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Hello RTV Fanatics Unite fans! From Ricky the Rat, Rufus the Rat Terrier, And of course me, Catlover04! Good morning RTV People, How are you on this hot and sunny Sunday morning? Wondering - is it "middle of the city beach" time for WM yet? (Still no! The weather has switched from much-colder-than-usual to sweltering-heat-but-clouds-and-rain! Grr!!) This is the time of year when WMisms are hard to come by because in truth, WM is a summertime beach bum (#SBB) spending every waking free moment he can possibly find at the beach. So if he doesn't show up for WMs we will know. Gee I wish I was close enough to a beach to be a summertime beach bum (it's great fun!) It's been all Olympic swimming trials for me this week. Daughter has been really into it, so I've been turning over the TV to her anytime she wants it. Don't want her missing a thing! This must be a preview of how the Olympics will be for me in a few weeks. Last night, instead of the Hallmark (since I was going to be running late for it due to swimming trials) I visited Great American Pureflix and picked a movie. I thought I hadn't seen a particular one before, but once I started watching it I realized I had. Great movie. Definitely worth a second look. It was... Fifteen years ago, Ben Walker made a decision to leave his college sweetheart and ultimately his faith, in order to pursue a lucrative business opportunity. Now with a high-paying career and a trophy fiancé, he is visited by an angel, who gives him a glimpse into what his life would look like had he followed his calling. What I may not have realized when I first watched this movie (it was quite some time ago) is that it is a product of "The Chosen" creator/director/writer Dallas Jenkins. It was from earlier in his career, before he achieved all his current success. Released in theaters in 2010 (and not to be confused with recent Marvel work by the same name), it is a look back at the direction our lives may have taken if we had chosen differently. Now, I was always told to NOT spend too much time on the "what ifs" of life since there is no way to go back and undue mistakes. But I suppose if you have an angel, especially one that looks like former "Cheers" star and Disney voice actor John Ratzenberger (long-time animated Disney veteran voice, most famously "Toy Story" ) Well, he's trying to help you get your feet set in the right direction after years of missteps away from God's calling for your life! I mean, who could resist that? The movie stars Kevin Sorbo ("Hercules" actor who was blacklisted from Hollywood for being an outspoken Christian many years ago; he now has his own family/faith studio where he produces faith-based independent films, most of which can be found on Pureflix) and Kristy Swanson (who I know best as one of Gary Hobson's girlfriends on "Early Edition" way back when, and Lassiter's girl in "Psyche". But some might remember her in the title role from the 1992 "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" movie, before Sarah Michelle Geller made the iconic part famous on television. Who knew?) Back to the film I watched: it can be described as "It's a Wonderful Life"-ish. In the opening scene, he is making a wrong choice for his life but is completely oblivious to that fact. He gets a business opportunity that pulls him away from his calling, his girl and the life that was supposed to be his. Accepting the offer, he loses everything (his calling and his girl) in the process. Fifteen years later, he's wealthy and successful: engaged to a beautiful woman and becoming partner at his firm. Yes, that seems seems great on the surface. But it's not where he's supposed to be. He needs to be reminded of what life COULD have been if he'd made a different choice fifteen years ago - the choice that would have kept him in the place GOD had prepared for him. Enter angel Mike, whose job it is to do just that. A minor car accident knocks him unconscious. Cranky tow truck driver (Angel Mike) deposits him in a world completely unfamiliar to him - except for Wendy. Seems he is now married to this girl that he left behind and raising two daughters with! And making things more uncomfortable for him, he is deposited in this reality where he has just been appointed the pastor of a small church - and today is his introduction to the congregation! Imagine! He had walked away from his faith years ago, and now he's standing up in front of a group of strangers to give a sermon. He certainly can't say "God wants you to make money. So go out and make money". Yikes! IF you watch carefully, you might even see a small cameo from Dallas himself. And hear him sing. There is a song playing on a radio at one point which I learned was Dallas singing. Which introduces this fun fact: some of his early works always featured him singing at some point. Who knew? Don't think I've ever heard him sing on "The Chosen", heh. My Pureflix movie review for the day. A movie worth watching. Now, what's on tap for TV this week? Not much. We are in a very dry TV season. Sunday, June 23rd "The Chosen", Season 4 Episode 6 Livestream at 7 pm. "Lazaras! Come forth!" (Is he being played by John Ratzenberger?) That is the story highlighted in tonight's episode. Only two more episodes of season four left! It's going by too fast. Monday, June 24th Olympic trials and more Olympic trials. Swimming is finished now; time to move on to track and field. Yep, it's been a while since we have had anyone in the house so enthusiastic about these things. But since we do... been kind of fun. However, I might watch Great American tonight. They are playing one of my favorite movies. originally released on Pureflix. "Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters", 8 pm on Great American When a wealthy businessman learns of his daughter's engagement, he struggles to give up control and trust God with her future. Another "Sometimes God has plans for our kids that are different from what the well-meaning parents want" story. A young girl just graduates college with a business degree. Dad has always thought she would get her first job in his company; great opportunity for her to begin her career. But he never planned on her getting engaged and using her degree in a ministry far from home. I love this movie so much. Might give it some network TV support (Great American is considered "network" TV?) even though I can watch it any time on GA Pureflix. Tuesday, June 25th "America's Got Talent: Auditions 4", Season 19 Episode 4, 8 pm on NBC Auditions continue this week. Does that mean the Olympic trials will move to Peacock? Not sure, but I'm glad we don't have to wait another week. I fear that might make it difficult for me to stay interested. Wednesday, June 26th ""MasterChef Generations: Back to the Future, Mystery Box", Season 23 Episode 5, 8 pm on Fox The chefs face their first mystery box challenge where they are presented with a childhood photo of themselves and are tasked with creating a restaurant-worthy dish that highlights their favorite nostalgic comfort foods from their youth. Audition phase is over: now it's time for the competition to begin! Who will be the better cooks in this generational battle: the Baby Boomers? Gen X? Millennials? Gen Z? I guess we will find out. "Gordon Ramsey's Food Stars: Mars Attacks", Season 2 Episode 6, 9 pm on FOX The entrepreneurs are tasked with innovating a new chocolate product by crafting an original name, label and jingle for their creations; Mars Inc. executives Rankin Carrol, Esther Gamble and Sarah Bilson serve as guest judges. The score is now Team Ramsey 2, Team VanderPump 2. Boy, last week the competition wasn't even close! Team V outshined Team R hugely. I'd say it was like 80 / 20; maybe even 90 / 10? As you can imagine, Gordon was not happy. Not at all! His teamed bombed! But to be fair, it was more a case of Lisa's team knocking it out of the park. Competition wasn't even close. Thursday, June 27th "The Chosen", Season 4 Episode 7 Livestream at 8:30 pm This will be the last episode of season four! It has been so good. Sometime before summer ends, I'm going to relive the entire series from season one episode one, just for fun. Friday, June 28th "The Mole on Netflix, Season 2" I think Ali said she is not available tonight. And I'm not available to chat on Saturday. If we want, we could wait until Sunday, June 30th to do a group chat. Oops! Just noticed on Zap2It that "The Great Food Truck Race" will premiere season seventeen on the Food Network that night. Hmm..... Fun summer show. One I will probably watch if anyone cares to group chat it!
Oh well. We will figure it out. These are my rat musings for the day. If anyone has anything to add, please do so in the comments.
