Waterfords leave for a diplomatic trip beyond Gilead’s borders, and the Commander’s wife feels the tug and temptation of a new life outside her oppressive homeland. Meanwhile, also having escaped the horror-show of Gilead, refugees Luke (O.T. Fagbenle) and Moira (Samira Wiley) deal with survivor’s guilt.
Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back (9/8c, Fox): Where would the Fox network be without ubiquitous hothead chef Gordon Ramsay? We’ll probably never know, because he launches yet another new reality franchise with this rapid-fire makeover show, which gives Team Ramsay just one 24-hour time span to fix a failing restaurant. His first target (victim?): the family-owned Bella Gianna’s Italian restaurant in Congers, N.Y., whose short-fused owner (sound familiar?) has created an unsavory workplace environment.
Archer: Danger Island (10/9c, FXX): Having channeled their inner Indiana Jones in the latest genre spoof, Archer & Co. complete their quest for the idol in the season finale. A deadly temple on Mitimotu provides one last challenge for the hapless adventurers.
Brockmire (10/9c, IFC): When Jim Brockmire (Hank Azaria) hits “brock bottom,” he’s not kidding. After his latest binge lands him in the hospital, the diagnosis is epic: liver damage, two strands of chlamydia and even scurvy. (“The only case we’ll ever get to see,” marvels a doctor.) All of which prompts an estranged Charles (Tyrel Jackson Williams) to stage an intervention in the penultimate episode of the dark comedy’s rollicking second season. You’ll be surprised who shows, and who doesn’t.
Inside Wednesday TV: Rescued from cancellation by Amazon, Syfy’s The Expanse (9/8c) continues its third season with Bobbie (Frankie Adams) leading a group into uncharted territory, while Melba’s (Nadine Nicole) mission is threatened by a phantom from her past. … CNBC’s home-renovation series The Deed (10/9c) returns for a second season, with real estate mogul Sidney Torres rescuing property investors—including longtime friend James, who made the mistake of falling in love with his flip. (Does he not watch HGTV?) … Just the sort of thing that’s both blessing and curse to the family of divorce lawyers on SundanceTV’s addictive The Split (11/10c): a government scandal that ensues when an extramarital dating site is hacked. But that’s nothing compared to the fireworks at home when Ruth (recent Tony nominee Deborah Findlay) hosts a dinner party for daughter Rose (Fiona Button) to celebrate her impending wedding, and more secrets drunkenly spill out.
Conversation22 Comments
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Off topic: Just read an article about how cable rates will be more likely to rise now that the big mergers are not being prevented by the government. Not too long ago it was once believed that outlier services such as Sling, You Tube , Apple , Amazon among many others would create serious competition for the cable giants and bring down pricing.
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They thought satellite would do that too, but it didn't. I don't know why. My neighborhood has a lot more people using satellite than cable, but the price of cable keeps increasing driving even more people away.
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My next door neighbor has Direct TV (full package including all sports channels) and Comcast (the top tier) plus Amazon, Netflix, Hulu and other streaming services.
His bills are out of control! Talking well over $500. He claims he needs all of that because he watches tons of sports , shows and movies . Doesn't ever want to feel he can't watch a certain program because he doesn't subscribe. He knows I have only limited service with my Comcast package so he invites me to watch whatever I want in his house. But I hardly ever take his offer. I don't have the time! So even if I did pay all that money for all those programs, I likely wouldn't have the time to take advantage of it.
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And the next big one is Disney or Comcast buying FOX.
Wonder if government will try and stop that one.
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Yeah...I can't keep up with just broadcast channels and basic cable. I can't see how I'd ever have time to watch all those premium channels and streaming services!
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My neighbor told me satellite used to be more cost effective for most viewers, but that to has increased quite a bit. He really likes Comcast better and just uses Direct TV for the sports. Wonder why Comcast can't fulfill his sports fix?
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That is true. Lets see who catches the FOX.....
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I don't know. They have what seems like dozens of sports channels if you get the digital sports package (or whatever it's called).
