Catch up on the TV shows everyone is talking about!

by Beth Cronk, Litchfield head librarian

The Emmy nominations and the start of the traditional television season are happening in the next couple of weeks.  To catch up on the shows you’ve heard about but didn’t watch from the beginning, or that you can’t get at home because you don’t have cable or satellite television, check out our library’s collection.

Downton Abbey is once again up for many Emmy awards.  This year it’s nominated for outstanding drama series, lead actor Hugh Bonneville, lead actress Michelle Dockery, supporting actor Jim Carter, supporting actress Maggie Smith, directing, writing, and other smaller awards.  We have all three seasons at the Litchfield Library, so you can start at the beginning and find out what all the fuss is about.  We even have a few books related to the series: The Chronicles of Downton Abbey, The World of Downton Abbey, Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey, and Below Stairs.

Our library also has the first two seasons of Game of Thrones.  This series is nominated for outstanding drama series, writing, supporting actor Peter Dinklage, supporting actress Emilia Clarke, and many technical awards. If you get into the TV series and want to read the books, you can check out all of the books in print or on CD at our library.  The series is called A Song of Ice and Fire.

“House of Cards” made history this year by being the first online television series to be nominated for major Emmy Awards.  The Netflix series is nominated for outstanding drama series, lead actor Kevin Spacey, lead actress Robin Wright, and directing.  Our library has this first season on the shelf of new DVDs.

The HBO series Girls is nominated this year for outstanding comedy series, directing, lead actress Lena Dunham, and supporting actor Adam Driver.  We have just season one of this series.  It has the tagline “Living the Dream.  One mistake at a time.”

Big Bang Theory is nominated for outstanding comedy series, as well as lead actor Jim Parsons and supporting actress Mayim Bialik.  We have the first five seasons on DVD, and the sixth season is on order.  Many people enjoy this show about a group of geeky friends.

Veep is an HBO series that is nominated for outstanding comedy series, lead actress Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, supporting actor Tony Hale, and supporting actress Anna Chlumsky.  We have the first season available with our new DVDs.  Louis-Dreyfuss plays the vice president of the United States.

Political Animals is a miniseries nominated for outstanding miniseries or movie, lead actress Sigourney Weaver and supporting actress Ellen Burstyn.  This 6-episode set, about a former first lady who becomes Secretary of State, is available with our new DVDs.

The Bible: The Epic Miniseries is also nominated for outstanding miniseries or movie.  We have this 4-disc set at our library.  The 440-minute series covers Genesis through Revelation.

The TV shows that are recognized for excellence run the gamut from lighthearted humor to Machiavellian politics, from religious to racy.  Take a good look at the cases, at the summaries in our catalog, or at resources like imdb.com to help you decide if a particular television show will appeal to you.