David B.Katague, B.S., M.S., M.A, Ph.D. Sunset Photo from the Balcony of the Chateau Du Mer Beach House, Boac,Marinduque,Philippines
Welcome to My Site
If this is your first visit, welcome! This site is devoted to my life experiences as a Filipino-American who immigrated from the Philippines to the United States in 1960. I came to the US as a graduate student when I was 26 years old. I am now in my mid-80's and thanks God for his blessings, I have four successful and professional children and six grandchildren here in the US. My wife and I had been enjoying the snow bird lifestyle between US and Philippines after my retirement from USFDA in 2002. Macrine(RIP),Me and my oldest son are the Intellectual migrants. Were were born in the Philippines, came to the US in 1960 and later became US citizens in 1972. Some of the photos and videos in this site, I do not own. However, I have no intention on infringing on your copyrights. Cheers!
I
have been enjoying my favorite movies, TV shows, and Documentaries for
the last several months with streaming services besides my Comcast Cable
Subscription. I have Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video Subscriptions. With my cable subscription I have access to HBO Max, Disney+and Peacock. My favorites are of course Netflix and Hulu. Netflix is currently the most popular streaming service in the world, with around 207 million subscribers.
Bundling subscriptions can save you money.
Today, TV viewers in the US have more places to watch their favorite movie and shows. Choosing the right
streaming service for your home entertainment setup will depend on a
number of factors, including your budget, which exclusive programs you
like the most, how many screens you want to watch on, and other factors.
Here's
a summary to help you decide what to sign up for, rounding up the best
streaming services of 2021. These picks are primarily
focus on on-demand platforms like
Netflix and
Hulu, but also includes separate sections for live TV and specialty streaming channels.
I
was watching the Macy Parade last Thursday on NBC. After the parade I
accidentally did not closed the TV. The next show was the National Dog
Show. For some reason I decided to watch it. It turned out to be an
informative show and it reminded me of an article I wrote just recently.
The Katague family are dog and cat lovers. I remember when the kids
were growing up we have pet dogs and cats. Some of the breeds we have
were a Samoyd( Meling), a Chow Chow ( Miko), a German Shepherd( Devil)
and a few other mixed breeds. For details on the Dog Show this year
read:
Experiencing the Empty Nest Syndrome? Adopt a Pet Dog!!
I
was messaging a friend in FB recently about her feelings of emptiness,
since her last child went to college last month. It reminded me of my
article about the empty nest syndrome(ENS) that I wrote a few years ago.
In this article I wrote about Macrine (RIP) feelings, when our oldest
son left home for college to UC Berkeley. I am posting here excerpts of
that article. In this article there were suggestions in how to cope up
with ENS. Today I think one of the ways to cope with ENS is to adopt a
pet- a dog specifically. Would you agree?
I was exchanging messages with a relative in FB recently. In our
conversation, she mentioned that all her children have left the house
and she misses them. I informed her she is suffering from empty nest syndrome
and it is normal or another stage in one's life as we age. Here's her
exact words. I am not mentioning her name for the sake of anonymity.
"I was in tears reading your blog (Thank You Lord,I have Thoughtful
Relatives). It reminds me of our situation....just me and my husband in a
4,000sq. ft. house and I have to do the cleaning. My health is not
good. I miss my children, how happy and busy was our household before
and now they are busy in their professions and family. My eldest who has
his medical practice in San Antonio, Texas. He calls us every Sunday,
the second one calls when he has a chance. His having two kids is hard
and my daughter calls when she remembers. They are all in medical field
so working night shifts sometimes is hard. I will have them read your
blog. Thanks Nong David".
Here's my response:
I appreciate your feedback, I think your feeling is very normal at this
stage of your life. You are suffering from-empty nest syndrome. Keep
busy and just count your blessings. Are you still working? Keep in
touch! Give my regards to the family!
Empty nest syndrome is a feeling of grief and loneliness parents or
guardians may feel when their children leave home for the first time,
such as to live on their own or to attend a college or university. It is
not a clinical condition.
All parents are susceptible to empty nest syndrome, although some
factors can create a predisposition to it. Such factors include an
unstable or unsatisfactory marriage, a sense of self based primarily on
identity as a parent, or difficulty accepting change in general.
