What To Watch While You Wait For Baseball

[RandBalls Stu]

So. Friday is normally when I do jokes about Mickey Hatcher and we all have a good time until someone smarter at baseball than I am posts about Max Kepler’s launch angle or Lewis Thorpe’s demotion. It’s incredibly hard to do that right now.You all know from sources more reliable for health information than this one about flattening the curves, washing your hands, and distancing your socials. What you don’t know is what you’re going to watch now that there’s no baseball (or any other sport—they canceled golf for pity’s sake) for a good month.

 

I’m here to help.

 

I’ve watched a lot of movies and TV. More than one should. At least that’s what I thought until now, when many, many, many people are going to be stuck, at home, looking for viewing options.

 

After you’ve watched your DVDs of the 1987 and 1991 World Series and binged Game 5 of the 2002 ALDS on YouTube, you will be struggling. I’m going to offer a suggestion: Justified.

 

Based on the work of legendary writer Elmore Leonard, it follows U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens as he returns to his childhood home of Harlan County, Kentucky. It is, and I am not exaggerating here at all, the best TV show ever made that isn’t The Sopranos or seasons 3-8 of The Simpsons.

 

Timothy Olyphant is Marshal Givens. I mean, he just IS. On another show he’d be the clear highlight, but on Justified he isn’t even the best character. That’s Boyd Crowder, Raylan’s former coal mining buddy, played by Walton Goggins. The way he says “Raylan Givens” is actually better than the best moment of your life. Your marriage. Your children. Professional achievements. Personal growth through unknowable challenges. Still better. He’s that good.

 

The rest of the cast is up to the task of playing third fiddle. Crusty boss Art. Wiseass co-workers Tim and Rachel. Love interests (who aren’t just window dressing) Ava and Winona. Father Arlo. Wynn Duffy. Mags Bennett. Loretta McCreedy. DEWEY CROWE.

 

Since everything beautiful has at least one flaw, they also cast Michael Rapaport as a southerner. We don’t talk about it much.

 

Unlike Game of Thrones, you can dip in on a season and enjoy single episodes. Unlike Law & Order, it’s a bit serialized within seasons and rewards binge viewing.

 

And by all accounts many of you are going to have time to binge.

 

Hulu just acquired the rights to all the FX Network’s programs, and you can find it there. I am told by reliable sources the DVDs can be acquired online or even checked out from your public library, so go with that if it’s better for your situation.

 

And most of all, please wash your hands.

 

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[BobAzar]

STICK TO (SATIRICAL) SPORTS! 

 

May I also suggest Vikings on the History Channel (only the first 3 seasons though)

[the_brute_squad]

Olyphant is great. I say you'll know if you want to watch the show after the first five minutes.

 

STICK TO (SATIRICAL) SPORTS! 

 

May I also suggest Vikings on the History Channel (only the first 3 seasons though)

 

[Craig Arko]

Season 1 of The Walking Dead.

[ashbury]

The Stand by Stephen King is probably required reading/watching.

[Steve Lein]

Justified is also one of my top 5 shows ever, if not the top. Good choice!

 

The Shield (also from FX) is also a good one to dive into if you never have. Walton Goggins is in that too.

[joefish]

The last time a read The Stand I was sick. That was not the time to read that. Nor would this be the time. An intense read for sure. Good luck if you pick it up.

[TFRazor]

 

Olyphant is great. I say you'll know if you want to watch the show after the first five minutes.

Just a fun trivia fact, bad guy in the first 5 minutes was also the bad guy in the original "The Mask" with Jim Carrey

[TFRazor]

 

 

Justified is also one of my top 5 shows ever, if not the top. Good choice!

 

The Shield (also from FX) is also a good one to dive into if you never have. Walton Goggins is in that too.

I will watch ANYTHING with Walton Goggins in it

[Seth Stohs]

 

Season 1 of The Walking Dead.

 

I think I binged the first 5 seasons of The Walking Dead... It's been much harder watching from week to week. But definitely season 1. The first few series were great. Now I watch it mostly out of habit, but it's still OK. 

[Seth Stohs]

I also have Justified among my Top 5 binge-able shows... I'll have to give that some thought... maybe come up with a Top 10 or something... But Justified was fantastic. 

[BrandonV]

Another vote for Justified.

 

Others:

Bosch-Amazon (the books are better)

Letterkenny-Hulu (How are ya know?)

