Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Republicans choose power over democracy, every day.

The arc of the moral universe does not bend itself. it is up to us to bend it.

Radicalized white males who support Trump are pitching a tent in the abyss.

Bark louder, little dog.

There are times when telling just part of the truth is effectively a lie.

JFC, are there no editors left at that goddamn rag?

This country desperately needs a functioning fourth estate.

Dear elected officials: Trump is temporary, dishonor is forever.

How any woman could possibly vote for this smug smarmy piece of misogynistic crap is beyond understanding.

If America since Jan 2025 hasn’t broken your heart, you haven’t loved her enough.

The republican caucus is covering themselves with something, and it is not glory.

Hi god, it’s us. Thanks a heap, you’re having a great week and it’s only Thursday!

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

The desire to stay informed is directly at odds with the need to not be constantly enraged.

Baby steps, because the Republican Party is full of angry babies.

“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.”

If you thought you’d already seen people saying the stupidest things possible on the internet, prepare yourselves.

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

Just because you believe it, that does not make it true.

The low info voters probably won’t even notice or remember by their next lap around the goldfish bowl.

Giving up is unforgivable.

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

“Facilitate” is an active verb, not a weasel word.

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

You are here: Home / John Cole Presents "This Fucking Old House" / Monday Night Open Thread

Monday Night Open Thread

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I had so much I wanted to talk about tonight and then I went and got tired and now I am totally sucked into Shogun on Hulu. It’s soooooooo good!

Do any of you remember the Shogun miniseries from the 80’s? I want to say it was in the 80’s. I remember that, and I also remember a riveting series on the Civil War called the Blue and the Gray. I want to say both on NBC, and I only say that because we were an NBC family, which is something kids today would look at you funny. But we were- that was one of the four channels available (ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS), and it was the one we picked up the best on our radial antenna. We got the other channels- I remember seeing Roots and there were a few tv shows my mom and dad watched on other channels, but it was mostly NBC.

Sunday afternoons was ABC, though, which always had sponsored feature length movies that would play for 20 minutes or so uninterrupted, then they would take a long break to sell you aluminum siding or something. Had that one fellow with white hair who had a great voice, usually.

Fucking hell I am old.

Reader Interactions

96Comments

  1. 1.

    Tim in SF

    I loved that original series. Richard Chamberlain! He’s 90 now! Much closer to the book than this new Hulu series, though the Hulu series is also good.

  5. 5.

    zhena gogolia

    I miss the simplicity of network TV. But that said, it’s great to have access to so many different things on streaming. I have made myself an expert on Soviet films of the 1960s-70s, which were fantastic.

  7. 7.

    JoyceH

    @zhena gogolia: I’m watching a Great Courses lecture series on Tudor-Stewart England on Prime. I studied that era in college, but that was (ulp!) fifty years ago.

  8. 8.

    Bostondreams

    John have you watched the Fallout series yet? It’s so shockingly good. Even more so if you know the games.

  11. 11.

    Leto

    @zhena gogolia: agreed to both parts. I remember when we got our circular antenna (UHF) and picked up this new station… Fox!

    Regarding Shogun: I didn’t watch the original, was just a bit too young for that. That being said I did watch the V mini-series, as well as the eventual tv series. Uhm, The Stand was another big one. Both of those also received a lot of replay during my first and second deployments to Kuwait and Saudi, respectively, because they were really long and sucked up a good bit of time.

    Avalune, the kid, and I really enjoy Shogun. I think the production values are spectacular, very good writing, and it’s an interesting period in general. It’s one that I’d def watch again. And John if I could make a recommendation as a companion piece, of sorts, the anime series Blue Eyed Samurai on Netflix is excellent. Roughly same time period, similar story line. If you’re enjoying Shogun, I think you’d really like it.

  13. 13.

    Eric S.

    John, did you finish Black Sails? I watched it when it first ran in Starz. I really enjoyed it.

  14. 14.

