After working my Neighborhood Assn for 8 years, I found The Wire (HBO-5 seasons) particularly illuminating. Excellent writing/acting. Cast perfectly. Garnered a shtload of Grammy's. I recommend buying the full set.
“Jersey Shore” My niece made me watch it once and I couldn’t fathom people living like that. Scary thing was my niece was from NJ. Luckily she’s now based in Seattle and is nothing like the people on that show. Maybe I shouldn’t be so harsh a judge, I only saw 1 show, but it was more than enough for me. I’m sure a good part of it was generational for me, for those younger people who like it. I’m OLD fashioned.
Covid showed me what desperate writing looks like. Film schools seem to churn out formula structures that I find intolerable and boring after the 10th time I predict what happens next. Stephen King always had big trouble wrapping up his stories. Great writing...until the end. Arghhh!
Cut the man some slack. (King) The sheer volume of suspenseful stories he wove is beyond belief. And I think for most of his writing career he churned that out on his own. Compared to other high volume writers that now use a team of sub writers too put out books and print money for them.
No first round guard picks, no $130 guard jerseys. The value just isn’t there. (Just kidding - those pancake blocks are going to be a source of major excitement this year, big run on the jerseys, I’m sure)
Seriously though, I am all in on tempering enthusiasm for the offense this year. I worry that fans will turn against Darnold way too soon. Half the starters are new, a ton of rookies coming in, returning guys starting over with their 3rd coaching staff in 3 years. When you think about the journey of the defense last year in year 1 of MM, that’s where the offense is this year. But the road to success looks longer - so many new pieces and talent questions. The D had a much better starting point for MM to go to work.
Weirdly enough, it might be the O-line, our big weakness last year, that helps the new O move toward success quicker. Having 3-4 of 5 starters returning, plus a 1st round pick, makes me think this foundation could help solidify the offense in the new system. I plan to be patient, and am hoping for many extra drives provided by our turnover-happy D.
Ok so I didn't recommend it in the survey, but I have to drop this one - Race Across The World!!
Think The Amazing Race, but very early years, without gimmicks. It's a non-stop race. No phones. No pre planning. Just pure instinct and adaptability. Narrated by John Hannah so every episode is soothing as heck. And shot more like a travel/nature show than anything else.
It's everything I want reality TV to be. Genuine real people. Genuine real situations. Completely addictive. If you have a VPN, 100% fee on the BBC (skip the celebrity season). Not sure about the US, but Google it. I cannot recommend this show highly enough to SSJ'ers.
I found Game of Thrones unwatchable. I'm not big on the fantasy genre but people whose opinions I generally trust kept telling me I had to watch it. Stranger Things was neat, but I found myself bored after a while. Same with The Last of Us, Walking Dead and so many others. Westworld was fun at first but lost me after a season. I think I am poor at suspending disbelief and need realism to really get sucked into a show. I get annoyed at little things that break that; such as when a car crashes and then explodes or someone shoots a hundred rounds and never needs to reload.
Since I'm poo pooing a lot of favorites, I feel I should list a few I did like. Band of Brothers and The Pacific both made me cry. I will never miss an episode of Alone. Or South Park. Deadwood was fun, even if often gross. BoJack Horseman was amazing. Murderville (with Marshawn Lynch!) was fantastic. Mad Men and Arrested Development (before they tried the comeback season) were very fun.
I do like fantasy and found Game of Thrones challenging. I've read all the books and enjoyed the TV series right up until about the time the books ended. It's such a bizarre turn of events that I don't think I've ever seen before. A highly successful book series is just left hanging with no ending after years and years of anticipation, only to see the story finished on HBO in a haphazard, borderline nonsensical, kind of way. I don't know if Martin will ever publish the book version of the end of this story, but I hope it's lightyears better than what was cooked up to end the TV series.
I came to give my 💯% backing to Psych TV show from SSJ's list. Absolutely watch it if you enjoy light comedies. It has some juvenile goofy humor that usually has other cast members rolling their eyes at the participants and their need to make everything fun.
