Looking Back: Watching the Detectives

A "vast wasteland"?

Wasteland: photo by Cliff Hutson

The phrase "vast wasteland" was famously used by Newton Minow to describe television programming in the early 1960s. And, many people, then and now, agree with him. But, he also said, "When television is good, nothing — not the theater, not the magazines or newspapers — nothing is better."

For better or for worse, many people have turned to their TV, or streaming devices, to help them weather these pandemic times.  I was among them, and for want of something more meaningful to post I give you my television viewing log for last year.

TV Watched - 2020 

1. Justified, Season 5 (DVD)
2. Justified, Final Season (DVD)
3. Columbo, Season 1 (DVD)
4. Justified, Season 1 (DVD)
5. Justified, Season 2 (DVD)
6. Hunters (part of first season)
7. Inspector Morse (Season 1, Episode 1)
8. Parks and Recreation (Season 1, Episodes 1-4)
9. Parks and Recreation (Season 3, Episodes 1-5)
10. Bosch (Season 6, Episodes 1-10)
11. Westworld (Season 1, Episode 1-3)
12. Endeavour (Season 1, Episode 1)
13. Penny Dreadful: City of Angels (Episode 1)
14. George Carlin - It’s Bad for Ya!
15. Central Park (Episode 1)
16. Dead Still (Episodes 1- 2)
17. Quarantine Quitchen (YouTube)
18. Marble races and games (YouTube)
19. The X-Files (The Third Season) (DVD)
20. Ted Lasso (Season 1, Episodes 1-9)
21. River Monsters with Jeremy Wade (Season 6)
22. Late Night with Seth Meyers (YouTube)
23. A Late Show with Stephen Colbert (YouTube)
24. The Daily Social Distancing Show (YouTube)
25. Eames: The Architect and the Painter
26. Good Eats (Season 15, Episode 4 - Rich Little Poor Boy)
27. The Morning Show (Season 1, Episodes 1-10)
28. Good Eats (Season 9, Episode 16 -Shell Game 4)
29. Good Eats (Season 9, Episode 21 - Olive Me)
30. Good Eats (Season 9, Episode 9 - The Waffle Truth)
31. Everyday Driver
32. Good Eats (Season 12, Episode 13 - Orange Aid)
33. Good Eats (Season 13, Episode 13 - Live and Let Diet)
34. Good Eats (Season 14, Episode 22 - Use Your Noodle 5)
35. Warrior (Season 1, Episodes 1-10)
36. Mystery Road (Season 1, Episodes 1-6)
37. The Outpost (Season 1, Episodes 1-10)
38. Good Eats (Season 4, Episode 12 - True Brew II: Mr. Tea)
39. Good Eats (Season 2, Episode 8 - True Brew I)
40. The Mentalist (Season 1, Episodes 1-2)
41. Feasting on Asphalt (the complete first season) (DVD)
42. Feasting on Asphalt (the complete second season) (DVD)
43. Numb3rs (Pilot)
44. Mystery Road (Season 2, Episodes 1-6)
45. Midsomer Murders (Season 1, Episodes 1-4)
46. Inspector George Gently (Season 8, Episodes 1-2)
47. Midsomer Murders (Season 2, Episodes 1-4)
48. Thursday Night Football (2 games)
49. Midsomer Murders (Season 3, Episode 1-4)
50. Midsomer Murders (Season 4, Episodes 1-5)
51. NFL Prime Football (1 game)
52. Midsomer Murders (Season 5, Episode 1)

A Brief Recap

As goes my reading, so goes my television viewing in that the bulk of it leans on mysteries, or detectives. There were also some cooking shows, but I have yet to find a drinking channel. 

I began 2020 by rewatching a few seasons of "Justified" on DVD. This harkens back to a time when I neither over the air TV nor cable. If I somehow stumbled across a show that I liked, I bought it on disc and then binged watched it or viewed at my leisure as I pleased. Another favorite on DVD is the X-Files episode "Jose Chung's From Outer Space" (Season 3; Episode 20) which, in my not so humble opinion, is its best episode ever.

But, I have on moved to the modern world of downloads and streaming. My favorite series among current programs is "Bosch"; available on Amazon Prime. I have read every one of the Michael Connelly novels about this Los Angeles based detective and really appreciate how they have been adapted to the screen. Truly excellent work. 

I am looking forward to discover what mix of the old and the new I manage to watch in 2021.