A new podcast episode of Couch Potatoes Unite!, which is based on a blog of the same name hosted at couchpotatoesunite.wordpress.com. In this episode, our magical panel of TV-watching witches and warlocks – moderator Chief Couch Potato Kylie, Sarah, Jeremy, Jessica, and Michael (DA) – reconvenes Around the Water Cooler to continue a new, ongoing CPU! panel, one in which we have Looked Back to Look Forward at all shows named Charmed. This is the third episode of an ongoing CPU! podcast series examining the various iterations of the Power of Three; this episode continues ongoing “Water Cooler” coverage of the reboot CW series and discusses Season 2 of Charmed (2018). This particular episode was recorded in June 2020, and, as always, if you haven’t seen any of either version of Charmed, be aware that there are MAJOR SPOILERS! Tell us what you think, and/or if there are other shows you’re interested in CPU! covering, below; email us at couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmail.com; or check out our Guestbook at the website, our Facebook page, our Twitter (@cpupodcast), or our Instagram (@couchpotatoesunite). Until next time, until next episode…buh bye!
Executive Producer/Chief Couch Potato: Kylie C. Piette Associate Producers: Krista Pennington and Selene Rezmer
Editor: Kylie C. Piette Logo: Rebecca Wallace Marketing Graphic Artist: Krista Pennington
Theme Song: Written by: Sarah Milbratz Singers: Sarah Milbratz, Amy McDaniel, Kels Rezmer Keyboard: Kels Rezmer Bass: Ian McDonough Guitar: Christian Somerville Engineer/Production: Kyle Aspinall/Christian Somerville
Who: “Charmed (2018)” is an American fantasy drama and reboot of the 1998 series of the same name, which previously aired on fall to spring Fridays on the CW; it is currently on extended hiatus (due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic) and will be moving to Sunday nights when Season 3 premieres.
What: Developed by Jennie Snyder Urman, Jessica O’Toole, and Amy Rardin, Charmed (2018) is a reboot of the WB series of the same name, which was created by Constance M. Burge and which originally aired from 1998 to 2006 on the CW and its predecessor network. The series follows the lives of three sisters—Macy (Madeleine Mantock), Mel (Melonie Diaz), and Maggie (Sarah Jeffery)—who, after the death of their mother, discover that they are the Charmed Ones, the most powerful trio of good witches, destined to protect innocent lives from demons and other dark forces. Each sister has an individual magical power, which is noticeably stronger when all three sisters work together as the “Power of Three” to defeat their enemies. The sisters are aided by a Whitelighter, Harry Greenwood (Rupert Evans), an advisor who protects and guides witches.
SYNOPSIS
The series begins with sisters Mel (Diaz) and Maggie Vera (Jeffery) living with their mother Marisol, who is attacked and killed by an unknown dark force. Three months later, Mel and Maggie discover that they have an older half-sister, Macy Vaughn (Mantock), who was kept a secret by their mother for years but who recently moved close by to accept a new job at the local university. The sisters unexpectedly start exhibiting new magical abilities the first time they are together in the same room: the eldest Macy receives the power of telekinesis, middle sister Mel can freeze time, and the youngest Maggie can hear others’ thoughts. Soon afterward, their Whitelighter Harry (Evans) gathers all three sisters together and reveals to them that they are witches, as was their mother, and that Marisol bound her daughters’ powers when they were each born to protect them and to let them live normal lives but was in the process of unbinding their powers on the night she was murdered. The sisters ultimately accept their new destiny as the Charmed Ones, the most powerful trio of good witches, who protect innocent lives from demons and other dark forces.
When: Season 2 aired from October 11, 2019, to May 1, 2020, on the CW with a total of 19 episodes (after production was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
Where: In Season 2, the show is set primarily in Seattle, Washington, though the sisters have access to a magical portal that can take them pretty much anywhere.
Why: Listen to Episode 2 linked below for the panelists’ individual stories on how they found Charmed (2018).
How – as in How Was It? – THOUGHTS
Couch Potatoes Unite! has been around for awhile now; listeners are finding us a bit more and becoming more comfortable reaching out with all sorts of feedback, which we highly encourage and welcome! A couple of years ago, a listener by the name of Marcel recommended that we launch a Charmed panel, particularly in light of the then-upcoming reboot that ultimately premiered in 2018 amid much rancor and backlash from members of the original series cast as well as from the devoted Charmed fandom. We started this series by Looking Back at Charmed (1998) earlier this month. We then Looked Back to Look Forward at the first season of Charmed (2018) last week. To catch up on those prior episodes, listen here:
The Charmed Series, Episode One: Looking Back at Charmed (1998)
The Charmed Series, Episode Two: Charmed (2018), Season 1 + Charmed (1998) Vs. Charmed (2018)
This week, our Charmed Series panel – namely Sarah, Jeremy, Jessica, and Michael – returns to the Water Cooler to continue its magical journey by resuming our Look Forward “Around the Water Cooler” at new seasons of the reboot. Now finally caught up to the present, tonight, we offer the third episode of our series covering the various trios of sister-witches, wherein we recap and review the much-improved and much more well-liked (on average) Season 2 of Charmed (2018). In fact, tonight’s discussion reminds all of us why persisting with a series might yield a more rewarding viewing experience in the long-run, even if initial episodes suffer from off-putting growing pains. Thisspecific series’ overall improvement leads one to consider how quick networks and streamers are to cancel cult properties these days, despite the trend of rebooting and reviving older properties to capture and to capitalize upon nostalgia, even if the newer version never fully satiates most viewers’ need for nostalgia because the new version is not the same as the old version. Of course, it’s too early in this series’ broadcasting life to deem Charmed (2018) the hallmark example for this argument, but it certainly makes one think and, in some small way, motivates further viewing of a series like this rebooted Charmed.
This podcast episode was recorded in June 2020, and there are, without question, MAJOR SPOILERS, as we cover major plot points of the second season of the rebooted Charmed series. Listen at your own risk, and let us know what you think by commenting below!
