Watch me...
One of the wonderful things about the television off-season is that Katie and I really start to hunker down and tear into our Netflix queue. At one point in time during our five-year Netflix membership, we had about 140+ movies listed. Now, due to a combination of actually watching some and deleting a bunch of others that hold no interest with me whatsoever, our queue is down to 35 DVDs.
We are also quite prone to using Netflix to watch TV. Of the 35 I mentioned above, four are Burn Notice season 1 (we want to watch it again), four are Mad Men season 1, four are Monk season 1, and two are Extras season 1. Yeah, that's a lot of TV, but this is how Katie and I watch some shows. It's actually more fun. We can watch them back to back and with no commercials. We recently wrapped up all three seasons of The Closer in time for last night's season 4 premiere. And we've also watched Dexter, Kitchen Confidential, Criminal Minds, 30 Rock, Dead Zone, Entourage, Nip/Tuck, Northern Exposure, and Band of Brothers.
We've also got 11 movies and TV series in our Saved section simply meaning that they are either too far from being released or no release date has been announced yet.
But it's just a matter of time before the 35 in our queue are waxed completely and, to be honest, I can't think of much I want to watch and Katie's notoriously bad at telling me what to include in there. So guess what? I'm pulling a Miss Britt and asking all of you for recommendations on what to add. Be they TV shows or movies, I want your opinions. Please give me some insight into what interests you that you think may pique my interest as well.
Also, since I've got my 160GB iPod, I'd also like some suggestions as to what might make for good iPod-ready video. I'm not a big fan of watching highly visually detailed programs or movies on it since it has such a small screen, but this only applies to the first viewing of something really. If I've already watched it once on the big(ger) screen, then watching it small ain't so bad. So gimme some suggestions what you think could play well on the micro screen. Right now, I have stuff like The Simpsons Movie, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, several random episodes of South Park, Kitchen Confidential, Two and a Half Men, and The Office. What else would work?
Ooohhh, I might have to put the Star Wars movies on there.
Totally Unrelated Aside (TUA): Hmmm... I wonder if I should start pricing GM cars. I also wonder if Michael Moore will suddenly feel compelled to do Roger & Me, part deux.
Don't watch too much TV and I'm even further behind on movies, but one show I've been addicted to from the get-go is The Shield on FX. Edgiest, grittiest show on TV. There's a history to it, so gotta start at the beginning and get seasons 1 - 5 (?) on DVD. The final season begins soon I think.
Posted by: John | Tuesday, 15 July 2008 at 07:54 PM
Any way to know what you've already seen?
Posted by: SJ | Tuesday, 15 July 2008 at 08:19 PM
I really enjoyed Dead Like Me which used to be on Showtime.
Also like watching the weekly Diggnation podcast.
Posted by: Nicole | Tuesday, 15 July 2008 at 08:36 PM
Oooo I'm a TV and movie addict (and yes I do have a life just in case you were wondering). Here's some of my suggestions for Netflix (you may or may not have seen theses):
-Death at a Funeral (Brit Comedy)
-All the Bourne movies
-Hot Fuzz
-Lucky Number Sleven
-Inside Man
-Little Miss Sunshine
I could go on forever. As for your iPod, perhaps something of the following (not sure if you like any of these):
-Scrubs
-Ratatouille
-Serenity
Again, could go on forever! Hope this helps!
Posted by: Marie | Tuesday, 15 July 2008 at 08:49 PM
You need to give BSG and Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars a try. Or did you already try VM? Anyways, like you know I'm going to say, try the first episode and if you don't like it, don't continue.
Posted by: Avitable | Tuesday, 15 July 2008 at 09:00 PM
I love Netflix On Demand. My queue is full of kiddie movies, chick flicks, and 80's crap. My husband is a hopeless 80's fanatic. If I hear "Bunny, ball ball!" One more time I'm going to kill him.
Posted by: Memarie Lane | Tuesday, 15 July 2008 at 09:21 PM
Band of Brothers is such a good mini-series. I've watched it about 3 times now.
As for suggestions, I apologize in advance if you've already blogged about either seeing these and/or hating them with a passion. So here goes, and they're all TV shows.
Battlestar Galactica
Lost
Firefly
Weeds
Big Love (don't let the whole Utah polygamy thing put you off, it's a damn good show)
Posted by: Kevin Spencer | Tuesday, 15 July 2008 at 11:17 PM
For your iPod, you definitely have to have The Big Lebowski on there.
Posted by: Brandon | Tuesday, 15 July 2008 at 11:41 PM
I'm watching Big Love Season 2 (already watched Season 1) and it's AWESOME!!! Seriously. It's it's quasi-pornographic....no actually blatantly pornographic...in parts so it should be a good, sneaky way of getting Katie in the mood. :)
Posted by: BlondeBlogger | Wednesday, 16 July 2008 at 02:32 AM
Have you ever watched "How I Met Your Mother?"
Posted by: Miss Britt | Wednesday, 16 July 2008 at 06:19 AM
John, actually The Shield is one I've been meaning to add. Thanks for the reminder!
SJ, that would be a list and a half. Maybe just throw a few my way that you've watched recently and have loved.
Nicole, I started watching that back in the day when it was first on Showtime or whatever channel it was on. I liked it but never finished (we dumped the channel). I'll have to add. Thanks!
