DAILY DIRT: It’s ‘Landman’ by a landslide

Daily Dirt for Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025

Here’s our top five TV shows from the first half of the viewing season … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,193 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Granted, I watch a lot of television. 

But I enjoy it. It’s a hobby that keeps me off the streets, and as you might guess I have my favorite shows. We’re at about what constitutes the halfway mark of the 2024-25 viewing season, and these are my my top five shows to date:

1. “Landman”: In some respects, this program was able to sneak up on us, premiering in the shadow of such stalwarts as “Mayor or Kingstown,” “Lioness” and “Tulsa King” — and it wound up being the best of the bunch. Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris, who oversees a West Texas oil empire as a “crisis executive,” is in the midst of a role of a lifetime. No one — repeat, no one — can deliver a one-liner in the fashion of Thornton, which is quite often in this never-a-dull-moment series that in its first season gave us several near-death experiences for Norris (including getting a nail pounded into his leg) and plenty of personal hijinx with ex-wife-soon-to-be-wife again Ari Larter and wild child daughter Michelle Randolph. Season 2 is likely due to arrive in early 2026.

2. “Mayor Kingstown”: Jeremy Renner as Mike McLusky is the central figure (and executive producer) of this crime drama that often lures you in and sucks the air right of you. None of the principal characters are particularly appealing on their own right, which is one of the show’s strongest points. There are no true good guys in this high-stakes police/prisonfest, and after the first three seasons that’s exactly how we like it. Season 4 is expected late this year or early 2026.

3. “Tulsa King”: I’ll readily admit I did not expect much from this Sly Stallone vehicle when it debuted, but it has been one of those rare efforts that has gotten better with each episode. The recently concluded Season 2 was tremendous and left us with one of the best cliffhangers ever. Early 2026 would be a good guess when the show returns.

4. “Yellowstone”: This much ballyhooed classic went out, for the most part, with a whimper. I’m anxious to see what the offshoots will resemble and will be disappointed if the yet-to-be-officially-announced series featuring Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Rip (Cole Hauser) is not a smash.

5. “Lioness”: I was a year late getting to Zoe Saldana-Nicole Kidman drama about special ops forces, but the program’s premise is exquisite and, most importantly, quite believable. Adding some extra oomph to the program’s overall picture is Morgan Freeman in an administrative role you would expect he might hold. The program appears to be trending in the proper direction. Rotten Tomatoes awarded its second season an 89 percent acceptance, following a 56 percent figure for season one. No official word when we might expect the third go ’round.

Note: All five of the above shows are featured on Paramount+ or Paramount (“Yellowstone”), and all were created by Taylor Sheridan.

2. Did you know (Part 267)

• That in England they drive on the left, but in Illinois we drive on WHAT is left.
• That my son wants to study burrowing rodents. I told him to gopher it.
• That I pulled a muscle digging for gold. Just a miner injury.
• That ghosts like to ride in elevators because it lifts their spirits.
• That I’m going to start collecting highlighters. Mark my words!

3. In case you needed a few insults over the coming days, here are some medal-worthy stabs:

• Gold medal: If I wanted to kill myself, I would simply jump from your ego to your IQ.
• Silver medal: Whoever told you to be yourself, gave you a bad advice.
• Bronze medal: Every time I have a stick in my hand, you look like a pinata.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — OK, one more insult: “You hear that? It’s the sound of me not caring.”

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. So there are no good shows anymore unless Taylor Sheridan creates them?