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Posted by on Oct 13, 2026 in Blog | 0 comments

My Short TV Reviews (Fall 2026)

 

 

MY SHORT TV REVIEWS (FALL 2026-UPDATED)

I watched several shows over the last month. Most of these are available on Netflix or Prime. Here’s my updated “reviews” on a few programs and current series you may have also seen, or you might have missed:

THE GENTLEMEN (Season 2) — Was thrilled to see a Season 2 released all at once in September, but after viewing the first four episodes, I stopped watching. I even wrote a scathing (incomplete) review about my disappointment with the Guy Ritchie series and figured it was a great first season that couldn’t sustain the witty, dark, comedic British gangster formula he’s perfected to an art form. Then, I was persuaded to continue, thanks Fruchter, and watched the final four episodes (8 in all). Wow — glad I did. Marvelous turnaround and brilliantly crafted. Episode 6, which is the wedding in Italy is near Godfather-esque. Then, the second season wraps up with enough momentum to leave us gasping, and laughing, and shocked all at the same time in the show’s final scene. Slow start on Episodes 1-4, but riveting in the remaining Episodes 5-8. Grade: A-

SLOW HORSES (Season 6) — Similar reaction to the unconventional British spymaster series…..loved the first few seasons, then it became shark jumping. Almost gave up. Then, Season 6 debuted last month (4 episodes have been released, to date) and my enthusiasm was rekindled. To be clear–this series has multiple annoyances, and I could list several things I dislike about it. However, Gary Oldman as the lead along with Kristen Scott Thomas are enough to keep me glued. Very unusual series of anti-heroes, and difficult to recommend to others, unless you really like offbeat stories and quirky characters. Most of the humor is very subtle, which perhaps is its appeal. Can be frustrating, but when all the parts hit, the dark humor nails it. Grade: B

EAST OF EDEN (Series) — I made it through half of the first episode. Seven parts, Steinbeck’s famous novel, original movie was James Dean’s debut. Wonderfully crafted, masterfully done remake — I just didn’t like the subject matter and lost interest. I never liked the original movie either, but it’s been at the top of the Netflix rankings for awhile. Grade: C-

WHAT’S EATING DAN — Netflix series of rapid-fire shorts on all kinds of foodie subjects — how to shuck oysters, the best way to cook corn on the cob, how to tell if a pepper is too hot, etc. I love this show. Packs a powerful punch, and if you don’t like one episode, it’s only 10-15 minutes long, and you can FF on to the next one. I found all off them entertaining (and often very funny). Great host. Grade: A

THE CHARLES MANSON TAPES — Late one night, bored, I had to watch. Sick, I know. I mean, don’t we know enough about the Manson murders, already? Well, apparently not. I ended up feasting on the entire thing like a smut addict. It was worse than a half gallon of cheap on-sale ice cream–you just devour the whole thing. When’s the next Mason documentary? “Manson! Manson! Manson! We want our Charlie fix!” Movies, books, multiple TV series–this guy is more popular than the Beatles. Grade: B

BIG CHICKEN: A FAST FOOD CONSPIRACY — Here’s another scare bomb warning us about the food we eat, and how we basically torture hundreds of millions of animals for the tasty bucket of KFC. It’s all factual, of course. Trouble is, these docs have become somewhat repetitive. Perhaps that’s the point. Everything is an assembly line of exploitation and cruelty, delivering cheap hamburgers and designer delicacies. I can’t knock the noble intent of the filmmakers nor deny this is important. Perhaps I’m just burned out on being told everything is bad for me. And if Chicken is bad for me, then full confession–I’m much more bad for the chicken. Grade: B-

STOLEN: HEIST OF THE CENTURY — Pretty good documentary about an actual diamond-stealing caper in Europe. Well done, if you enjoy true crime. As with many organized heists, the fun part of the show is finding out which *small detail* the perpetrators forget about, leading to the crime being solved. Grade: B+

THE IDAHO MURDERS — This is the short series about the sicko psycho who senselessly drove across the country for no apparent reasons and killed five students in Idaho. The mystery here is — WHY??? For this reason, the series (3 parts, I think) holds our attention. Message to the Idaho killer: You’re no Charlie Manson (need about a dozen more docs to catch up). Grade: B

EAGLES (HISTORY OF THE) in two parts — Watched this a few nights ago. Wow, I didn’t realize how LITTLE I knew about the Eagles—the music group (not the bird, that’s another series). Extremely well done, with full cooperation from the band, including all members deceased and living. Don’t gloss over the scandals and divisions, shows warts and all, which makes it much better than most rock exposes. This was a more intriguing music doc than I was expecting. There’s also a Part 2, which is about the reunion, also good, but not up to the story of Part 1. Grade: A