Full-time parents (stay-at-home mothers or fathers) may be especially
vulnerable to empty nest syndrome. Adults who are also dealing with
other stressful life events such as menopause, the death of a spouse, or
retirement are also more likely to experience the syndrome.
Symptoms of empty nest syndrome can include depression, a sense of loss
of purpose, feelings of rejection, or worry, stress, and anxiety over
the child's welfare. Parents who experience empty nest syndrome often
question whether or not they have prepared adequately for their child to
live independently.
Parents going through empty nest syndrome can ease their stress by pursuing their own hobbies and interests
in their increased spare time. Discussing their grief with each other,
friends, families, or professionals may help them. Experts have advised
that overwhelmed parents keep a journal, or go back to work if they were
full-time parents.
Our personal experience with empty nest syndrome started when our oldest
son, went to college. My wife did cry and I told her he will be back at
the end of the week to do his laundry. My wife finally accepted the
fact that her oldest child is growing up and let him go. This feeling of
loneliness was repeated four times, since we have four children. Their
first day away from home always gave us a feeling of sadness. The first
one was the hardest and the last one was the easiest.
Finally if you are in the stage of your life when you children has to go
to college or live by themselves, do not feel sad, It is part of the
stage of life. Keep busy and try to communicate to them as often as you
can. Otherwise get a Pet Dog or Cat!
Our First Thanksgiving Day in the US, Danville, Illinois, 1960
Tomorrow will be my 61 years of celebrating thanksgiving day here in the US.
This year thanksgiving celebration will be in Palo Alto, CA
at the residence of Charo Jambalos Levin. Charo is Macrine's youngest
sister. The Jambalos and Katague clan are all invited for a Pot Luck
lunch. The last time I heard there are more than 20 coming. David E and I
decided not to attend, because I do not want to torture myself with the
expected 3-4 hours bumper to bumper traffic from Sacramento to Palo
Alto. David and I will have just honey-baked ham, potato salad, sweet
potatoes and cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie with ice cream for
dessert.
Thanksgiving Day reminds me of the First Thanksgiving
Day in the US that I have experienced. I am reposting my memories of
that day as follows:
Our First Thanksgiving Day in United States, 1960
It
was on November, 1960 when Macrine and I and our oldest son,Dodie(who was
only 2 years old then) experienced our first Thanksgiving Celebration in
the United States. That year, I was a graduate student at the
University of Illinois at the Medical Center in Chicago. The Chicago
Hospitality Center along with YMCA and CFM invites all Foreign students
in the area to spend a Thanksgiving weekend to the homes of volunteers
in small towns of Illinois away from the crowded city of Chicago. Some
of my foreign student friends were reluctant and did not accept the
invitation, but I had an adventurous spirit so with great anticipation,
Macrine and I along with Dodie went with 12 other foreign students and
their families to Central Illinois. Our host for that weekend was Mrs.
Johnston, a widow from Danville, Illinois. She lives alone and her
beautiful bungalow house right in downtown Danville. We left Chicago in
the morning, had thanksgiving dinner ( turkey and all its trimmings)in
late afternoon. This was followed by a program in the evening at a local
community center, where all the Hosts met and socialized with other
invited students from Korea, Iran, Mexico, Japan, Chile, South Africa,
Egypt and the Philippines. Macrine, Dodie and I represented the
Philippines. The next day we had a grand tour of the area, the farms
and then to Springfield, the capital of Illinois. The tour of the area
and Springfield was the highlight of our 2 days break from our hectic
schedules as a graduate students.
So, did I like the roasted
turkey? Nope, that was first time I had turkey. In the Philippines we do
not celebrate Thanksgiving and I had never tasted turkey before. I did
not like the pumpkin pie either. What I enjoyed was the oyster
stuffing,ice cream and the cranberries sauce.
