Welcome to my Monday newsletter! This week is a busy one. I am looking at the newest season of Euphoria and Hacks, the new comedy Big Mistakes, the season finales of Shrinking, American Classic, St. Denis Medical and Memory of a Killer and the latest episode of The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins. Plus my Top 10 Shows starting with J and a look at the Emmy race in the Lead Actor and Actress in a Limited Series categories.
WHAT'S NEW
Oh Euphoria. My experience with this show feels like a lifetime ago. I watched the first season, which aired in 2019, during the COVID shutdown in Spring 2020. I was fascinated by the visual style of it even if the story didn't work all the time for me. Then I absolutely adored the one-off special with Zendaya and Colman Domingo around Christmas 2020 as we waited for Season 2 (it was my #1 Episode of 2020). I watched the second season as it aired back in 2022 and enjoyed it but still found it to be a mess a lot of the time. And when the third season premiered last night and showed the "previously on Euphoria" prelude, some of my memories came back (especially from the second season) and some did not. But this is too freaking long between seasons for a show. We are on the 19th episode (counting the two specials) and the show has been airing since BEFORE COVID. If you were a teenager when it premiered, you are now in your mid-20s. This might take the prize for Severance and Stranger Things for the worst offender of the long waits between seasons.
But that's in the past. Euphoria is finally back for a third season. This show is of course known for its behind the scenes drama or at least online speculation of drama, and has tragically seen some cast members die since the most recent season. It's quite clear that filming was all over the place for this one. It felt like the first Netflix season of Arrested Development where they couldn't get schedules to line up. And with Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi continuing to blow up in pop culture, it's not surprising. Some of them seem a little over the show - Sweeney and Elordi specifically, who were only in scenes with each other. But I will give it to Zendaya that she still feels fully committed to this character. She has always been the strongest part of the show and still is. She's a natural in the role and always has been and she's still giving her all. If she'd rather be starring in big movies, there's no evidence of that here.
The show needed to do a time jump, a big one, and I'm glad it did. There wasn't any way that these actors could still be playing high school characters or even just out of high school. But I also feel like turning this into a show about twenty-somethings, sort of takes away what made Euphoria unique and such a moment back in 2019. The content of the first two seasons, especially the first, felt shocking and audacious. I remember thinking at the time that it would make me terrified if I was a parent (which I was not but now am, and stand by that thought). But now this content doesn't quite land with the same splash. The trailer made it seem like the tone was shifting more than it actually did. It's still very much Euphoria and there's still interesting things about it, I just don't know if the show needs to be around anymore. It sort of missed the window where it could really tap into being a zeitgeist show.
I tend to go slowly with Netflix shows so I always feel like I don't have much to say because of the binge drop model and people have probably already seen more than I have. But I actually the entire first season of Big Mistakes over the past couple days so I feel well equipped to talk about the new sitcom from Dan Levy and Rachel Sennott starring Levy, Taylor Ortega and Laurie Metcalf among others.
This is the first major work from Levy since Schitt's Creek and although the premise is quite different, it's still a dysfunctional family comedy with a grown brother and sister relationship at the center and Levy's style of writing and performing (lots of sarcasm, lots of chaos). This was sort of a tale of two shows for me. The performances and relationships between the characters completely worked for me. It's hard to forget about Annie Murphy's brilliant portrayal of Alexis Rose but Ortega and Levy make a great pair of siblings. Their behavior with each other hits all the right comedic notes and anytime there seems to be a sweet moment between them, it is almost immediately undercut. Metcalf is a hoot as well in a role that seems tailor-made for her. She plays frazzled yet cluelessly confident so well and this role really works to her talents (I'm glad she is doing something other than The Conners finally!)
What doesn't work as well for me is the plot. I won't give spoilers in case there are others like me usually who are slower with getting through Netflix binge drops. I think taking the dysfunctional sibling relationship and throwing them into a world of crime is a really funny premise. But the crime story, which is so often the case when spread out over a whole season, got unnecessarily convoluted and stretched believability. I don't need a comedy like this to be steeped in realistic scenarios but the twists and turns of the plot don't really hold up at all if you give them a second thought. I think it's why I liked the plot most in the first episode and then just really enjoyed the performances after that. It didn't work on all levels but it worked enough for me that I definitely enjoyed watching over the last couple days and would like to see it get a second season.
Hacks is back for a fifth and final season. I will really miss this show, it has been a 2020s staple for me. I'm glad to see the final season does not appear to be heading towards a fight between Deborah (Jean Smart) and Ava (Hannah Einbinder) because that has been played out. While at first it seemed like making Deborah an EGOT winner was going to be the arc of the season, that was a red herring for the actual plot of Deborah trying to sell out Madison Square Garden in her comeback after getting erased and silenced after her late night meltdown. I think there will be plenty of great stories to lead up to a Madison Square Garden episode towards the end of the season if not the finale, but I do feel like it has some similarity to the third season attempt to land late night. It sort of has that same "pinnacle of a comedian's career" arc vibe to it so hopefully this can be different enough. That being said, I've always had some nitpicks about the plotting on Hacks and still love the show because Smart, Einbinder and the entire cast are so good (shout out to Meg Stalter for a very funny performance in the premiere) and because the writing on a scene to scene basis is so fun and because the show remains gorgeous to look at. So really regardless of where the plot goes, I'm sure I'll enjoy it.
