Rueben's Ramblings

When the 2019-2020 TV season came back from the holidays in January, the coronavirus wasn’t really on the radar here in the United States. It was a blip on the radar, a news item that barely got any attention. Unlike the man in the White House, we weren’t aware of the seriousness of the virus until the middle of March, as lockdowns began in earnest all across the country along with massive shutdowns of every single production on the planet.

It’s been a bleak year to say the least, but fortunately there have been some rays of hope throughout the year with new shows, returning favorites, some new movies and a slew of series finales.

The following are my top highlights for 2020 (in no particular order):

Highest Rated New Drama – FBI: Most Wanted (CBS)

Out of the dozen (or so) new dramas that debuted this TV season (2019-2020), the spin-off series FBI: Most Wanted ranked the highest with an average of 7.1 million viewers weekly.

Best Actress in a Drama – Yvonne Strahovki in Stateless (Netflix)

This gripping 6-part series, loosely based on the true story of Cornelia Rau, found Chuck and The Handmaid’s Tale alum Yvonne Strahovski starring as Sofie Werner, a flight attendant with an undiagnosed mental illness who joined, and escaped from, a cult-like group only to end up in a horrible Australian detention camp. This was a gritty role that left Strahovski almost unrecognizable for much of its run, and showed the depths of her acting skill beyond being just a pretty face.

Best Actor in a Drama [TIE] – Paul Mescal (Normal People on Hulu) and Jeremy Strong (Succession on HBO)

While I have not watched either drama, Paul Mescal has easily become one of the most talked about new actors on TV, who will be segwaying into films (make sure to check out my Faces of 2020 section, which will be posted in a few days for more details on him) while Jeremy Strong won an Emmy this year for Best Actor in a Drama.

Favorite New Drama – Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC)

The series debuted on January 7, running 12 episodes through May 3, becoming one of the few stand-outs during the first lockdown. The finale was extremely moving especially with Zoey imagining dancing one last time with her father, whose health had been rapidly declining since the pilot episode. This was the one feel-good show (despite the passing of Zoey’s dad) of the year.

Here is the musical number, as Zoey says goodbye to her dad (make sure you have tissues nearby):

How Could You! (The Most Disappointing Cancellations) – Project Blue Book (History Channel) and the Party of Five reboot (Freeform)

The plug was pulled on Project Blue Book by the History Channel in May after only two seasons, leaving the fans with a pretty dramatic cliffhanger that will, sadly, never get resolved. As for the Party of Five reboot, the series suffered from very low ratings, but rave reviews for its timeliness in its main storyline while still honoring the original.

It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye (Shows That Came to An End This Year):

* Arrow (The CW) – finale on February 28 after 8 seasons
* The 100 (The CW) – finale on May 20 after 7 seasons
* Blindspot (NBC) – finale on July 23 after 5 seasons

NOTE: As it neared its end, Blindspot tricked us into thinking that Patterson had died; and then gave us that crazy ending of everyone together for a holiday dinner, or was it all a dream as Jane was killed at Times Square? The debate still lingers on the meaning of that ending.

* The Magicians (Syfy) – finale on April 1 after 5 seasons
* Supernatural (The CW) – finale on November 19 after 15 seasons [how many tissues did you go through watching the last half of that emotional finale?!]
* Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC) – two-part finale on August 12 after 7 seasons

Most Moving Loss (Saddest Death in a Series) – Enoch on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

The Chronicom Enoch (beloved actor Joel Stoffer) first appeared in an episode of Marvel’s Agents of SHIElD back in May of 2017, but only in silhouette. It was in December of that year that he became a regular recurring part of the long-running series set in the Marvel TV world. He quickly became a fan favorite, who developed a close connection to human genius engineer and scientist Leo Fitz. A few weeks before the show came to its final conclusion, Enoch sacrificed his “life,” giving up his Electrochron Displacement Mechanism [aka his heart] to save the Zephyr and all his friends on board the SHIELD ship. Enoch may have lived for thousand of years, but his time with the current SHIELD team really made him “feel,” and his loss made all of the fans/viewers feel too.

Here is the video of Enoch’s final scene and goodbye:

You Have Failed the Streaming World – Quibi, the streaming service for cell phones

This short-form streaming platform with content to be viewing on our cell phones was founded in August 2018 by Jeffrey Katzenberg, the film producer and media proprietor and led by CEO Meg Whitman. It officially launched on April 6, but came to a crashing halt on October 21 when it was shut down.