So why do I write
this post? Well, to thank the Lord for all the good things and the past
49 years (61 years update this year) of Thanksgiving Days, He has given me and my family so far
here in US. In addition our visit to the “real” Americans ( not the Ugly
ones) that Thanksgiving day in 1960 prompted me to write an article of
my impressions of the US at that time and has remained in my memory
until today:
Our Impression of America
"
During our first year in Chicago, we never received an invitation to
participate in the hospitality program. Our name was probably buried in
the list of foreign students or perhaps our foreign student adviser was
sleeping in her job. During these first year of adjustments to the
American way of life, we formed a very wrong impression of Americans.
Asides from our daily contacts with fellow students in the school rooms
or dormitories, our only other social contacts were people in the
streets, subways, buses, department stores, supermarkets and other
public places. These were all artificial contacts, giving us an
impression that Americans are unfriendly, artificial, insincere,
apathetic,intolerant and above all ignorant.The latter adjective was
quite true, since the ordinary or typical American does not have the
vaguest idea where the Philippines, Japan or even Puerto Rico is located
in the map.
" However, in our second year, we began receiving
invitation to spend a weekend in suburban homes as well as dinner
invitations in city homes. At first, we were reluctant to accept the
invitation, however with our adventurous spirit, we said yes. From
then on, "we have the whole world in our hands". We are thankful to CFM,
the YWCA and the Hospitality Center of Chicago for making our stay
filled with pleasant memories.
"On the other hand what
impressions could we have brought back to the Philippines, if our stay
was limited to one or two years ( true for exchange visitors). How many
visitors and exchange scholars brought home with them the wrong
impressions and attitude towards the American people in general? I knew
there were a few foreign students in the dormitories who were
disillusioned about the United States. One of them was a former dorm
mate from Chile. He received an invitation, but never did conquer his
apprehension of accepting one.
" At present as couple leader of
the first interfaith group in our diocese, we will do our very best to
reciprocate, promote, and encourage hospitality programs to foreign
students and scholars in our area. We believe that opening our homes and
our hearts on weekends and holidays, is one of the best ways of
promoting world peace and understanding. Let us then make it possible
for foreign students and scholars get the true picture of America and
its people. Let us give them the opportunity to share with us our way of
life. Let us get busy as a group or perhaps join other groups in order
that we can show to the future leaders of the world, how sincere,
friendly and aware we are of other human beings in other parts of the
world. This is one of the many ways we could be more Christlike, we
believe".
This letter was published by CFM in their monthly magazine, ACT, for all their members worldwide.
I also would like to dedicate this poem to all my readers in this blog. Thanksgiving Every Day-By Karl Fuchs
The table is brimming with good things to eat; We're surrounded by family and friends; what a treat. The feelings that fill us today can’t be beat; It’s Thanksgiving Day, and it all feels complete. But other days, sometimes things don’t seem so fine; Those days are not polished and don’t seem to shine. It's then in our minds, we forget all the good, And think of the things we would get, if we could. On days when our thinking causes us dread, If we could remember, it’s all in our head, And not let our minds take our gratitude away, Then we'd make every day like Thanksgiving Day.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL! What are you thankful for this year?
Are you fully vaccinated? If not, I hope Covid-19 does not catch you for good!
Meanwhile enjoy these photos from my garden this week
My Tangerine fruits this year ( harvested one the other day).
Cacti and my rose last bloom for this year
Azaleas starting to bloom on my side yard pathway!
The
other day, I posted a list of popular fruits in the Philippines. This
posting is about the Marang Fruit that I have never tasted.
The
Marang is a fruit that I have never tasted in the Philippines, because
it seasonal and rarely available in Metro Manila. However, I have heard
of the health benefits of this fruit.
Marang (Artocarpus odoratissimus)
is a species of flowering plant in the
Moraceae family. It is a commonly called marang, madang, timadang,
terap, tarap, green pedalai, or johey oak. It belongs to the breadfruit
family and grows abundantly in Mindanao, Southern Philippines.
Here's an article from the Philippine News on the Health Benefits of the Marang Fruit
Marang is an exotic and delicious fruit that contains numerous
vitamins and minerals, which has beneficial effects on the body’s
health.
Marang is also known as “Artocarpus Odoratissimus,” a tree came from
the mulberry and fig family of Moraceae. This fruit can be usually found
in tropical climate countries such as the Philippines, but it is also
cultivated all around the world.
