coles_notes

A series I had watched much of previously however never finished, I aimed to complete the full 12 season epic, and while long, I must say I'm glad I did. Produced by Larry David and Jeff Garlin, and starring both, and also written and directed by Robert B. Weide, we follow an exaggerated slice of life following Larry David as his personality and friends constantly get him into trouble. Originally pitched as a one-off special and became on of the classic sitcoms of all time, I of course loved it. A big fan of Seinfeld the show, but not the biggest fan of the person, this series only solidified my belief that Jerry had the least comedy chops on his own show. The writing in curb is so fresh, and even going back to its original early 2000s run the jokes all still hold, especially given its partially improved nature. It's easy to try to compare Curb to Seinfeld or the later mockumentary style works it inspired, but there really is nothing else like it, Larry David is in a league of his own. His comedy definitely isn't for everyone, but if you like it this show is a treat. I look forward to revisiting it many more times. Would highly recommend.

Produced by Jason Blum and Jamie Lee Curtis for Amazon Prime, we follow Ruth Landry (Margo Martindale), who along with some old and new friends plots to steal millions worth of maple syrup in revenge against the syrup associations owner. Definitely not Blumhouse studios normal kinda stuff, and also starring Chris Diamantopolos as Mike, a low level crime family mobster who kicks off the whole thing, I quite liked him in Mrs. Davis so was fun to see him in this, I hope he continues getting more. The writing is decent, especially given the fully fictionalized nature of it after the real life heist incident its sudo-based on (but also not at all), however it does get a bit formulaic in its mob family stuff. All shot in Quebec, and only a single season of 6 episodes so far, my biggest gripe is I went in expecting a miniseries only for a relatively large cliffhanger to be left at the end and a push for season two, which may or may not happen at this point. I hope we see it, but for a fun, short comedy, sure I'd recommend.

Created by Marc Richards for CBS as a companion series to Shazam!, we follow Andrea Thomas (Joanna Cameron), a high school chemistry teacher who during her studies found an ancient Egyptian amulet which allows her to turn into the titular hero Isis, fending off the world from evil or more often saving high school kids from their own invited perils. Most notably the series is known as the first live action superhero series with a female lead, beating out Lynda Carter's Wonder Woman by one year. Only two short seasons the series was relatively short lived, though was moderately successful, as was syndicated as The Secrets of Isis for multiple years to come. Each episode follows the near identical format, an introduction to some new high schoolers with set up on how they're going to get themselves into trouble, followed by said trouble and rescuing from Andrea after she transforms into Isis, with of course a friendly life lesson at the end. There for every crisis, with limitless powers from Isis; she simply has to speak in rhyme to gain flight, strength, and even control time. Someone always almost figures out her secret identity too, most frequently fellow teacher Mr. Mason (Brian Cutler), who acts as sudo-love interest and hapless hero often turned damsel in distress. A very simple show in its premise and execution, the plots aren't meant to go anywhere, and how a superhero seems to only save people from a single high school is beyond me, let alone how much trouble they can all get up to. In the end, unless you're a big fan of this era tv or perhaps a fan of Cameron herself, I don't know that I'd broadly recommend. But I had a great time.