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@cpupodcast), Instagram (@couchpotatoesunite), Pinterest (@cpupodcast), or email us at couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmail.com – or subscribe to this blog, the YouTube channel, our Apple/iTunes channel, our Stitcher Radio channel , find us on Google Play, on Spotify, on Castbox, on iHeartRadio, and now on Amazon Music(!) to keep track of brand new episodes. In the meantime, let us know what you think! Comment or review us in any of the above forums – we’d love your feedback!
Remember, new episodes and blog posts are published weekly! Next Wednesday, our Riverdale panel triumphantly returns to the Water Cooler, ready to kick off ongoing Water Cooler coverage of Archie-kins and the gang with their recap and review of Season 4. Stay tuned!
Questions, Impressions, and Future Considerations
1) Will there be a huge battle to preserve the viability of magic between magical creatures and mortal humans, as panelist Michael hopes, wishes, and predicts?
2) Who is the Conqueror and/or the leader of the Faction? Is it Julian (guest: Eric Balfour)? His once dead sister Rosemary? His Aunt Vivienne?
3) Will Julian’s sister Rosemary wake up/come alive and have magical properties, qualities, and/or identity, since she has been given doses of Black Amber?
4) What happened to Godric? Where did he go after Parker gave up his demonic magical abilities?
5) Will Macy get more power expansion in the coming season, as panelist Michael hopes? Maggie seems to have experienced the most magical evolutionary progress, at least in Season 2.
6) Will there be a musical episode, which seems to be all the rage on the CW these days and since Mantock and Jeffery can sing?
7) Will one of the Charmed Ones die in this coming season, per the Ghost Elder’s (as Chief CP Kylie has dubbed her) prognostication when discussing the ledger of past Charmed Ones found in the Elders’ Command Center? If so, who would it be, and would she be replaced, similar to Paige’s story line on the Original Charmed?
8) Does the Ledger of Charmed Ones list Charmed Ones that have existed in this universe? Wasn’t there only one set of possible “Charmed Ones,” as asserted by the Original Charmed? Or, does the Ledger suggest that there are parallel universes with different sets of Charmed Ones, as panelist Michael theorizes? Are the Halliwells and Paige listed in that book? Will we see their names listed?
9) Is Abigael (Poppy Drayton) somehow distantly related to the Veras and Macy? Panelist Jeremy said he was kidding, but now we can’t help but wonder if witches are all distantly related to each other.
10) Does the discussion of lay lines and of the existence of magical places imply that there are more sources for Black Amber or other mystical substances that fuel magic? Are there nexuses elsewhere around the world in this Charmed?
11) Will the house and, therefore, the sisters move again, since they were magically transported from Michigan to Washington State in Season 2? Are they drawn to where they are needed, or will they stay in Seattle for a time? If they don’t stay, what will happen to Safe Space, Jordan (Jordan Donica), and some of the other relationships that the sisters started in Seattle?
12) Whatever happened to spells used for personal gain in this Charmed? Are they allowed without consequences in this series?
13) If Julian is the Conqueror, how is he stopped? Will it require Macy to sacrifice her budding relationship with Harry to save him, since Julian still appears to be very much in love with Macy?
14) Will Parker return in Season 3? Will Jordan? Or, is Maggie destined to be on a love-related carousel?
15) Whatever happened to Mel and Maggie’s special gifts, namely Mel’s bracelet and Maggie’s staff, left for them by their mother to channel their magical abilities?
16) Was there a spark of a little something-something between Mel and Abigael, as Chief CP Kylie noticed? Similarly, are Mel and Ruby done forever?
PARTING SHOTS
All in all, our Charmed panel, with the notable exception of panelist Jeremy, generally regarded Season 2 much more positively than Season 1. In particular, the women of our panel praised the transfer of the show’s setting to Seattle and the introduction of mechanics such as the Command Center, the Book of Elders, and the Sacred Tree – as well as the related adjacency to Safe Space – as elements that not only refreshed the story and added more intrigue and engagement but also provided room for Charmed (2018) to stand apart from the series from whence it rebooted. Generally speaking, the panelists also opined that the season pacing and story progression appeared to be much more structured, organized, and thoughtful in this second season, so much so that panelist Sarah evolved from outright hating the series to having some genuine enthusiasm for it.
Despite the observed improvement, however, Charmed(2018) continues not to be recommended by any member of our panel currently, especially not to anyone older than younger Millennial viewers or Generation Z. The panelists unanimously see the rebooted Charmed as an entirely inferior product compared to its predecessor and adamantly believe that, to the extent that Charmed can be recommended to anyone – and it would have to be the type who generally enjoys the magical, the fantastic, and the formula so often found on shows produced for the CW – the original Charmed was the only way to go in good recommending conscience, even as all five panelists appreciate the modern context and the inclusive casting and concepts underlying the reboot. Panelist Jeremy, assuming position as the panel’s new naysayer sees Charmed (2018) as more of a drab and repetitive recycling of formulae and tropes specifically employed on similar CW shows, such as Supernatural and the Original Charmed. He described watching Season 2 as a “chore” and a “slog” that no longer enticed him like the first season did because the new season lacks a “good hook” that renders the general tone of the entire show unique or different from other, similar fare. Panelist Jessica, however, cautiously sees potential for the reboot and feels comfortable recommending this more recent series with several qualifiers, including a disclaimer about the unevenness of Season 1.
Further, the panelists continue to unanimously believe that this reboot suffers from some drastically uneven performances, with some players (Mantock, Evans) being more convincing than others (Diaz, though she improved markedly in Season 2); from inconsistent (if improved) writing, even in this second season; and from poorly executed special effects. Still, every one of our Charmed panelists views Charmed(2018) as more of the same pure candy fluff representative of the superior original version. With the problems presented by the reboot, however, in terms of the production and performance quality as well as an unusual number of growing pains for a show that was controversially rebooted from another established series that ended relatively recently, our panelists are not so sure that this new iteration of the Power of Three will set you free. Take that for it’s worth, gentle listener, even if what it’s worth is but a casual mention in your personal TV-related Book of Shadows.
LOOKING AHEAD
The CW renewed Charmed (2018) for a third season, which is slated to premiere in January 2021 due to a delay in production caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, though an official third season premiere date has not yet been announced at the time of this publication. CPU! will next return to our Charmed Series following the finale of Season 3! Until then…stay tuned!