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Hello RTV Fanatics Unite fans! From Ricky the Rat, Rufus the Rat Terrier, And of course me, Catlover04! Good morning RTV people, How are you on this cloudy, threatening-to-rain but lovely Sunday morning? And for all of our DADS out there, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! To all of you dads, granddads, great-granddads, stepdads: whatever kind of DAD you are, we wish you a fantastic day! I was going to watch the Hallmark movie set in Greece last night. But earlier I had gotten sucked into a re-watch of "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist". I didn't mean to.... but it's a show I just can't resist when I'm reminded of it. I pulled up Peacock and there it was, looking right at me! I only wanted to watch the first episode... just for the HELP moment... ... and then proceeded to get sucked into the first three episodes! I can't help myself. I truly love the "storytelling in music" that happens in this show. I wish season two had been able to play out as originally intended. But Lauren Graham being pulled away unexpectedly forced them to re-plan. A few episodes seemed like they'd lost their way a bit. Yet the second half of the second season was wonderful. Sadly, it got cancelled after that and it was truly a shame. But... the first season of this show was truly excellent. Yes, there were a few things about it I didn't like. But what I did love was the creative way in which the story was largely told through music. It was funny. It was sweet. It was so very sad towards the end of season one, but a story told beautifully nonetheless. And it had an exceptional finale episode to end its first season. Season two never quite found its footing in the same way. But still, I loved it! Started to catch the Hallmark when I remembered I was missing it due to Zoey... but I fell asleep not far into it. Maybe later today. Not a lot going on this week TV-wise... unless you are excited about Olympic Swimming. This week NBC and Peacock will be giving a lot of time to the US swimming Olympic Trials. It's something we enjoy keeping up with at our house, since we have a couple of former swimmers. In fact, one of the young men representing in the trials is someone my kids know from their days at the pool. Gives us a reason to be enthusiastically watching. Interesting to note, these trials are taking place at the NFL stadium in Indianapolis where a temporary Olympic sized pool has been built on the field. How does one build a temporary competition-sized Olympic swimming pool, one might wonder? I know I did. I saw yesterday about how it was done. So funny, the crowd they are swimming in front of might be the BIGGEST ever in the US for an event like this! Sunday, June 16th "The Chosen", Season 4 Episode 5 Livestream at 7 pm. This has been worth the wait. I'm loving season four, even though it has broken my heart. But we all know where this story is heading if we've read the Gospels at all. It was bound to be heartbreaking at some point. Monday, June 17th If Olympic swimming trials are not your thing, you could drop into Great American Family for a couple of fun movies. The first one called: "The Abigail Mysteries", 8 pm on Great American... Struggling to come to terms with loss, Abby Brooks goes on a journey of faith, reconnection and adventure as she works with a local cop and childhood crush Matt to solve a mystery. I really do love this movie. Have been hoping for a sequel, but no word so far. "Cider and Sunsets", 10 pm on Great American Marley is great at organizing other people's engagements but unlucky with love. However, the man who could jeopardize her latest project may also be Mr. Right. Look, it's the untalented Ashmore triplet! (#HeeHeeHee) It's a good thing Great American is giving us some movies (even if they aren't new ones yet) as the Great American audience on social media is a pretty unforgiving bunch when it comes to old TV shows - and that's primarily what they've been getting lately. But never fear... new content coming around soon! And some fantastic things are happening on Great American Pureflix, some of which will eventually get airtime on GA Family, I'm sure. I tell you, that is one app I think I'll keep forever. I've been using it quite a lot lately. They have a new series called "Destination Heaven" which I have been loving so far. At its heart, it's a show about prayer and the importance of seeking God's wisdom when making big decisions. A woman learns about helping the homeless in episode one. In the next one, a man who does not have faith has a heart attack and nearly dies. While he is unconscious, he is met by God who helps him see things differently. In episode three, a young girl with a beautiful gift for singing gets the opportunity of a lifetime that is met with resistance by her parents. Does she make the choice her parents want, or does she recognize this opportunity is God-given and needs to be taken seriously? Sometimes God has plans for us that might be different than our well-meaning parents want. In episode four, a woman considering marriage is hesitant. What follows is a comic look at "God" helping her sort through all of her fears and hesitations to get to the heart of why she is not immediately sure. Episode five, a young man goes on a fishing trip to clear his head and think is confronted by God in a huge way to help heal his heart and set him free from his worries. I really loved this episode in particular. One more to go, and then we will pray it gets a season two. And we will pray it gets Great American TV channel time so more people can see it (though I do think the APP is seeing an increase in traffic since Great American and Pureflix joined forces). Best decision they could have made. A match made in "heaven", you could say. Tuesday, June 18th "America's Got Talent: Auditions 4", Season 19 Episode 4, 8 pm on NBC.... We'll have to wait: not airing tonight due to US Olympic swimming trials. The star of the night for me last week was this audition: a beautiful and talented dog she has there. Also these siblings from Africa. Such a smile-worthy, feel-good performance. Another great night for rom coms on Great American. Two of my favorites from last summer are on tonight:
On Syfy, if you've never seen it, "Ready Player One" is a pretty good flick. One of those I probably would never have seen if not for my kids, heh. In 2045, the creator of a virtual reality universe promises his fortune to the first person to discover a digital Easter egg. Soon, young Wade Watts finds himself in a reality-bending treasure hunt through the mysterious and fantastical world. I've always seen this movie as a cautionary tale: get your kids to put away the video games and go outside, for crying out loud, before stuff like THIS happens! Make sure they get specialized Army training to enable them to kill a dozen heavily-armed enemies with barely one flick of the wrist! Wednesday, June 12th Possible to have a normal chat night tonight..... "MasterChef Generations: Gen Z Audition", Season 23 Episode 4, 8 pm on Fox The auditions conclude as the Gen X chefs take over the kitchen; chef Christine Ha guest judges. The last week of auditions, then we can get on with the show! "Gordon Ramsey's Food Stars: Partners in Wine", Season 2 Episode 5, 9 pm on FOX Teams must craft a seasonal advertising campaign for wines; they must shoot and edit a commercial to present to wine enthusiasts at a launch event, and the team with the least effective campaign finds themselves on the chopping block. The score is now Team Ramsey 2, Team Vanderpump 1. Lisa is not happy. Last week was a "Create a recipe, guide and host a cook-a-long demonstration that will be live-streamed across both the UK and the U.S" for the Delish company, who had a couple of representatives in the audience (unbeknownst to the teams!) cooking along to judge the competition. I would post those two demonstrations but sadly, they were both more painful than funny to watch. Team Ramsey had terrible hosts who were embarrassingly bad at hosting - but had a pretty good, easy-to-follow recipe. Team Vanderpump had much better hosts for their demo but a terrible recipe that was too complicated to follow well - and a "director" who was appointed leader of the team who flat out didn't lead and couldn't understand why they booted her? Why not the guy with the confusing and poorly explained recipe, heh. Because you were the Team Lead and you did nothing to LEAD. All that being said, this is a fun show to watch. Thursday, June 21st "The Chosen", Season 4 Episode 5 Livestream at 8:30 pm Episode 6... before you know it this will be over, and I'll be sad! Think I'll spend some time later in the summer re-living it all from season one, episode one. Friday, June 15th Not really much to see here. If anyone has any interest at all in a re-watch of something, let me know. And when Netflix launches season two of "The Mole" on Friday June 28th, will plan to have a group chat. Still a couple of weeks away but perhaps we can find some interest. These are my rat musings for the day. If anyone has anything to add, please do so in the comments. Once again, a very HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to our DADS! And, if you have a DAD to go see... make his day and go see him. I am sad I can no longer do that.