It is also quite related to the fruits such as cempedak, jackfruit,
and breadfruit trees. This fruit is very popular worldwide, because of
its, sweet, unique, juicy, and delicious taste. Most Filipinos love to
eat Marang, because of its flavor and health benefits.
It has been also traditionally used by ancient people in treating and
preventing numerous types of diseases, because of its medicinal
properties. It contains a high nutritional value, which has beneficial
effects on the body.
It contains vitamins A, B, C, beta-carotene, dietary fiber, retinol,
thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and niacin. It contains minerals
such as zinc, iron, phosphorus, protein, potassium, calcium, manganese,
copper, and magnesium.
It also contains antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, and
anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains a lot of antioxidants
that can help the body to fight free radicals, which can cause harm to
the body.
It can be also used as a natural alternative for the expensive
treatments and medications in the hospitals and medical clinic. Aside
from being an effective remedy, it is also more affordable compared to
the high-cost medications.
Here are some of the amazing health benefits of eating marang fruit:
Prevents cancer
Controls Diabetes
Reduce Cholesterol Levels
Relieves Constipation
Prevents Heart Diseases
Prevents Anemia
Improves Digestion
Enhances Metabolism
Improves Vision
Prevents Stroke
Relieves Inflammation
Personal Note:
I was born and lived in the Philippines until I was 23 years old but
have never tasted this fruit. I am now in my mid-80 and realized that I
am still learning new things. I have tasted the durian ( candy but not
the fresh one), guayabano( sour sop), atis ( custard apple), Jackfruit
and star apple. The taste of marang have been described as a combination
of the above fruits. I am longing to taste this marang fruit.
Meanwhile, see this photo of my potted ampalaya starting to fruit
Ampalaya
( bitter melon) should be planted in the Ground. But my backyard is
small, so I planted it in a pot. It is growing, but not as luxuriant if
it were planted in the Ground.
I am also proud to show my pineapple harvest in my front porch this year.
I saw an ad the other day of the availability of atis or
sugar/custard apples in our local Asian store here in the Sacramento
area for $3 each. This reminded me of an article I wrote a couple of
years ago on the availability( although may be seasonal) and
affordability of fresh tropical fruits in the Philippines. Here's my
article on the subject of Popular Fruits of the Philippines.
A Few of My Avocado Harvests from the Orchards of Chateau Du Mer, Philippines
Some Filipino Fruits with their English Names
Here's a list of some popular seasonal fruits in the Philippines.
How many of these fruit have you tried?
Atis (custard or sugar apple)
Atis is also known as custard or sugar apples. (Pixabay/Stock photo)
Atis
has lots of seeds that are coated with a soft sugary pulp that tastes
like custard. The sweet fruit is available from September to December.
Banana
The country is one of the top producers of bananas. (Pixabay/Stock photo)
Banana
is considered the “most economically important fruit” in the country
since it is one of the locally-produced fruits available throughout the
year.
Chico (naseberry)
Chico is also called an energy fruit because of its high sugar levels. (Wikimedia Commons/Stock photo)
Chico
has a sweet and malty flavor that has an edible coat. It’s also called
an energy fruit because it has high levels of sugar. The fruit is
available every January and February.
Dalanghita (mandarin orange)
Dalanghitas are known as a symbol of good fortune every Chinese New Year. (Wikimedia Commons/Stock photo)
Dalanghitas
are considered an important fruit around Chinese New Year because it
symbolizes good fortune. They are available from January to February and
October to December.
Duhat (Java plum)
Java plums are known to leave a “puckering” sensation in the mouth once eaten. (Wikimedia Commons/Stock photo)
The
duhat leaves a dark violet stain on the tongue when eaten. It is
likened to an astringent since it causes a “puckering sensation” in the
mouth. These are available from March to July.
Durian
Durians
are notorious for their extremely strong smell but it’s also considered
the “King of Fruits.” (Wikimedia Commons/Stock photo)
Durians are notorious for being smelly
because of the mixture of several chemicals found in the fruit. Despite
this, they are known as the “King of Fruits” partly due to its size,
odor and prickly look. Durians are in season from August to October.