As a footnote, and unfortunately, contrary to what I, your Chief CP, said at the end of tonight’s episode, as of this month, the original Charmed was removed from Netflix, given that its contract with the streaming service elapsed. The rumor is that it will be moving to NBC’s streamer, Peacock. If it’s there, give us a shout, or say a little spell.
A new podcast episode of Couch Potatoes Unite!, which is based on a blog of the same name hosted at couchpotatoesunite.wordpress.com. In this episode, our magical panel of TV-watching witches and warlocks – moderator Chief Couch Potato Kylie, Sarah, Jeremy, Jessica, and Michael (DA) – reconvenes Around the Water Cooler to continue a new, ongoing CPU! panel, one in which we are Looking Back to Look Forward at all shows named Charmed. This is the second part of an ongoing CPU! podcast series examining the various iterations of the Power of Three; this episode begins ongoing “Water Cooler” coverage of the reboot CW series and discusses Season 1 of Charmed 2018 as well as compares both versions of Charmed in one of CPU!’s spicy “Vs.” debates. This particular episode was recorded in May 2020, and, as always, if you haven’t seen any of either version of Charmed, be aware that there are MAJOR SPOILERS! Tell us what you think, and/or if there are other shows you’re interested in CPU! covering, below; email us at couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmail.com; or check out our Guestbook at the website, our Facebook page, our Twitter (@cpupodcast), or our Instagram (@couchpotatoesunite). Until next time, until next episode…buh bye!
Executive Producer/Chief Couch Potato: Kylie C. Piette Associate Producers: Krista Pennington and Selene Rezmer
Editor: Kylie C. Piette Logo: Rebecca Wallace Marketing Graphic Artist: Krista Pennington
Theme Song: Written by: Sarah Milbratz Singers: Sarah Milbratz, Amy McDaniel, Kels Rezmer Keyboard: Kels Rezmer Bass: Ian McDonough Guitar: Christian Somerville Engineer/Production: Kyle Aspinall/Christian Somerville
Who: “Charmed (2018)” is an American fantasy drama and reboot of the 1998 series of the same name, which previously aired on fall to spring Fridays on the CW; it is currently on extended hiatus (due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic) and will be moving to Sunday nights when Season 3 premieres.
What: Developed by Jennie Snyder Urman, Jessica O’Toole, and Amy Rardin, Charmed (2018) is a reboot of the WB series of the same name, which was created by Constance M. Burge and which originally aired from 1998 to 2006 on the CW and its predecessor network. The series follows the lives of three sisters—Macy (Madeleine Mantock), Mel (Melonie Diaz), and Maggie (Sarah Jeffery)—who, after the death of their mother, discover that they are the Charmed Ones, the most powerful trio of good witches, destined to protect innocent lives from demons and other dark forces. Each sister has an individual magical power, which is noticeably stronger when all three sisters work together as the “Power of Three” to defeat their enemies. The sisters are aided by a Whitelighter, Harry Greenwood (Rupert Evans), an advisor who protects and guides witches.
When: Season 1 aired from October 14, 2018, to May 19, 2019, on the CW with a total of 22 episodes.
Where: In Season 1, the show is set in the fictional college town of Hilltowne, Michigan.
Why: Listen to the podcast episode linked below for the panelists’ individual stories on how they found Charmed (2018).
How – as in How Was It?
The pilot/premiere rating scale:
***** – I HAVE TO WATCH EVERYTHING. HOLY SMOKES!
**** – Well, it certainly seems intriguing. I’m going to keep watching, but I see possible pitfalls in the premise.
*** – I will give it six episodes and see what happens. There are things I like, and things I don’t. We’ll see which “things” are allowed to flourish.
** – I will give it three episodes. Chances are, I’m mainly bored, but there is some intrigue or fascination that could hold it together. No matter how unlikely.
* – Pass on this one, guys. It’s a snoozer/not funny/not interesting/not my cup of tea… there are too many options to waste time on this one.
Charmed (2018) = 2.7, by average of the podcast panel.
SYNOPSIS
The series begins with sisters Mel (Diaz) and Maggie Vera (Jeffery) living with their mother Marisol, who is attacked and killed by an unknown dark force. Three months later, Mel and Maggie discover that they have an older half-sister, Macy Vaughn (Mantock), who was kept a secret by their mother for years but who recently moved to Hilltowne to accept a new job at the local university. The sisters unexpectedly start exhibiting new magical abilities the first time they are together in the same room: the eldest Macy receives the power of telekinesis, middle sister Mel can freeze time, and the youngest Maggie can hear others’ thoughts. Soon afterward, their Whitelighter Harry (Evans) gathers all three sisters together and reveals to them that they are witches, as was their mother, and that Marisol bound her daughters’ powers when they were each born to protect them and to let them live normal lives but was in the process of unbinding their powers on the night she was murdered. The sisters ultimately accept their new destiny as the Charmed Ones, the most powerful trio of good witches, who protect innocent lives from demons and other dark forces.
How – as in How Was It? – THOUGHTS
Couch Potatoes Unite! has been around for awhile now; listeners are finding us a bit more and becoming more comfortable reaching out with all sorts of feedback, which we highly encourage and welcome! A couple of years ago, a listener by the name of Marcel recommended that we launch a Charmed panel, particularly in light of the then-upcoming reboot that ultimately premiered in 2018 amid much rancor and backlash from members of the original series cast as well as from the devoted Charmed fandom. We Looked Back at Charmed (1998) last week. To catch up on that episode, listen here:
The Charmed Series, Part One: Looking Back at Charmed (1998)
This week, in keeping with the spirit of Marcel’s original suggestion and in light of Charmed controversially undergoing the reboot treatment, our Charmed Series panel – namely Sarah, Jeremy, Jessica, and Michael – returns to the Water Cooler to continue its magical journey. Tonight, however, we start our Look Forward “Around the Water Cooler” as new seasons of the reboot are released. Thus, herein we offer the second episode of our series covering the various trios of sister-witches, wherein we recap and review Season 1 of Charmed (2018), in all of its messy, slow-to-start, and somewhat awkward glory. Because the “OG” Charmed might be gone but is never forgotten, in this episode, our panel also engages in a semi-formal debate, CPU! style, wherein we compare characters, story lines, and other elements of the original Charmed to those of the rebooted Charmed in one of our spicy “Vs” discussions! It’s the kind of talk that is sure to resonate with the many vociferous Charmed fans out there, of then and now, since our panel’s opinions vary so widely among the five of us alone.