Prettiest Newcomer – Adriyan Rae

The Delaware native graduated with degrees in physician assistant studies and medical laboratory science, but segwayed into acting, starring in the lead role in the short-lived 2019 Syfy series Vagrant Queen, which was, sadly, cancelled after only one season. She now plays paramedic Gianna Mackey, a new addition for this year, in the franchise drama Chicago Fire.

Hunky Newcomer [TIE] – Lucas Bravo (from Emily in Paris on Netflix) and Charlie Gillespie (from Julie and the Phantoms on Netflix)

The Netflix series Emily in Paris, which debuted on October 2, may focus on lead character Emily Cooper (Lily Collins), but it’s been newcomer Lucas Bravo [who plays Emily’s hunky next-door neighbor Gabriel] who has been turning heads.

Here is a video of Emily meeting her neighbor Gabriel for the first time (please excuse the synchronizing problem between the subtitles and the audio):

Also thanks to Netflix, the younger generation has been captivated by newcomer Charlie Gillespie, who plays guitarist-singer Luke in the Kenny Ortega-run musical series Julie and the Phantoms, which debuted on the streaming service on September 10. You can judge him for yourself by watching this scene from the series (Charlie, as Luke, is the last of the 3 “phantoms” that appear on the stage with the lead character Julie):

Julie and the Phantoms (Final Concert Scene):

NOTE: Eagle eye viewers of Julie and the Phantoms will (hopefully, like me) see a resemblance (eye color and freckles aside) between Reggie [actor Jeremy Shada] and actor Drew Fuller from the OG (Old Guard) Charmed. Drew played Chris Halliwell, son of Piper Halliwell and her whitelighter husband Leo. And that’s not all: Owen Joyner, who plays Alex in Julie and the Phantoms bears a striking resemblance to Logan Shroyer, who plays teenage Kevin in This Is Us. Compare the featured pictures to judge for yourself:

Most Anticipated New Show – Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (CBS All Access soon to be Paramount Plus)

The trio of Anson Mount (Captain Pike), Ethan Peck (as a young Spock) and Rebecca Romijn (as Number One) turned heads on the CBS All Access series Star Trek: Discovery, and that quickly led to another spin-off series of the popular franchise Star Trek: Strange New Worlds [SNW]. Due to the pandemic, however, there is no release date for SNW (reportedly filming hasn’t even begun), but the show will eventually air on CBS All Access, which in early 2021 will become known as Paramount Plus.

It Was Done So Well – Virtual episode of All Rise on May 4 (CBS)

The final episode entitled “Dancing at Los Angeles” aired on May 4, about a month and a half into the beginning of the first lockdown caused by the Coronavirus Pandemic, and was one of the first looks at how a TV show would have to handle quarantining, et al. The episode was well done in terms of storyline and filming structure, but also performed fairly well in the ratings, earning 5.1 million viewers.

Most Hated Villain – Stormfront on The Boys (Amazon)

Actress Aya Cash was introduced in season two of The Boys, easily becoming the most reviled villain not only on the show – where superheroes are anything but super or heroes – but also the most reviled villain all year. She was a horrible human being with superhuman powers, whose not-so-veiled racism just made the viewers hate her more.

You Are So Adorable – Baby Yoda (aka Grogu) on The Mandalorian (Disney+)

Season 1 of The Mandalorian may have aired from November 12 to December 27 of 2019 with the second season of the series getting underway on October 30, but it has been Baby Yoda that has really captured the hearts of Star Wars fans all over the globe. The little one may only communicate in baby sounds and a few magical waves of its little hands, but those were more than enough.

This Was Unexpected But Actually Pretty Great (Most Unexpected Couple That We Loved) – Daisy and Sousa on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC)

The out-of-his-time Agent Daniel Sousa (Enver Gjokaj) and genius-level hacker Inhuman Daisy Johnson started working together in the final season of Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD; and while they pretended to be a couple in an early episode of season 7, it was slow burn for their becoming a REAL couple that captured fans’ hearts [especially given the heartbreaking relationship record for Daisy, finding out Ward was a turncoat and then losing Lincoln who sacrificed himself for the team, it was really sweet to see her end up with such a great, stand-up kind of man).

Best Sidekick – Ashley Park (Mindy Chen in Emily in Paris on Netflix)

The new Darren Star dramedy debuted on Netflix on October 2 and featured Ashley in the co-starring role of Mindy Chen, the daughter of an extremely wealthy Chinese businessman, who works as a nanny for a wealthy family in Paris. It was later revealed [SPOILER ALERT!] that she competed in an American Idol-like series where she shocked while singing a song live on TV before an audience of millions. The Tony nominated actress is a powerhouse singer, who has appeared on Broadway in Mamma Mia, has appeared in The King and I and Mean Girls (based on the box office movie).

