Play Book Tag discussion

For fans of cooking show TOP CHEF ... the new season started tonight. All filmed in Wisconsin!

I feel full after watching this episode!

Watching Survivor and Amazing Race. But no spoilers in case I don’t finish or others haven’t caught up yet.

Wed is a big tv night as of now!

Watched Top Chef - Kristin is a great host! And yes, I am full after watching it. P.S. Chef who packed knives and left was pretty clearly to me most likely to depart fast.

Just finished watching TAR - I am sweating just from watching it.

Survivor has to wait until weekend.

TCM was showing a favorite Streisand movie - What's Up Doc - dvr'd for weekeeend viewing.

It was The Voice for me tonight, we are planning on watching it tomorrow. I'm going to miss Padma, but know that Krisitin will be great.
Survivor will probably be weekend watching.

We need a new series to binge watch. It is always a question of finding something which suits us both and isn't going to require yet another subscription.

We recently finished Deadloch, which was a bit of a hoot, but what made it really special for me was it was filmed in Tasmania, not far from where my niece lives in Hobart.

Done with Both! You know for TAR, I don’t yet have a team to love. Or really hate. No one has stood out to me in either direction yet.

I am behind on TAR. I will have to get caught up before next week! I thought the first episode was tonight, not last week :(

I feel the same, Amy, on TAR. I do like the expanded 90 minute TAR. And the fact it is elimination every leg.

I don't like the extended 90 minute Survivor. I didn't last season either. Just feels loooooong. I will get to Survivor at some point this weekend.

@BnB - a client, who is a reader and gifts me great books, recommends Slow Horses. Not sure where it is found - Netflix, maybe? He introduced me to Razorblade Tears and S.A. Cosby. I definitely will check it out at some point.

I don’t mind the 90 minute Survivor, and in fact there are things about this season that are interesting. And there are definitely people to like or to enjoy watching. Again, amazing race kind of has me a little flattened. I just can’t figure out who to root for, and who would be a good one to Hope gets eliminated. I am bounded, determined to figure it out. Already tell you I don’t like the twins. I think I sort of like the older gay men in blue with the colorful shirts. And they have ended up being a strong team from the start. Other than that, I seem to have little to say.

Well, the lunch date between me and Book Concierge that was postponed due to my dental emergency (all fixed now) was rescheduled for tomorrow, but now the forecast is for 6 inches of snow along the highway we would both need to travel. We already have quite a few flowers out, but that is spring in the upper Midwest. Hoping "third time's the charm" so we can meet next week.

Amy wrote: "I don’t mind the 90 minute Survivor, and in fact there are things about this season that are interesting. And there are definitely people to like or to enjoy watching. Again, amazing race kind of h..."

The cousins in pink are the closest I get to dislike at the moment. Their inability to get their sh*t together isn't amusing anymore. Several married couples are indistinguishable. I think part of the problem is last season was so stellar. Also this season we are viewing was run well before the last we watched. They did a new race and shoot when it got extended to 90 minutes, then went back and re-edited this one to fit 90 m8nutes. Plus it was run when global pandemic restrictions were to an extensive degree still in place. I suspect all that had an effect.

Robin P wrote: "Well, the lunch date between me and Book Concierge that was postponed due to my dental emergency (all fixed now) was rescheduled for tomorrow, but now the forecast is for 6 inches of snow along the..."

Oh no! We are getting heavy rain starting late tomorrow - our version of same front.

Yes, the cousins in pink! I couldn’t put my finger on it because I liked them mostly because they were the most animate. Where everybody else was rather unremarkable. But I didn’t necessarily like them. Like I thought to myself that they were only fun to watch because they had more going on dynamically it felt, kind of like personality. But not like I could root for them or really like them. so basically, this is an old one, that they never showed us. Well, then we will let it be what it is. Next Thursday, we will come back to this topic.

My daughter watches Survivor and I think she and my husband were watching part of that cooking competition during ads for some other show. I'm not a fan of this stuff so abstain. That said, sometimes if I'm downstairs I'll watch the voting. However, my daughter hates the ads so waits a full week until they've been reduced and watches it On Demand.

Update on my brother: he was moved out of the ICU on Tuesday so is sleeping again. Still weak but he's making steady progress; I won't be getting daily updates anymore because we no longer need them :)

Robin P wrote: "Well, the lunch date between me and Book Concierge that was postponed due to my dental emergency (all fixed now) was rescheduled for tomorrow, but now the forecast is for 6 inches of snow along the..."

I was just coming to post about this. Third time's the charm ... fingers crossed!

We also had to change venues with this new schedule because the restaurant we originally chose is not open until dinner hour on Tuesday. S*I*G*H Robin found a great substitute (as far as we can tell from the website).