This podcast episode was recorded in May 2020, and there are, without question, MAJOR SPOILERS, as we cover major plot points of the first season of the rebooted Charmed series. Listen at your own risk, and let us know what you think by commenting below!
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@cpupodcast), Instagram (@couchpotatoesunite), Pinterest (@cpupodcast), or email us at couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmail.com – or subscribe to this blog, the YouTube channel, our Apple/iTunes channel, our Stitcher Radio channel , find us on Google Play, on Spotify, on Castbox, on iHeartRadio, and now on Amazon Music(!) to keep track of brand new episodes. In the meantime, let us know what you think! Comment or review us in any of the above forums – we’d love your feedback!
Remember, new episodes and blog posts are published weekly! Next Wednesday, we’ll return to our Charmed series “Around the Water Cooler” a final time for the year when our magical Charmed panel returns to discuss Season 2 of the CW’s 2018 Charmed reboot (because the panelists actually all kept watching). Stay tuned!
RECOMMENDATION
Charmed(2018) is not recommended by any member of our panel currently, at least upon finishing the first season. Most of the panelists see the rebooted Charmed as an entirely inferior product compared to its predecessor; the more forgiving of our panelists, namely Jeremy, stated very clearly that he needed to see more of the recent incarnation before he could affirmatively and definitely recommend it. Four out of five of our panelists adamantly believed that, to the extent that Charmed can be recommended to anyone – and it would have to be the type who generally enjoys the magical, the fantastic, and the formula so often found on shows produced for the CW – the original Charmed was the only way to go in good recommending conscience, even as all five panelists appreciated the modern context and the inclusive casting and concepts underlying the reboot. Panelist Sarah, easily the most vocal naysayer of our five, indicated that she would only likely recommend this series to someone if she “didn’t like the person” – or, at least, to someone who generally likes CW shows who has little to no expectations about the quality of what they are sitting down to watch.
Further, the panelists unanimously observed that this reboot suffers from some drastically uneven performances, with some players (Mantock, Evans) being more convincing than others (Diaz); from inconsistent writing; from poorly executed special effects; and from poor story pacing, to the point that the first fifteen episodes of Season 1 felt like needless filler, while the real story, or the most engaging parts of it, kicked in around Episode 15 or so. Still, like the show from whence it rebooted, every one of our Charmed panelists views Charmed(2018) as more of the same pure candy fluff representative of the superior original version. With the problems presented by the reboot, however, in terms of the production and performance quality as well as an unusual number of growing pains for a show that was controversially rebooted from another established series that ended relatively recently, our panelists are not so sure that this new iteration of the Power of Three will set you free. Take that for it’s worth, gentle listener, even if what it’s worth is but a casual mention in your personal TV-related Book of Shadows.
THE FUTURE OF THE SHOW
The CW renewed Charmed (2018) for a third season, which is slated to premiere in January 2021 due to a delay in production caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, though an official third season premiere date has not yet been announced at the time of this publication. CPU!’s next Charmed Series episode, which will focus on Season 2 of the reboot, will be published next week! Until then…stay tuned!
As a footnote, and unfortunately, contrary to what I, your Chief CP, said at the end of tonight’s episode, as of this month, the original Charmed was removed from Netflix, given that its contract with the streaming service elapsed. The rumor is that it will be moving to NBC’s streamer, Peacock. If it’s there, give us a shout, or say a little spell.
A new podcast episode of Couch Potatoes Unite!, which is based on a blog of the same name hosted at couchpotatoesunite.wordpress.com. In this episode, our magical panel of TV-watching witches and warlocks – moderator Chief Couch Potato Kylie, Sarah, Jeremy, Jessica, and new panelist Michael – by recommendation of viewers like you, gathered together to launch a new, ongoing CPU! panel, one in which we start by Looking Back at and reminiscing about a cult-favorite supernatural fantasy from the WB’s heyday, Charmed (1998). This is the first part of an ongoing CPU! podcast series examining the various iterations of The Power of Three; this episode will connect to ongoing “Water Cooler” coverage of the reboot CW series in subsequent episodes. This particular episode was recorded in May 2020, and, as always, if you haven’t seen any of the original Charmed, be aware that there are MAJOR SPOILERS! Tell us what you think, and/or if there are other shows you’re interested in CPU! covering, below; email us at couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmail.com; or check out our Guestbook at the website, our Facebook page, our Twitter (@cpupodcast), or our Instagram (@couchpotatoesunite). Until next time, until next episode…buh bye!
Executive Producer/Chief Couch Potato: Kylie C. Piette Associate Producers: Krista Pennington and Selene Rezmer
Editor: Kylie C. Piette Logo: Rebecca Wallace Marketing Graphic Artist: Krista Pennington
Theme Song: Written by: Sarah Milbratz Singers: Sarah Milbratz, Amy McDaniel, Kels Rezmer Keyboard: Kels Rezmer Bass: Ian McDonough Guitar: Christian Somerville Engineer/Production: Kyle Aspinall/Christian Somerville
Who: “Charmed,” a supernatural fantasy drama that aired first on the WB and then on the CW for eight seasons (1998-2006).
What: Created by Constance M. Burge and produced by Aaron Spelling and his production company Spelling Television, the series follows a trio of sisters, known as The Charmed Ones, the most powerful good witches of all time, who use their combined “Power of Three” to protect innocent lives from evil beings such as demons and warlocks.
SYNOPSIS
Each of the Charmed sisters possesses unique magical powers that grow and evolve, while they attempt to maintain normal lives in modern-day San Francisco. Keeping their supernatural identities separate and secret from their ordinary lives often becomes a challenge for them, with the exposure of magic having far-reaching consequences on their various relationships and resulting in a number of police and FBI investigations into their lives throughout the series. The story initially focuses on the three Halliwell sisters: Prue (Shannen Doherty), Piper (Holly Marie Combs), and Phoebe (Alyssa Milano). Following Prue’s death in the third season finale, their long-lost half sister Paige Matthews (Rose McGowan) assumes her place within the “Power of Three” from Season 4 onward.