NOTE: Unfortunately, a video of Ashley singing as Mindy keeps getting pulled from YouTube so it cannot be provided here.

Can’t Wait to See the Reboot – Leverage (IMDbTV)

It is not clear when this reboot of the popular series will premiere on IMDbTV, but it is clear that cast members Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf and Gina Bellman are back for all of the episodes with occasional appearances by cast member Aldis Hodge and newcomer Aleyse Shannon as well as Noah Wyle, who is taking over for the disgraced Tim Hutton.

It Was a Rollercoaster Ride – Outlander Season 5 (Starz)

[SPOILER ALERT!!] The fifth season of the series started with the wedding of Brianna and Roger (series regular Sophie Skelton and Richard Rankin), and later found the couple, and the people of Fraser’s Ridge, battling locust as well as current villain Stephen Bonnet. The season also included Roger nearly being hung to death and Jamie losing his beloved godfather Murtagh. The season ended with the kidnapping and horrific rape of Claire (series lead Caitriona Balfe) at the hands of Lionel Brown (and his minions) and being saved by Jamie (series lead Sam Heughan) and the men of the Ridge.

What the Hell Happened? (The Most Unexpected Season Finale) – Yellowstone (Paramount Network)

Viewers of the modern-day western series that stars film legend Kevin Costner know all too well to expect the unexpected when it comes to the Dutton family. This current season finale was a doozy with [SPOILER ALERT!] the explosion at Beth’s office; the shoot-out at Casey’s office and the not-so drive-by shooting aimed at patriarch John while he was on the side of the road helping a lady and her little son with a flat tire.

This Show Is Crazy and Its Diehard Fans Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way (Most Overrated Show/Most Dedicated Fans) – Wynonna Earp (Syfy)

Wynonna Earp returned for its much anticipated and almost didn’t happen season 4 premiere on Syfy on July 26. The show faced some major uphill financial battles last year, and its fanbase’s relentless efforts to keep the show alive were notable, especially their renting a series of billboards in Times Square, which helped the 4th season become a reality then the Coronavirus Pandemic happened. The first 6 episodes aired over the summer, and the remainder will air, hopefully, at some point in 2021 when it’s safe for the cast and crew to reconvene. Kudos to the fans for their never-ending support and to everyone involved on the show for creating such an apeshit crazy show that never disappoints.

[Source: Vanity Fair]

Oh, Man That Was Disgusting! – The whale episode of The Boys (Amazon)

The Boys, consisting of Butcher, Huglie, Mother’s Milk, Frenchie, Kimko (and her brother Kenji) were [SPOILER ALERT!] racing away in a speedboat trying to get away from not only the law but also the superhero The Deep, who was holding on tight to a 50-foot long whale as he gave chase to the wanted team. The whale beached itself so The Deep could attempt to stop the Boys, but that backfired when Butcher laid on the gas and rammed the speedboat [and all of them] right into the side of the whale, causing a bloody mess on the shore. Obviously, most of the scene was CGI, using a fake whale, but it was bloody disgusting.

Here is that scene (Viewer Discretion Advised):

A Welcome Transfer – Cobra Kai going from YouTube to Netflix

The first two seasons of The Karate Kid continuation – in the form of small screen series Cobra Kai – aired on YouTube, but Netflix realized how overlooked this series was being available only at YouTube so they acquired the series, making it available to a much bigger audience in August. The first two seasons did so well on the streaming service that a third season will get started on Netflix on January 8, 2021.

Add These to Your Streaming List (If You Haven’t Watched Them Already) – Virgin River and Sweet Magnolias (both on Netflix)

If you are looking for some great rom-coms that aren’t really just rom-coms (and believe me these shows are SO much more than just rom-coms), you should check out Virgin River and Sweet Magnolias; both are available on Netflix. They are great chicks shows with layers and complicated relationships. In fact, the second season of Virgin River got underway on November 27 with the second season of Sweet Magnolias planned, but probably won’t be available until either 2021 or 2022. Then

It Was a Treat Watching – Enola Holmes (Netflix)

This was a box office film that ended up on the streaming service, starring Stranger Things alum Millie Bobby Brown in the title role and Superman himself Henry Cavill. The movie routinely broke the 4th wall when Enola (Brown) would address the audience throughout the movie, which was actually pretty darn entertaining.