 

I’m also about to start Drive to Survive-Netflix because I need some racing content. I can’t vouch for it yet, but my trusted sources have.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I think I binged the first 5 seasons of The Walking Dead... It's been much harder watching from week to week. But definitely season 1. The first few series were great. Now I watch it mostly out of habit, but it's still OK.

3 solid seasons of nothing but “Caaaarrrl!”

 

I mean I watch tv to escape reality, not relive my own personal hell of repeating my children’s names over and over again...

 

 

Justified was absolutely fantastic, beginning to end.

 

I’m just getting into Counterpart. Too early to vouch, but it’s starting well. JK Simmons is awesome

[Aerodeliria]

I never figured out why everyone hated Limitless so much. I am still awaiting the comeback season...

[AceWrigley]

The Expanse.

[TD Mac]

Catastrophe on Netflix is good for a gut laugh!

[TD Mac]

And Ozark was a fantastic watch. Kind of from the breaking bad mold

 

[AceWrigley]

Went to BJ's today. From paper towels to toilet paper ... nothing. Nada. Zip. Gone. Bare shelves. People's carts were filled with the worst collection of junk food, sweet drinks and candies that i've ever seen. What the heck?

 

What's with the run on toilet paper? I guess if you're facing the apocalypse and have to kiss your A** goodbye, at least it will be clean.

 

As a baseball and hockey fan, this is usually a great time of year. Now, this sucks. Time to dig out Ken Burn's Baseball and 61.

[AceWrigley]

New entertainment: tossing roasted peanuts in the shell out on the lower patio and watching the squirrels, chipmunks and bluejays battle for their prize.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

New entertainment: tossing roasted peanuts in the shell out on the lower patio and watching the squirrels, chipmunks and bluejays battle for their prize.

peanuts the only thing left on the shelf at BJs?

[AceWrigley]

 

peanuts the only thing left on the shelf at BJs?

Ha ha. Actually, no. But give it time.

[gil4]

Anything is better than letting my wife pick. She checked out two movies from the library today - 1776 (a musical from the early 70s - we lasted through 10 minutes of it) and Dora and the Lost City of Gold (I have seen worse movies ,,, I've seen worse movies tonight … but it's horrible). At least she's not binge-watching her favorite TV show - "Call the Midwife."  (Yes, it really is a show.) 

 

 

[TFRazor]

 

Another vote for Justified.

Others:
Bosch-Amazon (the books are better)
Letterkenny-Hulu (How are ya know?)

I’m also about to start Drive to Survive-Netflix because I need some racing content. I can’t vouch for it yet, but my trusted sources have.

Pitter patter, let's get at her

[TFRazor]

 

Anything is better than letting my wife pick. She checked out two movies from the library today - 1776 (a musical from the early 70s - we lasted through 10 minutes of it) and Dora and the Lost City of Gold (I have seen worse movies ,,, I've seen worse movies tonight … but it's horrible). At least she's not binge-watching her favorite TV show - "Call the Midwife."  (Yes, it really is a show.) 

Dora as in Dora the Explorer?

[big dog]

Late to the party, but the correct answer, as several have mentioned, is "Justified".  It's Appalachian Shakespeare, as interpreted by Elmore Leonard.

 

"Try to kill me once, shame on you.  Try to kill me twice, shame on me."

 

It is really amazing.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Anything is better than letting my wife pick. She checked out two movies from the library today - 1776 (a musical from the early 70s - we lasted through 10 minutes of it) and Dora and the Lost City of Gold (I have seen worse movies ,,, I've seen worse movies tonight … but it's horrible). At least she's not binge-watching her favorite TV show - "Call the Midwife." (Yes, it really is a show.)

It might be time for a second TV

[gil4]

 

Late to the party, but the correct answer, as several have mentioned, is "Justified".  It's Appalachian Shakespeare, as interpreted by Elmore Leonard.

 

"Try to kill me once, shame on you.  Try to kill me twice, shame on me."

 

It is really amazing.

That's the one. Apparently the movie was targeted at older kids who were Dora fans as 3 year olds. It got better (mostly because it had one way to go) and we made it through the whole thing. There were plenty of scenes and lines ained at the three-year-old versions of my daughters who are now 15 and 17. 

 

[gil4]

 

It might be time for a second TV

I'm more likely to just smash this one and buy a new one if we ever get baseball again. 

[Craig Arko]

PBS streaming Ken Burns' Baseball for free.

 

https://www.pbs.org/show/baseball/