There is SO much content out there – how to choose what to watch?! And what’s good for you and your partner to watch together? One of our most popular blogs of the year was on Shows You Can Watch As A Couple – so it seems that others besides us are looking for those items (we’ll do a new version of those types of shows in an upcoming blog)!
We decided to summarize each of our FabList Favorite shows that we watched in 2023, whether it was a movie, a series, or whatever!
Chrissie’s Picks:
My husband recommended this and I put off watching it for a couple of weeks. Then once I started I binged it and LOVED it. It’s a drama series about the making of The Godfather, produced by the man who was the producer of The Godfather. It’s got LA movie studios, it’s got the mafia, it’s got Scorcese – it’s just so good! After watching this you realize how amazing it was that the Godfather was ever made! And you do not have to be a Godfather fan to enjoy this.
I cannot wait for season 2 of this show to come out! Set in Pasadena, it’s about a psychiatrist (Jason Segel) who has recently lost his wife to cancer and is now raising his teenage daughter. The characters are just SO GOOD – Harrison Ford as his boss, SNL actress Jessica Williams as his colleague, Christina Miller as his neighbor. It picks up after the first or second episode and is just so funny, clever, and heartwarming.
This series is about a woman who is the estranged daughter of the world’s greatest wine collector. Upon his death, she learns that she must compete against his protege in wine-related tasks to determine who gets her father’s fortune. Don’t be put off by it having subtitles (it’s in French/Japanese)!
This favorite series came to an end this year, but the final season was a good one!
Kerry Russell, newly appointed US Ambassador to England married to another career diplomat, must manage an international crisis as she arrives on the job. Looking forward to season 2!
I watched a bit of season 1, but season 2 totally hooked me! Following a top chef who returns to run his family-run sandwich shop in Chicago, The Bear is just SO good! The episode of Richie interning at a fancy restaurant is one of the best episodes of tv ever!
Amazing Race and Survivor – Oldies but goodies – I still love these shows and have never missed an episode of Survivor!
And lastly, I have to include a few period piece series as well… The Crown (final season 🙁), The Gilded Age (got even better season 2!), The Great (it’s racy – beware!) and The Buccaneers (not as good as the others but still fun).
Joanne
It was a very sad day in May when three of my favorite shows (Succession, Mrs. Maisel, and Ted Lasso) came to a conclusion the same week – not just for the season but FOREVER. I was heartbroken. Fortunately, there are many, many, many movies and shows streaming so I recovered and found some new favorites. Read on for my recommendations!
So much bad behavior by the Roy family who controls the world’s biggest media and entertainment company. I don’t know why it was so much fun to view the tumultuous relations of a dysfunctional family but it kept me (and my whole family) tuned in for each and every show.
Miriam “Midge” Maisel, a 1950s housewife in New York City discovers she has a knack for stand-up comedy after her husband leaves her. I loved the humor, the characters, the costumes, and the quick wit of all involved. I just learned this was based loosely on the life of Joan Rivers.
This was such a big warm hug that I had to take to bed when it ended. Why oh why can’t they keep the show going??? The combo of sports, coaching, and competition with friendship, love, biscuits, and sometimes annoying optimism, created a feel-good for the ages.
I was afraid to watch this series, in fear that it would fall short of one of my favorite books of the year. But I worried needlessly. Brie Larson was so good as Elizabeth Zott and all the characters delivered. Yes, it is sad in parts but Elizabeth’s tenacity, intelligence, and focus kept us hopeful. “Children, set the table. Your mother needs a moment to herself.”
I devoured the first two seasons on a long flight and finished the 3rd season when I got home and couldn’t sleep because of jet lag. SO SO GOOD!! Gary Oldman is incredible (although I want to wash his hair and clothes) as are all the characters. Kristin Scott Thomas is amazing as his boss and don’t worry – Chrissie and I will find out the details on her wardrobe selections as they are SO GOOD! Stay tuned. And there will be a Season 4!!
Also renewed for a fourth season! Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez live in the same apartment building, the Arconia, and become friends while investigating a succession of suspicious murders in the building. Tip – don’t move into this building – you may die. It’s a who-done-it throughout each season and the guessing keeps you watching ‘til the end.
Thank you Netflix for creating these wonderful sports documentaries!!
– Break Point follows a group of tennis players (Nick Kyrgios, Iga Świątek, Taylor Fritz, Ons Jabeur and more) through their season on the court and off.
– Full Swing features a behind the scenes look at the PGA and some of its colorful players (Brooks Koepka, Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, and more).
– Quarterback features 3 quarterbacks over the course of their 2022 season: Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota. Injuries, family life, team politics, and competitiveness all feature largely.
-And let’s not forget Beckham. I didn’t really follow his career and personal life with Posh so this was super fun to watch. I loved his honesty and his OCD. I’d like him to come over and clean my kitchen and closet!
