Hope you're recovering well from your socially distanced July 4th celebration. Now, as always, is a great time to enjoy some air conditioning and catch up on your favorite TV shows.
There's a light slate of new stuff this week, so I wanted to follow up on shows that I've previously recommended in this column and see how they're holding up.
Bordertown – I'm hooked on this Finnish crime drama. I watch every night after my wife falls asleep. For some reason, they renamed it Sorjonen after the quirky detective in the current third season, but don't let that distract you. This is CSI in its early years on steroids. I'm in deep on the Finland/Russian border.
I'll Be Gone In The Dark – Really enjoyed the first episode. Hate that HBO is making us wait week to week. It's always a good sign for a docuseries when you know how things turn out and don't even care. It’s amazing where a little late night obsession will take you.
Hamilton - Never sprung for the pricey tickets on Broadway, so I watched with my youngest daughter Emily who knows it back and forth. I went in cynical but emerged impressed. Angelica Schuyler and King George steal the show. I honestly didn’t love a lot of the tunes, but I do respect the talent on display.
Search Party - Excellent for binging. It's dark, intended for a younger hipper audience, but works for me. Maybe I should go to Brooklyn to watch it.
Yellowstone - Find the Paramount Network and watch this show!! Kevin Costner is not to be trifled with.
Dirty John - Only two episodes left, but it feels dragged out. The performances are very good, but this San Diego shooting should have been a two-hour documentary at most.
THIS WEEK'S PICKS
What Would You Do? (ABC)
Tuesday July 7 10pm (12th Season Premiere)
Five years ago, I was very close to co-hosting an episode of this ABC mainstay. Really.
I had worked out a deal to do a themed WWYD? episode filled with situations happening to characters on existing ABC shows. I came up with a ton of different scenarios, but we never got the green light. What would Cam and Mitch do?
John Quinones somehow has managed without me, and this season's premiere includes a scenario with a man wearing a Confederate flag on his jacket and a Black customer politely asks him to remove it. Timely, indeed.
The successful premise has always been straightforward, and putting yourself in these situations is an exercise worth engaging in.
Little Voice (APPLE TV+)
Friday July 10 (Premiere)
Get ready to find your voice and learn how to use it with some help from Sara Bareilles and JJ Abrams.
Bess King is a talented wannabe performer struggling to make her dreams come true while dealing with the perils of everyday life. She has the talent armed with lots of Sara Bareilles originals, but does she have the patience and persistence to get through her day?
Apple TV+ takes another shot with some big name creators in this cute tale that feels very Disney.
The Twelve (NETFLIX)
Tuesday July 10 (Premiere)
I've got a thing for foreign trials. First it was The Trial which came from Italy. Now there's this Belgian drama that was a big hit overseas.
When you're watching a show that originated outside of the U.S.A., stick with the native audio and use subtitles. English overdubbing takes away from the power of any drama. I use subtitles all of the time, so this wasn't too much of a stretch for me. Once I started, I couldn’t go back.
This 10-part courtroom drama revolves around a woman accused of murdering her daughter and best friend. Dark stuff.
What sets this series apart is focusing on the members of the jury and how the weight of the case affects their personal lives. The juror baggage sways the courtroom in unexpected ways.
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If there's quality TV that I'm missing, please let me know.
Wear a mask. Stay healthy and safe.
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