Guyabano (soursop)
Guyabanos are used to produce juice and sweets, among others. (Wikimedia Commons/Stock photo)
Guyabanos
have a sweet pulp that is used to make juice, candies and ice cream
flavorings. They are available from August to November.
Caimito (star apple)
Caimitos (or “kaimitos”) are also known as star apples. (Wikimedia Commons/Stock photo)
Caimitos
are also known as star apples because of their star-like design when
sliced in halves. It consists of two colors — white and purple. Caimitos
are in season from January to March.
Langka (jackfruit)
Langkas are usually mixed in banana cue recipes. (Wikimedia Commons/Stock photo)
Langkas
are usually mixed in halo-halo or banana cue recipes because of their
sweet flavor. They are in season from March to May.
Lanzones
The seeds of lanzones are bitter but its fruit is a mix of sweet and sour. (Wikimedia Commons/Stock photo)
Lanzones
are known for its sweet and sour taste but it becomes bitter if you
taste its seed. They are available from August to December.
Mango
The mango is known as the national fruit of the Philippines. (Creative Commons/Stock photo)
The
mango is the national fruit of the country. One of its ripe varieties,
the champagne mango, is considered the sweetest mango in the world. It
is in season from March to June.
Mangosteen
The
mangosteen is known as the “Queen of Fruits” because it resembles a
queen’s crown when sliced in half. (Max Pixel/Stock photo)
If
durian is the “King of Fruits,” then mangosteen is the “Queen of the
Fruits” for its high antioxidant properties and crown-like shape once
sliced. They are available from June to November.
Melon
Melons are usually mixed in salads or prepared as a juice in time for summer. (Creative Commons/Stock photo)
Melons
are mixed with salads, halo-halo and sometimes even condensed milk. It
is also used to prepare juice that is usually a hit during summer. They
are available from April to July.
Pakwan (watermelon)
Pakwans are also known as dessert fruits. (Wikimedia Commons/Stock photo)
Pakwans
are popular as desserts and is best eaten during summer because of its
thirst-quenching properties. They are in season from March to July.
Papaya
Christopher Columbus reportedly called papaya the “Fruit of the Angels.” (Pixabay/Stock photo)
Papaya
was purportedly called the “Fruit of the Angels” by explorer
Christopher Columbus because of its sweet and soft, butter-like
consistency. It is in season throughout the year.
Pineapple
The Philippines is one of the largest producers of the tropical fruit. (Flickr/Victoria Rachitzky Hoch)
The
Philippines is the second largest producer of pineapples next to
Thailand. These fruits are exported to other countries as well.
Pineapples are in season from May to July.
Rambutan
Rambutans may look like lychees but the former has seeds inside. (Pixabay/Stock photo)
The
fruit is similar to lychee but rambutan has a seed inside. It is best
eaten when it is bright red in color, which means it’s ripe and sweet.
They are in season from August to October.
Sampaloc (tamarind)
Sampalocs are used as flavorings or prepared as candies with sugar. (Pexels/Stock photo)
Tamarinds
are usually used as a flavoring for savory dishes. They are also
prepared as sugar-coated local candies. These fruits are available from
October to December.
Santol (cotton fruit)
Santol is also known as a cotton fruit because of its white, cotton-like membrane inside the fruit. (Flickr/whologwhy)
It
is also known as a cotton fruit since there is a white cotton-like
membrane inside once it is peeled. Some locals eat it with salt to add
flavor. It is in season from July to September.
Siniguelas (Spanish plum)
Siniguelas
are also known as Spanish plums because they were introduced to the
Filipinos by the Spaniards during colonization. (Wikimedia Commons/Stock
photo)
Siniguelas are brought by the Spaniards
during the colonization period, hence the name. It contains antioxidants
that can help the body heal and repair. The fruit is available from
April to June.
Suha (pomelo)
Pomelos are considered the largest fruit in the citrus family. (Pixabay/Stock photo)
Pomelos
are the largest fruit in the citrus family. They are also considered
the cousins of grapefruit. Like the santol, some people also eat it with
salt. These are available throughout the year.