    UncleEbeneezer

    Shogun is great but can be hard to follow who’s who.  It’s also much less White Savior-ish, and the Japanese women have much meatier roles, than the 80’s version.

  15. 15.

    The Pale Scot

    riveting series on the Civil War called the Blue and the Gray.

    I’ve been trying to find a clip of Patrick Swayze hearing that the confederacy has declared war on the union while in a RR passenger car. His loyalties are questioned as he grimaces. “My deepest sympathies are for the South”

  16. 16.

    Kent

    Yes, I’m watching Shogun as well.  I agree, it is excellent.  I was probably in HS when the original miniseries came out and I remember it being a big deal nearly on the order of the Meryl Streep Holocaust miniseries and Roots, but not quite as big as those.  It was so long ago that I don’t remember much in the way of plot details so this is like watching the story fresh.

    Back in the golden age of miniseries destination TV watching when the whole country watched the big ones.

  17. 17.

    Eric S.

    @Leto: Some years ago a buddy and me went on a tangent about the V Series. My GF at the time found and bought a DVD set of the series.

  18. 18.

    UncleEbeneezer

    @Leto: If you like that time period, and haven’t seen it already, walk, don’t run to watch Mr. Sunshine.  Probably the best of all the K-dramas we’ve seen, and by far the most historical/period in vibe.  Action packed.  Drama.  Political intrigue.  History.  And great costumes and gorgeous actors/actresses.  Also surprisingly funny.

  22. 22.

    Leto

    @SiubhanDuinne: I haven’t watched that series but I know Richard Chamberlin starred in that as well. I’m pretty sure that’s another one that my parents watched.

     

    @Bostondreams: agreed, another really good series! I don’t know anything about the games (just didn’t play them), but my friend who’s a die hard Fallout fan really enjoyed it as well. The meme’s going around about Halo fans atm… poor Halo fans…

  24. 24.

    Cheryl from Maryland

    @JoyceH: you should watch Mary & George on Starz.  It’s about the rise of the Duke of Buckingham, George Villiers, at the courts of James I and Charles I of England (and the Three Musketeers).  Yes, it has James I having full blown sex with his male favorites, but the historical record isn’t far off, albeit many accounts of James’ court were from Catholic ambassadors to England, who were politically bound to assume the worst of James’ male favorites (yes, we have letters from James to them calling them my sweet and dearest wifie).  Also, the aesthetic is derived from Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, so I am all in.  Ps, Mary is George’s mother, played by Julianne Moore, so the cast is fab.

  25. 25.

    geg6

    Meryl Streep in the Holocaust mini-series from 1978.  Lots of really good actors in that one.  Michael Moriarty, James Woods (before he lost his mind), Tovah Feldshuh, David Warner, Rosemary Harris, Sam Wanamaker, Nigel Hawthorne, Ian Holm, John Houseman and many more.

  26. 26.

    p.a.

    Watched I, Claudius start-to-finish recently (just saw parts originally), really fun, despite the crappy image quality on the youtube freebie.  Some interesting Derek Jacobi interviews on it.

     

    Want to re-watch Danger! UXB with Anthony Edwards, think that was Masterpiece too.

     

    And Doctor in the House, ITV 1969-1970.  Originally a book then movie.   Writers for the Doctor in the House episodes were Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie and Bernard McKenna.[2]

    This was late-night weekend PBS here (maybe local VHF?)  Funny, and 10-year-old me was excited to note occasional real live boobies on a tv show!  Those Brits!

  27. 27.

    Leto

    @Eric S.: as a kid, absolutely loved it. Sci-fi, aliens, subterfuge… I mean it had it all! When I was a bit older, you know, started seeing some flaws but still enjoyed it. I haven’t watched it since because I know that I’d probably tear it apart and I simply want to keep the good memories I have of it.

     

    @UncleEbeneezer: oh, what service? Netflix? And I have a recommendation for you as well: African Samurai: The True Story of Yasuke, a Legendary Black Warrior in Feudal Japan

    Warrior. Samurai. Legend.