Also, I completely forgot to mention Taskmaster as a recommendation. It is on Netflix, but can be a little complicated to find more than one episode at a time when searching. It is currently in it's 19th season (called 'series' because it's in the UK). It is a game show where comedians and celebrities (some of whom you'll recognize of find familiar) perform tasks and challenges that are judged and given points by the comedian Taskmaster and his assistant/jester/task creator little buddy, (little) Alex Horne. Who is actually little at 6ft+ compared to the very tall Taskmaster. The game is mostly done and recorded previous to the actual shows which are live judgings in front of each other and a studio audience. The banter between Davies and Horne, the self-examining of the contestants' performances in front of a studio audience, and the actual tasks themselves are extremely fun and entertaining
This is a link to the current series (19). The 1st few series were pretty good, but series 7 and on have been particularly hilarious.
Is patience still a thing? It seems fans these days get pretty salty game to game if things aren't going well. Like the defense last year, the offense may need time to gel, and for Darnold and his pass catchers to get in rhythm, and for the o-line to get their timing down. On the other hand, as has been pointed out by others, there's the first 2 games last year at NO......and that's with less talent IMO. So who knows. I hope for a fast start, but will be patient for a couple of months if the offense is slow to get going.
If the defense can carry the team in the first half of the season, hopefully the offense is there for the back half of the season.
TV Shows? I literally watch none. The news at 6 o'clock, and that's about it. My wife has a number of shows she religiously watches, and if that weren't the case we probably wouldn't even have a television. I rarely even watch a new movie. Boring guy, I know.
Given 3 preseason games, ending with a week's hard practise in GB, I'm thinking Kubiak will have our fundamental dance moves down pat for the Run Game. Hit Frisco hard in the chops with that and the rest will follow. Classic football- you just beat your guy. Hit'em where they ain't. I'm betting his 91 points in his first two games last year is no fluke. The Bench had best be ready. There is no film on us yet and gimmicks aren't out of the question. (Ahem- Milroe+Oootz) Our Year 2 Defense should be ready for anything Shanahan can throw at us. At home with the 12's rocking to get started. Put last year behind us. It'll be a Beautiful Thing.
Patience. Yes. It took half the season to get the rudiments of our D installed, with the right personnel. I tend to think the O won’t take quite as long because the system is widely used, give or take nomenclature and nuance. I look for at least one mid season pickup to address need and failure, like Mr. Jones.
You should make up a new survey and see how many of that list of about 50 shows that your readers have watched a significant part of! I’ve either watched or am watching 16 of the shows; no idea if that’s a lot, or a little ha ha ha.
It would be, but I think there’s too many letters for it to accept - it wouldn’t allow me to do it online. SS Joe Bro might work, but it doesn’t have the same impact to me.
I love your expectations for Zabel. Nothing bolsters my elevated expectations for the Seahawks 2025 than an expert who confirms reasons I have to be so positive for this season.
You say “Earnest Jones is SERIOUSLY better than Baker and Dodson.”?? Oh SSJ, the national expert LB rankings (PFF or ESPN) came out ranking our Jones at 27 and Dodson at 9. Statistics and film reality don’t matter when the “wise ones” pontificate! (Just Kidding here)
I was originally worried that something like the 49ers in week one would happen when the schedule came out as I wanted time for the offense to gel. That didn’t happen, but on the other hand they did cancel a few OTAs and a day of minicamp allegedly because the installs were moving along so well. Fingers crossed the defense steps it up in week one and the Seahawks run game helps to control the game. Maybe Purdy gets pressured into a pick six and we eke out a win. It’s possible Aiyuk doesn’t play week one, no Deebo, and what does CM have left in the tank? Their O-line could be worse than ours was last year. I see an early retirement from their LT who doesn’t feel his old bones can go it again.
Grades/rankings don't take system/scheme into account. Baker and Dodson weren't doing what MM needed them to do, in the way he needed them to do it. So the team moved on. Jones was a better fit and that's why he got the extension. Just because the team moved on doesn't mean those guys were bad, and in a system that better fits their talents, may find more success than they would in Seattle.