When: The show aired for eight seasons from 1998 to 2006 on the WB and then, following the WB’s merger with the UPN network, on the CW.
Where: The show is primarily set in San Francisco, California. The time is present-day (relative to time of airing).
Why: Listen to the podcast episode below for the panelists’ individual stories on how they came to watch Charmed.
How – as in How Much Do We Love this Show?!
Couch Potatoes Unite! has been around for awhile now; listeners are finding us a bit more and becoming more comfortable reaching out with all sorts of feedback, which we highly encourage and welcome! A couple of years ago, a listener by the name of Marcel recommended that we launch a Charmed panel, particularly in light of the then-upcoming controversial reboot that ultimately premiered in 2018 amid much rancor and backlash from members of the original series cast as well as from the devoted Charmed fandom. “Controversial” might also be putting it mildly; we recorded these episodes during the spring/summer COVID-19 pandemic quarantine, long before members of the two Charmed casts starting taking pot shots at each other on social media and, therefore, in the press just this week.
Anyway, we are only too happy to take requests from listeners, my friends, which includes from you. It might take us awhile, though, to produce some episode discussions because requests around here tend to percolate for a variety of reasons, and when it came to Charmed, we had to wait and see how the new Charmed would fare before we could start comparing it to the much more beloved original version. Before we knew it, though, two seasons had already gone by (because the CW keeps renewing it…), a third season is upcoming, and so, therefore, we decided it was high time for the Power of Three to set Couch Potatoes Unite! free.
In light of Charmed controversially undergoing the reboot treatment, a few of our resident Couch Potatoes and Couch Potatoes adjacent join us for this magical journey, one in which we begin by Looking Back at the program the started it all while looking forward “Around the Water Cooler” as new seasons of the reboot are released. Thus, herein we offer the first episode of our series covering the various trios of sister-witches, which we at CPU! are calling our “Charmed Series.” Yes, the name is probably less than magical, but there is nothing like being direct and to the point, right? Speaking of direct and to the point, staffing our magical panel of united Couch Potatoes is our third most involved panelist Sarah, who is also part of our moderating team; Jeremy, who currently appears on CPU!’s Supernatural, Westworld, and Stranger Things panels and who recently appeared on our Mr. Robot Retrospective panel; Jessica, who appears on our Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina panels; and a brand new panelist!
This podcast episode was recorded in May 2020, and there are, without question, MAJOR SPOILERS, as we cover major plot points throughout the original Charmed series. Listen at your own risk, and let us know what you think by commenting below!
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@cpupodcast), Instagram (@couchpotatoesunite), Pinterest (@cpupodcast), or email us at couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmail.com – or subscribe to this blog, the YouTube channel, our Apple/iTunes channel, our Stitcher Radio channel , find us on Google Play, on Spotify, on Castbox, on iHeartRadio, and now on Amazon Music(!) to keep track of brand new episodes. In the meantime, let us know what you think! Comment or review us in any of the above forums – we’d love your feedback!
Remember, new episodes and blog posts are published weekly! Next Wednesday, we’ll return to our Charmed series “Around the Water Cooler,” when our magical Charmed panel returns to discuss the first season of the CW’s 2018 Charmed reboot. Stay tuned for all of the spicy, witchy comparisons!
RECOMMENDATION
Charmed is not universally recommended by our panel in the sense that any one of our panelists truly believes that there is a wide audience for Charmed, no matter how much a couple of the individual panelists might wish there existed such an appeal. To wit, some panelists feel comfortable with the notion of recommending it to viewers with similar television-viewing tendencies – who enjoy the magical, the fantastic, and an occasionally soapy hue, such as is offered by this Aaron Spelling produced vehicle – while others see the potential for a broader connection, even as they acknowledge that Charmed, in any of its forms, might not actually be suitable for or enjoyed by all viewers. While none of our panelists engaged (yet) in a comparison to the reboot in this episode – stay tuned for that! – all panelists agree that the original (OG) Charmed offers heavy nostalgic appeal and a great, intimate main cast of big real-life personalities, since they famously have periods of not getting along with others in their immediate spheres or even with each other at times in the real and present world. It should be noted, however, that none of our Charmed panelists commented upon the expert or artisan-level production value of the show. Instead, every panelist agreed that Charmed is pure candy fluff, for the eyes, the ears, and the hearts, even as it bears an empowering, feminist message and produces a decidedly cult fervency in its fandom that has only become more vociferous in the wake of the creation of the (too soon?) recent reboot. Our panelists further agree that the Power of Three will set you free – oh, and that Rose McGowan wore very skimpy outfits on the show. Beyond these unanimous observations, the CPU! Charmed panelists proffer that Charmed will appeal to different viewers differently, given the series’ cast rotation and evolution – and that it is what it is, whether you like it or not.
Unfortunately, contrary to what I, your Chief CP, said at the end of tonight’s episode, as of this month, the original Charmed was removed from Netflix, given that its contract with the streaming service elapsed. The rumor is that it will be moving to NBC’s streamer, Peacock. If it’s there, give us a shout, or say a little spell. It was this move that prompted a couple of the OG cast to throw darts at the new series, which is currently on Netflix, with an ensuing few rounds of volleyed barbs and backlash to follow. We told you it was soapy – on and off camera, apparently.
A new podcast episode of Couch Potatoes Unite!, which is based on a blog of the same name hosted at couchpotatoesunite.wordpress.com. In this episode, a new one-time panel of some of our most musical couch potatoes – including moderator Sarah, Kristen, Michael, Eddy, Kallie, and Chief Couch Potato Kylie – gathered Around the Water Cooler to take a First Look while Looking Back at four-season, bubble-riding yet critically acclaimed musical CW comedy-drama Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. This episode was recorded in September 2020, and, as always, if you haven’t seen any of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, be aware that there are MAJOR SPOILERS! Tell us what you think, and/or if there are other shows you’re interested in CPU! covering, below; email us at couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmail.com; or check out our Guestbook at the website, our Facebook page, our Twitter (@cpupodcast), or our Instagram (@couchpotatoesunite). Until next time, until next episode…buh bye!
