‘Nailed It!’ and ‘GLOW’ on Netflix, Amazon’s ‘English Scandal’
A selective critical checklist of notable Friday TV:
Nailed It! (streaming on Netflix): “Is it possible to get second-hand stress?” wonders guest judge/comedian Jon Gabrus as he watches the hot mess unfolding before his eyes, as hapless amateur bakers try—and mostly fail—to concoct sugary masterpieces on this funniest of baking competitions. Back for a second batch of episodes, hosted by the scrumptiously effervescent Nicole Byer and the diplomatic chocolatier Jacques Torres, Nailed It! is too good-natured to truly humiliate these clowns who probably shouldn’t get within a mile of marzipan. We cheer them on, even as we laughingly groan at their well-meaning train wrecks. Sara Lee might not approve, but the rest of us can just eat these new episodes up. (Should you wish to watch better bakers in action, PBS continues with a tart-fest on The Great British Baking Show at 9/8c; check local listings at pbs.org.)
GLOW (streaming on Netflix): The raucous comedy series inspired by 1980s cult phenom Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling gleams in its fabulously entertaining second season with a buoyant celebration of sisterhood. Now that GLOW is on the air, albeit on a cheesy local L.A. station, these spandexed castoffs from society and show-biz (including Community’s Alison Brie and Nurse Jackie’s Betty Gilpin as frenemies) try to make the most of their moment in the spotlight. Marc Maron is also terrific as the hack director wrangling these women, a fatalist at heart who’s as much scold as grudgingly affectionate mentor to his hungry, needy squad.
A Very English Scandal (streaming on Amazon Prime Video): Hugh Grant’s fabled handsomeness is blotted by moral corruption in this three-part fact-based series, adapted with rare economy and wit by Russell T Davies (Torchwood). Grant is Jeremy Thorpe, a politician of monstrous hypocrisy who led the Parliament’s Liberal Party from 1967 to 1976—when he wasn’t busy secretly plotting to kill his pesky ex-lover, the adorably sad-sack Norman Scott (Ben Whishaw). Justice may not be served, but the lucky viewer is.
Inside Friday TV: The penultimate episodes of Syfy’s 12 Monkeys (8/7c) air back-to-back-to-back, with more dizzying time-tripping adventures before the two-part Aug. 6 finale. First, Jones (Barbara Sukowa) sends daughter Hannah (Brooke Williams) back to 2007 on personal business, then the action shifts to the Middle Ages, and finally, Cole (Aaron Stanford) and Cassie (Amanda Schull) embark on a final mission. … If magic is your thing, The CW showcases a fifth season of Masters of Illusion (8/7c), hosted by Dean Cain. … As a patriotic and musical curtain-raiser for the 4th of July, PBS’s Great Performances presents the Pacific Symphony’s version of composer Peter Boyer’s stirring Ellis Island: The Dream of America (10/9c, check local listings at pbs.org), with dramatic readings of immigrant stories by actors including Barry Bostwick, Camryn Manheim and Michael Nouri.
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R
Just repeats for me. Which is fine, I probably don't have the concentration to spend on anything new, haha.
BTW, I'm totally giving up in Take Two. I watched last night, until about the 15 minute mark, when they introduced the annoying actress's annoying "assistant." It was too much... I reached my annoyance limit and had to bail. I switched over to a repeat of SWAT--probably just as over-the-top as Take Two, but at least there was a lot of action to watch. (And no potential 'ship' couples to deal with.)
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G
Quantico for me tonight. And I was fine with Take Two last night. Reminds me a bit like Moonlighting. The annoying actress is supposed to be annoying ,even her partner called her annoying last night. He's great by the way.
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And her annoying assistant has a small part anyway.
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C
Has it occurred to you that he looks old enough to be her father? I think he looks his age (45) while she only looks about 25!
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In real life they are less than 10 years apart. She will be 37 (yes looks much younger) in August and he is an extremely handsome 45. I'm used to this in my family
My mom is 11 years younger than my dad. Grandma was 15 years younger than my Grandpa.
And my sister is 16 years younger than her ex- husband .
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Yeah, I like the guy. And I know the actress is supposed to be annoying. I fault the writing, not the actress. (Rachel Bilson, the actress, not the actress she plays on the show, lol.) IMHO, the character doesn't have to be THAT annoying. A lot of my shows have characters who are (to me) annoying, yet I can put that aside and still enjoy the show. But not this time. I'm not invested enough in the show to want to suffer through it. (I thought Castle was annoying too. But the most annoying character on TV--to me-- that people seem to love is the mother from Gilmore Girls. I don't understand how those townspeople didn't drown her in town well.)
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C
3 episodes of 12 Monkeys again! It took me all week to watch the last 3! It's still confusing to me, but it was getting a little better by the 3rd one last time. Another new Graham Norton at 11:00 too.
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