Welcome to my Monday newsletter! I have a few reasons why there was nothing new I reviewed this week but I do have thoughts on the latest episodes of Shrinking and The Pitt. Plus my Top 10 Shows Starting with D and a look back at Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
WHAT'S NEW
Nothing New This Week
Nothing new to review this week for me. I did start the new season of The Last Thing He Told Me but then decided after a few minutes that I didn't care. I had NO memory of this show even though I watched the whole first season. I don't think I liked it all that much given I didn't nominate it for anything in my awards that year but watching the recap, I was like "wow, I really remember nothing about this" and then the show started up and it was clearly continuing a story I didn't care about so I was out. Shows coming out three years apart and being that serialized is frustrating even in the best cases and this was not the best case.
Elsewhere, I liked the first season of The Night Agent a lot but bailed on the second season so I wasn't going to start it up again for the third season. And 56 Days is probably a show I would have sampled a few years ago when I had more time but the lukewarm reviews and my general disinterest meant I wasn't going to give it the time. There's a lot coming in the next week though!
LAST WEEK ON...
Even with Jessica Williams' tour de force in the second episode of the season, I think this past week's episode (the fourth of the season) was the best yet for Shrinking's third go-round. Often Shrinking will really have one character shine and let the others have fun moments, but this episode was a terrific spotlight for so many members of the show's unparalleled cast. Let's start with Ted McGinley, who was delightfully hilarious being high as a kite. Christa Miller had some hilarious moments as usual but also a dramatic and well-performed moment at the end of the episode. Michael Urie was convincing in the new father role that I've been skeptical of. Jason Segel was great in the opening and Jessica Williams continued to shine. And then of course there was Harrison Ford, who turned in yet another incredibly impressive performance (and did the Indiana Jones theme!). Ford is just getting better each season and with each passing episode. He said recently this might be his last performance of his career and if that proves to be true, what a way to go out. Truly going out at the top of his game.
The Pitt
The Pitt is finally moving into the meat of its season with the ER going offline at the end of the episode to prevent a cyber attack. But before that, this episode was filled with so many interesting subplots and notably straddled between a sobering and sad sexual assault case and perhaps the most humor we've seen in one episode of the show. On the lighter side of things, there was a very funny exchange between Robby and Santos about Annie (the musical orphan), some really hilarious moments for Princess and perhaps the funniest sight gag moment yet when Robby was walking by Abbot being tended to off the record. Yet, amidst some light moments, the harrowing sexual assault scenes perhaps provided the most detailed look in TV history at how an ER deals with a sexual assault. I can't imagine any other show has spent more than a few minutes and here we practically got a step by step view with an expert performance (as usual) from Katherine LaNasa (by the way, it sure doesn't seem like anyone on TV should come close to keeping LaNasa from a repeat Emmy win). There was also some big Robby and Langdon moments, a hint of what's going on with Al-Hashimi, a big Santos reveal and all the usual great things about The Pitt. I can't believe how much happened in a 54 minute episode and it feels like things are still just really getting started this season.
Love Story 1x4
Stumble 1x10
THE BEST TV ALPHABETICALLY: LETTER D
In honor of 2026, I am looking at the 26 letters of the alphabet and listing my Top 10 TV Shows of All Time that start with that letter (no "The" or "A" don't count as the first letter of a show). This week, I am looking at letter D:
An up and down show to be sure, but there were some really strong moments buoyed by a tremendous cast. Can't go wrong with Jean Smart, Annie Potts, Delta Burke and Dixie Carter not to mention the underrated Meshach Taylor.
9. Dickinson (Apple TV+, 2019-2021)
A quirky show from Apple TV+'s early days. I really enjoyed the first two seasons, especially the second season. Hailee Steinfeld was very charming in this role and it had a fun ensemble.
8. Dead to Me (Netflix, 2019-2022)
This show had a spectacular first season and probably would have been better off as a limited series. Through the whole run though, there was the very strong camaraderie between Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini that never wavered.
7. Detroit 1-8-7 (ABC, 2010-2011)
I loved this show back in my first year doing this blog. I re-watched recently and found it to be a little more run of the mill procedural than I did at the time, but it still had enough unique traits from the Detroit setting to the enigmatic turn from Michael Imperioli in the lead role.
6. The Diplomat (Netflix, 2023-Present)
Unlike some earlier shows on this list, this is a show that has gotten better as it has gone on. The most recent season seemed to really find its groove and the show is endlessly watchable with its charismatic lead performances from Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell.
5. Death by Lightning (Netflix, 2025)
A very new entry, this limited series about the presidency and assassination of James Garfield was a bit too short (only four episodes) but a really well-done look at a little covered part of American history, and it had a stellar cast.