Executive Producer/Chief Couch Potato: Kylie C. Piette Associate Producers: Krista Pennington and Selene Rezmer
Editor: Kylie C. Piette Logo: Rebecca Wallace Marketing Graphic Artist: Krista Pennington
Theme Song: Written by: Sarah Milbratz Singers: Sarah Milbratz, Amy McDaniel, Kels Rezmer Keyboard: Kels Rezmer Bass: Ian McDonough Guitar: Christian Somerville Engineer/Production: Kyle Aspinall/Christian Somerville
Who: “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” is an American romantic musical comedy-drama, which aired on the CW for four seasons (2015-2019).
What: Created by Rachel Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna, the series stars Bloom in the lead role as Rebecca Bunch, a lawyer who moves from New York City to West Covina, California, to pursue her high school boyfriend.
When: The show aired on the CW for four seasons: Season 1 aired from October 12, 2015, to April 18, 2016, with a total of 18 episodes; Season 2 aired from October 21, 2016, to February 3, 2017, with a total of 13 episodes; Season 3 aired from October 13, 2017, to February 16, 2018, with a total of 13 episodes; and Season 4 aired from October 12, 2018, to April 5, 2019, with a total of 18 episodes.
Where: The action is primarily set in West Covina, California, though the narrative takes the characters to other locations, including New York City, from time to time. The time is present day (relative to time of airing).
Why: To find out why individual podcast panelists started watching this show, listen to the podcast episode via the link below!
How – as in How Was It?
The pilot/premiere rating scale:
***** – I HAVE TO WATCH EVERYTHING. HOLY SMOKES!
**** – Well, it certainly seems intriguing. I’m going to keep watching, but I see possible pitfalls in the premise.
*** – I will give it six episodes and see what happens. There are things I like, and things I don’t. We’ll see which “things” are allowed to flourish.
** – I will give it three episodes. Chances are, I’m mainly bored, but there is some intrigue or fascination that could hold it together. No matter how unlikely.
* – Pass on this one, guys. It’s a snoozer/not funny/not interesting/not my cup of tea… there are too many options to waste time on this one.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend = 3.9, by average of the podcast panel.
SYNOPSIS
Rebecca Bunch (Bloom) is a Yale- and Harvard-educated real-estate lawyer who works for a top New York City law firm. When offered a promotion to junior partner, she panics, flees the building, and happens to encounter Josh Chan (Vincent Rodriguez III), her boyfriend from summer camp who she has not seen since she was a teenager. Josh tells her that he has found that life in New York City does not suit him, and that he is moving back to his hometown of West Covina, California. Rebecca decides to follow Josh to West Covina in search of happiness while telling herself that Josh had little to do with her decision to move. Arriving in West Covina, she gets a job at Darryl Whitefeather’s (Pete Gardner) West Covina law firm, rents an apartment, and flushes all of her depression and anxiety medications down the sink. She becomes friends with the firm’s paralegal, Paula (Donna Lynne Champlin), and her neighbor, Heather (Vella Lovell), and begins an on-again-off-again relationship with Josh’s best friend Greg (Santino Fontana, Seasons 1-2), all while trying to reconnect with Josh.
In the second season, Rebecca begins a romantic relationship with Josh; meanwhile, the wealthy, amoral Nathaniel Plimpton III (Scott Michael Foster) becomes a partner at Darryl’s firm. Hoping to cement their troubled relationship, Rebecca and Josh plan to be married, but Josh leaves her at the altar. In the third season, Rebecca’s emotional state hits rock bottom. After attempting suicide, she receives a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. She attempts to take better care of her mental health and to take responsibility for her actions; meanwhile, she begins a long-term, casual, sexual relationship with Nathaniel. In the fourth season, as all of the characters become more mature and emotionally healthy, Rebecca feels pressured to choose between Josh, Nathaniel, and Greg (Skylar Astin, Season 4) in order to define her future (romantic) happiness.
THOUGHTS
By popular request – though notably by some of our most established and musical CPU! panelists and couch potatoes – Couch Potatoes Unite! is pleased to present this Looking Back episode in which we discuss the zany, cringe-worthy, earnest yet ultimately messy erstwhile CW comedy-drama Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Requesting CPU! panelists include Sarah, the panel’s moderator, who is our third most involved panelist and a member of the moderating team; Kristen, our most involved panelist; Michael, who has Looked Back with us at Futurama, That 70s Show, Glee, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and who is currently on our active Stranger Things and Star Trek 50+ Series panels; Eddy, who has Looked Back with us at True Blood, Desperate Housewives (which he moderated), and who is currently on our active American Horror Story Series panel; and Kallie, who has Looked Back at The Buffy-Verse (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel) with us and who also currently appears on our American Horror Story Series panel. Kylie, the Chief CP, also joins this panel as a regular panelist, happy to cede the moderating microphone to Sarah once again, as we all parse through some strong feelings about the crazy (it’s in the title, but it’s actually a lot more nuanced than that) Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
In tonight’s CPU! episode, we gathered “Around the Water Cooler” to take a “First Look” while “Looking Back” at this musical comedy, which ended its four-season run in April 2019. In so doing, we ruminate in-depth upon the humor, the songs, the dances, the social commentary, the overall performances, and the laudable if clumsy attempts to tackle serious subjects, such as female health, wellness, and empowerment; mental illness and associated stigma; and sexuality in the context of a sometimes raucous, sometimes raunchy musical parody format.
This particular CPU! episode was recorded in September 2020, and there are, without question, MAJOR SPOILERS, as the panelists cover key plot points, jokes, sight gags, and other aspects of all four seasons of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend that might be best enjoyed on a first watch! Listen at your own risk, and let us know what you think by commenting below!
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@cpupodcast), Instagram (@couchpotatoesunite), Pinterest (@cpupodcast), or email us at couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmail.com – or subscribe to this blog, the YouTube channel, our Apple/iTunes channel, our Stitcher Radio channel , find us on Google Play, on Spotify, on Castbox, on iHeartRadio, and now on Amazon Music(!) to keep track of brand new episodes. In the meantime, let us know what you think! Comment or review us in any of the above forums – we’d love your feedback!
