#COVID-19-BINGE-FEST - The Outsider

Strange times calls for stranger crimes, The Outsider mini series based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King from HBO is streaming now in Australia on Foxtel.

The ten episode mini series is dark, a little scary and at times violent. Critically acclaimed ahead of all things COVID-19, The Outsider was showing, HBO still had some pull in the golden era of TV.

With a huge cast, including Aussie Ben Mendelsohn as lead Det. Ralph Anderson,Bill Camp as Howard Salomon, Jason Bateman as Terry Maitland and the haunting Cynthia Erivo as Holly Gibney.


HBO had started 2020 strong, even with Game of Thrones, Veep, Silicon Valley, The Deuce, Divorce, Watchmen, Ballers and Big Little Lies all concluding recently they still had a number of strong titles.

Westworld is currently airing, whilst Insecure returns this week, The Undoing has moved to later this year with Nicole Kidman and Bill Maher has taken Real Time with Bill Maher home.

HBO really does lead the pack of US premium TV. When HBO MAX starts, look out Netflix!

The Outsider is a solid addition to HBO's already killer roster. I like the idea of these one season mini series and done ideas. Sharp Objects was a huge hit for HBO in 2018 as was Chernobyl in 2019.

The Outsider had solid viewership when it originally aired. No doubt with catch up viewing during COVID-19 this would only be increasing.

If you need something to watch this Easter, give The Outsider a crack, it's ten dark episodes showing Stephen King is totally in vogue right about now.

#COVID-19-BINGE-FEST - Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist debuted in the USA on the number one network NBC very early January 2020. In Australia the show airs week to week on STAN. STAN has really stepped up with some of it's recent US series.

Like Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, STAN has also just grabbed the reboot of First Wives Club, All American, Ramy, City on a Hill, The Bold Type and Looking for Alaska.

STAN continues to lead the charge for my #COVID-19-BINGE-FEST. Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist joins, Younger and All American in mass binges for me.

However Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist is still in season stateside. I believe there is set to be 12 episodes making up the first season. Will there be a second? Well NBC are just behind The CW will the number of shows they have already renewed. The three Chicago series, This is Us, The Blacklist all have already been renewed for 2020-2021 seasons.

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist stars a fairly familiar cast with the lead from What/If Jane Levy playing lead Zoey Clarke. Joining Levy is Skylar Astin as Max, Alex Newell as Mo and from The OC Peter Gallagher as Mitch Clarke, Zoey's seriously ill father.

The show is a lot of fun and NBC do have a history with musical series, remember Smash anyone?

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist may not be the biggest new show of the 2019-2020 US TV season, however it is the kind of show the world needs now. Light and mega fluffy.

Take a look...

#COVID-19-BINGE-FEST - Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness

Oh my god is all I can say after watching Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.

Released on Netflix on March 20, 2020 I had heard a lot of positive reviews of this insane true crime story. Like Making a Murderer before it in 2015 (the second season did not seem to be as insanely popular) this show is the talk of the isolation town.

With people forced inside, we are all discovering the madness of Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage, popularly known as Joe Exotic.

We also meet Carole Baskin, owner of Big Cat Rescue, and a number of other shady folks. Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness is the most addictive series of my recent series #COVID-19-BINGE-FEST. I will be ranking this highly on my upcoming #RATED series.

This has to literally be seen to be believed. Check out the trailer below, put six hours aside (look Easter is almost here GET ON IT!) and smash it!

(Mini) Monday Spotlight: Yaeji

Releasing her debut mixtape on Friday, today let's get to know Yaeji!

Since blowing my mind in a H&M store somewhere in the world, maybe Thailand or Singapore with her track drink i'm sippin on. Yaeji has been on my radar since 2017.

Exploding with the huge tune raingurl, Yaeji made her mark fast. Kathy Yaeji Lee is of course better known as her DJ/producer title Yaeji. Based in Brooklyn, her lyrics are both in English and Korean, giving her a wide fanbase.

Named in the BBC's Sound of 2018 long list in November 2017, playing Coachella in 2018, what else is left for Yaeji to conquer. Her new mixtape features the fantastic lead single WAKING UP DOWN.

Home isolation x Yaeji, what a perfect mix! Discover your next favourite artist right now!

Returning Soon & Ending Soon

All these shows are ending soon... My picks in BOLD and RED...

Better Call Saul: Monday, April 20

The Blacklist: Friday, May 15

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Thursday, April 23

Chicago Fire: Wednesday, April 15

Chicago Med: Wednesday, April 15

Chicago PD: Wednesday, April 15

Empire: Tuesday, April 21 (Final EVER episode!)

FBI: Tuesday, March 31

Good Girls: Sunday, May 3

Grey’s Anatomy: Thursday, April 9

Hawaii Five-0: Friday, April 3 (Final EVER episode!)

Law & Order: SVU: Thursday, April 23

Legacies: Thursday, March 26

Manifest: Monday, April 6

Modern Family: Wednesday, April 8

New Amsterdam: Tuesday, April 14

The Resident: Tuesday, April 7 (New Date)

Schitt’s Creek: Tuesday, April 7 (Final EVER episode!)

Superstore: Thursday, April 23 (New Date)

Will & Grace: Thursday. April 23 (Final EVER episode!)

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: Sunday, May 3 (Streaming in Australia on STAN, it's on my list to check out during this COVID-19 period)



Whilst these shows are returning soon...  All of which are MY picks :)

Bloom, Season 2, STAN - Thursday April 9 (Good Friday Eve)

Insecure, Season 4, Foxtel/Foxtel Now - Sunday April 12

Killing Eve, Season 3, ABC & iView - Sunday April 12

Mystery Road, Season 2, ABC & iView - Sunday April 19

After Life, Season 2, Netflix - Friday April 24 (ANZAC Day Eve)

Defending Jacob, Mini-Series, Apple TV+ - Friday April 24 (ANZAC Day Eve)

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, Season One, Foxtel - Sunday April 26

Hollywood, Season 1, Netflix - Friday May 1

Billions, Season Five, STAN - Sunday May 3

Yep there is a lot of returning favourites with some interesting looking new series on the way. If we are to be indoors for 3-6 more months at least we have some new content to checkout.

#COVID-19-BINGE-FEST - Homeland (Season 8)

Currently airing on SBS On Demand (for free) Homeland is in it's eighth and final season.

Claire Danes returns for one last time as Carrie Mathison. Having a place on our screens since October 2011, Danes has made this role as Carrie as a role of a lifetime.

Definitely shaking off her Juliet role for sure, this is the role that people will always remember Claire Danes for.

It's seventh season concluded in April 2018, so we have been waiting a while for this final season.

Commencing on February 9th of this year, the wait was long, eight episodes in, I am not 100% sure it was worth it.

I loved season seven, however this season was always promised to be ambitious, maybe in hindsight a little too ambitious.

Time will tell how the season pans out, we have four remaining episodes to go.

The finale airs April 26, 2020. It joins a long list of long running shows concluding in 2020. Also concluding soon, Empire, How to Get Away with Murder, Blindspot, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and Shameless.

After everyone talking... Tiger King I'm Coming for ya!

This has to be seen to be believed, bat shit crazy!



Review to come as part of my #COVID-19-BINGE-FEST series.

Yaeji (Mini) Monday Spotlight coming at ya on the other side of the weekend before the (Mini) Monday Spotlight has a short Easter break.

Stay safe, use common sense, keep fit and healthy whilst avoiding Bondi backpacker parties :)