With the
exception of the Durian, I have all of these fruits in my orchard at
Chateau Du Mer, Boac, Marinduque. Not in the above list are my avocado
and guava trees. For a list of fruit trees in my orchard in the
Philippines visit:
My Last posting was on my favorite TV singing competition. Today, It will be my favorite dancing competition.
There are several dancing TV shows that I have watched during the last 10 years. I have enjoyed watching So You Think you Can Dance and the World of Dance. However, my favorite is Dancing with Stars, currently on its 30th Season. Its on ABC.
There are controversies surrounding this Season 30. It included COVID-19 infections, the first-ever same-sex pairing, and judges and producers being accused of bias and prejudice.
On week two, competitor Cody Rigsby revealed he tested positive
for COVID-19. Accommodations were made for Rigsby and partner Cheryl
Burke. Contrary to how previous contestants were treated when facing
physical and health problems, the pair were not asked to withdraw and,
for the first time in the history of the show, were allowed to stay in
the competition while dancing from their homes. To facilitate dancing
from two different locations, instead of the originally assigned
cha-cha-cha, they were given a Jazz number.
Contestant JoJo Siwa
made history on the show as the first contestant to compete with a
partner of the same sex, which caused controversy when it was noted that
there had been several gay males competing throughout the show's run
who were paired with the opposite sex.
Kenya Moore's performances on the show were well-received by the critics and garnered positive reviews and praise from the fans.
However, she did not receive any points above 7. The scoring and number
of the announced votes sparked backlash with the viewers accusing the
panel of showing favoritism toward the less talented acts and underscoring Moore who excelled at dancing. The treatment was perceived as a double standard and bias.
Meanwhile enjoy this video of the top 10 Dances as compiled by ABC.
The Masked Singer from Fox currently on its 6th Seasons
Singing
Competitions TV shows had been popular for decades. I have watched them
all from American Idol, The Voice, Song Land, The Masked Singer and the
most recent one from Fox, Alter Ego. Currently my three favorites are:
The Voice, The Masked Singer and Alter Ego. In case you have not been
watching these shows here are brief summaries of the three shows from
Wikipedia.
1. "The Voice" started in 2011, and the 21st season premiered on September 21, 2021. It is a broadcast from NBC.
The Voice is an international reality television singing competition franchise. It is based on the reality singing competition The Voice of Holland, which was originally created by Dutch television producer John de Mol and singer Roel van Velzen. Many other countries have adapted the format and begun airing their own versions since 2010. It has become a rival to the Idols franchise, Rising Star and The X Factor. As of 2020, the franchise is owned by ITV Studios.
2. The Masked Singer (abbreviated as TMS is an American reality singing competition television series that premiered on Fox on January2, 2019. It is part of the Masked Singer
franchise which began in South Korea and features celebrities singing
songs while wearing head-to-toe costumes and face masks concealing their
identities. Hosted by Nick Cannon,
the program employs panelists who guess the celebrities' identities by
interpreting clues provided to them throughout each season. Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Nicole Scherzinger, and Robin Thicke
appear in each episode and vote alongside an audience for their
favorite singer after all perform. The least popular is eliminated,
taking off their mask to reveal their identity.
The winners of the first five seasons were T-Pain as "Monster", Wayne Brady as "Fox", Kandi Burruss as "Night Angel", LeAnn Rimes as "Sun", and Nick Lachey
as "Piglet", respectively. To prevent their identities from being
revealed before each prerecorded episode is broadcast, the program makes
extensive use of code names, disguises, non-disclosure agreements, and a team of security guards. While considering it more positive than other reality television shows, television critics
have had mixed reviews for the series and particularly negative
opinions of its panelists. The costumes, however, have attracted praise.
Inspired by haute couture, they are designed by Marina Toybina
and custom-built by a team ensuring the celebrities can sing clearly
while wearing them. In recognition of the costume design, Toybina won a Costume Designers Guild Award and a Creative Arts Emmy Award. Other production staff have won or been nominated for various labor union awards, and the show received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Competition Program.