Amy wrote: "Yes, the cousins in pink! I couldn’t put my finger on it because I liked them mostly because they were the most animate. Where everybody else was rather unremarkable. But I didn’t necessarily like ..."

Yes, exactly! you have nailed them. what was amusing last week was not this week.

Book Concierge wrote: "Robin P wrote: "Well, the lunch date between me and Book Concierge that was postponed due to my dental emergency (all fixed now) was rescheduled for tomorrow, but now the forecast is for 6 inches o..."

Fingers crossed that the 3rd time is indeed the charm!

I have never liked the competition/reality shows where people are encouraged to be cutthroat. Survivor is usually set in warm places so they can show people in skimpy clothes. I think it would be amusing if they did one in a cold climate where everyone was covered with parkas and mukluks! Also, I think the contestants should say, "hey all the camera people and techs have food, let's all unite and take theirs".

When the original Survivor started, many people said it reminded them of office politics. I would rather watch a show where people work together to do something good. I suppose most viewers would find that boring. Those are definitely the books I like, such as Station Eleven, where instead of killing each other for the last supplies, people help each other survive and build something new.

A friend of mine has a coworker who was on one of the dating shows. She explained how they deliberately upset people, keep them up late, overload them with drink, etc. in order to get emotional video.

The exception to all this is The Great British Baking Show, where all the contestants are nice to each other and often stay friends after the show.

This is true about barely feeding them, and getting them drunk on the bachelor and bachelorette, and it’s especially true for paradise. I don’t mind admitting that all of these are an absolute vice or treat for me. Guilty pleasure. Hey, when you do the work, I do it’s kind of nice sometimes to have some reality drivel to give you some fun. OK I will admit it. I was absolutely obsessed with the Traitors on Peacock. True story. Sparkle made me do it - lol!

Amy wrote: "This is true about barely feeding them, and getting them drunk on the bachelor and bachelorette, and it’s especially true for paradise. I don’t mind admitting that all of these are an absolute vice..."

A friend of mine is raving about Traitors. Adores it and keeps telling me I need to subscribe to Peacock just for it. I am sure I would love it but I am not paying for another channel and never get around to watching anything on it.

Just watched Survivor. I am not into this season it seems. This episode seemed so ho hum.

Robin P wrote: "Survivor is usually set in warm places so they can show people in skimpy clothes. I think it would be amusing if they did one in a cold climate where everyone was covered with parkas and mukluks! ..."

I gave up on Survivor YEARS ago. And have said, even before I gave it up, that I would love to see a cold-weather one! No question I would come back to watch again if they did a cold weather one!

Robin P wrote: "When the original Survivor started, many people said it reminded them of office politics. I would rather watch a show where people work together to do something good...."

I really liked the first season of Big Brother. They actually all got along. But (apparently) people thought it was boring, so they created challenges and situations later on that made it cutthroat and I never liked it as much as season 1.

I watch very little tv (beyond the news) anymore. But is anyone else watching So You Think You Can Dance? I do still watch that one.

I am watching, so you think you can dance. I just love that. But it’s interesting now that they’re going with the younger set as judges. It will be interesting to see how that shapes the show.

I’m actually into Survivor. I think the Bhanu piece is super frustrating. But there are several cast members I like. I am most curious about Venus.

Robin P wrote: "I have never liked the competition/reality shows where people are encouraged to be cutthroat. Survivor is usually set in warm places so they can show people in skimpy clothes. I think it would be a..."

You said what I think but didn't get into!

But I also call them Fake-ality shows because they're not as unscripted as we think. An interesting book about stuff you don't see in some reality shows that hints at how vile things are behind is Leap of Faith by Cameron Hamilton and Lauren Speed https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... is my review--average rating for the book is 3.66, but even though it was a 3 star like for me I learned some things. FYI the couple in the book renewed their vows in Nov 2023 after five years of marriage, and I'm glad even though I dislike that type of show.

PS there are cold weather shows, but not nearly as popular. I'd love to see what would happen if they had a survivor season where everyone was average looking or even not good looking, fit but not with such "hot" bodies.

Yes, there are people who'd watch it, but not as many.

Just finished watching Top Chef and I agree with you, Theresa, about who went home. Irritating that he is representing Northern California.

Hubby says he was doing whacko.

Booknblues wrote: "Just finished watching Top Chef and I agree with you, Theresa, about who went home. Irritating that he is representing Northern California.

Hubby says he was doing whacko."

Hubby right.

This show usually only has serious chefs, not including what I those only there to become reality tv stars, or build a celebrity resume. I think this guy is the latter though a chef without question. There are big egos of course, and agendas, but that comes with being a chef.

Since I am now admittted how much reality trash I actually watch, I am huge fan of Next Level Chef! I just find the concept so interesting! I really love it.