Remember, new episodes and blog posts are published weekly! Next Wednesday, a new panel convenes Around the Water Cooler to begin a new “Looking Back to Look Forward” series covering the original version of a show where the Power of Three set us free in addition to its controversial reboot, which further celebrates the strength of sisterly support. The shows in question, Recommended by Viewers Like You, are both entitled Charmed, and next week, CPU! Looks Back at the revolving cast and enduring magic of the Original Charmed. Stay tuned!
RECOMMENDATION
Our zany bunch of Crazy Ex-Viewers ™ of erstwhile Crazy Ex-Girlfriend unfortunately do not universally recommend this musical comedy-drama to a wide audience. All of our panelists, more or less, felt that this show, with its reliance on musical parody and cringe humor, would only appeal to a specific subset of viewers and not even to all viewers who love musicals or musical theater because of the type of comedy pastiche utilized. After all, in some ways, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is no different than comparable fare like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt but for one stark contrast: the likability of the main character. Various members of the panel struggled with the Rebecca Bunch character, as she did not offer universal appeal depending upon whether or not an individual panelist believed that the series was always trying to tell the story of a mental health realization and journey to self-care and self-help. Some panelists felt that the show, at least initially, reached only for pure parody and a romantic comedy-like send-up of romantic comedies, set to music, without being more purposeful about the main character’s struggle with mental illness until the third season (especially since several of the supporting characters also struggled with mental health concerns of their own whilst maintaining a more consistent and enjoyable connection with the viewing audience, as evidenced by the panelists’ individual reactions). While those two conceits could potentially overlap – Crazy Ex-Girlfriend certainly made the attempt to do so – discussing serious topics like mid-life abortion, borderline personality disorder, suicidal ideation, surrogacy, sexual fluidity, the complexity of feminism, and other serious topics with which society as a whole struggles as a larger, social paradigm, all while set against musical comedy, makes for a messy, cringe-worthy watch that will really come down finitely to a specific set of viewer preferences, which may explain the show’s bubble status for the length of its low-rated run. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend can be lauded in a deserving way for tackling topics typically reserved for darker melodramas scattered across the television landscape, and this vehicle certainly provided lesser known faces, namely stage and voice actors as well as YouTube sensation Rachel Bloom, the opportunity to shine via an earnest if risky premise, but the marriage of silly to serious in this comedy often felt forced and disjointed to the point of dissatisfaction, such that the show did not land squarely for some of our more ardent viewers and panelists.
Panelist Michael, however, adores this show; he views the originality of the premise, the feats of creativity of the show-runners and overlapping songwriting team (all containing Bloom) to be something like lightning in a bottle because of the combination of comedic, dramatic, and musical elements inter-playing throughout this series. Chief CP Kylie and some of the other panelists, on the other hand, felt that the presentation was often haphazard to the point of being off-putting because watching an unlikable main character with only scattered attempts to ground her story, while juxtaposing that character against a stellar cast of far more entertaining, enjoyable, and likable supporting players, left some of our viewers feeling as if something was missing. In fact, the panel spent some time discussing the shift in tone from Season 2 to Season 3, as if the decision to pivot the whole show toward the concept of being a musical within a meta-musical, “Kiss Me Kate” style, was made late-game, which contributed to some resistance from several panelists as far as being able to enjoy the show more. Plus, the musical realism technique interspersed throughout the four seasons of the show often proved inconsistent while rendering the introduction of the serious topics previously mentioned frequently superficial and ham-fisted and/or unrealistic, especially when, perhaps, more balance should have been employed, given the musical comedy backdrop and even if the show could be praised for taking on the heady topics in the first place.
All in all, though, the panelists seemed to form consensus around the idea that Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is not for everybody (no matter how much Michael wishes it was), even as the premise and presentation – not to mention the sheer volume of songs written as homage and parody – are inarguably creative, even occasionally impressive. CXG certainly provoked a robust discussion in tonight’s Look Back, whatever else might be said of it, a characteristic that shows that this earnest little four-season musical comedy that could can’t be all bad in the end. If contemplating a viewing, though, gentle listener, note that it’s not all good either, no matter how catchy some of the songs might be. In fact, whatever else can be said of CXG, it’s the music that proves to be the show’s true crowning achievement. If you don’t believe us, take a listen at the compiled playlist below.
THE MUSIC OF CXG!
Want to sample the soundtrack before making a viewing commitment to this “crazy” cringe comedy? Spotify user Brian O. Jackson has got you covered having graciously compiled the four-season soundtrack for the type of musical theater lover who needs to hear the music before watching the stage show. Take a listen here:
REUNIONS!
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend cast members have been spending their respective COVID-19 quarantines entreating loyal fans to reunion appearances. Watch below.
A new podcast episode of Couch Potatoes Unite!, which is based on a blog of the same name hosted at couchpotatoesunite.wordpress.com. In this episode, recorded in March 2020, some of our constituent masterminds – including moderator Kylie, Jeremy, Amie, Julianne, and Co-Host Erinn and Producer Dave from fellow podcast Mr. Rewatch – reconvened Around the Water Cooler for Part Three of our three-part Who Is Mr. Robot? Retrospective Miniseries, in which we Look Back at the recently ended USA thriller. In this episode, the panel discusses Season 4 of Mr. Robot! If you have not watched any of Mr. Robot, be aware that there are MAJOR SPOILERS! Tell us what you think, and/or if there are other shows you’re interested in CPU! covering, below; email us at couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmail.com; or check out our Guestbook at the website, our Facebook page, our Twitter (@cpupodcast), or our Instagram (@couchpotatoesunite). Until next time, until next episode…buh bye!
Executive Producer/Chief Couch Potato: Kylie C. Piette Associate Producers: Krista Pennington and Selene Rezmer
Editor: Kylie C. Piette Logo: Rebecca Wallace Marketing Graphic Artist: Krista Pennington
Theme Song: Written by: Sarah Milbratz Singers: Sarah Milbratz, Amy McDaniel, Kels Rezmer Keyboard: Kels Rezmer Bass: Ian McDonough Guitar: Christian Somerville Engineer/Production: Kyle Aspinall/Christian Somerville
Who: “Mr. Robot” is an American drama thriller, which aired on cable network USA for four seasons, 2015-2019.