TIRES (series) — Received rave reviews as an offbeat comedy (“The Office,” but in an auto shop). I just couldn’t get into it and gave up after a couple of tries. I could be wrong, as I noted before other shows when I stopped watching ended up actually being quite good. Grade: D

THE LINCOLN LAWYER — Finished Season 4 over the summer, but I forgot to write about it, until now. I don’t think this season was as nearly good as the others, but still enough twists and turns and a charismatic cast that has real chemistry to maintain my enthusiasm. Solid formula of connected episodes which usually builds to a thrilling season conclusion (and often a surprise ending). Well crafted, this will keep me interested as long as it continues. Grade: A-

DEPT. Q — Done by “The Queen’s Gambit” writer and director, this is a very dark but intense crime series, which ended Season 1 (Season 2 should be coming soon). I believe it’s 6-7 episodes and starts with a disappearance and the season consists of investigators trying to solve the crime and rescue the victim, assuming they’re alive. I won’t give anything away, but several of the scenes stuck with me, haunting at times. Great villains. Powerful stuff, though dark and somewhat troubling–as in nightmare possibilities. Grade: A-

MAYDAY –– Lengthy series (20 seasons, lots of shows!) about plane crashes. Documents the anatomy of all the famous air disasters in history, plus quite a few we’ve never heard of, or we have forgotten. Extremely well done, in a detective sense (why did that plane crash, then the NTSB decipher the clues of each crash). Only scary thing is….knowing there were enough plane crashes TO FILL 20 SEASONS OF A TV SERIES! Wife got hooked on this, then said, “I never want to fly again.” Makes you fear a tiny $3 bolt falling off the cargo door could bring down a packed jumbo 747 into the Atlantic. Gee–who knew hydraulic fluid was so important? That sort of bad-luck mystery and apparent randomness of life is the hook of the show, and disturbing but also mesmerizing. Think CSI for air crash fetishists. Grade: A

I’ll do more of these *short* reviews is people are interested. Feel free to share your own, including best and worst. Maybe I should do my own “awards” at the end of each year.

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Posted by on Oct 12, 2026 in Blog | 0 comments

Musk Fucked, Get’s Mad, Finally Doth Protest Too Much

 

 

FUCK YOU, MUSK

So, the “Trillionaire Turd” is all pissed off.

Oh, my!

Data centers in Russia get blown up by Ukrainian drones, and the MAGA MUSKRAT objects.

Meanwhile…..

…..three-plus years of Russia/Putin invading a sovereign country

……countless deliberate brutal attacks on civilian apartment buildings that murdered tens of thousands

….an environmental catastrophe and nearly a nuclear meltdown

…..the orchestrated reductions of hospitals and schools to rubble

…..the deliberate kidnapping off infants and children and shipping them off to Russia

…..and being *personally* responsible for more than a million deaths on both sides of an insane war….

—— and the vile dysfunctional madman NEVER says a word, nor raises a single word of protest, nor EVER posted any objections. Not once.

Murder hundreds of thousands — STONE COLD SILENCE. Versus: The guy who is under attack strikes back at data centers and computer banks — WOAH! YOU’VE GONE TOO FAR!

This is the same piece of South Afrikkkan shit who has already given REPUBLICANS and MAGA trash lapdogs a whopping $275+ million in financial support in THIS 2026 election alone…..and he now claims Ukraine/Zelensky “went too far.”

Suck a megabytle, your miserable fuck.

What likely pisses him off most is how this hurts his own DISINFORMATION WAR all the many bombardments of 24/7 bots, memes, troll garbage, and social media pro-Trump propaganda and sludge that often ORIGINATES in these poisonous data centers IN RUSSIA polluting the American political system. They are spread all over MAGA sites, shared my low information idiots and dirt dumb Trumpers.

THAT’S why he’s upset. He got outplayed. And he sure doesn’t give a shit about lives or people or suffering or death. He’s a psychopath.

Fuck him.

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Posted by on Oct 12, 2026 in Blog | 0 comments

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (Part 3) — Billy Crystal

 

 

GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER:
MY DREAM INVITE LIST (Part 3)

Thanks for joining me once again and reading my new writing series, which continues today.

“Name ten people you would invite to a lavish dinner for a night of great conversation.”

Time for Part 3, and my third pick for the greatest dinner and conversation of all time:

BILLY CRYSTAL

Explanation: Billy Crystal is far from my favorite comedian, actor, or entertainment personality. But take the sum of all his parts, and he’s dynamite. Few performers have played so many different roles in stand-up, movies (comedy and drama), television, on Broadway, hosting the Academy Awards, and delivers such authenticity in every appearance. As a dinner guest, one can only imagine the stories and the people he’s encountered over the decades since his first professional gig 56 years ago. To me, he’s the perfect dinner guest.

