Welcome to my Monday newsletter! This week I am looking at the major Oscar races, Rooster and RJ Decker. Plus the latest episodes of Shrinking, Paradise and DTF St. Louis. Plus I am taking a look back at Happy Endings and counting down my Top 10 Shows Beginning with F. This newsletter will be on a one week break next week and will return on March 23!
WHAT'S NEW
The Oscars are this Sunday! With Conan O'Brien returning as host, there are quite a few unpredictable major categories. The Best Picture race still seems to be close to between One Battle After Another and Sinners while the Supporting races are a complete crapshoot and Lead Actor was thrown into chaos after last week's Actor Awards. Since I've watched more movies this year, below is what I think Will & Should win in the major categories!
Best Picture
Will Win: Sinners
Should Win: One Battle After Another
Best Director
Will/Should Win: Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
Lead Actor
Will/Should Win: Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
Lead Actress
Will Win: Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
Should Win: Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
Supporting Actor
Will Win: Stellan Skarsgard, Sentimental Value
Should Win: Benicio Del Toro, One Battle After Another
Supporting Actress
Will Win: Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another
Should Win: Amy Madigan, Weapons
Original Screenplay
Will Win: Sinners
Should Win: Blue Moon
Adapted Screenplay
Will/Should Win: One Battle After Another
Rooster is a new HBO comedy from Bill Lawrence starring Steve Carell as a "beach read" author and father of a college professor (Charly Clive) going through a personal crisis. It felt nothing like an HBO comedy (feels like it should have been an HBO Max original but I digress). But I still enjoyed the first episode and feel hopeful especially because Bill Lawrence's shows tend to get better the more you get to know the characters (Shrinking being the most recent example). The collegiate setting is pretty standard. Every college-set show seems to have a campus like the fictional Ludlow College in this one (side note: why does it always seem to be fall on a college campus?). I found the storyline with the daughter and her estranged husband (Ted Lasso's Phil Dunster in a very different role) to not completely work in the first episode but we'll see.
However, there are two reasons to keep watching. One of them, not surprisingly, is Steve Carell. While Carell has not picked the best projects since The Office (hello Space Force), he is always a welcome presence on the TV screen and always capable of elevating whatever show he is in. I will never not be a Carell stan so of course I'm going to be predisposed to like him in this. The other reason is Danielle Deadwyler, who was a standout in the first episode and has an easy rapport with Carell. The best moments of the pilot were the scenes with Carell and Deadwyler. I feel like this show needs to get into itself so it can drop the initial premise and become the hangout show that Lawrence does well, just this time set on a college campus.
Broadcast TV has always been a copycat medium. Whenever something hits, you see a million copies (see Friends clones in the 90s or Lost clones in the 00s). While the definition of "hits" on a broadcast network may be different in 2026, it's clear that what is in at the moment is quirky procedurals after the relative success of shows like High Potential, Will Trent, Matlock, Doc, Elsbeth, Best Medicine and more. So enter RJ Decker, a breezy crime procedural set in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and starring Scott Speedman.
The first few moments of the show were about as predictable as it gets. I knew the woman he quickly hooked up with would end up being a witness the second she sat down next to him. After that, it settled into a formulaic case of the week. Everything was fine but I didn't find enough to want to keep watching beyond the pilot episode. The setting is nice but they don't have enough fun with it (especially compared to the other recent adaptation of a Carl Hiaasen novel, Bad Monkey on Apple). I already watch more network procedurals than I have time for or care to admit so I'm happy to not add another to the list.
Also...
I've watched the first two episodes of the other new college-set series, Netflix's Vladimir. Not sure what I think of the tone and it doesn't feel as much of my type of show as Rooster but I'll probably at least give it another episode because I am intrigued.
LAST WEEK ON...
When I saw this week's episode title and then heard the line about the cardiologist at the beginning of the episode, I got very worried Shrinking was going to do something horrible to its stealth MVP. You never know with a show that likes to delve into feelings and therapy, even when its a comedy. But thankfully they did not kill off Ted McGinley's character. McGinley's Derek is way too valuable at this point and needed in his character's marriage and for us as an audience and this was a solid way to give even more character depth. While I loved the main storyline of this week, I do feel like none of the other storylines really went anywhere for a second week in a row. I feel this season needs a jolt - but I'm glad it wasn't the jolt that I feared.
Paradise
Paradise continues to be the most frustrating show on TV. What's the one good thing about this new season? Shaliene Woodley. So what do they do? Kill her off in the fourth episode. It was a solid episode but it's only going to lead to less good things given the events of the episode. I mentioned last week that I didn't think Sterling K. Brown was all that good in this show and I stand by that but I also think the writing has been really terrible. Take away the feels of this episode and really listen to the dialogue that Brown has to say. It's poor writing that is littered in cliches. Ugh. This show is so frustrating.
DTF St. Louis
I was very intrigued by DTF St. Louis after last week's premiere but this week's second episode left me less interested. The tone that made the first episode so unique seemed to be mostly gone and it felt much more like a straightforward murder case TV show. I still enjoy the performances and I was intrigued enough by the first episode to keep going but I was disappointed to see it be much more by the books for the second episode.`
THE BEST TV ALPHABETICALLY: LETTER F
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 F:
Look, I know F Troop isn't a great show - and yes, it's even a bit offensive at times by today's standards. But I have a soft spot for this show from my Nick and Nite days. It's very goofy but endearing and has a surprisingly strong cast.
9. The Flintstones (ABC, 1960-1966)
The original primetime cartoon - the iconic characters still hold up all these years later and while the episodes are a bit formulaic, it is as strong as most 50s and 60s family sitcoms.