Have a great day! Hello RTV Fanatics Unite fans! From Ricky the Rat, Rufus the Rat Terrier, And of course me, Catlover04! Good morning, RTV people! How are you on this lovely though somewhat cloudy spring morning? We really are in a dead zone where new TV is concerned. Unless you like game shows and competition TV, there's not much out there right now. But you can always find a good rom / com though. Hallmark had a delightful new one last night called "Savoring Paris". Starring Bethany Joy Lenz, Stanley Weber and Ben Wiggins, the synopsis is as follows: disillusioned with her life, Ella embarks on a soul-searching journey to Paris, navigating love, self-discovery and cheese amid the city's enchanting backdrop. Cheese. There were more varieties of cheese represented in this movie than there were actual people! While not as cute as "puppies" were last week, I still enjoyed this one a lot. Ever had a moment in life when you simply decide you need a vacation and want to check out for a while? (Raising my hand, here - quite often, actually). Ella (Bethany Joy's character) had a moment just like this while at a business meeting for her food-related job tasting cheese. Cheese that proved to be a bitter disappointment, triggering a memory of a visit to Paris where she had tasted some of the best varieties of cheese imaginable. So why not hop on a plane and go to Paris for the cheese (this is "cheesy" Hallmark, after all) for two weeks (which then turned into three months after she found a place that just felt too much like home to leave). Sidenote: I wish I lived in a world where I had the resources to go to Paris at a moment's notice. Quit my job and just stay for three months. But alas, this is why we have silly rom / coms like this: to allow us to escape for a while. Once there, the first person she meets is Serge (Weber), who runs a cheese shop (first stop: buy some cheese) and is known by all to be a "grump". The second person she meets is Gaston (Wiggens), who is known by all to be a "cad". Fun little movie, this one. And it will replay at 7 pm tonight if anyone cares to check it out. So, shall we try to find something to talk about in our upcoming TV week? It's tough these days! Sunday, June 9th "The Chosen", Season 4 Episode 3 Livestream at 7 pm. Tough that is, except for "The Chosen". The first two episodes did NOT disappoint. Truly cannot wait for tonight's livestream. Did you know I was so excited about "The Chosen" last Sunday that I completely forgot about "When Calls the Heart"? D'oh! When I saw a preview for tonight's episode while watching "Savoring Paris" last night, I realized I'd completely missed catching up. Of course, I made time for it right after the cheese movie ended. Monday, June 10th Nothing to chat on this Monday night. Maybe I'll keep the TV off and read a book instead. I just started one called "Once Upon A Wardrobe", by Patti Callahan which tells the story of a ten-year-old boy (George) in 1950 London who is discovering this new world of Narnia, written by Oxford professor CS Lewis. He is so captivated, he can't stop talking about it! But George is very sick, you see. He has a heart problem that has been deemed "unfixable" so he may very well not have long to live. At this point, only the first book "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe" has been published. No news on if there will be more and George wants to know MORE about Narnia before it's too late! His older sister Megs is a student at Oxford, and he implores her to find Professor Lewis and find out what happens next. That's as far as I've gotten in the book so far, but I'm hooked. From the book jacket, "Why won't Mr. Lewis just tell her plainly what George wants to know? The answer will reveal to Megs many truths that science and math cannot, and the gift she thought she was giving to her brother - the story behind Narnia - turns out to be his gift to her instead, hope." You know, if you've been around this site a while, you've heard me gush before over how much I love the "Narnia" series. My DAD introduced us to it early in our lives and I fell in love with them at a very young age (in fact, I had an annual read of them until well into my thirties). I guess having kids and being busy caused a disruption. Sadly, though I've tried, I've never been able to get my own kids as enthusiastic as I was. Shame on me, the avid Narnia fan (#ANF). I feel that everyone should read the series... young and old alike. They are amazing books. And watching whatever Netflix is about to put out based on the books doesn't count - I have very low expectations). C.S. Lewis was more than a writer of children's books. He was a Christian, a teacher, and in some ways, a bit of a prophet. While Narnia might be his most widely known, he is the author of more than sixty books. He was also a great friend of "The Lord of the Rings" author J.R.R Tolkien, whose friendship helped influence Lewis in his own faith journey. Can you imagine going to Oxford in 1950 to take tea with Professor Lewis to discuss Narnia? I need to time travel to be a part of that conversation! And he needs to invite along his friend Tolkien. Tea with C.S. Lewis and JRR Tolkien. Smiling just thinking of how fun that conversation would be to listen to. Sorry for the ramble about a book. Don't usually do book reviews, but... this one seems special. Tuesday, June 11th "America's Got Talent: Auditions 3", Season 19 Episode 2, 8 pm on NBC If you were on last Tuesday's daily page while I was watching this, you saw me post a few of the good auditions. Quite a few were quite good - and Simon got TWO Golden Buzzers! They tried hard to make us believe it was spontaneous... ha! I don't buy that for a minute. This year, there's a new twist: every season, each judge uses their golden buzzer - then another act will come along that makes them wish they had saved it for NOW! So in season nineteen, each judge gets two (and host Terry gets one). That's a total of nine golden buzzers, sending nine acts straight through to the live shows. Next year, will they will decide to give each three... then four... then heck, why don't they just give them ALL golden buzzers and head straight to the LIVE shows after the auditions? The drones were cool and got a golden buzzer, btw. Wednesday, June 12th "MasterChef Generations: Gen Z Audition", Season 23 Episode 3, 8 pm on Fox So far, we've seen the Millennials and the Baby Boomers. Now it's time for Gen Z. Which tracks for me because my Gen Z daughter is the only one of my kids who loves to experiment with cooking. I should see if I can get her to watch this episode with me. "Gordon Ramsey's Food Stars: Recipe Showdown", Season 2 Episode 4, 9 pm on FOX The twelve remaining entrepreneurs partner with Delish to maximize their promotional abilities; Teams Ramsay and Vanderpump create a Fourth-of-July inspired recipe that can be easily recreated from a 30-minute cook-a-long demonstration. Seriously folks, this is a pretty fun show. The score is now Team Ramsey 1, Team Vanderpump 1. Last week's competition was set in a bar and poor Lisa is horrified that her team lost in a BAR competition when that should have been an easy one for her! Kinda like Olympic gold medal hockey players losing a slap shot challenge! (#TARCanadaHumour) Thursday, June 13th "The Chosen", Season 4 Episode 4 Livestream at 8:30 pm Episode four tonight. Truly exceptional work they are doing here. Friday, June 14th Not really much to see here. If anyone has any interest at all in a re-watch of something, let me know. I do know that Netflix will be launching season two of "The Mole" on Friday June 28th - so maybe Friday would be a good night to channel chat that? We shall see. I did find a cast list for the new season if anyone is interested in checking it out. The Mole Season 2 Cast & Instagrams - Netflix Tudum These are my rat musings for the day. If anyone has anything to add, please do so in the comments. Have a great Sunday!
Hello RTV Fanatics Unite fans! From Ricky the Rat, Rufus the Rat Terrier, And of course me, Catlover04! Hello RTV people, How are you on this beautiful, sunny spring morning? Ah, summer. The time when good network TV is hard to come by. When you can watch shows you always wanted to see but never got around to. Now you can stream at your own leisure. For me, first up is.... "Person of Interest" Never watched it but always wanted to. Now just off the "LOST" rewatch with Michael Emerson fresh in my mind, it's a good time to check it out. I've heard he is phenomenal in this show, so I'm looking forward to seeing it. Were any of you fans of this show when it aired back in 2011? Last night was given to rom coms though. Specifically: "Everything Puppies", Hallmark Looking to make it big with innovative dog toys and treats, an entrepreneur and inventor finds success with support from a handsome client. One I missed from a couple of weeks ago. I think there were more PUPPIES in this movie than actual people! I remember hearing Dee Wallace say once in an interview (about her role in "ET") that if you're an actor wanting to get noticed, avoid movies with small kids, small animals and "so ugly they're cute aliens" because they will always upstage the big people in any scene. Sounded like good advice to me. And certainly holds true for this movie. So many puppies! And a couple of nights ago finished watching... "Hello Tomorrow" on Apple TV I'm curious if anyone here has seen this show. It's an Apple TV original from a year ago, just the kind of weird, quirky story I can get into. Of course, it ended on a cliffhanger. I've read the critics hated it and that the chances of it getting a season two are slim to none. So typical. But I did find one from Collider that liked it as much as I did: 'Hello Tomorrow!' Review: The Role Billy Crudup Was Born to Play (collider.com) I guess some folks just can't embrace fresh new ideas. It's VERY untypical, described as a science fiction comedy set in a "retrofuture" (had the feel of the fifties but was actually set sometime in the future; I don't recall them ever telling us what year). It's headlined by Billy Crudup, one of those actors that I can watch in almost anything, even things that are typically "not my cup of tea". But this one is not in that category. Some of the language (especially in the last few episodes) was perhaps a bit much for me. But overall, it had an intriguing story line delivered brilliantly by Billy (who was truly in his element). And a cliffhanger that will leave me forever wondering what has become of all those people. Still, I'm glad I watched it. Quirky story. Quirky soundtrack. Great cast. Wish they'd give us a season two. So what about this week's TV? Not much scripted on network... but there is some great news out there for people who have long been waiting for THIS to happen! Sunday, June 2nd The only thing I care about tonight is.... "The Chosen", Season 4 Episode 1 Livestream at 7 pm. It has been such a long wait, but finally the legal issue has been resolved in favor of creator Dallas Jenkins and The Chosen, Inc. As promised, he didn't waste any time getting his livestreams scheduled just as soon as he possibly could after the courts ruled in his favour. Season four begins in June, 7 pm on Sunday and 8:30 pm on Thursday. But I have family plans this afternoon that COULD interfere tonight! Hope I'm not too late to "The Chosen" livestream party. Monday, June 3rd A new season of... "American Ninja Warrior: Qualifiers 1 and 2", Season 16 Episode 1 8 pm on NBC The qualifying rounds begin in Los Angeles with ninjas from across the country taking on the world's most challenging obstacle course; the competition returns bigger than ever with two unique qualifying courses and a chance at the mega warped wall. Not sure if I'll watch but thought I'd mention it anyway. There was a day when we had a lot of fans chatting it up. I enjoy an episode here and there but never quite make it all the way through a season. Not sure why. It IS fun to watch. Tuesday, June 4th "America's Got Talent: Auditions 2", Season 19 Episode 2, 8 pm on NBC Pretty good first episode. Not as much fun without a chat but don't think I'm going to bother with a page moving forward, unless someone expresses interest. Best of the first night of auditions: a 55-year-old janitor doing a cover of "Don't Stop Believing". Last performance of the night and it was so good, it made watching through everything else completely worth the time. Simply awesome! Wednesday, June 5th "MasterChef Generations: Baby Boomers Audition", Season 23 Episode 2, 8 pm on Fox The auditions continue as the Baby Boomer chefs battle it out for a spot in the top 20. Strong first episode. Missed Whimsicali who usually shows up for stuff like this. In fact, I haven't seen her since last Sunday. Did she mention going on a trip or anything? Not that I recall. Hope all is well, Ali. "Gordon Ramsey's Food Stars: Bar Wars", Season 2 Episode 3, 9 pm on FOX Teams Ramsay and Vanderpump are challenged to create unique concept bars that stand out in a crowded market; one member of the losing team it eliminated from the competition. In the Ramsay vs. Vanderpump team competition, the score is: Vanderpump 1, Ramsey 0. Whether you like her other shows or not, she does seem to have a good head for business and led her team to the first victory of the season. I don't know why, but for some reason I took much joy in that, heh. Thursday, June 6th "The Chosen", Season 4 Episode 2 Livestream at 8:30 pm Glad they chose Thursday: very slow TV night, nothing to keep me from this long-awaited livestream of episode two. Friday, June 7th Nothing planned for this night, except maybe "Doctor Who" on Disney Plus - which has been dropping new episodes on Friday night. I have been pleasantly surprised with how much I've enjoyed this new season so far. I haven't watched this week's episode yet but the one last week I really enjoyed a LOT. It was all about Ruby. The Doctor himself wasn't in much of the story, but what I loved about it was that whimsical feeling (reminiscent of the Amy and Rory years) where it feels like you are in a dream you can't awaken from. My favourite episode of the season so far. These are my rat musings for the day. If anyone has anything to add, please do so in the comments. Have a great Sunday!