What: Created by Sam Esmail, “Mr. Robot” stars Rami Malek as Elliot Alderson, a cybersecurity engineer and hacker with social anxiety disorder and clinical depression. Elliot is recruited by an insurrectionist anarchist known as “Mr. Robot,” played by Christian Slater, to join a group of hacktivists called “fsociety.” The group aims to destroy all debt records by encrypting the financial data of E-Corp, the largest conglomerate in the world.
SYNOPSIS
The series follows Elliot Alderson (Malek), a young man living in New York City who works at the cyber security company Allsafe as a cybersecurity engineer. Constantly struggling with social anxiety, dissociative identity disorder, and clinical depression, Elliot’s thought process seems heavily influenced by paranoia and delusion. He connects to people by hacking them, which often leads him to act as a cyber-vigilante. He is recruited by a mysterious insurrectionist anarchist known as Mr. Robot (Slater) and joins his team of hacktivists known as “fsociety.” One of their missions is to cancel all consumer debt by encrypting all the data of one of the largest corporations in the world, E-Corp (which Elliot perceives as Evil Corp) and which also happens to be Allsafe’s biggest client.
When: Season 4 aired on USA from October 6, 2019, until December 22, 2019, with a total of 13 episodes.
Where: The action is primarily set in New York City, New York, though the narrative takes the characters to other domestic and international locations from time to time. The time is present day (relative to time of airing).
Why: To find out why individual podcast panelists started watching this show, listen to the podcast episode covering Seasons 1 and 2 via the link below!
How – as in How Was It? – THOUGHTS
To listen to Parts One and Two of this series, covering Seasons 1 and 2 and Season 3, respectively, click the embedded links below:
Seasons 1 & 2
Season 3
Panelists Jeremy, Amie, Julianne, and our two esteemed guest panelists – specifically co-host Erinn and producer Dave from fellow podcast Mr. Rewatch, which analyzed each episode of Mr. Robot as the series was airing – return to the Water Cooler this week to conclude our Retrospective Mr. Robot discussion. In tonight’s CPU! episode, we cap off our “Look Back” at this cyber-thriller, which ended its four-season run in December 2019, by reviewing and recapping the final season, Season 4, with all of its emotional reveals, twists, turns, and lingering questions. In so doing, we resume ruminating in-depth upon the production values, performances, and disturbing dystopian images of this gritty, trippy, twisty commentary on the pervasiveness of technology in our society and its interrelationship with power constructs like corporations, with greed, and with identity, coupled with its deeply intimate look into the lives of its primary players, particularly the mind of the intelligent but mentally unhealthy main character.
This episode is the third part of a three-part Retrospective miniseries in which CPU! reminisces upon this critically-acclaimed cult-favorite show. In this episode, our panel reflects upon and recaps Season 4 of Mr. Robot while also commenting upon the series as a whole.
This episode was recorded in March 2020, the last episode that Couch Potatoes Unite! recorded prior to the onset of the global pandemic in the United States, and there are, without question, MAJOR SPOILERS, as the panelists cover key plot points of the fourth and final season. Listen at your own risk, and let us know what you think by commenting below!
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@cpupodcast), Instagram (@couchpotatoesunite), Pinterest (@cpupodcast), or email us at couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmail.com – or subscribe to this blog, the YouTube channel, our Apple/iTunes channel, our Stitcher Radio channel , find us on Google Play, on Spotify, on Castbox, on iHeartRadio, and now on Amazon Music(!) to keep track of brand new episodes. In the meantime, let us know what you think! Comment or review us in any of the above forums – we’d love your feedback!
Remember, new episodes and blog posts are published weekly! Next Wednesday, a new panel convenes Around the Water Cooler to take a First Look while Looking Back (hey, sometimes we’re complicated around here) at a quirky musical romantic comedy-drama which aired on the CW for four low-rated but decidedly cult favorited seasons: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. This upcoming panel features some of CPU!’s most musical resident Couch Potatoes. Stay tuned!
RECOMMENDATION
The esteemed members of our “Who Is Mr. Robot?” panel, including our friends from the Mr. Rewatch podcast, universally recommend this show. The present panelists remark upon a number of positive attributes associated with Mr. Robot, including the series’ fresh, creative story punctuated by a bold, dark undercurrent; enigmatic and nuanced performances; thoughtful direction and cinematography; outstanding editing; and an intelligent use of music, both originally composed for the show and compiled for the eclectic soundtrack, the latter of which appeals to all of our member panelists. If the panelists offered any criticisms of this program, such critiques centered mostly around writing choices – particularly with respect to characters and their motivations or with respect to a lack of table-setting for some of the more intriguing supporting cast – and pacing, depending upon whether or not each individual panelist subscribed to the pastiche of a show that largely focuses the storytelling through main character Elliot’s considerably unreliable and distorted narrative lens. Still, all of the panelists seemed to form consensus around the idea that Mr. Robot has something to offer any viewer, provided that the dark and gritty nature of the show itself initially appeals to the would-be viewer in question. In any event, Mr. Robot is a highly layered, thought-provoking drama that certainly provides a journey laden with questions demanding the search for answers. The most important question, however, that a potential viewer ultimately needs to consider when evaluating their interest in watching this series is: Who isMr. Robot? Here, we shall say no more. After all, this series contains so many provocative twists, specifically related to that question of all questions, that it would simply be rude of us to spoil any of them here…
THE MUSIC OF MR. ROBOT
In tonight’s episode, panelist Julianne indicated that she was determined to curate her own Mr. Robot-inspired playlist. She did not ultimately do so because Spotify user Stephen Butler did a pretty good job of curating one for all of us, including selections from Mac Quayle’s score and a song list that seems to be thoughtfully organized in order of the presentation of the songs and musical underscoring on the actual Mr. Robot series. Since music proved to be an important element of the show for most if not all of our panelists, we are happy to link this playlist here for your consideration and review. Hello, friends.
couchpotatoesunite.wordpress.com 