Also...
I did watch the first episode of The Testaments but decided to not stick with it even though there were things I liked about the pilot (primarily Chase Infiniti, who should have been nominated for an Oscar). I just found the last couple years of The Handmaid's Tale to be a slog to get through and I am not interested in dipping back into the world of Gilead again. I think there needed to be more time between these shows because I feel like everyone was burned out on Handmaid's by the end. Yes, this show has a different focus but it's not different enough for me. I also feel disappointed that Ann Dowd is continuing to just been Aunt Lydia. She was, and is, great in the role but I would like to see her do something else. Maybe if the franchise waited a few years, I (we) would have been more ready for another story.
LAST WEEK ON...
The third season of Shrinking came to an end on a bit of a quieter note than I was expecting. There were no major shakeups, especially compared to the penultimate episode, and there was no real cliffhanger, which Bill Lawrence basically teased in some weirdly worded articles from earlier this week. That being said, the scene between Harrison Ford and Jason Segel at the end was great and yet another reason why Ford should be an easy favorite to get an Emmy this year (the field is weaker too so come on, Television Academy). I am not sure if I liked this season of Shrinking quite as much as the second season but it was still pretty fantastic and I'm sad to see it come to an end.
American Classic (Season Finale)
I don't have too much to say about this show, which was one of my Most Anticipated New Shows of 2026. It was fine and charming but ultimately somewhat slight. It wasn't really bad by any means and I did get somewhat invested in the story but it wasn't a show I'm going to remember too much about and honestly, if not for the theater story, I don't know if I would have stuck with it. As far as theater shows go, it's a step above the very disappointing and frustrating Rise and a step below the glorious mess that was Smash.
St. Denis Medical (Season Finale)
I think St. Denis Medical had a solid second season. It's still not at a top tier mockumentary comedy like The Office, Parks and Recreation or Abbott Elementary but it is continuing to get better. The plot is advancing nicely and the characters are gelling more and more. I would love if they got rid of Josh Lawson's character. He has not advanced beyond a caricature. I wasn't sold on David Alan Grier at the beginning either but he has improved for me. Mekki Leeper's Matt and Kahyun Kim's Serena are the most Jim and Pam-like couple since Jim and Pam as far as I'm concerned. And Wendi McLendon-Covey is doing just terrific work on this show, just as she always elevated The Goldbergs.
Memory of a Killer (Season Finale)
I watched the whole first season of this show and even though I continue to be pleased that a network drama is about something a little more serialized than cops or lawyers or doctors solving a case of the week, this was just so stupid. I don't know if I'll come back for the second season, I kind of doubt it. The biggest problem is the myriad plot holes. I don't have time to get into all of them but there were plenty. This show is also the king of characters driving somewhere to say something to another character for no plausible reason because a phone call or text would have easily sufficed. Finally, Odeya Rush's character has to be one of the dumbest characters in recent memory on TV. I get that the show wanted the character to not believe her dad was a killer, but she was so oblivious right up until information was mailed to her in the closing minutes. Like it really stretched believability. So this show, which just got renewed for a second season, got renewed but it's just so, so dumb.
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins
I've been keeping up with this show and it's... fine. A controversial TV take I have is that I don't really like Tina Fey/Robert Carlock style of writing with a gazillion jokes on the page. I've never been able to really articulate why and I don't know if I will be able to here but I have two examples from the most recent episode. Tracy Morgan's Reggie made a joke about being on Epstein's Island but he meant "Epstein's Eye-Land," his optometrist. And then at the end of the episode, Precious Way's Brina made a joke "I feel, what's the word? Issa Rae did a whole HBO about it - insecure." OK. So many jokes on these shows are either a fake out (the Epstein joke) - a character says one thing but means another, a play on words. Or they are weirdly inside jokes - I mean people watched Insecure but that's definitely a reference for people in the TV world to know the name Issa Rae.
Now comedy should be specific and it should be clever. But so many jokes from the Fey/Carlock factory seem like they get enraptured by being too clever. They also don't feel authentic to the characters saying them a lot of the time. Those jokes could be said by any character because they are more clever on the page than true to the character. These are emblematic of the kind of jokes we've seen on 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Girls5Eva and Great News. Some of those shows I like more than others but there's just something about the style of comedy that rubs me the wrong way. I still don't think I explained it that well but it is what it is.
