Summertime …. And the viewing is easy …. AC’s Pumping … my electric bill is sky high …. oh My ….
We’re heading into the dog days of summer, the perfect time to stay indoors, out of the heat, and watch one of your favorite streaming shows. If only you had one. That’s the point of my Substack blog, to help you clear a path through all of the streaming detritus out there. And find shows you want to watch.
No shortage of Shows
There is certainly no shortage of content out in the streaming universe, but it often feels like you’re driving blind. I know that feeling…afraid to dip your big toe into the streaming pool for fear you’ll be dragged under. Let me help with some simple Rules of the Road.
One: Nothing is forever!
I believe that every streaming service out there gives you a ‘free trial’ period, between 7-30 days. After that they will automatically sign you up. But you have two options.
1. Cancel BEFORE the trial deadline
2. Cancel Immediately after you realize the free trial has expired. Yes, you will still be billed for the month, BUT you will have access to the streaming channel until the next billing cycle when you will be CANCELLED and there should be no other charge on your credit card. Yes, you have to give the service your credit card, so make sure you’re on the correct site — The streaming service’s official website.
Don’t do this!
The one thing you don’t want to do is ignore or forget about it. So write down the expiration date; first of the free trial, and if you miss that, the final day of the billing cycle. Usually, thirty days from your first payment date.
Or This!
The Streaming Service offers a ‘deal’ on their subscription price, i.e., Six months at a highly discounted price. Then if you don’t cancel before that date, you are automatically charged the full rate for the following year. Write down the dates someplace where you will remember to look.
Let’s Talk Credit Cards
I know, we’re nervous about giving out our credit card information which is why I use PayPal. I’ve put one credit card on that site and use it when I’m paying for these kinds of services. PayPal keeps it all in one place and there’s a firewall between my information and the service I’m purchasing.
If I have a complaint or just an inquiry, I can get PayPal to handle it. The same thing applies for AMEX. Probably any/every credit card company would do the same, but I choose to use only one card for all of the streaming services. And that’s the card I have on my PayPal account. If you haven’t taken advantage of that service, I highly recommend you look into it. I get notifications of payments in and out and can keep track of when and whom —very helpful. I caught a double charge and had it fixed immediately on my PayPal account.
… And the Streamin’ is easy
So, back to streaming shows, but first a little aside here … how do you get your streaming shows? I use ROKU. I know I’ve said that before. Smart TVs have some limited built-in streaming capabilities and Cable TV providers offer streaming ‘boxes.’ Maybe you just watch on your computer screen? Let me know what you use, I’m curious. However, you stream, you do a search on the App.
Many will pull up ’suggestions’ for you based on what you’ve watched before …. Oh yes, they’re keeping track, so they can feed you more of what you want. This is not (necessarily) a bad thing —the thought police won’t be knocking — but I haven’t found it that useful.
Mixed Signals
Maybe my eclectic taste is confusing ‘Al’ (Al-go -Rhythm). Or more likely, it’s reading my tastes AND my partner’s tastes, which are very different.
This Month’s Suggestions
So with that in mind, here we go with my suggestions, still on Netflix.
Drama/Soap(y) love stories - nothing personal, that’s just the best way to describe the following. It doesn’t mean they’re not worth watching. They are. If you like that kind of thing.
1. Virgin River (4 seasons) - The title says it all. Hunky guys and beautiful girls in the north woods of California (Virgin River), all with love histories, good and sad. I watch an episode to calm my mind aka get me ready for bed. Works every time.
2. Bridgerton (2 Seasons … so far) — Brainy looking (and mysterious) guys and beautiful women all in 19th century England. Producer, Shondra Rimes. combines Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal with Downton Abbey. Great idea, great casting (very ‘hot’), and if you can put up with the (vapid) storyline, it’s great popcorn tv. I’ve tried, but 1/2 an episode is all I’ve been able to take at one sitting. Maybe someone can tell me how to make it all the way through. And speaking of making it all the way through ….
