WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Welcome to part 2 of What We Are Watching, where PG staffers tell all about their screen time in these long days and nights of staying at home.
For the full list, with the bonus category “guilty pleasures,” visit www.post-gazette.com/ae.
Sharon Eberson, theater critic
Quarantine discovery: “Stars in the House” (The Actors Fund website and YouTube). At 2 and 8 p.m. daily, Broadway and TV stars gather to sing, chat, etc. TV reunions have included “Taxi,” “Frasier” and “Glee.” Archived on YouTube.
Must see: “The Last Dance” (ESPN). The long-awaited Michael Jordan documentary is worthy of its subject.
Easy binge: “Unorthodox” (Netflix). Miniseries loosely based on Deborah Feldman’s 2012 autobiography about running away from her Orthodox Jewish family and starting a new life.
Long-term binge: “Ozark” (Netflix). Because everyone told me it’s the new “Breaking Bad.” And so far, it’s pretty darn good.
Comfort rewatch: “Chuck” (Amazon Prime Video). An epic love story with spy action and nerds. I have followed Zachary Levi to Disney’s “Tangled,” Broadway and beyond. (Bonus: Matt Bomer and Yvonne Strahovski.)
Dan Gigler, food reporter
Quarantine discovery: “Yesterday” (now on HBO). I’d thought the premise of Danny Boyle’s 2019 film in which an Englishman wakes up one day to realize he’s the only person in the world to remember the Beatles sounded ridiculous (and it is), but this film is full of fun and heart — and obviously great music.
Must see: “Jojo Rabbit” (now on Amazon Prime). Despite a great cast and universal acclaim, I had little interest in seeing what I incorrectly perceived to be a WWII kids movie with a cartoonish Hitler. Was I wrong. This film is absolutely outstanding in every way. You’ll laugh until you cry, and (unless you’re dead inside) you will cry.
Easy binge: “Tiger King.” Duh.
Long-term binge: “Suburra: Blood on Rome” (Netflix). If you can deal with subtitles this is a modern noir two-season series that focuses on political corruption and organized crime in the Eternal City and the Vatican.
Comfort rewatch: “Springsteen on Broadway” (Netflix). The Boss’ ability to so often be simultaneously melancholy but hopeful, mournful yet optimistic — and, above all, honest — in his music is what has made him rock’s greatest songwriter. Also, “The Office” reruns on Comedy Central.
Laura Schneiderman, interactive developer
Quarantine discovery: “Naked and Afraid” (Discovery), My daughter got me watching it. Pretty fascinating to see how people work together (or not) when their comfort and survival are on the line.
Long-term binge: “Killing Eve” (BBC America). Weird but good. Comfort rewatch: “Seinfeld” (On Demand). My son will watch it, too.
Jonathan Silver, news reporter
Quarantine discovery: “Molly’s Game” (Netflix). With Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba, two of the best contemporary actors. Plus: “1917” with its incredible cinematography. “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy,” the most recent incarnation of LeCarre’s classic, with a slowly unwinding and clever plot told with some A-list British actors.
Must see: “The Witcher” (Netflix). Also, “Ex Machina,” which is cerebral and so well done, with three actors propelling the movie. And “Black Mirror,” which is bleak and dark and fascinating.
Easy binge: “Daredevil,” “Luke Cage” and the first season of “Jessica Jones” (Netflix), the best adaptations of Marvel Comics because the series are characterdriven.
Long-term binge: “Battlestar Galactica,” one of the great sci-fi series, and “Longmire,” also starring Katee Sackhoff from “Battlestar,” which is a brilliant procedural.
Comfort rewatch: Introduced my teens to “The Matrix” trilogy. They approved. It still holds up. We also did the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy (also holds up).
Patricia Sheridan, features reporter
Quarantine discovery: “Rita” (Netflix). Described as a Danish comedy drama series about a teacher and her past. So worth reading the subtitles. Also “Last Tango in Halifax,” a British series on Netflix — can’t stop watching.
Must see: “Little Fires Everywhere” (Hulu). Very compelling, amazing storytelling, exceptionally good acting.
Easy binge: “The English Game” (Netflix). Julian Fellows tells the story of how modern soccer came to be. He is a master at weaving a plot about something I thought I didn’t care about until I did.
Long-term binge: “The Last Kingdom” (Netflix). More English history but this time through the eyes Uhtred, destined to be a Saxon Lord but kidnapped as a child by Danish Vikings. He returns to help King Alfred unite the tiny kingdoms into modern-day England.
Comfort rewatch: NBC’s “Will & Grace,” previous episodes of History channel’s “Vikings,” or “Arrested Development” ... but honestly there is no time for a rewatch.
Steve Ziants, sports copy editor
Easy binge: ESPN’s “The Last Dance” 10-part documentary on Michael Jordan and the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls. Have already finished rewatching the eight-part Beatles Anthology as well as “This Is Us” and the final episodes of “Will & Grace” and “God Friended Me.”
Long-term binge: We’re four movies through the Harry Potter series so as to be conversant with our grandchildren, who are only now just discovering the movies.
Comfort rewatch: “The Twilight Zone” and all the Indiana Jones movies.
James Hilston, graphic designer
Must see: “After Life” (Netflix). Two seasons. Ricky Gervais. It’s sad, funny and sad. Also funny.
Craig Meyer, Pitt sports reporter
Quarantine discovery: “What We Do in the Shadows” (FX, Hulu). A mockumentary series about a group of vampires who live together on modern-day Staten Island. It debuted last year on TV, but I didn’t get around to it until the stay-at-home orders began. I’m new to it, but it might be the funniest show on TV.
Must see: “The Last Dance” (ESPN). A 10-part documentary about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, with a particular focus on the 1997-98 championship team. The behind-the-scenes look at that squad is incredible, as are the expletiveladen interviews with the documentary’s various subjects.
Easy binge: “The Plot Against America” (HBO). Easy because it’s only a sixpart miniseries, not because of the heavy and unfortunately relevant subject
material.
Long-term binge: “True Detective” (HBO). I loved the first season but gave up on the second season. With more time on my hands, I soldiered through season two (it’s not quite as bad as I remembered) and watched the excellent third season. “The Wire” (also HBO, Hulu) is always worth revisiting.
Comfort rewatch: “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (FX, Hulu).
Ashley Murray, news reporter
Quarantine discovery: I suppose I discovered “Tiger King,” but is that really a discovery? I hope to begin “Mrs. America” as soon as someone shares their Hulu password with me.
Must see: “Saturday Night Live” episodes (NBC) that are recorded from the cast members’ homes. Kate McKinnon is a genius. Kenan Thompson’s “What’s Up With That?” was too much. I was belly laughing.
Comfort rewatch: “Arrested Development” and “Parks and Recreation” (although the episode about the pandemic drill was too close for comfort).