Hello RTV Fanatics Unite fans! From Ricky the Rat, Rufus the Rat Terrier, And of course me, Catlover04! Hello RTV People, How are you on this beautiful spring morning? Always love a long weekend. Monday is Memorial Day and while it is an important day for us all to remember and honor those we have lost in service to our Country, it is also a good day off and a good chance for a cookout or something. Anyone remember that 2004 movie starring Kate Hudson and John Corbett called "Raising Helen"? Helen is successful in the world of fashion in New York City. Single. Lots of parties. Lots of dating. And then suddenly, the death of her sister and brother-in-law brings her fast lifestyle to a halt when she suddenly becomes the guardian of her sister's three children forcing her to have to grow up real fast and learn how to be a parent. One of my favorite movies, actually. Very high on my list. Well, you know how one of my favorite pastimes when watching these fun little Rom-Com's on Great American or Hallmark is to point out when it is a mirror image of a Hollywood movie, as is the case with the movie that premiered this week on Great American Pureflix. Mr. Manhatten. (Not to be confused with the DC Comics superhero movie with the same title.). Mason Bradley's life turns upside down when he unexpectedly becomes the sole guardian of his late brother's kids after prioritizing his law career and ending his engagement. Instead of an Aunt Helen, we have an Uncle Mason. Instead of three kids, we have two. Instead of a Fashion career, we have a Corporate Lawyer but still set in New York. Huge difference though; this movie has God in the center of the story. Which makes it all the more beautiful. Starring real life married couple Carlos and Alexa Panavega (who my kids know the best as Carlos in the TV Show/Boy Band "Big Time Rush" and Carman in the Spy Kids movies), this is their first movie since joining Great American Pureflix and Great American Family. It has premiered first on the Great American Pureflix App. And come Fall, it will make its way onto Great American Family. Worth the watch. Very sweet. Very moving. Very inspirational. I loved it. We are now transitioning to summer TV which sometimes lacks much to be excited about. Game show, game shows, and more game shows. Maybe we can find some streaming things to chat. We will see as the summer goes on. In the meantime, what do we have this week for TV fun? Sunday, May 26th Not anything tonight to chat. There is that lovely Hallmark show "When Calls the Heart" that I have been avoiding talking about in an effort to not spoil Ali but let's just say - great season so far. Also, "Heartland" Season 17 has been dropping an episode a week on the UpTV Faith and Family App and I have been keeping up with it as well. Only Ali will get this comment, but I'm starting to wonder if I will be getting my wish. We will see. Also, in case you were not aware, the new season of Doctor Who has been releasing one episode a week on Disney Plus. Need to catch up, but it seems to be back to the timey whimey weirdness we always loved and appreciated about the series. Technically on Friday. But I haven't watched last week's yet so maybe tonight. Monday, May 27th Tuesday, May 27th "America's Got Talent, Season 19 Episode 1, Auditions 1", 8 pm on NBC Another season of AGT is getting underway tonight. Summer fun. I don't always go the distance with this one but I plan to start the season tonight and see where it takes me. Wednesday, May 29th "MasterChef: Generations", Millennials Audition", Season 23 Episode 1, 8 pm on Fox Looking forward to this one. For some reason, having trouble finding an official promo page for the season but I did find an article about this upcoming season which listed all five of these judges: Gordon, Aron, Christina, Graham and Joe as being a part of this new season. I know they have a generational kind of theme. Will have to wait until the premiere to see just what it all looks like. "Gordon Ramsey's Food Stars: The Bootcamp Begins", Season 2 Episode 2, 9 pm on FOX The culinary entrepreneurs are tasked with kickstarting a brand-new business venture from zero to profit in just 24 hours; in this profit-based challenge, teams must create a bespoke menu that they market and sell to a group of hungry customers. The first episode was the audition phase. A little different format for this season 2. This year there are two teams of seven: one handpicked by Gordon. The other handpicked by Lisa Vanderpump. I enjoyed it a lot and plan to continue. Thursday, May 30th Nothing to see here. Friday, May 31st Got a late start on this and now just want to get it posted. No Windbag Mark this week (he's gone out of town) so no WMism's. Awww. But hope you are all having a great long weekend.
These are my rat musings for the day. If anyone has anything to add, please do so in the comments. Hello RTV Fanatics Unite fans! From Ricky the Rat, Rufus the Rat Terrier, And of course me, Catlover04! Hello RTV people, How are you on this cloudy, threatening-to-rain-yet-again-for-the-millionth-time-this-week Sunday morning? It's really been pouring this week in North Carolina. So much rain! Don't think anyone needs to build an ark yet, but it might be getting close. Okay, exaggeration. But it will be nice to have some sunny days soon. And actually it was pretty nice out most yesterday. But yes, a lot of thunderstorms all week. Enough about rainy weather. Last night, daughter talked me into seeing a live theatre production of "Airness" - all about the world of "air guitar". Who knew there were actually serious competitions for playing air guitar? I sure didn't. We thought it was a fictional story for the play, so we googled it afterwards, Sure enough... it's a real thing! With actual rules, which the stage play was mostly true to. Very heavy on the classic rock. Also, very heavy on the language! So much so daughter was regretting she didn't ask her DAD, not me, to come with her. He might have enjoyed it more, hee hee. I was thinking it would have good one for WM too. All that classic R&R would have had his seventies (some of it was eighties too) trivia-brain spinning! Okay, perhaps dad would have enjoyed it more, but when your adult daughter asks you to go to something, you say yes. Nobody ever knows how much longer they will have to get to do things like this with your kids before they move away or get busy with their own adult lives. What can be more fun than spending time with your children? For fans of "So Help Me Todd" who are still sad over its cancellation, yesterday I found an article on TV Line about the seven-season plan the show runners had for this SHMT universe. It included a couple of spin-offs, and I am upset we'll never get to see them. One was for Allison, where she finally pulls herself up and finds the path SHE wants to go down, not the one she is on because she was pushed and prodded down it by her mother (sorry, Margaret, we love you but Allison deserves better). It really would have been a great series for our beloved daughter. There was also a sitcom being planned for Lyle and his FBI girlfriend. What's wrong with the powers that be at CBS that they didn't let this goldmine of a show live out its purpose? So upsetting. Here is a link to the article if anyone is interested: 'So Help Me Todd' Finale Ending Explained, Plans For Season 3 Revealed (tvline.com) Allison is the character I was most hoping to see a happy ending for. Not only did they have good things in store for her (a new career and a new husband, eventually) they had an entire spin-off planned for her! As happy as I am to know that, I wanted to SEE it! What's wrong with CBS? They are not being fair to "So Help Me Todd" or its fans. I read from another source that there has been an effort to save it, and also attempts to shop it around to other networks, But no takers so far. Big sigh. Here's hoping someone steps up to save it for us. Enough about me being mad at CBS. What about TV THIS week - some of which I'm confused by. You'll see why. Sunday, May 19th "Tracker: The Storm", Season 1 Episode 13 FINALE, 9 pm on CBS Colter investigates the disappearance of two amateur storm chasers that the local police have written off as an accidental drowning; Colter's expert tracking skills lead him to uncover the seedy underbelly of a small-town resort. One more episode for season one. As far as I know, season two is on. Monday, May 20th "MasterChef Junior: Finale Part 2", Season 22 Episode 10, 8 pm on Fox The three finalists are one step away from winning the competition as they complete their main courses and whip up a stunning dessert; the chefs have one final hour to showcase their culinary abilities and impress the judges; the winner is crowned. One more episode for our juniors. My guess is Michael will win. Then right around the corner is the new adult version: Wednesday, May 29th at 8 pm. Tuesday, May 21st "Will Trent: Do You See The Vision", Season 2 Episode 10, SEASON FINALE, 8 pm on ABC Will, Faith and Angie find themselves embroiled in a series of cases where a similar marker links the murders of several sex offenders; Angie grapples with an unexpected proposition from Amanda. Huh? A bonus episode? Didn't we have the finale last week? I swear Zap2It called it a "finale" a week ago, which is why I wrote it that way on my page.... "The Rookie: Escape Plan", Season 6 Episode 10, SEASON FINALE, 9 pm on ABC Sgt. Grey helps the team prepare for their biggest mission yet; Aaron, Lopez, Celina, Tim and Smitty discover a surprising connection in their case. Same for "The Rookie"! Again, Zap2It said last week's episode was the finale. Oh well, one more week for these fun shows. Wednesday, May 22nd "Survivor 46 FINALE: Friends Going To War", Episode 13, 8 to 9:30 pm on CBS The remaining five castaways must overcome multiple obstacles to guarantee they cannot be voted out; with the final immunity of the season comes the power to choose who has to earn their way to the final three; one castaway is crowned "Sole Survivor". The three-hour marathon finale is tonight. I'm still hoping Charlie and Marie can both make the final four. Some are predicting a Kenzie win. Not