8. For All Mankind (Apple TV, 2019-Present)
This alt history show (finally returning at the end of the month) has been up and down but it has some real high highs (the spectacular second season is one of the best TV seasons of the decade as far as I'm concerned).
7. Fargo (FX, 2014-Present)
By nature of being an anthology, this show also is up and down. I actually haven't watched every season but I really enjoyed the eerie and moody first season and the well-plotted and well-acted fifth season. And I'm sure it'll come back someday but who knows when that will be.
6. Frasier (NBC, 1993-2004)
One of TV's most successful spinoffs of all time, the series managed to be high brow in an era of broad multi-cam sitcoms. And David Hyde Pierce was an all-time great supporting character. Let's pretend the recent revival didn't happen.
5. Fleishman is in Trouble (FX/Hulu, 2022)
It's been over three years now and this limited series has really stuck with me. It spoke to me so much as someone in my mid-30s when I watched it. I am not much of a re-watcher but I have often thought about giving this one another whirl.
4. Faerie Tale Theatre (Showtime, 1982-1987)
A childhood favorite of mine, this series was chock full of big names from the day. While some graphics are cheesy now, it had a high production value too. I have still wondered why some streamer hasn't tried to remake this series with today's stars.
3. Freaks and Geeks (NBC, 1999-2000)
One of the most notable one hit wonders of all time, this show lives up to its reputation as a show that was gone too soon but it's also just so perfect for the 18 episodes it has. It never got a chance to go off the rails and it catapulted so many to stardom.
2. Friday Night Lights (NBC/101 Network, 2006-2011)
Boy, it really pained me to put Friday Night Lights at #2 considering it's my second favorite drama of all time and it would be #1 for most other letters. But it's the nature of this exercise. The drama that was never just about football remains a powerful and thoughtful exemplary TV show that will never be forgotten. Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose.
1. Friends (NBC, 1994-2004)
It was a tough choice for #1 but Friends gets the prize for being a little bit more consistent. I think all the memes and internet culture about the show have been annoying and taken away from the fact that this is a really expertly acted show with pitch perfect timing. In my opinion, it has never gotten the respect it deserves despite its immense popularity.
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: As you can see from reading my original review, I was very down on Happy Endings in 2011. I believe I only watched the first episode and decided it wasn't for me. I always heard about it getting better and finally, a few years ago, I ended up giving the show another chance and I watched the whole series. I really ended up liking the show - it was a joke-a-minute riot that had many great characters as well as sayings unique to the show. I still don't think the pilot is all that good though. I think a show that is very clearly going to be a hangout friendship comedy gets way too bogged down in the pilot with the breakup of the wedding. While it's an interesting way to start the series, it's a little plot heavy for a show that ultimately didn't care that much about the plot. So I don't think everything I said in 2011 was off base, I think I just needed to give it more of a chance.
What Happened to the Show: Happy Endings was one of many shows that were hangout comedies featured a roughly even group of men and women in the 2010-11 season. There was also Perfect Couples, Traffic Light and Friends with Benefits. Happy Endings got a very late premiere without much fanfare and it was set to air at 10pm, which is never a good sign for a sitcom. It got a double episode premiere after Modern Family before airing in the 10pm slot. Reviews from critics were pretty underwhelming but the sound outperformed its tough timeslot and critic started to come around by the end of its first season. ABC gave it a big show of confidence by moving it permanently to the post-Modern Family slot for the 2011-12 season and critics started banging the drum for the show. Despite the improved timeslot and reception, it could never find a mass audience. By the 2012-13 season, it was sent to an island on Tuesday and then eventually banished to Fridays before getting cancelled after three seasons. There was some hope for USA to pick up the show but that didn't come to pass. Happy Endings has lived on as a "gone too soon" show for many fans and critics who still beat the drum for it. It has continued to have a devout following, rumors of a pickup lingered for years, and the show produced a "new" episode during the pandemic. It definitely wasn't the biggest hit of the 2010-11 season, but it has had a longer tail than many shows from that year.
COMING UP
My newsletter will be taking a week-long break next week (returning on March 23) so here is what's coming up over the next two weeks! On Tuesday, Netflix has the second season premiere of One Piece. The show definitely has its fandom (I am not included in said fandom) and it has already been renewed for a third season. On Wednesday, Prime Video has a binge release of Scarpetta, yet another streaming drama starring Nicole Kidman. This one is based on the book series of the same name and also stars Jamie Lee Curtis. Kidman's streaming output has been hit and miss at best. On Thursday, Netflix has the seventh season premiere of Virgin River, which has become one of its longest running series in its history. On Saturday, Paramount+ has the premiere of the latest Taylor Sheridan drama, The Madison starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell. The series has a unique release pattern with its Saturday drop and the fact that it is airing its first thing episodes this Saturday and its final three episodes next Saturday.
Then in the second week, Apple TV has the premiere of Imperfect Women on Wednesday, March 18. The series boasts a strong cast in Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington and Kate Mara. But we've seen plenty of star-studded Apple shows not really make any noise so we'll see. On Friday, March 20, Prime Video has the second season of Jury Duty. It will be interesting to see if lightning can strike twice for a show that really hit all the right notes the first time around. Finally on Sunday, March 22, FOX has the premiere of its limited biblical series The Faithful while HBO has the return of The Comeback. The Lisa Kudrow show had its first season in 2005 and its second season in 2014 so it doesn't come around all that often. It's being called a "final" season but we'll see.
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