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Yes, lucky for us broadcast and basic cable more than satisfy our entertainment desires. We also save some $$.
My nephew figured out a way to watch just about any show (he hates sports so doesn't care about satellite or cable's expensive sports packages) or movie for free online. He uses a Google Chromecast gizmo . Don't ask me how , but he watches tons . I think he pays like $10 a month for live TV viewing. Forget if it's Sling or You Tube.
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I hope the DOJ appeals the ridiculous AT&T decision. That merger should require significant concessions to ensure prices don't go up.
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I agree w/ Fred about satellite fees. I had DirecTV a few years ago, and after a year the rate went up enormously. I went back to TimeWarner/Spectrum, and the bundling feature is OK. But my son wants me to ditch cable altogether and go with something like Sling or one of those other services.
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I ditched Cable & Satellite almost 2 years ago, I used to pay $170 (without premium), didn't watch 90% of the channels.
Now I have Sling TV pay $35 with no hidden fees, the quality has been excellent, no need for boxes, they give a ROKU for free.
I have all the channels I like. I have an antenna($99) for broadcast TV, that works great if you are 60miles from the nearest TV tower. I would never go back to the world of exorbitantly expensive and horrible customer service of Cable/Satellite.
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How old is your son? Does he live with you? The problem with Sling is that you have to be close enough to the broadcast channel transmitters to get them with an antenna which I am not. They also don't carry some of my favorite basic cable channels.
Before you do anything, make a list of the channels your favorite shows are on and see if the service offers those channels. For instance, I watch a lot of shows on FX, and many of the alternative services didn't have FX on them.
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I've read that since broadcast channels went digital the signal is only good for about 35 miles. We're 60 miles from most of the local towers, and people with antennas tell me they either can't get any channels or they get just one of them.
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Haha, I already did that. I made a "wish list" of the channels I want, and of two of the options my son suggested, I noted which ones had my desired channels. I can't find my list at the moment (and I haven't changed from cable yet), but I'd definitely have to lose some channels I enjoy now, no matter which service I choose.
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It would be worth for you to check out if Directv Now has locals in your area,I think they have the most Locals nationwide. Also check YouTube TV or Hulu TV.
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Nothing much of interest for me tonight.
BTW, how is everyone liking 100 Code? Or not liking, as the case may be? I find it interesting enough, but I admit that reading the Swedish subtitles causes me to miss whatever is happening on screen. Although it's interesting to consider the fact that, since the show is Swedish-produced and originally aired in Germany, it was probably the ENGLISH dialogue that was given in subtitles. Also (minor spoiler alert, maybe?) do we know why the daughter cuts herself? Her parents are divorced, I believe, but that doesn't seem all that traumatic.
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As usual, it's Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers for me tonight. Also, a female anchor of 37 years, Donna Britt, is having her final newscast on WAFB-9 in Baton Rouge, La., at 6pm today. She has ALS and has been in a wheelchair for the past several months. God Bless her on her retirement...
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MasterChef and probably Reverie for me tonight. Too many shows to catch up on to watch things I don't care about.
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NBC was supposed to air an NHL matchup tonight (according to my TV GUIDE) in place of American Ninja Warrior and Reverie. I guess the championship ended early like the NBA, I wouldn't know because I have zero interest in sports.
Reverie for me also.
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That's why I like the online listings because they can change to reflect last minute changes in the schedule (they show Ninja and Reverie tonight) which is why I'm so pissed at Comcast for dropping their localized listings last year. Then, they made a big mess out of the TV Guide listings online, and they're miserable to use now.
I've gone back to the zap2it listings which I can't believe I first used almost 20 years ago! They aren't as detailed as the Comcast listings were, but they're probably accurate 99% of the time!
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I mostly read TV GUIDE for the articles. But I like to look at the listings for a reminder of when shows and movies air all week. I realize it can't be as accurate as the online versions. I also look at TV GUIDE''s online listings and Zap2it (only been on that site for around 10 years or so).
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