I agree with you to a point, but not to the point Dodson is the 9th best LB and Jones is the 27th best. That to me, is an “expert” with his head up his arse. ;)
Yeah, that's really interesting. I guess to be fair I didn't really keep close tabs on Baker and Dodson after they left. I saw Dodson ranked higher somewhere (maybe PFF or ESPN) and thought he at worst must have been better at his new home than he was in Seattle. Ernest Jones was at least an upgrade for the Seahawks, and that's what really matters.
The upgrade wasn’t minor. Sometimes I think it’s important what the mike linebacker has between the ears that matters most. B Wags was physically dominant and so hard to block, but he was mentally ahead of the offense so often. That made him so elite. Then there’s his durability. Always out there. Compare that to the durability of Baker and Dodson.
I think you are on to something with durability issues. Former pro Mark Schlereth was singing their praises after the first couple games, saying their LB play was some of the finest football he'd ever seen. All-out fast. Deadly tackling.
Pinned question: What's a TV show that seems popular but you don't really vibe with?
Breaking Bad
I've tried like 5 times and ugh I just can't. Can't say why but I always just lose interest before finishing season 2.
Game of Thrones was similar. So overhyyped, but I made it through in the end
After working my Neighborhood Assn for 8 years, I found The Wire (HBO-5 seasons) particularly illuminating. Excellent writing/acting. Cast perfectly. Garnered a shtload of Grammy's. I recommend buying the full set.
Ooops. Supposed to be stuff I don't like. Sorry, guys...
Pretty much any kind of reality TV, and adult cartoons
White Lotus
“Jersey Shore” My niece made me watch it once and I couldn’t fathom people living like that. Scary thing was my niece was from NJ. Luckily she’s now based in Seattle and is nothing like the people on that show. Maybe I shouldn’t be so harsh a judge, I only saw 1 show, but it was more than enough for me. I’m sure a good part of it was generational for me, for those younger people who like it. I’m OLD fashioned.
Covid showed me what desperate writing looks like. Film schools seem to churn out formula structures that I find intolerable and boring after the 10th time I predict what happens next. Stephen King always had big trouble wrapping up his stories. Great writing...until the end. Arghhh!
Cut the man some slack. (King) The sheer volume of suspenseful stories he wove is beyond belief. And I think for most of his writing career he churned that out on his own. Compared to other high volume writers that now use a team of sub writers too put out books and print money for them.
2 days after the draft I ordered my #3 Emmanwori jersey and I don't think I will regret it.
Mrs. Davis is a great show on Peacock, as is Pokerface,
No first round guard picks, no $130 guard jerseys. The value just isn’t there. (Just kidding - those pancake blocks are going to be a source of major excitement this year, big run on the jerseys, I’m sure)
Seriously though, I am all in on tempering enthusiasm for the offense this year. I worry that fans will turn against Darnold way too soon. Half the starters are new, a ton of rookies coming in, returning guys starting over with their 3rd coaching staff in 3 years. When you think about the journey of the defense last year in year 1 of MM, that’s where the offense is this year. But the road to success looks longer - so many new pieces and talent questions. The D had a much better starting point for MM to go to work.
Weirdly enough, it might be the O-line, our big weakness last year, that helps the new O move toward success quicker. Having 3-4 of 5 starters returning, plus a 1st round pick, makes me think this foundation could help solidify the offense in the new system. I plan to be patient, and am hoping for many extra drives provided by our turnover-happy D.
Ok so I didn't recommend it in the survey, but I have to drop this one - Race Across The World!!
Think The Amazing Race, but very early years, without gimmicks. It's a non-stop race. No phones. No pre planning. Just pure instinct and adaptability. Narrated by John Hannah so every episode is soothing as heck. And shot more like a travel/nature show than anything else.
It's everything I want reality TV to be. Genuine real people. Genuine real situations. Completely addictive. If you have a VPN, 100% fee on the BBC (skip the celebrity season). Not sure about the US, but Google it. I cannot recommend this show highly enough to SSJ'ers.
