The Next Best Book Club discussion

I liked Master Chef and am looking forward to Hell's Kitchen.

I've watched a few episodes of Hoarders. It makes me feel not-so-bad about my house :).

And the other book site I'm on, Shelfari, has non-reading threads too. We talk about movies and TV in addition to books.

Master Chef is a competition amongst amateur chefs with challenges/eliminations every week. I watched all season but missed the finale last week b/c I was on vacation and my DVR didn't have enough room. I did check to see who won though and I wasn't surprised.

Hell's Kitchen has the same chef, Gordon Ramsey.

I thought Masterchef was a competition-type show, not a doc-type show?

I don't really watch Independent Lens, ever, but I loved their Journals of a Wily School. It's an awesome (so awesome it pushes credibility) doc about pickpocket in Calcutta (and has some very interesting things to say about the mindset of "cool"). Plus they have a very surreal pickpocket school: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6cFCv...
*I love the PBS nature shows, but I'll spare you the specifics. But the PBS show POV is all about documentaries as well.

An episodic documentary-type show I really liked was Mark & Olly: Living with the Machiguenga. And Mark even took on a cute baby monkey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBKtZK...

Also, if you are into sarcastic humor and meat, you cannot go wrong with Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations.

Erika wrote: "I'm looking for some new tv shows to watch. So my question is - what are some of your favourite documentary type shows?

I've watched and loved:
Pawn Stars
Hoarders
Jamie Oliver`s Food Revolut..."

Pawn Stars (even though I can NOT stand the son) & American Pickers are two very addictive shows.

Watch 'Modern Family' on ABC Wednesday nights at 9pm and have a wonderful time!!! SOOO Funny!!!

Hi Erika!

You might want to check out the TV group here at GR:

TV We've Just Watched

There are active threads for just about every program on television.

I really like Intervention (A&E), but I used to work with teenagers coming out of jail, so it's sort of "my thing". My husband finds it too depressing.

Erika, my hyperlink under the text "Journals of a Wily School" should lead you straight to the full video online, if your browser and internet speed happen to cooperate.

(I'd say more, but I won't spoil you.)

I love Dominick Dunne's real Mysteries, I believe that they are on Tru or A&E. He was a terrific journalist and Author and had a great penchant for crime.

The Borgias. I can't explain how much I love this little show.

The Killing. Or the Danish original Forbrydelsen.

And really... the Spartacus shows. Such a guilty pleasure!

Cate wrote: "The Borgias. I can't explain how much I love this little show.

I TOTALLY agree! Love me some Cesare Borgia! *yum* oh, and the show is great too, lol

Fallen Skies.

It's a new show, but it looks rather good so far. My son and I saw a documentary entitled, "When Aliens Attack", which mentioned a playbook developed by someone a lot smarter than me. Seems the show borrows a lot of its premise from that playbook.

Jennifer wrote: "Cate wrote: "The Borgias. I can't explain how much I love this little show.

I TOTALLY agree! Love me some Cesare Borgia! *yum* oh, and the show is great too, lol"

Francois Arnaud is the PERFECT actor for Cesare Borgia. So easy on the eyes as well.

Cate wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Cate wrote: "The Borgias. I can't explain how much I love this little show.

I TOTALLY agree! Love me some Cesare Borgia! *yum* oh, and the show is great too, lol"

Francois Arnau..."

oh yeah. *swoon*

If you're not squeamish about hunting, try Swamp People. I doubted when we first started watching, but it's my favorite show now. They're plain, honest, hard-working people. It's really refreshing when compared to those brainless voids the Kardashians. It airs on History Channel.

If you are interested in law enforcement or crime shows, The First 48 on A&E is really good. We've watched that for years. My dad, a retired cop, refuses to watch shows like Law & Order: SVU, etc, because they get police procedures so, so wrong. But he watches 48 every week.

Some of my favorite shows to watch are:
How I Met Your Mother
Big Bang Theory
Vampire Diaries
Modern Family
King of Queens
American Pickers


There are so many more but I cant even think of them all now.

I love Fraiser. He's just SO funny!

The series is off the air now - but you can get Seasons 1 and 2 on Netflix. Got to see "The Killing" - based on a Sandinavian series. Riveting!

Does anyone watch Grimm? It just finished it's 2nd season. I believe it's filmed in Portland, Oregon and I wonder if there are any residents from there in this group and what there reactions to the show are? Seems like almost all the criminals in Portland are vessen (sp?) (monsters).

Erika wrote: "I'm looking for some new tv shows to watch. So my question is - what are some of your favourite documentary type shows?

I've watched and loved:
Pawn Stars
Hoarders
Jamie Oliver`s Food Revolution
J..."

My husband and I are obsessed with House Hunters on HGTV. And my guilty pleasures are Buckwild on MTV and Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.

Just started Downton Abbey and wow, was that a good decision!

Jennifer wrote: "Just started Downton Abbey and wow, was that a good decision!"

You've discovered a good one. Downton is addictive!

I'm almost done with season 2 and, well I won't say exactly what happened so I don't spoil. But, if you do watch it, you'll understand why I spent some time ugly crying yesterday. One word: William.

Lorraine wrote: "Does anyone watch Grimm? It just finished it's 2nd season. I believe it's filmed in Portland, Oregon and I wonder if there are any residents from there in this group and what there reactions to t..."

Lorraine wrote: "Does anyone watch Grimm? It just finished it's 2nd season. I believe it's filmed in Portland, Oregon and I wonder if there are any residents from there in this group and what there reactions to t..."