I'm impressed how some of you find time to watch a lot of TV shows in addition to all the reading you do, having careers and for some of you, raising kids. The shows I get addicted to tend to be PBS like Poldark, Downton Abbey, and Miss Scarlet and the Duke. My daughter used to kid me about how much I liked costume dramas. I pay for Netflix and Apple TV and rarely watch them.

Amy wrote: "Since I am now admittted how much reality trash I actually watch, I am huge fan of Next Level Chef! I just find the concept so interesting! I really love it."

As a confirmed fan of cooking competition shows, I too am a Next Level Chef fan. Definitely an very interesting concept, always a fascinating mix of chefs, and the rivalry between Alisha, Gordon and Richard is so entertaining.

I just love it. Like you guys, as a fan of dialogue, plot, character development, I actually watch an inordinate amount of TV. I also love the 10 o’clock dramas. I was crazy for The Morning Show on Apple. I also recently watched the first season of why women kill on Paramount and I thought that was fabulous. I can tell you what’s on any night of the week.

Next Level Chef fan here as well. I'm also doing Food Network's Tournament of Champions. They have so many of my favorites from Top Chef.

During the evening, I usually watch tv with Hubby.

Booknblues wrote: "Next Level Chef fan here as well. I'm also doing Food Network's Tournament of Champions. They have so many of my favorites from Top Chef.

During the evening, I usually watch tv with Hubby."

Tournament of Champions - YES! Love love love that one. I am now enjoying as well the new Wildcard one that just aired.

I pretty much only watch food competitions, Project Runway, Survivor, and The Amazing Race -- and old movies. All get DVR'd so I can fast forward through commercials, mostly watched while eating, stiching, or doing jigsaw puzzles, or when need to wind down and too tired to read.

I was a dedicated fan of Ink Master - though I have zero desire for a tattoo - but the post-pandemic new version is now on a pay channel I don't have and don't intend on getting, so that's no longer cycled through.

I once used the whole Survivor concept of getting voted off the island as a means to get out of jury duty. I was in the last row for voir dire and the process was long and slow, no judge was present, and the attorneys were less than stellar in their handling. I got bored and got those around me to guess whether the person pulled outside for 'quiet chat' would be 'voted off the jury island' or return. Needless to say, once they got to me, they couldn't dismiss me fast enough. actually none of us in the back row who were 'playing' were put on that jury.

The last drama series I watched religiously were Mad Men, Downton Abbey (though I found the last 2 or 3 seasons underwhelming except for Maggie Smith), and Homeland -- which I stopped watching after the 3rd season. I did stream 3 seasons of Mrs. Maisel and will eventually watch the 4th.

Did any of you watch The Feud:Truman and the Swans? I loved it

My daughter did get me into several series - Schitt's Creek, Mrs Maisel & Mozart in the Jungle. And I did watch Ted Lasso.

Some of my issue is that we have never had more than one TV and my husband doesn't enjoy the same things I do. If I just watch something, he might feel neglected. Or, he comes in partway through and starts asking me questions about what is happening and who the characters are! He is a wonderful person and I always say the secret to our being married 50(!) years this June is that he is very patient. But I do watch more when he happens to be gone. (he watches a lot of news, which I also like some of, and he will just flip channels and watch things in the middle, which I can't stand.)

Robin P wrote: "My daughter did get me into several series - Schitt's Creek, Mrs Maisel & Mozart in the Jungle. And I did watch Ted Lasso.

Some of my issue is that we have never had more than one TV and my husba..."

I really enjoyed the first couple of seasons of Mrs Maisel but then just stopped wanting to follow the seasons for no apparent reason. I tried Mozart in the Jungle but did not like the first episode at all, and only partly because I know real classical musicians in orchestras.

At the moment I have only one show I'm following and that's So Help Me Todd. Well written, directed and acted, it's funny, etc. I do enjoy comedy crime solving shows and have seen every episode of Psych plus all but the last season of Monk.

I just tried a new show and enjoyed the first episode--a dramedy called Elsbeth.

There are other shows I've liked, of course, and not all comedy, but am in a primarily off-TV mode at the moment (I go on and off.)

Even better, I'll get to enjoy this season of Todd a second time with my son when he comes home and it's always funnier when he's there laughing; perhaps he'll enjoy Elsbeth as well.

Amy wrote: "I am watching, so you think you can dance. I just love that. But it’s interesting now that they’re going with the younger set as judges. It will be interesting to see how that shapes the show...."

Did they actually introduce the judges at some point? If they did, I missed it. I know Maks because he used to be on Dancing With the Stars. I didn't recognize Comfort, but someone called her by name, and suddenly I realized who she was (and recognized her then). Who is the 3rd judge?

I like that they mostly show good or inspiring dancers at the auditions for this show. Have to admit, I won't always be caught up! I try to get to watching it the weekend after it airs.