sure I really care THAT much, heh. The season has been so "meh" for me. And I'm still excited over the prospect of two "Australian Survivors" this year... including the much-anticipated "AU vs. US" season. Just please, powers that be, pick some of our BEST players. I saw someone suggest Bhanu - he'd never last in Australia (that had to have been someone's idea of a joke.) The other season is an-all newbie "Brains vs. Brawn", round two. "Gordon Ramsey's Food Stars: Pitch for Your Life", Season 2 Episode 1, 9 pm on FOX Hopeful entrepreneurs pitch themselves to mentors Gordon and Lisa as they vie for one of the seven spots up for grabs on each expert's team. Obviously, this premiere episode will be a delayed watch this week because of the "Survivor Finale", but I plan to watch. Maybe Thursday, 8 pm-ish? I really enjoyed season one last year. Let me know if anyone is interested. Then next week, we can chat it in live time. Thursday, May 23rd "Elsbeth: A Fitting Finale" Season 1 Episode 10 at 10 pm on CBS An unlikable fashion photographer is murdered in the middle of a fashion show; Elsbeth's role at the precinct is thrown into question. I believe this is the finale episode but, of course there will be a second season. Friday, May 23rd I've been keeping my Fridays open; however, over the summer months, I can see us work in a chat or to. In fact, this week I found that Australia has six seasons of "The Mole". I didn't know! Also found that you can find them on YouTube. If anyone is interested in checking out season one with me, I'd be open to it! This could be a lot of fun! These are my rat musings for the day. If anyone has anything to add, please do so in the comments.
Hello RTV Fanatics Unite fans! From Ricky the Rat, Rufus the Rat Terrier, And of course me, Catlover04! Good morning, RTV people! How are you on this lovely spring morning? To all of our moms, grandmoms, great grandmoms, stepmoms... whatever kind of MOM you are, we wish you the loveliest of days today! Lots of big plans for THIS mom today, so I should make it snappy. A family dinner followed by tickets to a community theater production of "Sister Act" - my day is full! Decided last night to jump back into the rom/com world, and Hallmark had a fantastic new one last night: "A Whitewater Romance". I watched mainly because I like its two stars - what a cute pair they are! Hallmark should pair Cindy Busby and Benjamin Hollingsworth together more often. Fun movie, and as always, these two worked wonderfully well together. Maya attends an exclusive business retreat in the Rocky Mountains where she meets a man who's a competitor. As they're forced to pair up, an unlikely connection begins to evolve. Set in the beautiful Rocky mountains of Colorado (though not sure if it was actually filmed there), it featured gorgeous scenery, a fun story line and a great cast. Glad I made the time for it. If you want to check it out, it replays again today at 7:00 on the Hallmark channel. In case you missed this yesterday, I also made time this weekend for the new season of "Doctor Who", which launched its first two episodes on Disney Plus last Friday. I posted this synopsis on Saturday's page - probably should have just waited for this page - but here it is: "I watched the first two episodes of the new season with the new "Doctor" last night and I must say: the return to the original showrunner was a fantastic move. It feels like a special effort was made to bring the story back to its original premise. Gallifrey is no more. Only one "Time Doctor" left: HIM. And so on, and so on. I didn't watch much of the last couple of seasons. Nothing against Jodie Whitaker at all - she played the part well. I just felt the show had lost its way story-wise. Irreparably. I wasn't sure I cared anymore. Then they brought back Russell T. Davis, the original showrunner, who is working to restore "Doctor Who". And it showed. The move to Disney Plus may have been a bit more strategic than we knew. It was announced this week that Hulu/Disney Plus and Warner Bros/Max have struck a deal to form a bundle, including all three in one package: Hulu, Disney Plus and Max. What that will look like has not been announced. But right now, for "Doctor Who" fans, all seasons of the show are available on Max (except the last anniversary special and the new season). Those are available only on Disney Plus. Once they develop this merge, they entire series will be in a single place once again. Of course, you can add Max as an extra on Hulu right now and accomplish the same thing. But I'm thinking there might be some benefits price-wise for getting it all in a bundle. Looking forward to seeing what that will mean come mid-summer, when it's supposed to happen. In the meantime, glad to have some enjoyable NEW "Doctor Who" again. The first two episodes were weird, bizarre "timey whimey" stuff that we all loved from the start. Enough about that. Let's move on to our new TV week. Sunday, May 12 "Tracker: Off the Books", Season 1 Episode 12, 9 pm on CBS Colter is forced to team up with his estranged brother, who enlists his help to track down a former army buddy who's gone missing after several weeks of paranoid behavior. Where is Ali the first time Jenson Ackles shows up in a promo pic? Well I GUESS that's him. Doesn't really look how I remember him, heh. Only one more episode left in season one, but at least we know there's a second one coming! Monday, May 13th "MasterChef Junior: Finale Part 1", Season 22 Episode 9, 8 pm on Fox The three finalists battle against each other in the ultimate showdown; the pint-sized chefs are tasked with creating an appetizer using the popular -- and feared -- flambé technique; the chefs must create an exquisite main course dish. One more episode after this one also. I, for one, am ready for the "adult" version to start soon. "Deal or No Deal Island: Can You Beat The Banker?", Season 1, Episode 12, 10 pm on NBC The banker (Howie Mandel) is revealed as one last contestant vies for the biggest prize in "Deal or No Deal" history. Tonight is the finale. I did read this week that it has been renewed for a second season, which is really not a surprise. I know will watch that, but right now I'm ready for this one to end. Since Ali will be out of town on Monday, there was talk of postponing the watch until her return. Do we want to do this? And if so, the question is: will I be able to wait till Friday to find out who wins? Because I'd be worried about inadvertently seeing a spoiler and having the ending ruined for me. We will see. Tuesday, May 14th "Will Trent: Residente O Visitante", Season 2 Episode 9, SEASON FINALE, 8 pm on ABC To deepen his connection with his late mother, Will joins Antonio in Puerto Rico; upon his return, he is quickly brought onto a case involving his uncle's old friend; Faith and Ormewood investigate the mysterious death of a sex offender. Tonight is the finale as well, and I do believe there will be a season three. "The Rookie: The Squeeze", Season 6 Episode 9, SEASON FINALE, 9 pm on ABC Officer Nolan and Celina take on a special case; Monica enlists help to identify her attackers; Lopez and Harper discover a connection to the trail of crimes. There will be a season several... oh sorry, seven. The big cliffhanger seems to be ... will Tim and Lucy work it out next season? And could we possibly have a new rookie join the cast? Wednesday, May 15th "Survivor 46: Mama Bear", Episode 12, 8 to 9:30 pm on CBS Castaways fight for their chance to win letters from home; alliances begin to crumble and individual plans emerge after players compete in a race of balance, speed and puzzle skills to earn immunity and a spot in the final five. The big finale "Survivor 46" is next week. I'm still sort of meh on this season. I heard Shannen Guss and Kelly Wentworth say on the RHAP "Know-It-Alls" (apparently these two are the female version, sitting in for usual hosts Rob C and Fishbach) that the last episode made this the week that the season decided to be a good one. I don't know: this one will not be high on my own list. We will see, based on who wins, just how low it goes. "The Amazing Race: The Longest Minute of Your Life", Season 36 Episode 10 FINALE, 9:30 pm on CBS The final four teams compete for the chance to make the final three; in the final leg, the remaining three teams get schooled in American history and one team is crowned the winner. Final episode! But yes, it feels like victory is a "foregone conclusion". We shall see. Thursday, May 16th "Young Sheldon Series Finale", The Final Two Episodes, 8 pm on CBS Eccentric and extraordinary Sheldon Cooper embarks on his innocent, awkward and hopeful journey toward the man he will become. The final two episodes will end the series tonight. Next up: "Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage", coming next season. I'm sure I'll check it out... how could I not? I have been a "Young Sheldon" fan since its beginning, though not so much the last couple of seasons. Will be interesting to see where this one goes. For the record: sorry Georgie, but you wouldn't have been my first pick for a spin-off. "So Help Me Todd: The Tooth Is Out There", Season 2 Episode 10 (Sadly, the series finale), 9 pm on CBS Margaret tries to save her struggling law firm by taking on a case involving a large cosmetics company with deep pockets; Todd is determined to crack an important investigation that will seal the fate of Crest, Folding & Wright, one way or another. Half afraid to watch this. I hear it will end on a HUGE cliffhanger that will never be resolved. Come on, CBS, you heartless fools. We need a season three! Or at least a proper resolution for the series. "Elsbeth: Artificial Genius" Season 1 Episode 9 at 10 pm on CBS After hearing his favorite patron talk about being bullied mercilessly in college, the charismatic owner of an exclusive cocktail bar decides to seek revenge on her behalf; Elsbeth and Captain Wagner join forces. One more episode after this one... and there will be a second season. Friday, May 17th "Fire Country" is having it's finale this week as well, and I do believe there WILL be a third season. I am a couple of weeks behind, but I do enjoy this