4. Doug (Nickelodeon/ABC, 1991-1999)
A favorite from my childhood and a Nicktoon that still holds up to this day. Doug Funny and the endearingly eccentric family, friends and neighbors he interacted with was part of an era when the cartoons were made for kids but with the plot and character development that rival many sitcoms of many eras.
3. Damages (FX/Audience Network, 2007-2012)
This is a show I want to revisit. This show introduced me to Rose Byrne and features an absolutely killer performance from Glenn Close. I especially remember watching that first season and finding it so thrilling and so tense. But I don't remember the details that well so I think it's time for a re-watch.
2. The Daily Show (Comedy Central, 1996-Present)
I didn't watch the Craig Kilborn years and didn't care for the Trevor Noah years so this is all about Jon Stewart who thankfully has returned to doing it once a week now. More than just a late night variety show, there are few shows that had as much an influence on culture and politics as this one and Stewart is the main reason though he has had help from many brilliant collaborators.
1. The Dick Van Dyke Show (CBS, 1961-1966)
Of course this has to be #1. In a decade filled with down-home rural sitcoms, wild fantasy sitcoms and straight-laced family sitcoms, this one stood in its own class. With sophistication and class, it holds up better than most anything else from its era with an ensemble that rivals any sitcom in the history of the medium and its legendary titular star at the center.
PILOT RE-REVIEW
This season, I am traveling back in time to the 2010-11 season, the first season I did this blog. I will be re-reviewing the pilots from that season, at least as many as I can find!
Original Review: Click Here!
What I Think Now: Before I got a more sophisticated palette for TV Drama, I was a big defender of Criminal Minds (you can see some of that in my original review for this show). Looking back, I can't say it is good TV and I don't try to make a case that it has a lot of merit, but I can still make the argument that it was entertaining. Even when the cases were exploitative or trashy, there was still that core group of actor who worked together so well (and still do on Criminal Minds: Evolution). I'm not saying the acting is great (Joe Mantegna often delivers some lines with no believability) but there's a chemistry happening that can be taken for granted on procedurals. Enter Criminal Minds: Suspicion, This time around, the formula is the same and there are some good actors (Forest Whitaker, Janeane Garofalo, Michael Kelly plus Kristin Vangsness, who was double dipping with her role on the mothership). But there was no chemistry. So then in a pilot that involves the abduction of little girls, it feels extra exploitative and extra trashy with no saving grace of a strong cast. Whitaker in particular was disappointing here but maybe he felt it was beneath him, because it was. It also didn't have anything new to offer to the title. At least the CSI and NCIS shows took things to a different city. There was nothing that differentiated this show besides the cast, and they were a disappointment. So it felt completely pointless.
What Happened to the Show: By 2011, CBS had experienced a lot of success with franchising its crime dramas. CSI: NY and CSI: Miami were in the midst of long runs alongside CSI and they had launched NCIS: Los Angeles to hit status in 2009. So it seemed obvious that Criminal Minds would be next. The mothership had been a top performer for the network since its launch in 2005. Then they added an Oscar winner in Forest Whitaker, another well-known name in Janeane Garofalo and Kristin Vangsness, who was a popular character on the original show. It got to launch behind the original show and all seemed set up for success. It got terrible reviews but that didn't seem like it would matter, it's not like the original was a critical favorite. For whatever reason though, this show just didn't connect. It lost a lot of the Criminal Minds audience and was cancelled after half a season. CBS tried again with the franchise with Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, which had an international angle. It fared slightly better but still only lasted two seasons from 2016-2017.
COMING UP
The Olympics have come to an end so there are a few more premieres this week. Today, Hulu debuts the second season of Paradise with three episodes. The first season received mixed reviews from critics but was a hit with audiences and picked up several Emmy nominations including Outstanding Drama Series. Also premiering Monday is CIA on CBS, the latest Dick Wolf drama and a spinoff from FBI. This series stars Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss and was delayed from a fall premiere. On Wednesday, ABC has the return of Scrubs for a revival or tenth season depending on how you look at it. The series left the air in 2010 but has been popular in streaming ever since and early reviews of the revival have been positive. On Thursday, Prime Video has the Civil War-era drama The Gray House starring Mary-Louise Parker and Ben Vereen. This show has set on the shelf for quite awhile and has next to no buzz. On Friday, Apple TV has the second season premiere of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, last seen way back in January 2024. Sunday is a big day for premieres starting with the CBS sequel to Yellowstone called Marshals and starring Luke Grimes. The Yellowstone universe shows have been a big success but this is the first to air on a broadcast network. Also premiering on Sunday is the HBO limited series DTF St. Louis starring Jason Bateman, David Harbour and Linda Cardellini. The trailer looked promising but I'll be curious to see how this one is and what the reception to it is. Finally, MGM+ has the premiere of American Classic, the show that was one of my most anticipated of 2025 so I hope it lives up to it even though I doubt it gets much attention.
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