The third judge is Alison, who is the wife of twitch! They were both stars of, so you think you can dance, as has been Comfort, and they got married and we’re doing incredible work together even though Twitch was more famously known. They had three kids together. And then the absolutely awful suicide that nobody understood. Rocked the world. This is his wife and costar Alison. That’s who she is.

I wanted to go back to so help me, Todd I actually really love the show, even though it isn’t the most intelligent and dramatic of shows. But I like Skyler Austin, and I like his mother, whose name I’m not remembering at the moment. And I think the show is cute and lovely and funny, even though it’s getting a lot of laughs in the press. It was a Saturday night live joke. But Elsbeth!!!! my husband, and I can’t wait for this series. We are excited to watch it together. We remember her from the good wife, and then from the good fight, which I started watching again over from season two just to enjoy her in advance of this new season starting. She has been such a fantastic character through both series. Love her and we still remember and talk about her, and when we found out there was going to be a new series based solely on her, we could not wait!

Robin - you and hubby have a 50th Anniversary this year???!!!! I am in AWE! I do hope you are doing something special because that's truly a milestone.

Plus you seem way too young to me to have been married that long - must have been a child bride.

I was just turning 21 but I was already in grad school. Dan was 25.
I just looked it up and only 6% of couples make it to 50 years.

Amy wrote: "The third judge is Alison, who is the wife of twitch! They were both stars of, so you think you can dance, as has been Comfort, and they got married and we’re doing incredible work together even th..."

So Help Me Todd is comedy and not at all dramatic, nor is it particularly intelligent, just well done; some of the funniest parts are things that aren't intelligent :) My favourite episode of both seasons so far is--better not spoil it with high expectations. That said, the ending of one of one of the episodes this season has me annoyed and I hope they don't ruin this they way many shows get ruined early on, or start to get ruined.

As a dramedy, Elsbeth has a more serious side than does So Help Me, Todd. I've never ever watched the show this character first appeared in (as a recurring guest star, not in all episodes (The Good Wife and then The Good Fight) but she won an Emmy for it. However, you have to like a character who is brilliant but appears rather flaky. I have no idea how intelligent it will be; I'm just looking for something that might make me laugh and there aren't many shows that do that. I'm guilty of having been "sucked in" to trying this show by seeing ads for it when watching my other show.

Amy wrote: "The third judge is Alison, who is the wife of twitch! They were both stars of, so you think you can dance, as has been Comfort, and they got married and we’re doing incredible work together even th..."

Oh, thank you! I loved Twitch! And I knew he'd married someone who was later on the show, but I had stopped watching for a while around then.

Robin P wrote: "I was just turning 21 but I was already in grad school. Dan was 25.
I just looked it up and only 6% of couples make it to 50 years."

Wow, really!? My parents got there a few years ago.

LibraryCin wrote: "Robin P wrote: "I was just turning 21 but I was already in grad school. Dan was 25.
I just looked it up and only 6% of couples make it to 50 years."

Wow, really!? My parents got there a few years..."

I actually know a number of people in our category. That's probably because statistically people from the middle class and up who go to college are the most likely to get married and stay married. And our closest friends tend to fall into that group as we do. We also can afford regular medical care and jobs that aren't too physically taxing, so that we live long enough.

Librarynerd ( loves books in a series) wrote: "I just won my first giveaway on Goodreads!

The Queen's Faithful Companion: A Novel of Queen Elizabeth II and Her Beloved Corgi, Susan by Eliza Knight.

Out of o..."

Congrats! I won once when I was really new on GR and I wondered if they give preference to new people. Probably it was just a fluke. I didn't win again for several years. A couple years ago, I won 3 in one year, including Babel. Usually I only get notified when a book on my Want to Read is available, but sometimes I look at all the Giveaways when I am on a boring phone call or zoom call and sign up for anything I might want for myself or as a gift. Last year I won The Morningside, which is just now being released, but I haven't read it yet.

Librarynerd ( loves books in a series) wrote: "I just won my first giveaway on Goodreads!

The Queen's Faithful Companion: A Novel of Queen Elizabeth II and Her Beloved Corgi, Susan by Eliza Knight.

Out of o..."

I've won a couple, the latest one The Christmas Guest, I was notified in October and planned to read it for our seasonal challenge in December, but I never received it.

It finally arrived last week. Theresa, I'm planning to read it for your Christmas in July challenge,

It's been a long time since I have won one, but I don't enter nearly as often as I used to. It's always fun to win, that's for sure!!!

Booknblues wrote: "Librarynerd ( loves books in a series) wrote: "I just won my first giveaway on Goodreads!

[book:The Queen's Faithful Companion: A Novel of Queen Elizabeth II and Her Beloved Corgi, Susan|19953454..."

Oooh, it is on my TBR! Maybe we do a buddy read!