Do Not Miss This Show (Streaming Series You Need to Watch) – The Wilds (Amazon)

The new streaming series The Wilds debuted on Amazon on December 11 and is about a group of teenage girls whose plane crashes, leaving them stranded on a deserted island. This show has been heralded as a combination of Lord of the Flies and Lost; and that is true to form (I got a chance to watch all 10 episodes before Thanksgiving and can vouch for the angst and survival aspect). Much of the cast are newcomers (but talented newcomers each and everyone) as well as Rachel Griffiths (Brothers & Sisters) and Sophia Ali (Grey’s Anatomy).

Best Documentaries – I’ll Be Gone in the Dark (HBO) and Seduced: Inside the Nxivm Cult (Starz)

The 6-part documentary, based on the extensive research conducted by the late true crime author Michelle McNamara (Patton Oswalt’s late wife), which was an exploration of the case of the Golden State Killer who terrorized California in the 1970s and 1980s, committing 50 sexual assaults and 10 murders, was a much-buzzed about event over the summer.

That was followed closely by the 4-part documentary Seduced: Inside the Nxivm Cult, which aired this fall on Starz, focusing on 29-year old India Oxenberg, the daughter of actress Catherine Oxenburg, who – at the age of 20 – got involved in NXIVM, an “American multi-level marketing company” that was later exposed as a sex cult where she spent 7 years, finally being able to escape; and helping – along with other victims – to bring down the “ringleader” (or more to the point cult leader) Keith Raniere.

Oh ,What a Night!! – Saturday, November 7, 2020

It was 4 days after Election Night when the major networks announced that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris became President-Elect and Vice President-Elect respectively. Now let’s hope that our country can get back on track after four tumultuous years under the “rule” of a narcissistic, draft dodging, uncaring baboon who doesn’t give a damn about anyone else but himself. Most important of all is getting a handle on the virus and getting the vaccines out to as many people as possible as soon as it’s safe to do so.

Movies That Made Waves (in a Good Way) – The Old Guard (Netflix), Black Is King (Disney+); To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (Netflix) and Mulan on September 4 (Disney+)

With all of us spending a lot more time at home, it only made sense that a lot of us were watching WAY more TV than ever before, and especially a lot of movies on the plethora of streaming services.

Some of the top movies that people were raving about included To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, which debuted on Netflix on February 12; The Old Guard which hit Netflix on July 10; Black Is King, which landed on Disney+ on July 31 and Mulan which became available on Disney+ on September 4.

Stand-Out Character in an Ensemble Cast – Klaus in The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)

It’s not always that easy to stand-out when part of an ensemble cast in any production (TV or otherwise), but when you are part of the Netflix series The Umbrella Academy, based on the popular comic book series, it’s doubly hard because all of the characters are complex and, yes, a bit twisted. Klaus Hargreeves (as portrayed by talented Irish actor Robert Sheehan) has been a stand-out since the show debuted back in February of 2019, but it was his turn in season two as a time-traveling channeler of the dead turned unintended cult leader with a heart of gold (but a mind drenched in drug use) that really turned the season on its head and charmed viewers.

The John Barrowman Award (Best Scene-Stealer) – Alex Newell as Mo on Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC)

Alex is an extremely talented singer and made a big impression from the very first scene in Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, playing Zoey’s next door neighbor, pseudo friend and confidante. With powerhouse vocals, heartfelt vulnerability and a gorgeous smile, Mo wormed their way into our hearts, and we all cannot wait to see what comes next in season two.

Here is just one of Alex’s performances from Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist:

It’s Not Inconceivable (Reunion of the Year) – The Princess Bride virtual reunion, reading the script (all thanks to the Wisconsin Democrats)

Back on October 9, 1987, a little movie called The Princess Bride, adapted from the 1973 book of the same name by William Goldman, was released in the theatres. While the movie received critical acclaim, it was a moderate hit at the box office; but over the years it has become a timeless classic, evoking countless pop culture references [such as “Inconceivable!,” “Have fun stormin’ the castle!” and “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”]

So, when it was announced that the remaining cast (and a few additional players like Whoppi Goldberg and Josh Gad) would be gathering on a Zoom-like “call” – thanks to the Wisconsin Democrats – to read the script on September 13, well, to say the least none of the worldwide fans was shouting “inconceivable,” more like they were saying, “Sign me up!”

It was a fantastic virtual production, albeit with some glitches here and there, with great performances by the main cast – and even including some original props [thank you Mandy Patinkin for having Inigo’s sword]. It was a night to remember for everyone who tuned in and thanks to everyone who made that virtual event possible.

What have been the stand-out moments on the small screen (networks or streaming) for you? Who was your favorite actor for the year? What series, special or TV event disappointed you the most? Please share your thoughts on TV from this year below.

TOMORROW: Music

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