    The remarkable life of history’s first foreign-born samurai and his astonishing journey from Northeast Africa to the heights of Japanese society.

    When Yasuke arrived in Japan in the late 1500s, he had already traveled much of the known world. Kidnapped as a child, he had ended up a servant and bodyguard to the head of the Jesuits in Asia, with whom he traversed India and China, learning multiple languages as he went. His arrival in Kyoto, however, literally caused a riot. Most Japanese people had never seen an African man before, and many of them saw him as the embodiment of the black-skinned (in local tradition) Buddha. Among those who were drawn to his presence was Lord Nobunaga, head of the most powerful clan in Japan, who made Yasuke a samurai in his court. Soon, he was learning the traditions of Japan’s martial arts and ascending the upper echelons of Japanese society.

    In the 400 years since, Yasuke has been known in Japan largely as a legendary, perhaps mythical figure. Now, African Samurai presents the never-before-told biography of this unique figure of the 16th century, one whose travels between countries, cultures, and classes offers a new perspective on race in world history and a vivid portrait of life in medieval Japan.

  28. 28.

    Mike in NC

    The tree pollen situation around here is the worst in several years. I got to the point where I could barely breathe on my own and my wife called 9-1-1 about 5 AM this morning. I got excellent care at the ER where they diagnosed me with bronchitis. The meds now have me back to 90% normal.

  29. 29.

    NotMax

    The first mini-series just squeaked into your timeline, having aired in September 1980.

  32. 32.

    Dangerman

    Do any of you remember the Shogun miniseries from the 80’s?

    80’s? Gotta be early 80’s.

    Of course. My first celebrity crush might have been the actress that played opposite RC (sorry, Alyssa Milano; if you lurk, you were later, I think, but I was over you when you went SC fan, but I have your baseball book, and you are forgiven because Dodgers and political activism).

    Love all things Japanese. Highly recommend Tokyo Central Market if you are in Gardena (greater LA area). Go see the Shuttle (I have a Shuttle related story, but I can’t share a lot beyond it was related to the Palapa satellite recovered in 198?);  shuttle and market, that would be helluva day (though the Shuttle is kinda close to SC, so … oh well, it is what it is).

    Or Hell, go to Tokyo. Loved it. LOVED Kamakura.

  33. 33.

    Urza

    @Leto: Shogun and Blue Eyed Samurai are based on history.  There was a white English captain who was stranded and became a Hatamoto.  The names are all changed aside from Toranaga, but the gist of it follows history.  Its a very popular story in Japan.

  36. 36.

    Bostondreams

    @Eric S.: I was obsessed with that series as a kid. Even wrote fan fiction in my note book before that was a thing and made a scrap book I still have :-/

  37. 37.

    Sure Lurkalot

    I’m watching Shogun and am looking forward to the finale. I like one season shows.

    I watched the TV version but have no memory of it or the book which is downstairs on a bookshelf.

    I loved Dr. Kildare which started when I was six. My next heartthrob was Illya Kuryakin.

  38. 38.

    Gin & Tonic

    Was reading an article in an on-line food-related publication. When I got to “wet your palette” I bailed out, never to return.

  39. 39.

    Scout211

    @zhena gogolia: And I think of Dr. Kildare! (Am I giving away my age?) But I preferred Vince Edwards.

    OMG.  Dr. Kildare! My sisters and I were in looooove!  I still remember the best episode (two-part, IIRC) Tyger, Tyger, with Yvette Mimieux.  We cried our teenaged eyes out!

  40. 40.

    Leto

    @Mike in NC: oh man, glad you’re doing better. Hopefully you guys get some rain down there to help calm everything down.

     

    @Urza: ah, that’s cool! The things you continue to learn!

  41. 41.

    geg6

    Rich Man, Poor Man was very good and very steamy.  Peter Strauss and a very young, very yummy Nick Nolte.  So delicious!  Plus every tv star and character actor you can name, pretty much.