Sorry O-linemen everywhere, but unless my son grows up to join your ranks (a genetic improbability), I will not be buying one of your jerseys.
I found Game of Thrones unwatchable. I'm not big on the fantasy genre but people whose opinions I generally trust kept telling me I had to watch it. Stranger Things was neat, but I found myself bored after a while. Same with The Last of Us, Walking Dead and so many others. Westworld was fun at first but lost me after a season. I think I am poor at suspending disbelief and need realism to really get sucked into a show. I get annoyed at little things that break that; such as when a car crashes and then explodes or someone shoots a hundred rounds and never needs to reload.
Since I'm poo pooing a lot of favorites, I feel I should list a few I did like. Band of Brothers and The Pacific both made me cry. I will never miss an episode of Alone. Or South Park. Deadwood was fun, even if often gross. BoJack Horseman was amazing. Murderville (with Marshawn Lynch!) was fantastic. Mad Men and Arrested Development (before they tried the comeback season) were very fun.
I do like fantasy and found Game of Thrones challenging. I've read all the books and enjoyed the TV series right up until about the time the books ended. It's such a bizarre turn of events that I don't think I've ever seen before. A highly successful book series is just left hanging with no ending after years and years of anticipation, only to see the story finished on HBO in a haphazard, borderline nonsensical, kind of way. I don't know if Martin will ever publish the book version of the end of this story, but I hope it's lightyears better than what was cooked up to end the TV series.
I came to give my 💯% backing to Psych TV show from SSJ's list. Absolutely watch it if you enjoy light comedies. It has some juvenile goofy humor that usually has other cast members rolling their eyes at the participants and their need to make everything fun.
Also, I completely forgot to mention Taskmaster as a recommendation. It is on Netflix, but can be a little complicated to find more than one episode at a time when searching. It is currently in it's 19th season (called 'series' because it's in the UK). It is a game show where comedians and celebrities (some of whom you'll recognize of find familiar) perform tasks and challenges that are judged and given points by the comedian Taskmaster and his assistant/jester/task creator little buddy, (little) Alex Horne. Who is actually little at 6ft+ compared to the very tall Taskmaster. The game is mostly done and recorded previous to the actual shows which are live judgings in front of each other and a studio audience. The banter between Davies and Horne, the self-examining of the contestants' performances in front of a studio audience, and the actual tasks themselves are extremely fun and entertaining
This is a link to the current series (19). The 1st few series were pretty good, but series 7 and on have been particularly hilarious.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRWvNQVqAeWKt7kCUfEMdJi40m7H58CJd&feature=shared
Is patience still a thing? It seems fans these days get pretty salty game to game if things aren't going well. Like the defense last year, the offense may need time to gel, and for Darnold and his pass catchers to get in rhythm, and for the o-line to get their timing down. On the other hand, as has been pointed out by others, there's the first 2 games last year at NO......and that's with less talent IMO. So who knows. I hope for a fast start, but will be patient for a couple of months if the offense is slow to get going.
If the defense can carry the team in the first half of the season, hopefully the offense is there for the back half of the season.
TV Shows? I literally watch none. The news at 6 o'clock, and that's about it. My wife has a number of shows she religiously watches, and if that weren't the case we probably wouldn't even have a television. I rarely even watch a new movie. Boring guy, I know.
Given 3 preseason games, ending with a week's hard practise in GB, I'm thinking Kubiak will have our fundamental dance moves down pat for the Run Game. Hit Frisco hard in the chops with that and the rest will follow. Classic football- you just beat your guy. Hit'em where they ain't. I'm betting his 91 points in his first two games last year is no fluke. The Bench had best be ready. There is no film on us yet and gimmicks aren't out of the question. (Ahem- Milroe+Oootz) Our Year 2 Defense should be ready for anything Shanahan can throw at us. At home with the 12's rocking to get started. Put last year behind us. It'll be a Beautiful Thing.
Patience. Yes. It took half the season to get the rudiments of our D installed, with the right personnel. I tend to think the O won’t take quite as long because the system is widely used, give or take nomenclature and nuance. I look for at least one mid season pickup to address need and failure, like Mr. Jones.