and will be sure to catch up. Pretty good show. I have become such a streamer though. Seems like I do more streaming these days than anything else. Hello RTV Fanatics Unite fans! From Ricky the Rat, Rufus the Rat Terrier, And of course, me, Catlover04! Hello RTV people, How are you on this lovely spring Sunday morning? We had a full day of rain yesterday so the sunshine this morning is very much appreciated! Precipitation makes a person want to stay inside and be lazy. You'd think I'd read a good book, or get a lot of inside projects done, but... nope. Other than a quick trip to the grocery store, it was mostly just TV for me. A couple of rom/coms. A few episodes of "LOST" and its accompanying podcast and my day was pretty much over. You'd also think I would have gotten this page done last night... but once again, nope! I got all the info in place but not any of my own commentary. Now I'm running late this morning with little time to spare. Church, then a trip to the theatre - to see "Unsung Hero". I've really been looking forward to this movie. Based on the For King and Country song "Unsung Hero" which was written to honor their parents, the movie synopsis reads like this. "When David Smallbone's successful music company collapses, he moves his family from Down Under to the States, searching for a brighter future. With nothing more than their six children, their suitcases, and their love of music, David (For King & Country's Joel Smallbone) and his pregnant wife Helen (Daisy Betts) set out to rebuild their lives. Based on a remarkable true story, Helen's faith stands against all odds and inspires her husband and children to hold onto theirs. With their own dreams on hold, David and Helen begin to realize the musical abilities in their children, who would go on to become two of the most successful acts in Inspirational Music history: five-time Grammy Award-winning artists For King & Country and Rebecca St. James.". I remember well when Rebecca St. James hit the Christian music scene in the nineties. And for some reason, had no idea that For King and Country were her two younger brothers - until seeing a clip for this movie. I love their music. If you ever pay attention to things I post at Christmastime, you'll often see the For King and Country version of "The Little Drummer Boy", which is my all-time favorite version of that song (I could make a case for the Joan Jett cover, but I'm sure you would disagree!) This movie tells their story and pays tribute to the Smallbone mom and dad. So what about this week's TV? Things are winding down a bit for spring. Before you know it, a good chat on this channel will be hard to come by! We do have a couple of fun reality shows: "MasterChef: Generations" and "Food Stars". I skipped "America's Got Talent" last summer but might return to that this year, at least to check it out. "Big Brother" will take over CBS at some point. I'm sure there will be some "Bachelor" thing. Don't know about anything else. If only ABC had not dropped "Holey Moley". For a few years it was the most fun a person could have on network TV in the summer. Stupid ABC. Anyway, will soon do some checking around. Maybe we can find a good Netflix something to chat (Oh! Did the wedding-party armed robbery on "Will Trent" this week also inspire YOU to start watching the superb "Animal Kingdom"?). Pretty much ALL of us have Netflix. Even WM, heh. Anyway, moving on.... Sunday, May 5th "Tracker: Beyond the Campus Walls", Season 1 Episode 11, 9 pm on CBS When a grad student goes missing after a house party, his friends and family believe he buckled under the pressure of his research grant; Colter uncovers a dangerous -- and deadly -- conspiracy. What this synopsis is failing to mention is.... this is our first episode with Dory, Colter's sister! Played by Michaela Stone, a.k.a. Melissa Roxburgh. (Odd, isn't it? Why are they not heavily promoting that the mystery of Colter's family, firts introduced at the season's start, will soon start to play a prominent role at its finish? I mean...Jensen Ackles!) Monday, May 6th "MasterChef Junior: Gordon Demo", Season 22 Episode 8, 8 pm on Fox The remaining four chefs must cook alongside Gordon Ramsay himself; tasked with replicating one of Gordon's iconic duck dishes, each contestant must match Gordon's pace, precision and passion. This show is quickly winding down. I, for one, am ready to see the "adult" version. As cute as the kids are, I never quite buy this show as they present it to us. "Deal or No Deal Island: Are You Tenacious?", Season 1, Episode 11, 10 pm on NBC A shocking turn of events rocks the game for the final four competitors. "Go Boston Rob!" is all I have to say. I know all the BR haters in the world don't want to see him win. I, for one, think he is the only one left who deserves the win (Huh? What about Aron? Isn't he playing BR as his "father figure" but might soon cut his throat to win? Doesn't that deserve some credit?). Hope next season they find a better cast. Yes, I'm sure some cast drama is what they were hoping for. And they got it in droves with this cast! Tuesday, May 7th "Will Trent: Why Is Jack's Arm Bleeding?", Season 2 Episode 8, 8 pm on ABC After discovering the body of a missing girl 13 years later, Will and Faith reopen the case leading to Will experiencing frequent flashbacks as they uncover the truth; Angie and Ormewood investigate the death of a veteran. I guess I have enjoyed season two and am happy there will be a third one... but this show does not give us NEARLY enough Betty. She should be the star of the show; not just the star of the promo pics. "The Rookie: Punch Card", Season 6 Episode 8, 9 pm on ABC After a mafia-related mass casualty, the team is tasked to keep the peace at the hospital; Lucy and Celina work together to investigate the suspects behind the attack; Tim and Aaron embark on a metro ops mission. Wait... wasn't Tim kicked out of "Metro"? Maybe I'm confused. All I know is... Tim needs to wake up and realize how great he and Lucy are together. That's my wish for the end of this season. Wednesday, May 8th "Survivor 46: My Messy, Sweet Little Friend", Episode 11, 8 to 9:30 pm on CBS A massive hunt for the last hidden immunity idol of the season; castaways begin to question whether their resumes are enough to win the title of Sole Survivor; in a test of precision, castaways compete for immunity and a spot in the final six. I must say, my enthusiasm for this season is depleting. Many feel that Charlie and Maria are in trouble (he for his challenge wins, she for her strategy). They are a great duo, and we will lose one of them this week (that's the word on the RHAP podcast, anyway). And they are the only two I would care to see win at this point. So come on, Charlie and Maria! Prove them all wrong! Maria needs to find the idol. Charlie needs to win immunity. Then maybe they can save this season for me! "The Amazing Race: My Precious Cacao", Season 36 Episode 9, 9:30 pm on CBS Racers travel to the Dominican Republic; the final five teams must complete two road blocks. I admit, I fell asleep during part of this episode last week and missed a lot of the end. But I have seen a lot of controversy over the finish. Most on the Facebook group feel that Angie and Danny were treated unfairly. I never did go back to see exactly what happened. Maybe WM can fill me in. (The issue was, did A&D lose THEIR crew by driving the wrong way, or did their crew lose THEM by not following them? And when did the two realise they were no longer together, and how should everyone have made arrangements to meet up again as quickly as possible? I've read on twitter that most feel that this controversy would have been best resolved by making an exception to their season rule and turning this into a non-elimination leg). Thursday, May 9th "Next Level Chef: The Final Level", Season 3 Episode 16 Finale, 8 pm on Fox The final three chefs race against the clock to craft a sensational three-course meal; one chef rises to the top and wins the grand prize. I only have two words, specifically for EJetson.. GO ZACK! "So Help Me Todd: The Broker", Season 2 Episode 9, 9 pm on CBS While Margaret makes every employee at Crest, Folding & Wright work over the weekend on Gus' fairness hearing for a class action settlement, Todd begins investigating a secret case with the FBI where everyone at the firm is a potential suspect. Just knowing that this season is the end of the line for this show - and that it will end on a huge cliffhanger - is sort of making me lose interest. Much as I love its two stars, it's just not fair to have it end without a proper resolution. Come on, CBS! At least allow them to give the shows fans a real end. "Elsbeth: Artificial Genius" Season 1 Episode 8 at 10 pm on CBS Quinn, the young CEO of a location-based crime alert app, murders a journalist and uses her app to divert authorities and create a phony killer; Wagner hatches a plan to fight the D.O.J. investigation. As much as I love her quirkiness... and I really do... I do struggle with the format a little. I know WM loves it - this business of letting the audience immediately in on the whodunnit so the focus is on Elsbeth's ability to figure it all out (There are literally dozens of shows on the air where a crime is committed at the start and resolved by the end of the hour. You have ample choices for viewing if this is what you desire. This twist is unique to "Elsbeth" only. And hasn't ever been done since "Columbo" went off the air in the late seventies). Yes, there IS a bit of mystery over the boss she is there to investigate. But overall, it's like reading the last page of a good mystery before actually reading the book for me. I never understood people who do that. Still, enjoyable show. Friday, May 3rd Can't think of anything to mention for Friday. I've been taking a night off from chatting on Fridays. I don't think I even check in on Friday nights after getting home from work. That being said, we COULD try to find some Friday night fun in the form or re-watches or international reality shows over the summer. I'll see if I can find out if there is anything coming up, we need to work in on our Summer Friday nights!