Some facts I learned, and you may not know about — BILLY CRYSTAL:

– age 78

– born in New York City

– father was a jazz producer and promoter who owned Commodore Music Store and Commodore Records

– regularly welcomed Billie Holiday and other jazz greats inside the family home

– father lost everything with decline of jazz’s popularity and new music stores opened up in the 1960s

– attended Marshall University (in West Virginia) on a baseball scholarship

– transferred to New York University where he met his wife (graduated in 1970)

– one of his Fine Arts Department instructors at NYU was Martin Scorsese, and was in the same classes alongside Oliver Stone and Christopher Guest

– started out as an improv comedian, then started doing impressions. He perfected the famous Muhammed Ali-Howard Cosell routine, which got him invited to his first “Tonight Show” in 1976, then later most of the “Dean Martin Roasts”

– guested on numerous television shows in the 70s — “All in the Family,” “The Love Boat,” and others. Was casted full time on a controversial show titled “Soap”….his role was one of the first openly gay characters on television

– appeared on popular afternoon TV game show “The $10,000 Pyramid” and still holds the record to this day as the fastest contestant partner to reach the top cash prize — six clues and right answers in just 26 seconds!

– came up with lounge lizard’s schmaltzy catch-phrase line “You look….maaahhvelous!” on the spot in a SNL skit

– first movie role was playing a pregnant man in Joan Rivers’ film “Rabbit Test”

– hosted the annual Academy Awards ceremony nine times. He’s often regarded as one of the best hosts in history, praised for his impeccable timing and good judgement. Many of his best ad lib lines became classics

– memorable films roles in “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “City Slickers,” “Analyze This,” and more

– appeared in both Jay Leno’s very first show, and very last show

– Directed “61,” a film documentary about Roger Maris breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record.

– produced two best-selling jazz compilations of old recordings made by his family of Billie Holiday and others.

– said the hardest thing he ever did onstage was paying tribute to close friend and fellow comedy legend Robin Williams in a live telecast. “I was really worried I wasn’t going to get through it,” he later said.

– co-founder and huge supporter of “Comic Relief,” a charity that provides assistance to many comedians going through tough times and for homeless people

– numerous honors and awards, including one of the Kennedy Center honorees in 2023

– huge baseball fan and lifelong New York Yankees fan. Was signed to a one-day contract by the Yankees on his 60th birthday and even made a plate appearance in a spring training game against the Pirates (he struck out)

– met Mickey Mantle as a kid, who was his childhood hero and they later became good friends–Crystal delivered the eulogy at his funeral

– author of five books

– married in 1970, still married after 56 years, two daughters

– their home was totally destroyed in the terrible Pacific Palisades Fire (2025)

– has endorsed candidates and appeared in many political commercials, almost entirely Democrats

 

Crystal is always a great interview subject. But his best talent might be his spontaneity, rooted in his sketch comedy days and improv style act. In this interview CLICK HERE, he tells the famous story of hosting the Oscars live in front of millions of people, and disaster strikes. Great story. Classic Crystal.

Finally, there’s always something a little deeper about Crystal when he’s really “on.” Maybe it’s between the lines. A delayed reaction. It’s like we get the inside joke, and we’re privileged to be a part of it. I also really admire his ability to be funny, but never vulgar. A throwback to the classic comedians, he rarely uses profanity in his act or in any roles.

I’m really liking my guest list, so far. I’ve now got three of my ten seats filled:

1. ALICE COOPER
2. NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON
3. BILLY CRYSTAL

More coming soon.

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Posted by on Oct 10, 2026 in Blog | 0 comments

2026 NFL Analysis and Picks: Week 5

 

 