The series has received the highest Nielsen ratings for a non-sports program in the adults 18–49 key demographic each television season it has aired. Two spin-offs—an aftershow and a dance version, The Masked Dancer—have followed as a result. The growth of the Masked Singer
franchise has been credited to the show's success, as has an interest
in adapting similar South Korean reality television series and other television formats centered on costumes. In May 2021, Fox renewed the show for a sixth season which premiered on September22 and 23, 2021.
The premise of the show is that the contestants sing backstage while motion capture technology creates digital avatars that appear in their place.
On May 17, 2021, it was announced that Fox had ordered the series, with Matilda Zoltowski as executive producer. On July 16, Rocsi Diaz was announced as host of the show, with Alanis Morissette, Nick Lachey, Grimes and will.i.am serving as judges. On July 26, it was announced that Alter Ego would premiere on September 22, following the sixth season premiere of The Masked Singer and a sneak peek episode that aired on September 12. On September 10, the contestants were announced.
Currently,
I am enjoying all the three shows. If you enjoy motion capture
technology and digital avatars, Alter Ego is a must watched show.
For the top 10 best singing competition show visit this site:
In my previous posting about a few weeks ago, I mentioned that I started watching again, the TV series Game of Thrones on HBO Max. Today I finished the 8 Seasons and it solidified my opinion and agreed with most of the critics that GOT is the best TV series of all Time.
It has everything entertaining( murder, sex, violence, treason, epic
battles, dragons and nudity ) and the several minor story lines( besides
the 3 major story lines) that are complex, intriguing with a lot of
dramatic twists and an ending most viewers did not expect or like.
I also mentioned the new Netflix TV Series- Squid Game
from Korea- the most popular and widely viewed series on Netflix
currently. I enjoyed very much both series and both series have
unpopular endings. Because I love both Series, I searched for TV series
similar to GOT and Squid Game. Today, I learned that Season 2 of Squid
Game have been approved.
Here's a summary of TV Shows similar to Game of Thrones.
In
this list I have watched all the shows on Netflix, Hulu, Showtime and
HBO Max. I have not seen the Series on Apple TV+ and Starz ( except
Outlander).
What if Game of Thrones... but in space? That's kind of what Apple TV+'s Foundation
is going for, with its bottomless budget and the incredibly rich
universes it inhabits. The sci-fi series follows an autocratic regime
that decides a mathematician's warning that the empire is about to fall
and send mankind into a period of dark ages is scientific nonsense, so
it's ignored by banishing the mathematician and his believers to the
outer reaches of the universe. With a variety of biomes, intricate
politics, and fantastic fashion, Foundation will remind you a lot of your favorite fantasy show. [Watch onApple TV+]
Depending on who you ask, Outlander
is either the sexiest show on TV, or it's a historical drama with a
touch of sci-fi. Or maybe it's both! Based on the book series by Diana
Gabaldon, Outlander revolves around Claire (Caitriona Balfe), a married World War II nurse who, after mysteriously time traveling back to 1743, falls in love with Jamie (Sam Heughan), a young Scottish warrior. You should know upfront that it definitely lacks the near-constant thrill that Game of Thrones
brought (there are way less expensive battle scenes, is what I'm
saying), but if you're looking for something that will give you an
occasionally accurate history lesson and get you invested in a sweeping
romance that spans centuries, Outlander is the show for you. [Watch onNetflix] Black Sails
Black Sails
Starz
Black Sails is about pirates, but not the fun, rum-drinking Pirates of the Caribbean kind: These are gritty pirates. A prequel to Treasure Island, Black Sails is set in the early 1700s and revolves around Captain Flint's (Toby Stephens) debaucherous life as the leader of a band of swashbucklers. He brings on Long John Silver (Luke Arnold) as a member of his crew, and together, they engage in a sprawling battle for New Providence Island. Black Sails has often been compared to Game of Thrones,
and even though it's not a fantasy, there are plenty of elements about
this show that fans will recognize and enjoy: its period setting, its
excellent characters, its engaging storytelling and world-building, and
some beautifully shot battle scenes. (And some gratuitous nudity.) Also,
if it helps, the ending wasn't anywhere near as divisive. [Watch on Starz] Spartacus
Andy Whitfield, Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Starz
If what you're really looking for in your post-Game of Thrones watching life is just people battling each other, look no further than Spartacus.