These are my rat musings for the day. If anyone has anything to add, please do so in the comments. Hello RTV Fanatics Unite fans! From Ricky the Rat, Rufus the Rat Terrier, And of course, me, Catlover04! Hello RTV people.... How are you on this lovely spring morning? It's official. Survivor 50 WILL be all returning players. Per Probst... 'Survivor' host Jeff Probst says season 50 will be all returning players (ew.com) Now, can we also return it to 39 days and have it somewhere other than Figi? Can we see the return of Ponderosa videos? Lets' s see. What else? I'm sure you all have your own opinions. There is talk in that article about there being a theme. A potential "Old Era" versus "New Era" perhaps? Hard to imagine anyone coming from Old Era being happy playing the game under the New Era rules, heh. Will be interesting to see. I also love the idea of a fan vote, like on "Survivor Second Chances" where the fans got to vote on who should return. I'd vote for as many "old era" people on the list as I can, just to spite Probst. How about we have a season to make the fans of the show happy! The fact that he's getting this out there so far in advance means we have plenty of time to speculate. Hoping we aren't completely disappointed. I was thinking I was going to ramble about whatever movie I watched last night - then remembered, I didn't watch one! Haven't all weekend. I'm barely keeping up with missed episodes of TV shows now, heh What is wrong with me? I blame it on the "LOST" rewatch that I got myself into. Once I start, I just can't stop! I'm starting season three right now and really enjoying the accompanying podcast. I do have news for fans of Hallmark's 2022 "Three Men and a Baby" (one of their better Christmas offerings in recent years). The sequel titled "Three Wiser men and a Boy" has the following synopsis (sneak peek into the sequel’s plot is provided courtesy of Variety). The film unravels as Luke (Walker) faces a dilemma when his son Thomas’ (Miles Marthaller) school musical director resigns. Striving to fulfill his son’s theatrical aspirations, Luke turns to his brothers, Taylor (Hynes) and Stephan (Campbell), for support. Together, they must also come to terms with meeting their mother Barbara’s (Margaret Colin) new significant other, all while dealing with their individual reactions to her new romance. The Brenner brothers are in for an unforgettable Yuletide experience. Now, the original was just two years ago: how is the kid old enough to be doing a school musical? Anyway, something to look forward to come Christmastime. But for now, let's concentrate on this week's TV: Sunday, April 28th "Tracker: Into the Wild", Season 1 Episode 10, 9 pm on CBS Colter journeys into the wilderness of Idaho to track down the owner of an aerial outfitting company's missing adult children, and friends of Reenie's father, who were last seen in a plane that took off during bad weather. Lost in a plane! Are they having a "LOST" - or a "Manifest" - experience? I ask because I read that the actress who played Michaela Stone (Melissa Roxboro) on "Manifest" is joining this cast as Colter's sister, Dory. Fun news. I've always liked her. "American Idol" I haven't been keeping up with "American Idol" but tonight, they will do a special tribute to former alum and Grammy Award winning Christian artist Mandisa, who passed away a week ago. I might have to watch. Such sad news. I've always enjoyed her music and until her death, didn't have any idea she was ever on "American Idol". It was season five, before I started watching. She didn't win but made an impact. I will miss her in the Christian music world, where I best know her from. "Blue Ridge, the Series", Episode 4 A rare day off for Justin is ruined when a hard-living country band's tour bus breaks down. Just must manage both the romantic interest of their beautiful violinist and the havoc that their bully of a bodyguard is wreaking all over town. Episode four will be released today on The Cowboy Way Channel and on Plex (if you use that service). Seriously, very impressed with this series. Also, the fact that it is filmed here in NC makes for some interesting news. We have a local here who has a part in the episode so now I MUST watch just to support him. I'm glad I discovered this fun little show. Monday, April 29th "MasterChef Junior: Thyme Travel", Season 22 Episode 7, 8 pm on Fox The five remaining young chefs travel back in time to week one to earn a spot in the semi-finals; the chefs are tasked with recreating the first dish they made into an elegant and electrifying version. Apparently, we are having a "thyme" travel episode! "Deal or No Deal Island: Are You Powerful?", Season 1, Episode 10, 10 pm on NBC Power trumps money as the last five players strategically target each other and make crucial moves to advance to the final four. We came soooo close to losing Boston Rob last week! I really thought he was done for a minute there. And then.... Nick lost to the Banker! Unimaginable. Actually, they made it seem like Nick was going to take out BR if he had won against the Banker, but I have my doubts about this. I do agree with the podcast folks that as far as the "night owl" alliance goes, he was by far the least offensive. We all feel like he was finally catching on that his "alliance" was lying to him about BR. Isn't it funny? I know some won't watch Boston Rob on anything just because he's BR but... he really is the nicest guy on this season of DONDI. He's become such a "dad". Fun to see this softer side of him when it comes to his buddy Aron. Tuesday, April 30th "Will Trent: Have You Ever Been To A Wedding?", Season 2 Episode 7, 8 pm on ABC Will accompanies Faith to a wedding alongside her son Jeremy, which becomes far from celebratory when a body and a group of gunmen are found in the venue's basement; Angie and Ormewood grow wary of Crystal's behaviour at work. Finally, new episodes of this show! "The Rookie: Crushed", Season 6 Episode 7, 9 pm on ABC When two teenagers go missing, it is up to the entire team to find the girls and uncover the truth about their disappearance: Lopez and Harper search for the perfect nanny. And a new "The Rookie"! They made us wait long enough, didn't they? Wednesday, May 1st "Survivor 46: Run the Red Light", Episode 10, 8 to 9:30 pm on CBS An outburst resulting from the reward challenge could lead to a strategic shift in this week's target; an eerie sense of agreeability around camp causes castaways to second-guess their vote before tribal council. I'm still heartbroken over the loss of (idol-carrying) Hunter; if it wasn't for Charlie and Maria, I might be done. But I still like those two and hope they are able to save the season for me. "The Amazing Race: That's What Being Strong Will Do", Season 36 Episode 8, 9:30 pm on CBS Teams travel to Barbados where they visit the childhood home of Rihanna. Can't say I'm heartbroken over the team that went out last week; it was only a matter of time. And yes! Leaving South America for the Caribbeans! Thursday, May 2nd "Ghosts: Isacc's Wedding", Season 3 Episode 10, 8:30 pm on CBS Isaac's wedding day jitters are exacerbated by the arrival of a surprise guest. Nice to see Flower back! I still need to catch last week's show, where Pete got to go to Walmart, heh. Will make time for that today. "Next Level Chef: Taste of Success", Season 3 Episode 15, 8 pm on Fox In the semi-finals, the final four chefs face a tangy twist as they're tasked with showcasing one of the classic taste elements. The final four already! Who do I want to see win: Zach, Gabi, Jordan or Christina? Kind of leaning towards Zach. It feels like he's been the most consistent. But Gabi is just so darn sweet! For those who enjoy the world of Gordon Ramsey, we have a new adult version of "MasterChef" right around the corner, and a new season of "Food Stars". "So Help Me Todd: PIs Wide Shut", Season 2 Episode 8, 9 pm on CBS Margaret helps Susan serve justice for a tennis coach accused of drugging a teen athlete (SHMT is stealing plots from "Elsbeth"? WTH?); Todd and Lyle embark on an epic office prank war (Jim Halpert would clean both their clocks). This sounds like a fun episode. A Susan story for JustGreg (world's biggest Susan fan!) And Todd and Lyle doing office pranks! "Elsbeth: Something Blue" Season 1 Episode 7 at 10 pm on CBS Elsbeth suspects foul play after a posh country club wedding ends in the golf cart death of the hapless groom; Elsbeth plans a housewarming party with some old friends. Good grief! If she didn't want to marry him, she should have just said no! Just kidding; doubt the bride is the killer but with this show, we only have to wait a few minutes into it to find out who is! Friday, May 3rd Can't think of anything we need to delay-watch tonight. Anyone? Friday night is becoming Pureflix movie night for me. "Fire Country", which airs on Friday night, is a pretty good show though. These are my rat musings for the day. If anyone has anything to add, please do so in the comments.
