Hamish MacDonald kicks major goals on Q&A

I was sad to learn Tony Jones was leaving Q&A at the end of 2019, I was more sad to learn Hamish MacDonald was taking over. However three episodes in, Hamish is literally slaying it.

Episode one covering the bushfire crisis was one of the best ever episodes I had seen. Last night having rogue trader Jacqui Lambie on, proved he could control even the most rogue guests.

In other ABC news, David Speers is also killing it on Insiders. Landing some big interviews to kick off 2020, whilst coming in at number 15 on the ratings for this Sunday's shows.

Getting close to 300,000 viewers at 9am on a Sunday morning (who knows how many more on iView) Speers is definitely proving to be a terrific replacement for the original long standing host Barrie Cassidy.

ABC is also kicking off Australian drama for 2020 in style. Stateless starts early next month, it honestly looks outstanding. Thank god for the ABC.

Here is a first look at the six part series.

(Mini) Monday Spotlight: Returns Monday 24 February, 2020

Returning in a little over a week, the (Mini) Monday Spotlight. Kicking off the year with Melbourne born artist, Banoffee. Banoffee‘s debut album Look At Us Now Dad is out Friday 21st February.

We have already heard her single Tennis Fan (feat. Empress Of), whilst the album also features SOPHIE, Cupcakke and Umru, and is co-produced by Banoffee and Yves Rothman.

It's great to have the feature back and great to kick off 2020 with a an exciting new Australian artist!

NSW artist Jack River is also on the cards for an upcoming (Mini) Monday Spotlight. Take a look at her work with Peking Duk below.

Box Office Flop or Blockbuster 2020? - Fantasy Island

OK I was excited about this film, wondered why on Earth it was given such crappy session times and then I saw Fantasy Island....



According to Wikipedia this film only had a budget of seven million meaning it will be a box office blockbuster no matter how shit it does. Seven million is nothing, people were bagging out Birds of Prey for only making forty two million in it's opening weekend.

However this film SUCKS hard!

Lucy Hale (who btw I am loving as Katy Keene, if you don't know this is a spin off of Riverdale and way better!) stars alongside a number of TV and film favourites of mine.

Michael Peña, Maggie Q, Portia Doubleday and of course Jimmy O. Yang aka JIAN MOTHER FUCKING YANG.

This is now the second Blumhouse Productions flop in a row after the awful Black Christmas! However The Invisible Man looks DOPE!

OK nothing can save this dodgy ass supernatural film, honestly I feel a little ripped off. 1 Star, damn I wanted to like this!

#SUMMER-BINGE-FEST - The Morning Show (American TV series) / Morning Wars (Australian title)

I am half way through this Apple TV+ series, for Apple this series has done fairly well, winning some awards early on. Up against giants like Netflix and HBO, it's hard to standout against the pack. Not to mention the big impact Disney + have already made in such a short period.

Disney is killing it, however Apple are yet to have that big moment.

With limited programming a lot of people I speak to are only using this service -

1. Because they got a year free with an Apple purchase
2. To watch this show

I love Reese Witherspoon, whilst Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell I could take it or leave them.



So I have five episodes to go, it's been a slow start for me, due to Apple not having this as an app on my smart TV.

Another issue is casting from a phone or my laptop, it's kinda a pain in the asshole. Also the episodes are LONG!

It starts strong, I am hooked, I am a fan, however if there was a Netflix or Stan style app on my TV, I would have finished this already.

I know Apple have tonnes of money to burn, however I think the tech company needs to hurry up and ramp up their streaming service. Right now it feels a little weak on the content front.

So my final word on this show will come out when I post my #RATED Summer list. Stay tuned, summer is almost over THANK FUCK!

#SUMMER-BINGE-FEST - Stranger Things, Season Three

Okay I'm behind, I get it, however Stranger Things is one of those shows I watch out of trying to fit in. Sort of like when Game of Thrones was on. You missed out a lot in office talk when Game of Thrones final season was on and you were not up to date.