Marie, I have seen all those save for Lucky Number Slevin. Really good?
Avitable, I have watched all of Veronica Mars. Got on that thanks to Dave's obsession. Okay, BSG is going on there finally and, when that is done, I'll put Gilmore on there. I think I had it in my queue after you first recommended it, but it kept getting bumped down further and further as other stuff was added.
Memarie, you don't appreciate Hudson Hawk??? AHHHHHH!!!!
Kevin, BSG is one of those shows I keep meaning to watch and never do despite having hundreds of bloggers continually tell me I need to. I've heard good things about Weeds, too.
Brandon, ooohhhh! Never thought to rip that! And luckily I already own the DVD. Thanks!
BlondeBlogger, is that the one with Bill Paxton of Aliens and True Lies fame?
Britt, religiously! We love that show so much we own the DVDs. I should rip them for the iPod, though. Good call!
Posted by: kapgar | Wednesday, 16 July 2008 at 08:05 AM
You should go back and watch some old TV shows like:
Welcome Back Carter, Barney Miller, Honeymooners(My favorite), All In the Family(One of the first really edgy shows of its time), Mash.
For some late night activities:
Anything with Jenna Jamison!!! :)
Movie:
Donnie Brasco!!!! If you don't. I will send it to you for Christmas rapped up in the pages of your Canseco book. Ohhhh Yaaaa! Pool Hall Junkies(Christopher Walken is one of my favorite actors) or his Best of Saturday Night Live!
Posted by: MadIrishMan | Wednesday, 16 July 2008 at 08:42 AM
I'm going to second Avitable and MadIrishMan, you can't go wrong with The Gilmore Girls and old tv classics, my personal favorites being The Jeffersons and All in the Family.
For my "original" suggestions, One Tree Hill and The Practice.
What is BSG?
Posted by: Sheila (Charm School Reject) | Wednesday, 16 July 2008 at 10:46 AM
MIM, ah MASH! Love that show. Might have to get the film version too as that cracked me up to no end. Poolhall Junkies rocks. I own that one. Fine, I will check out Donnie Brasco as I don't want you shredding my Canseco book.
Sheila, BSG is Battlestar Galactica (the new one). Although, since you mention classics, checking out the old ones again might be cool. One of my classic faves, though, is Sanford and Son. I think that's on DVD. I'll have to check.
Posted by: kapgar | Wednesday, 16 July 2008 at 11:14 AM
Kevin already beat me to to it with the mention of Weeds and Big Love (both great shows).
South Park is another good one, but there's a whole web site where you can watch every single episode for free... and it's legal.
http://www.southparkstudios.com/
And I had no idea we would have dueling Netflix posts on the same day. How about that?
Posted by: martymankins | Thursday, 17 July 2008 at 11:44 AM
I noticed that about the Netflix posts, too. I wonder if southparkstudios.com will allow me to d/l for my iPod. That would be sweet. I already have a dozen eps of it that I bought from iTunes. I watch them so much that they've proven to be worth every penny.
Posted by: kapgar | Thursday, 17 July 2008 at 03:07 PM
One of my current faves is Psych. I think I mentioned it when I saw you, but I'm reiterating. Love, love, love that show.
Posted by: Krys Slovacek | Friday, 18 July 2008 at 11:23 AM
The southparkstuiods.com episodes are viewable online only that I am aware of. I've purchased a few episodes on iTunes. Of course, I own all 10 seasons on DVD.
Posted by: martymankins | Friday, 18 July 2008 at 03:25 PM
Krys, that is a fantastic show.
Marty, you should just shrinky dink them from DVD to your iPod.
Posted by: kapgar | Saturday, 19 July 2008 at 10:32 AM
Oh, already have. I use Handbrake and iSquint for that. Simpsons, South Park amongst a few DVDs I've converted.
Posted by: martymankins | Saturday, 19 July 2008 at 05:24 PM
I live for Handbrake, Handbrake Lite, iSquint, and Mac the Ripper. Wonderful programs!
Posted by: kapgar | Saturday, 19 July 2008 at 05:52 PM
Hi, Kevin. Sorry I missed you at Hard Rock Cafe in Chi-town with Copasetic Beth (I'm her Kevin). Love your site - I have a recommendation for you. Rent all of the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" series. It's Larry David's HBO series. He helped designed Seinfeld. Check it out. Beth and I love it, hopefully you will too.
Posted by: Kevin | Sunday, 20 July 2008 at 12:27 AM
Thanks Kevin! Sorry to have missed you as well. I'm always in the mood for meeting people with my name as it's a fantastic name. I will have to give Curb another shot. I watched an episode or two at one point and didn't get into it. But I'm not sure I gave it a fair shake. I am a Seinfeld fan, though.
Posted by: kapgar | Sunday, 20 July 2008 at 12:24 PM
I use all of those Mac programs. All of them work well for any video or DVD. The only thing I'm missing so far is being able to rip Blu-Ray discs. I know... they would produce large files, but it's the coolness factor that I'm after (and a digital copy)
Posted by: martymankins | Monday, 21 July 2008 at 05:19 PM
Digital copies are always a good thing.
Posted by: kapgar | Monday, 21 July 2008 at 05:46 PM