Earl’s World: The Filtered Excellence: September 7, 2021

Ted Lasso.  Apple TV’s Emmy nominated sleeper hit is back for its highly anticipated 2nd season.  It stars Jason Sudeikis as the always upbeat, college football coach who, despite having no experience, is coaching the Premier League soccer team, AFC Richmond.  The team is fighting to play its way back into the league, but starts the season with eight straight ties.  Desperate to get in the win column, management brings in sports psychologist Dr Sharon Fieldstone (Sarah Niles) to shake things up.  Her direct, no-nonsense approach has a great effect on the players, forcing Ted to question whether or not he truly has a grip on the team.  Meanwhile, Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) is balancing his relationship with model turned marketing strategist Keeley Jones (Juno Temple) with his transition from player to commentator, and later, AFC Richmond assistant coach.  In addition, self-centered Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster) returns to Richmond after an ill advised attempt to become a reality TV star; owner Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) begins dating again using a new app and right backer Sam Obisanya (Toheeb Jimoh) tries to assert his role as a leader on and off the field. The show still retains all of its warmth and humor, introducing more nuances, depth, backstory, and even a hint of darkness to each character.  Niles fits in perfectly as the matter of fact Dr. Fieldstone, playing a perfect counter to Lasso’s earnest, warm, folksy approach to life.  Any concerns about a sophomore slump are quickly dashed away for one of the best shows on TV.  Ted Lasso is available now on Apple TV Plus.

Buddy Guy: The Blues Chase The Blues Away.  For over 50 years, Buddy Guy has been one of the most influential, respected and revered guitarists to ever pick up the instrument.  To coincide with his 85th birthday, Guy is the subject of the acclaimed PBS American Masters series.  Told in his own words, it covers every facet of his life: Growing up in Louisiana sharecroppers picking cotton $2.50 per 100 pounds;  re-locating to Chicago working on a truck during the day and being a hired gun for blues legends Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson at night; being embraced by British blues disciples such as The Rolling Stones, Cream and Jeff Beck; Keith Richards and Eric Clapton; his legendary musical partnership with harmonica player Junior Wells; how his friendship with Stevie Ray Vaughan played a key role in become a successful, Grammy Award-winning solo artist; and how his determination to keep the blues alive led him to become a prominent club owner in Chicago with Buddy Guy’s Legends.  Along with being one of the most influential guitarists of all time, Guy is also a great storyteller, delivering unflinching honesty and candor about his nearly six decade career.  A powerful look about at a musical iconoclast.  Buddy Guy:  The Blues Chase The Blues Away is available now on PBS and the PBS app.

Reservation Dogs.  Written, produced, directed and starring Native Americans, this dynamic new FX series tells the story of teenage friends Elora Danan (Devery Jacobs), Bear (D’Pharaoh Woon A-Tai), Cheese (Lane Factor) and Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis) who resort to petty crimes in order to finance a move from rural Oklahoma to California.  When the newly named Reservation Dogs aren’t putting their inexperience on full display, they also have to come to full grips with the suicide of their best friend, family, and a rival gang.  Created by Talika Waititi (JoJo Rabbit) and Sterlin Harjo are firing on all cylinders, capturing both the hopelessness, aimlessness, quirks and absurdities of Native American life through the eyes of those who is just starting to figure life out.  The cast is spot on, led by Jacobs and A-Tai as the de facto gang leaders.   With clever references to Quentin Tarentino, Oliver Stone and Jim Jarmusch movies and insightful, funny, writing this show will do for Native Americans what Atlanta did for Blacks.  One of the year’s best.  New episodes of Reservation Dogs airs each Monday on Hulu.

Untold: Malice At The Palace.  On November 19, 2004, a nationally televised game between the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers ended in chaos as Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O’Neal fought with Piston players and fans.  ‘The Malice At The Palace’ resulted in nine players getting suspended for 146 games (including a season long suspension for Pacer forward Ron Artest), along with assault charges for five players and fans.  As part of Netflix’s Untold series, director Floyd Russ spoke with everyone involved – players, refs, fans, law enforcement officials – and the arena’s security footage, to show how the night went horribly wrong, altering players career arcs, halting the trajectories of both teams for nearly two decades and leading to a shift in league policies that are still being felt today.  It also dispels many of the narratives that consumed the news cycle in its wake, offering a much broader perspective on how things escalated as quickly as it did.  Well researched, informative, and, at times, heartbreaking, Russ delivers a candid look back at one of the darkest moments in NBA history.  Untold:  Malice At The Palace is available now on Netflix.

Stand For Myself by Yola.  In 2020, singer-songwriter and all around badass Yola was poised to graduate to superstar status.  Her debut album, Walk Through Fire was nominated for four Grammy Awards, she was about to tour with Chris Stapleton and was cast to play Sister Rosetta Tharpe in Baz Lurrmann’s Elvis biopic.  The pandemic derailed her chance to build on that success, but, it always gave her the chance to plot a clearer course to her second album.  Featuring killer production once again by Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach, it features Yola’s soulful vocals soaring on top of songs that marry country with late 60s/early 70s R&B, with a splash of classic disco through in as well.  Lyrically, Yola – with assists from Auerbach, Joy Oladokun, Ruby Amanfu and Natalie Hemby – moves from the introspective to socially conscious effortlessly.  It’s another winner from one of the best vocalists working today.  Stand For Myself is available now through all major streaming services.