However for me this has been the most interesting season of the cult show. Maybe because of Bobby in those lifeguard shorts? Who knows.



100% Stranger Things is honestly one of Netflix's biggest weapons. With Disney+ this week going all HAM with their 2020 line up, Netflix needs shows like Stranger things to hold subscribers.

The Mandalorian is due to return in October whilst The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is heading to our screens in August. Yes it's a big 2020 on Disney, not to mention their subscriber base is already at close to 27 million!

OK so back to my latest binge, Stranger Things season three. Thanks to God, I was happy to do fuck all this weekend due to the rain. I did however do Sprint (Les Mills HIIT program) Friday night and Saturday morning, so I did my exercise bit.

The eight episode third season has been up since July, 2019 and it's been on my mind to watch, however there is just so much out there to watch right now, so much!

The second season was released all the way back in October 2017, so who knows when the already renewed fourth season will landed. My guess, not 2020.

So Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Will, Max, Nancy, Jonathan, Steve and Winona fucking Ryder are back!

If you like sci-fi, if you like 80's music and fashion, then go hard this is a heap of fun. I found this season super easy to binge. On a rainy weekend there is nothing better than to put up your feet, get into your Netflix list and smash.

Until next time (whenever that is) Stranger Things, it's been real.

New TV this Week

As declared yesterday, yes I have been quiet this week on here, sorry. It's been a big start to 2020, I have already seen a number of films which I have been reviewing (generally on the day of viewing) whilst also continuing my love of TV consumption.

This week we have seen some new shows on the block. Katy Keene a spin off of Riverdale, The Sinner (in it's third season) whilst Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens & Station 19 (also in it's third season).

Some US shows are still on mid season break, so it's time for some interesting new fillers come on board.

Katy Keene commencing it's first season had a brief introduction on Riverdale this week, then aired it's first very good episode.

Riverdale has been a bit of a car crash of late, so it was refreshing to see Josie (not with the Pussycat dolls) to get launched into New York. The new characters on Katy Keene are loads of fun and diverse. Jorge/Ginger Lopez, K.O and Josie all share a pad and their lives in New York.

There is a lot of music, Broadway and fashion, I'm surprised the show did not attract more viewers for week one.

In it's third week/episode Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens is a super fun ride. Awkwafina is outstanding, however it's her grandma, Lori Tan Chinn who steals most scenes she is in.

The Sinner with Matt Bomer in 2020 returns for it's third season with a new mystery unfolding. Bill Pullman returns for this eight episode anthology series.

Also in it's third season is Grey's Anatomy fire fighting companion series Station 19. We were warned from the outset there would be some powerful deaths, by episode two we already had one. Episode three we had a funeral.

It's been a big week for TV, in Australia however poor MKR this week being beaten even by SBS, time to give this show a rest Channel Seven. A warm welcome back too to MAFS, helping Australians get more stupid by the episode, thanks Channel Nine.

Box Office Flop or Blockbuster 2020? - Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

Wow I have neglected this blog this week huh, no posts since last Sunday! Shit! What a week, however when I need some downtime, when it's raining and I am almost up to date with all my TV, it's time to head to the cinema.

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is the latest Margot Robbie film. Man is she on a roll or what, however is Birds of Prey a Box Office Flop or Blockbuster?

My thoughts, blockbuster!



Following the 2016 Suicide Squad film, Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn is back!

Along with Quinn, Huntress, Black Canary & Renee Montoya take on Black Mask played by Ewan McGregor.

Also Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain steals a number of scenes she appears in, whilst Ali Wong has a rather small role.

The film was loads of fun, plus the soundtrack is all killer! Halsey, Doja Cat, K. Flay and an all girl line up feature in the brilliant film.

The action sequences are fast, fun and totally over the top!

Can we please get a sequel? Yes I actually want more of this superhero series! Is a sequel is on the way for Suicide Squad which will include Robbie.

So get out there right now (if in Sydney, what else is there to do in the rain) and see this.

I enjoyed this, 3.5 Stars.