  42. 42.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Leto: ​ 

    Blue Eyed Samurai

    I was doing the Netflix scroll (that 20 minutes of scrolling up and down deciding on what to watch before closing it down and switching to another website in frustration having decided to re=watch a show you’ve watched a dozen times before) and added that to my list. Now I know I’ll check it out.

  43. 43.

    Almost Retired

    @zhena gogolia:  OMG!  You remember Vince Edwards.   During my sabbatical between undergrad and law school I was a waiter at a tacky theme restaurant called Gulliver’s in Marina del Rey.  He was a regular and an awesome tipper.  At the time I didn’t know who he was.

  44. 44.

    Scout211

    Another mini-series from the way-back machine: Rich Man, Poor Man.

    Peter Strauss and a young Nick Nolte.

    ETA:  geg6 beat me to it.

  45. 45.

    delphinium

    @zhena gogolia: I watched Thorn Birds with my mom so that memory definitely stuck with me : ).  I did know that he was also in Dr. Kildare, but never saw it.

  47. 47.

    trollhattan

    First edition of Shogun mostly remember Chamberlain trying to be not-Dr Kilgore and pillowing.

    The new Blackthorne is more boorish, which seems closer to how he was written, and clawing back some respect as the series goes on becomes more believable/relevant to the plot.

    “Prettiest” adventure series since Game of Thorns.

  48. 48.

    CaseyL

    I haven’t seen the new Shogun, and I don’t have any argument with the people who prefer it because it centers more on the Japanese characters, so we see things more from their perspective.

    But the point of the first miniseries (which will live in my heart forever) was to see things from Blackthorne’s perspective. The first episodes, on first airing, had no subtitles for the Japanese dialog – because Blackthorne had none (nor an interpreter yet) – we, the viewers, were thrust into a society, and power struggle, and language, that was as strange to (most of) us as it was to Blackthorne. We, and he, were learning it all at the same time.

    I mean, I like the idea of doing Shogun from the Japanese perspective, and would like to see this version someday. But I don’t agree with denigrating the first series because it didn’t do that.

  50. 50.

    Devore

    And the FX Shogun episodes just keep getting better

     

    no comparison with the 80s version    Even better than the book

  55. 55.

    NotMax

    Meanwhile,

    A Jan. 6 defendant who brought a Confederate flag to the Capitol and wore an “I ❤️ TRUMP” beanie as he assaulted police officers with chemical spray, partially blinding two of them for hours, was sentenced to 30 months in prison on Monday. Source

  56. 56.

    The Pale Scot

    @UncleEbeneezer:

    OPPsss.. I plead aging infirmities and dementias.

    Small awesomeness. Becket 1964, with young Richard Burton and Peter O’Toole chewing up the scenery for 2 and a half hours. “Beware mortal! Least you impale your soul on your sword” is on Utube complete and full sized.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u9VmtQUmoM

    Burton describing growing up in his family of Welsh coalminers. “With his lungs full of dust”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFnra54Yk44

  63. 63.

    laura

    Barbara Stanwyck was So Very Good in Thorn Birds! A really good book to mini series. I liked the Shogun too, but it didn’t come close to the richness of the book. I guess I’ll have to watch this current iteration.

  68. 68.

    beckya57

    I loved the book Shogun and the original miniseries (and yes it was shown in the early ‘80’s), and I really like this version too, even though it’s very different.  We’re staying up late to watch it on FX because we don’t stream, and I feel yucky the next day but it’s been worth it.  I agree with others that this one, compared to the first, takes a lot of liberties with the book.  SPOILER ALERT!  Just one example: Blackthorn acting as Mariko’s second in the last episode isn’t in the book, and it was remarkable how they believably showed a potential beheading as an act of love and sacrifice.  I liked how the first one invited us to identify with Blackthorn’s baffled response to an alien culture, and I like how this one focuses on Toranaga and the other Japanese characters in their GoT style maneuverings.  They’re just different interpretations of an extremely interesting story.