I love GRIMM and can't wait for new season. However, I'm not a fan of Juliet's character. She seems uppity. Nick needs a new squeeze, IMHO.

I loved United States of Tara and miss it. Currently, I like Dexter, Californication, True Blood, Grimm, and much of what is on the learning networks like TLC, NatGeo, or Animal Planet. I love the Finding Bigfoot show. And, my daughter has me watching Oddities, that is one weird show.

There is a new show on FOX called "The Following" about a murder cult that reveres Edgar Allan Poe.

I've heard really good things about Ripper Street on BBC America that I need to check out

This year my absolute "can't miss" is "Person of Interest"!

I also follow all "CSI" series, "Criminal Minds", "NCIS", and "Blue Bloods" -- guess I have a hankering for crime? I've been watching "The Following", although a bit unsettling, I cannot seem to turn it off!

Recently I just caught the opener of "Monday Mornings" -- not bad!

I miss Unites States of Tara, too.

I like "Hunted" - Cinemax's compelling new series. If you like a fast-paced plot, lots of moving parts and subplots, etc., this one is for you, though, you have to pay close attention. This is for those who have an insatiable appetite for twists and density of plot. It's corporate-espionage drama at its best.It's a BBC production, with a few Game of Thrones cast members, and several other ambiguous characters.

It's quite cerebral and dialogue-heavy, but it does balance action with drama. You'll be asking yourself strange questions like: "Who was the so-called 'Blank-Faced Man,' the scary guy with the terrifying eye syringe?" Watch for this character (played by Scott Handy); he is fascinating.

The protagonist, Sam Hunter, an intelligence operative (counterpart to the CIA) is a women who can take down any man mano-a-mano. There are flashbacks, and the reveals are paced nicely to answer questions of who murdered her mother, who's trying to assassinate Sam, an so on.

If you remember the intracacies of the "X Files", the conspiracy is played out in a similar way. It is this giant conspiracy, but within the conspiracy, there are human beings who have conflicting agendas.

'Nuff said. Watch it.

My favorite TV show that's currently on is Parks and Rec; I worship at Amy Poehler's feet, I just love her so much. Oh, and also Game of Thrones; I've read the books as well.

Some highly recommended, must-watch series include Arrested Development, The Wire, and Freaks and Geeks. AD and F&G can be marathoned on Netflix.

I just spent the weekend stuck to the couch watching the BBC version of Sherlock - set in the 21th century - really good - unfortuantely cliff-hanger at the end of S2 and no sign of S3 yet

I liked Hunted. Is it a continuing series? The BBC Sherlock was good, too, and I hope there will be more.

I love bbc's doctor who and Sherlock

I want to recommend The Tudors and Rome to folks that enjoy good costume dramas. Both do a good job of showing off their respective time periods, though both play loose with the facts behind some of the major characters and events (especially The Tudors).

Of the two, I enjoyed The Tudors more, but Rome was still quite entertaining, and is visually much more stunning.

why would you want to watch TV when you have books??????? Jeez! TV just rots your brain! it is saying that you have to be a certain way! TV sucks!

wow, judgemental much...maybe we don't want to read all the time...I spent 8+ hours a day in front of a computer at work or reading documents - i don't necessarily want to only read at night

I'm sorry i didn't mean to be judgmental. I'm 13 and didn't get a Tv in my house until recently. I didn't know who JB was until last month! I've seen Law and Order and House on TV a few times, but, I don't read all the time. I do lots of sports. I'm a Gymnast, a cross country runner, and i race BMX.So i don't really watch tv, my parents tell me it is really bad for your health, and i don't really watch tv as much as some people. Sorry.

its ok Kyly - just remember that in many of these groups there is a very broad, diverse range of people who have many different experiences. Personally, I work and train for triathlons, so I maybe only watch less than 10 hours of TV a week, but everyone is different.

Thanks Dee.

Kyly, I get where you were coming from, but a good guideline for posting in threads is that if you don't have an interest in the subject, just move on without comment to one you do like. Hope this helps.

Downton Abbey! You know it's good when your 15 year old son says, "Wow! I really think this show is better than 'The Walking Dead.'"

Heather wrote: "Downton Abbey! You know it's good when your 15 year old son says, "Wow! I really think this show is better than 'The Walking Dead.'""

Downton Abbey vs. Walking Dead....that's a tough one. I watch both, love both. (o:

House of Cards! I just started watching this. Great show. I hate to think Washington is like that though. Rather frightening! Like everything else exaggeration makes a story more exciting...lets hope so anyway.

'The Shark Tank' is by far my favorite show. I don't watch much TV, but I won't miss this show.

I also just started watching 'Blackboard Wars' on OWN and it's excellent.

I watch The Walking Dead, but I record it and fast forward through the most gory scenes. I'm not an aficionado, but I just have to know what happens next.

Marie wrote: "My favorite TV show that's currently on is Parks and Rec; I worship at Amy Poehler's feet, I just love her so much. Oh, and also Game of Thrones; I've read the books as well.

Some highly recommen..."

I second all of your excellent recommendations Marie. Also I highly recommend Big Love and Six Feet Under, both HBO shows.

Jonathan wrote: "I want to recommend The Tudors and Rome to folks that enjoy good costume dramas. Both do a good job of showing off their respective time periods, though both play loose with the facts behind some o..."

I've never seen The Tudors but I loved Rome. Total visual feast and I actually enjoyed the changes they made.

I love Sons of Anarchy, Game of Thrones, Teen Wolf, Psych, Anthony Bourdaine Parts Unknown, True Blood, and Duck Dynasty.

I think the only dramatic series I'm watching at present is "Foyle's War."