This show, set in the 72 B.C. era Roman Empire, is about gladiators,
which means it has blood and violence to spare. It has everything you're
probably looking for: brutal fighting, betrayal, sex and nudity
(seriously, when the characters on this show aren't trying to maim each
other, there's a good chance it's because they're too busy having sex),
and gore that's as exciting to look at as it is absolutely disgusting. [Watch on Starz]
For anyone whose favorite part of Game of Thrones was the twisted family dynamics, meet The Borgias.
The show, set in Renaissance-era Italy, follows the ruthless and
scandalous Borgia family who are willing to do just about anything to
maintain their power. When the show begins, Rodrigo (Jeremy Irons)
has just become Pope Alexander VI by using nefarious tactics, which is
probably the least insane thing that happens throughout its three
seasons. This show has a healthy amount of blood and violence, but the
things that makes this show most compelling are the characters and the
ways they interact with each other. The Borgias is not at all afraid to shy away from incest, so Game of Thrones fans should feel right at home. [Watch on Netflix]
It's hard to remember a time before Game of Thrones, but I promise it once existed. In fact, back in 2005, HBO made Rome,
a highly underrated drama set amid ancient Rome's transition from
republic to empire. It's a short watch (only two seasons!) that has
basically everything you're probably looking for: rival families trapped
in power struggles with each other, well-choreographed fight scenes,
intriguing characters, and more. Plenty of shows wish they could be the
next Game of Thrones, but Rome was Game of Thrones before Game of Thrones even existed. [Watch on HBO Max] The Witcher
Henry Cavill, The Witcher
Katalin Vermes/Netflix
The Witcher, which is based on Andrzej Sapkowski's book series, stars Henry Cavill as monster hunter Geralt of Rivia, a witcher whose destiny becomes bound to the sorceress Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) and the powerful princess Ciri (Freya Allan).
In case it wasn't already clear, this is a fantasy show, dealing with
magic, knights, and terrifying monsters. There's been a lot of debate
about whether or not The Witcher is trying to come up in Game of Thrones'
image, and the comparisons are obvious, but this show isn't Netflix's
attempt at a carbon copy. It's much more fantastical and centers around a
smaller group of characters, leaning more into the "fulfilling your
destiny" of it all. You will definitely walk away with the "Toss a Coin
to Your Witcher" song stuck in your head. [Watch on Netflix]
Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Natalie Dormer, The Tudors
Showtime
The real draw here is Natalie Dormer, who, a few years before donning Margaery Tyrell's curly wig, played Anne Boleyn on The Tudors. Showtime's historical drama is set during King Henry VIII's (played here by Jonathan Rhys Meyers)
tenure, touching on everything from his political struggles to his many
wives, which is arguably what he's most famous for. If you already know
the story of King Henry, there's not much here that will surprise you,
but it's still a great drama with a strong cast that's a must-watch for
anyone who loved the royal family stuff in Game of Thrones. [Watch on Showtime]
Set in 866, The Last Kingdom tells the story of Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Alexander Dreymon),
a Saxon warrior raised from childhood as a Viking after Vikings invaded
his home. The show is a great mix of politics, family, and war, and
it's adrenaline-pumping in all the right ways. If you were disappointed
by Daenerys' messy descent into Game of Thrones' designated villain, The Last Kingdom kind of makes up for that with Brida's (Emily Cox) own dark journey, which feels more warranted thanks to the way the show fleshes it out over several seasons. [Watch onNetflix]
Speaking of Vikings, have you checked out Vikings? Originally following the story of Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel),
a Viking farmer who went on to become one of the most infamous Vikings
in history, the drama is based on actual events and later transitions to
focus more on his sons, including Ivar the Boneless (Alex Høgh) and Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig). Like Game of Thrones, Vikings is
an epic that spans many years, and delights in exploring power
struggles, how leaders fall, and family politics. It's the historical
drama you've been looking for. Especially if you like a massive,
big-budget battle once or twice a season. [Watch onHulu, Peacock, Amazon Prime Video]