THE BEST TV ALPHABETICALLY: LETTER J
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 J:
J was another tough letter, just like I so there are some shows on this list that wouldn't come close on other letters. I never watched the original Justified, which may have been higher on this list if I did, so I'll have to include the 2023 revival that had some interesting parts but only sort of worked on the whole.
9. Julia (NBC, 1968-1971)
One of two shows with this title on this list, I watched a few episodes of this back in the day when it was on TV Land. The groundbreaking show starring Diahann Carroll had a sweet mother and son story at the heart of it.
8. Jack & Bobby (WB, 2004-2005)
So I've only seen one episode of this... I told you J was tough! But I really loved the pilot and now that the show has finally come on streaming for the first time ever (Hulu), maybe I will check out the whole thing and see if it lives up to its Gone Too Soon reputation.
7. Julia (HBO Max, 2022-2023)
The second Julia show on this list - this HBO Max series about Julia Child featured great performances from Sarah Lancashire and David Hyde Pierce and beautiful production design. It was a little uneven for me but it's a charming little show.
6. Jersey Shore (MTV, 2009-2012)
I only watched the first season of Jersey Shore but it was a very guilty pleasure back in 2009 for me. I'm not proud of the fact but there's not denying that first season that introduced us to the original cast members, especially including Snooki, was a phenomenon and super addicting.
5. Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC, 2003-Present)
Jimmy Kimmel has never been a go-to late night show for me but I've watched some clips over the years and his recent silencing and subsequent return gave him some extra cache (that first show back is really a must watch). In this day and age, I'm just happy for any on-going late night show.
4. Just Shoot Me! (NBC, 1997-2003)
An ensemble sitcom from NBC's 90s heyday, this one doesn't seem to be close to a lot of people's hearts even though it had a successful run. There are some annoying elements to this show but also some really funny moments. It's not consistently good, but it does have a nice sitcom comfort food feel.
3. The Jeffersons (CBS, 1975-1985)
Great theme song... pretty good show. I am not a fan of Norman Lear shows (sacrilege, I know!). But this is actually my favorite of them. I like the dynamic between Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hemsley and Marla Gibbs is a treasure on the show. It's a little dialed too high sometimes but it's still enjoyable.
2. Jury Duty (Freevee/Prime Video, 2023-Present)
I've written about the second season recently but I remain amazed that this show has managed to pull everything off twice in very different settings and with two different but equally perfect "heroes." Let's hope they give it a third go-around.
1. Jeopardy (Syndication, 1984-Present)
This was a pretty easy #1. The most durable game show of all time that rewards intelligence, not luck or personality. It was expertly hosted by Alex Trebek for decades and then went through a messy transition after Trebek's death before landing on the correct successor in Ken Jennings who has a love for the game and is a worthy steward of Trebek's legacy. And it also has an amazing theme song.
AWARDS CORNER
As mentioned when I posted my Supporting predictions, the Limited Series field feels pretty empty this year. But there are still some heavy hitters that will duke it out. Here are my current forecasts for the two races:
Lead Actor in a Limited Series/TV Movie
1. Charlie Hunnam, Monster: The Ed Gein Story
2. Oscar Isaac, Beef
3. Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me
4. Jason Bateman, Black Rabbit
5. Richard Gadd, Half Man
6. Jude Law, Black Rabbit
Just Missing: Paul Anthony Kelly, Love Story
Also in the Mix:
Jason Bateman, DTF St. Louis
Michael Shannon, Death by Lightning
Cillian Murphy, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
Riz Ahmed, Bait
David Harbour, DTF St. Louis
Lead Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie
1. Claire Danes, The Beast in Me
2. Carey Mulligan, Beef
3. Sarah Snook, All Her Fault
4. Sarah Pidgeon, Love Story
5. Robin Wright, The Girlfriend
6. Kerry Washington, Imperfect Women
Just Missing: Linda Cardellini, DTF St. Louis
Also in the Mix:
Tessa Thompson, His & Hers
Rachel Weisz, Vladimir
Elisabeth Moss, Imperfect Women
Camila Morrone, Something Very Bad is Going to Happen
Patricia Arquette, Murdaugh: Death in the Family
COMING UP
After a busy week, there are less premieres this week but a couple high profile ones. On Wednesday, Apple TV has the three episode premiere of Margo's Got Money Troubles. The comedy, starring Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nicole Kidman and Nick Offerman among others, seems to have some buzz in the critical circles so we'll see if it's a late player in the Emmys calendar. Premiering on Thursday is the second season of the anthology Beef on Netflix. The first season was a big hit with audiences and awards for the streamer in 2023 so we'll see if they can get the same buzz a second time around. So far, reaction seems to be a bit more mixed. Premiering on Sunday is the fourth season of sci-fi drama From on MGM+. This has been a quiet show to already be in its fourth season. Also premiering on Sunday is the fourth and final season of The Way Home on the Hallmark Channel.
If you are looking for my Pilot Re-Reviews that have been in this newsletter before, I am now a contributor to The TV Ratings Guide and posting them there on Tuesdays!
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