3. Grey’s Anatomy (19 seasons and counting) — This show’s been on so long (2005) ‘Meredith’ (Eileen Pompeo) has had everything lifted but her contract. The good news here. You can jump in and start watching any season and not have to worry about what’s going on. It’ll all come out in the wash so-to-speak. This is one of my partner’s go-to shows when it’s raining or snowing or just your average grey — get the pun? — day. Sometimes I’ll lie there beside her and find myself getting sucked into the drama.
No one is ever happy for long at Grey Sloan Memorial.
If I watch it too closely, I can see the story pattern of the show. This can lead to my blurting out plot points in advance … not helpful to my partner’s enjoyment of the show nor our overall relationship. Occasionally, I’ll watch several episodes, keeping my mouth shut, only to realize I’ve seen them all before. That’s when I realize, so has she. But she doesn’t care. I roll over and take a nap.
A Few Shorter Shows
1.The Kominsky Method ( 3 seasons) - Don’t worry about the title. It’s an ‘inside’ reference to the late, well known acting teacher Sanford ‘Sandy’ Meisner, who created the iconic ‘Meisner Method.’ It’s not important. What is important is that the two stars Michael Douglas as ‘Sandy’ Kominsky, the revered acting coach, and Alan Arkin as Norman Newlander, a famous Agent who happened to be Sandy’s agent years before, are the best pair on tv since Oscar and Felix, maybe even George and Gracie. It’s funny, it’s serious, it’ll make you do all the things good story telling with strong characters should make you do. WATCH IT! And let me know. I’m considering watching it again. It’s that good.
And speaking of Gracie …
Grace and Frankie (7 seasons). This show should be great. It’s got four powerhouse star actors — Jane Fonda (Grace), Lily Tomlin (Frankie), and their two ex-husbands — Martin Sheen (Robert) and Sam Waterston (Sol) — and a twist on the midlife crisis story. The two husbands leave their spouses for EACH OTHER. That premise carries us through the first season and part of the second, with the help of a great supporting cast and a few guest appearances by aging stars. Unfortunately, after Season three …the plot begins to show its age. The premise gets a little long in the tooth and so the writers scramble to come up with something newish … it doesn’t work in my book, but it doesn’t matter. Take the seasons one at a time and don’t be afraid to quit. I haven’t watched the end of season seven, and frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.
Warning: The episodes are only thirty minutes (actually less) so fight the urge to binge through an entire season, unless you know you’re going to cancel your subscription at the end of the month.
Now, I’m saving the best sleeper hit for last.
AND IN THIS CORNER …
GLOW (3 seasons ... I wish there were more) Where do I begin? How about Las Vegas in the ’80’s where out of work actress Ruth Wilder (Alison Brie) gets a job on local late night tv as part of an all-girls professional wrestling team, joining a group of 12 Hollywood other misfits and their director, Sam Sylvia (Marc Maron). To put it succinctly, hilarity and mayhem ensue along with a goodly dose of misogyny in Hollywood, and how the ladies try to deal with it. I don’t want to get too deep here, it’s entertaining and it holds one’s attention. And it sticks with you which says a lot about any tv program out there in the jungle.
Send Me your picks
As I ‘said’ in my previous blog, I’m doing this twice a month as a semi-public service to seniors. Am I ‘talking’ into a vacuum? I don’t want to clutter up your inbox. Let me know if this interests you. I plan to expand my picks to other streaming services, such as Prime which many of you may already have, Hulu, which seems to have enough variety to make it worthwhile and Acorn TV, a British showcase for shows from the Britain, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and even France.
In the meantime, check out these clips and see if any of the shows tickle your fancy.
Thanks and enjoy these trailers. But first “Let’s Go Surfing” with the Beach Boys.
Here’s the trailer for Virgin River.
The Kominsky Method
And Here’s G.L.O.W.