Hello RTV Fanatics Unite fans! From Ricky the Rat, Rufus the Rat Terrier, And of course, me, Catlover04! Hello RTV people, How are YOU on this rainy, rainy spring Sunday? So, it's official: CBS can't keep an original idea for more than two seasons to save their life. "So Help Me Todd" has been formally cancelled by the stupid powers that be at the Eye network. This doesn't make any sense to me. It has a wonderful cast. It's funny. It's cleverly written. Why cancel it after only two seasons? And it had already been announced that it will end on a massive cliffhanger that will now never get resolved. The creators of SHMT obviously didn't think they were in any real trouble. Perhaps a cry for justice for this fun little show will somehow save it - or at least provide for its fans an extra episode/movie to give a satisfying end to its fans. (Catlover, as always, it's for the most basic reason of all: declining ratings. According to reports, "Todd" started strong this season then quickly began losing viewers more and more. The drop from its early season one numbers to where it was now was too much. Executives who make these decisions care nothing about the show's quality, or cast. If enough people aren't watching, it goes off the air. This is one of the worst truisms of network television). Meanwhile, the decades-long running police procedurals and medical shows live on. Can we understand now why people are willing to hang on to expensive cable/satellite TV, or subscribe to multiple streaming sites, in order to gain access to fresh ideas? Network TV is completely out of them - and when they DO get one, they don't treat it with respect. In other news, there is a new series on the "Cowboy Way" channel, which I actually DO have access to on the Friendly App (and also on Plex TV, which I know nothing about). A couple of years ago a movie called "Blue Ridge" found quite a bit of success in the inspirational TV world (UpTV and Pureflix both have it in their steaming catalogue). So it's been turned into a series which is getting underway now. I watched the movie Friday night, just to see what I think. Advertised as "inspirational", it wasn't really a faith story at all. Set in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains of my home state North Carolina (and even filmed there!) it's about a former Green Beret turned new police detective (played by Johnathan Schaech) who takes this job in a quiet community to spend more time with his daughter and maybe reconnect with his lovely wife (Sarah Lancaster). Nothing "big" ever happens in this peaceful beautiful community, right? Until now..... The movie was pretty good, actually. Some beautiful scenery only a short drive from my home! Some great folks in the cast: Johnathan Schaech who I really only know from 1996's "The Thing You Do" as the "talent" in the band (he was the one who wrote the ballad that the drummer turned into a "hit record" by speeding it up during a performance). Way in the back of the promo pic above, you will see Lara Silva (who I know very well from "The Chosen" and the Pureflix movie "Devine Influencer"), Oscar nominee Graham Greene ("Dances With Wolves"), and Sarah Lancaster ("Chuck", and many Hallmarks). But the series doesn't have that same cast. Lara Silva is no longer his deputy, for one thing (too busy with "The Chosen", I guess). But they've added other familiar faces: A Martinenz, for one. I'm going to check it out soon to compare it to the movie. Perhaps being on a streaming channel - NOT network TV - it will have a better chance to survive? Still not sure why it's considered "faith and family". But the movie was enjoyable and family-friendly in terms of language and content. Interesting story line about a land war between two families that resulted in the murder of a real estate agent who went public about her desire to use the land for development of... something. Can't recall all the details, heh. But I enjoyed it. Time to move on to our TV week: Sunday, April 21st "Tracker: Aurora", Season 1 Episode 9, 8 pm on CBS When a widower offers a reward to find his only daughter who disappeared three years ago and is presumed dead, Colter agrees to help track her down. We do get another season of this show. I like this one... but I like "So Help Me Todd" better. Just saying... Monday, April 22nd "MasterChef Junior: Pancakes and Ice Cream", Season 22 Episode 6, 8 pm on Fox The remaining six chefs compete for the top spot in a team-based pancake challenge; four chefs must create their own ice cream dishes. Ice cream dishes - now THAT sounds kid-friendly! Much more so than last week's "restaurant-level dish using ingredients you HATE"! "Deal or No Deal Island: Are You Ruthless?", Season 1, Episode 9, 10 pm on NBC A critical error has the potential to upend the game and terminate one player's quest for the big prize. A critical error on the part of a player? If so, which one? And will Aron find the enthusiasm to continue in the game this week? Good grief, he was seriously depressed and uninterested last week! Didn't try at all. Would he have even survived the episode if the one playing against the Banker hadn't taken a "too good to pass up" deal (which most people I've heard discussing this feel was the right choice) We will see what happens, I guess. There can't be too many episodes left before Boston Rob is officially declared the winner. Tuesday, April 23rd Again, "Will Trent" and "The Rookie" are both repeats. Again, not sure why... I found an article about this: seems that the writer's strike is still causing issues, Not sure why they need to take a three week break from new episodes NOW in order to stay on track for the season, but original shows won't return until April 30th. Fans are getting mad and raising an uproar. Great job, ABC. Making all the fans of these shows mad is such a wonderful idea! But anyway, moving on.... Wednesday, April 24th "Survivor 46: Spicy Jeff", Episode 9, 8 to 9:30 pm on CBS Castaways inhabit a remote destination and attempt to outwit, outlast and outplay each other for a prize of $1 million. Just noticed the above is a "generic episode" description. Huh? I guess because a synopsis hasn't yet been added by CBS? What to say after last week's confusion? (Also, is "Spicy Jeff" a quote from a player (as all episodes usually are) or did Probst just decide he could insert himself even further into the game by naming future episodes after him?) "The Amazing Race: Walk and Chew Gum, Baby", Season 36 Episode 7, 9:30 pm on CBS Teams must put on their best performance in Montevideo, Uruguay, when they choose between banging out a drum routine with street performers or singing a Spanish tune with professional troubadours at the detour. Still sad over last week's loss of the "Grandparents". They were a breath of fresh air. Really liked them a lot. (Oh, would anyone happen to know which continent Uruguay is in? #FloggingADeadHorse) Thursday, April 18th "Ghosts: The Traveling Agent", Season 3 Episode 9, 8:30 pm on CBS Pete discovers a power that he never knew he had, one that brings him closer to his buddy Jay. I still haven't made it to last week's episode. But I'm wondering.... is Pete's wife still on or did she leave the cast already? Unless I missed an episode, I don't recall. "Next Level Chef: Kumbucha Kulture", Season 3 Episode 14, 8 pm on Fox The final five chefs must create a dish using a fermented drink called kombucha; two chefs battle for a spot in the semifinals. This show seems to be nearing its end. And soon after that, we'll get another season of "Food Stars". Interesting to note: "Food Stars" originated in the UK but only lasted two seasons there. I read that this new season in the US is being headquartered in the UK. Also, Gordon has an Australian version soon to launch there. Will I care enough to check it out? I don't know... maybe not. "So Help Me Todd: Faux-Bituary", Season 2 Episode 7, 9 pm on CBS Meticulous attorney Margaret Wright hires her talented but scruffy son Todd as her law firm's in-house investigator; Margaret's strict adherence to the law is at complete odds with Todd's scrappy methods, but together they make a formidable team. Trying to decide if I want to see a huge cliffhanger that will never get resolved. That usually makes me crazy. (Also, second generic synopsis of the week. WTH?) "Elsbeth: An Ear for An Ear" Season 1 Episode 6 at 10 pm on CBS After one of New York's most sought-after plastic surgeons is found dead, Elsbeth has her eye on the victim's former boss, Dr. Vanessa Holmes, who she believes has motives that are more than skin-deep. I read an article the other day that fans of the Elsbeth character from "The Good Wife" and "The Good Fight" aren't satisfied with this series: they expected it to mirror the kind of programs those were. It doesn't at all, according to article (it certainly does not: those were very intense, melodramatic, topical shows). Her character is so quirky, they built a show to better fit HER... and that is frustrating for some. But it is also finding an audience with people like me who never watched either of those two shows. Friday, April 26th
Can't think of anything we need to delay-watch tonight. Anyone? Friday night is becoming Pureflix movie night for me. These are my rat musings for the day. If anyone has anything to add, please do so in the comments. |
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