WEEK 5 NFL ANALYSIS AND PICKS

PHILADELPHIA vs. JACKSONVILLE (in London)
Line: Jaguars -7.5
O/U: 41.5

Philadelphia is decimated by injuries coming into Week 5, which is why this line is so lopsided. This is in contrast to Jacksonville, which is healthy and is now starting to get the respect they deserve from both oddsmakers and the betting public. The Jaguars might be the AFC’s best and most balanced team.
The hook on 7 is the obvious problem on this spread. We all know the danger of hooks. Just ask the fish. However, I’m not going to let that annoyance dissuade me (besides, that’s why it’s there, begging us to take PHI plus the points).
The Eagles’ offensive line problems create a terrible situation for an offense that’s been struggling anyways. Three of the five spots on the OL are out (one retired in midseason just this past week), which leaves a patchwork unit of untested backups. Then, two skill position game-breakers — Barkley and Smith — are likely to sit this one out. Last week, the birds were an astoundingly awful 0 for 13 on third-down conversations. The week before, Philadelphia was blown out by 20 points to Chicago starting a 38-year-old backup QB. That’s why they are 0-4 ATS, so far. Their two wins were ugly, non-covers.
The contrast couldn’t be more striking. Incredibly, JAX has covered in 11 of its last 12 games going back to last year’s mid-season. Eight of those wins were by 10+ points. I read a stat that in their last dozen games, JAX has outscored opponents by an average of 31-14 (by 17 points), and that includes losses. So, when they win, JAX also tends to cover.
I’m not sure how much of an intangible the London scene will be, but let’s also remember JAX has become the NFL’s leading UK-visitor, and the team has even embraced that role. This will be their 15th game in London, and they will stay in the UK and play against Houston there next week, as well. We can likely count on the Jags to be well-adjusted and enthusiastic about this NFL scheduling oddity. Most NFL teams don’t like the long travel or these international games, but JAX is the exception. This should also be another factor in their favor.
We have a proven team, versus an injured struggling opponent, in a friendly atmosphere and will probably resemble a home game for Jacksonville. I’m convinced the Jags are a solid play up to -8 and a possible wager all the way up to -9.5.
Wager:
Full-Game Side – JAX -7.5 (-105) v. PHI

Note: I have 15 bets (public picks) in the NFL this week. Many of the games are covered in this link. Click to read the full report, which is weekly and always free to access:

CLICK HERE

https://www.betcoin.ag/page/nolan-2026-week5/

 

THIS WEEK’S 15 PICKS:

Full-Game Side – JAX -7.5 (-105) v. PHI

Full-Game Side – PIT -2.5 (-115) v. IND

Player Prop – MIN RB A. Jones OVER 18 rush attempts (-110)

Player Prop – MIN RB A. Jones OVER 71.5 rush yards (-115)

Player Prop – NYJ WR G. Wilson OVER 69.5 receiving yards (-115)

Full-Game Side – NYG +4 (-115) v. WAS

Full-Game Team Total – NYG OVER 18 points (-125)

Full-Game Side – CHI -1.5 (-115) v. GBP

Player Prop – CHI RB D. Swift OVER 20 receiving yards (-115)

Full-Game Side – MIA +7.5 (-110) v. CIN

Full-Game Side – LAC +3.5 (-110) v. DEN

Full-Game Team Total – LAC OVER 19.5 points (-105)

Full-Game Side – DET -5.5 (-110) v. ARZ

Player Prop – ARZ QB J. Brissett OVER 37.5 pass attempts (-115)

Full-Game Side – ATL -3.5 (-110) v. BAL

 

 

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Posted by on Oct 10, 2026 in Blog | 0 comments

Trump Throws Zelensky Under the Bus (Again)

 

 

“Trump blames Ukraine’s Zelensky for High Diesel Prices”

No, you rambling rot of dead brain matter.

YOU fucked up. YOU launched *another* stupid ass stalemate of a loser Middle East War, a gauntlet of monstrous stupidity which has shackled the world’s oil supply, which is now dragging on for 8 months——and counting. Lying idiot. It’s on YOU.

And YOU spewed ridiculous nonsense and false promises for months if not years about how you were going to lower gas and diesel prices. YOU.

Not the President of Ukraine….YOU.

As for Russia and Ukraine, we all know you’re a pathetically compromised pervert, pedophile, and likely a traitor. You’re certainly a grifter unmatched for crass criminality. But your worst crimes are not just stealing, it’s what you have STOLEN from America and the world. You have repeatedly praised the despicable war criminal who started this deadly war (your close buddy Putin) while you continue to insult our allies and destroy decades of trust between our closest friends.

YOU are the fuck up. Every issue. At the micro level and the macro level. On the world stage. And even among your corrupt sycophantic cronies. The only question now is, how many more MAGA rats will continue kissing your lard ass while we all struggle and the American ship is sinking?

YOU are a lying creep. This is YOUR mess.

Background: The scumbag this morning went on the attack against V. Zelensky, who he accused of being responsible for high diesel prices (in the USA!) and called for a new Ukrainian president. Astounding attack on an ally, but nothing but praise for Putin, who started this terrible war and continues murdering civilians as targets. Despicable rot of stupidity.

 

One More Data Point: Oil companies reported $92 BILLION in profits in just the last quarter (not year, the last QUARTER), which is the highest profit margin in history.

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