Our D will keep it low scoring, probably adding points on their own.
You should make up a new survey and see how many of that list of about 50 shows that your readers have watched a significant part of! I’ve either watched or am watching 16 of the shows; no idea if that’s a lot, or a little ha ha ha.
That's a Lot, no question.
I actually just watched the HBO show “Chernobyl” last week. I thought it was incredibly powerful.
Yeah, I was curious about that too, Russ!
I tried to order a jersey with ‘Seaside Joe Bro’ on it. But apparently it’s too long.
That'd be great!
It would be, but I think there’s too many letters for it to accept - it wouldn’t allow me to do it online. SS Joe Bro might work, but it doesn’t have the same impact to me.
You would think if they could fit "Valdes-Scantling" on the back of a jersey they could also accommodate "Seaside Joe Bro"
Yes, you’d think. But alas….
I love your expectations for Zabel. Nothing bolsters my elevated expectations for the Seahawks 2025 than an expert who confirms reasons I have to be so positive for this season.
You say “Earnest Jones is SERIOUSLY better than Baker and Dodson.”?? Oh SSJ, the national expert LB rankings (PFF or ESPN) came out ranking our Jones at 27 and Dodson at 9. Statistics and film reality don’t matter when the “wise ones” pontificate! (Just Kidding here)
I was originally worried that something like the 49ers in week one would happen when the schedule came out as I wanted time for the offense to gel. That didn’t happen, but on the other hand they did cancel a few OTAs and a day of minicamp allegedly because the installs were moving along so well. Fingers crossed the defense steps it up in week one and the Seahawks run game helps to control the game. Maybe Purdy gets pressured into a pick six and we eke out a win. It’s possible Aiyuk doesn’t play week one, no Deebo, and what does CM have left in the tank? Their O-line could be worse than ours was last year. I see an early retirement from their LT who doesn’t feel his old bones can go it again.
Grades/rankings don't take system/scheme into account. Baker and Dodson weren't doing what MM needed them to do, in the way he needed them to do it. So the team moved on. Jones was a better fit and that's why he got the extension. Just because the team moved on doesn't mean those guys were bad, and in a system that better fits their talents, may find more success than they would in Seattle.
I agree with you to a point, but not to the point Dodson is the 9th best LB and Jones is the 27th best. That to me, is an “expert” with his head up his arse. ;)
I'm not sure where you are getting your data from.
In this 2025 LB rankings from PFF, they have Dodson and Jones at #29 and #30, respectively.
https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-linebacker-rankings-top-32-ahead-of-2025-nfl-season
In this 2025 Fantasy Football LB rankings from ESPN, sorted by "AVG", they have Jones at #9 and Dodson at #33. FWIW, Knight is at #34.
https://www.espn.com/fantasy/football/story/_/page/FFPreseasonRank25IDP/2025-fantasy-football-rankings-idp-defense-defensive-line-linebacker-defensive-back
The non-FF ESPN LB ranking came out last year mid-July. I haven't seen this year's yet.
Give it a month.
I’m not sure where I saw it, but others saw it as well. The disparity was as I described. 9 vs 27. Dodson vs Jones.
Yeah, that's really interesting. I guess to be fair I didn't really keep close tabs on Baker and Dodson after they left. I saw Dodson ranked higher somewhere (maybe PFF or ESPN) and thought he at worst must have been better at his new home than he was in Seattle. Ernest Jones was at least an upgrade for the Seahawks, and that's what really matters.
The upgrade wasn’t minor. Sometimes I think it’s important what the mike linebacker has between the ears that matters most. B Wags was physically dominant and so hard to block, but he was mentally ahead of the offense so often. That made him so elite. Then there’s his durability. Always out there. Compare that to the durability of Baker and Dodson.
I think you are on to something with durability issues. Former pro Mark Schlereth was singing their praises after the first couple games, saying their LB play was some of the finest football he'd ever seen. All-out fast. Deadly tackling.