  69. 69.

    Leto

    @NotMax: I like to think about how they were going to coif Jean Luc, to the point where they had him wear the piece for several test shots, and how those eventually came out. Glad he said no, and threw that thing into the sun.

  71. 71.

    Inventor

    @laura: Barbara Stanwyck was So Very Good in Thorn Birds!

    Victoria Barkley is my all-time favorite TV mom. All lightness and grace until someone messes with one of her kids…

    She was ready to bust a cap in some poor passerby if he didn’t help Heath get out from under a wagon or something. Heath!

  72. 72.

    Anotherlurker

    @kalakal: I Claudius was a great series.  It is a text book example of a brilliant director working in the confines of a low budget.  Director Herbert wise was a master of using camera blocking to add to the story.      https://youtu.be/roI56_c_E6o?si=cLh-EHlM1SQfVXZB

    This link is a good example of how a good director works with great actors and camera operators to tell the story.

    Please try to ignore the shitty AI narration.   Also, let me know if the link worked.   I’m using a new Chromebook after using a Macbook for years and I’m re- learning basic things in a new format.

  73. 73.

    RevRick

    @JoyceH: My wife and I have a subscription to Wondrium and we have watched a wide variety of subjects from crime to weather to quantum physics to the history of European art to the history of the ancient world and of the Middle Ages. Not to mention tours of African safaris, England, Scotland and Wales and polar explorations.

  75. 75.

    Melancholy Jaques

    I respectfully disagree with the consensus here. I never accepted Dr. Kildare as Blackthorn. He’s too pretty, too smooth. The Blackthorn in the novel was rough around the edges.

    The tough part of the new series is that it is only ten episodes and they had to eliminate quite a bit.

  82. 82.

    Citizen Dave

    @Kelly: Amazing!  Thanks for sharing this.

    Only miniseries I remember watching was Fresno, a raisin industry saga with Carol Burnett and Charles Grodin in the leads.

  87. 87.

    Geoduck

    I remember using the manual antenna-rotation device once a week to pick up a quirky station near the Canadian border that played Doctor Who episodes. (The local PBS station had a serious stick up their ass about featuring only Quality Programming. At least Red Dwarf was so popular they were forced to air marathons a couple of times a year as a fundraiser.)

  89. 89.

    sab

    @Geoduck: Stick up their ass describes so many PBS stations I have loved. The contributors can have a serious impact on their programmers. If you do not contribute they will not care about what you think.  If you do contribute they will care. And a thousand small contributors have more impact than a couple of big donors. Because money.

    That is what I love about NPR and PBS. They are structured to care about many small contributors.

  90. 90.

    Nononan

    I was in high school when the first Shogun aired which I watched and thoroughly enjoyed. I also read the book which fascinated and horrified my teenage self with its graphic description of ritual suicide. I’m sure the new Hulu version is good but I’m not sure I can relive that level of violence again.

  91. 91.

    currawong

    Read the book in the 70s, loved the 80s series and loved this series too.

    Episode 9 might just be the best hour’s television I’ve ever seen. I knew what was coming but it still left me shaken.

  92. 92.

    Kosh III

    I was a teen in the 60s and lived in a very rural area.
    We could get only NBC.  Happily that had Star Trek Original as I was already a sci-fi junkie. Plus Dr Kildare and Sheri Lewis and Lambchop! Anyone else ancient enough to remember the song from Howdy Doody?

    I watched the 80s Shogun and read the book.  The new version is excellent. One difference between the two is that the original seemed to always be bright and sunny, the new version is always rainy or gloomy or both which seems more realistic.

  93. 93.

    DSC

    @Mike in NC: google Corsi fan and This old house–that DIY device has made all the difference in this allergy season for my husband–allergic to grass pollen and we live in the midst of many hayfields. He made one for my nieces and they are now sleeping through the night. such a simple thing

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