Thread by @gauravsabnis

A freelance writer running a B&B in the Catskills!

https://twitter.com/brofromanother/status/1510404004911669258

It's not much of a stretch. I've had articles published in newspapers. I own property in the Catskills. I also have a Marathi surname, though not as Marathi sounding as Arondekar. And I know way too much about the lives of people from previous centuries! #GhostsCBS

I'm mildly surprised that the Marathi press has not made a bigger deal of the years newest hit network sitcom in the US having as male lead one चक्क Utkarsh Ambudkar and the main characters are a couple named Arondekar! The guy is literally a Maharashtra origin guy named Jai! 😂

His sister in it is named Bela and they pronounce it like Indians would which hehe seems like a small dig at Never Have I Ever in which they pronounce it like Bella from twilight.

I haven't seen the British original yet, but really liking the CBS version of Ghosts. Each episode is like a small history lesson. And there are lots of history jokes and references. And a lot of talk about NYC and the Catskills. It's like made in a market research lab for me!

The joke that got me hooked on the show

Sam: There's a guy dressed like Hamilton
Isaac: Wait, how do you know Hamilton? Did that twerp become famous?
Pete: isn't that the guy on the ten dollar bill?
Isaac:: WHAT??? 😱😱😱

Totally cracks me up, the history based banter

If you're looking for a new sitcom to get into, #GhostsCBS is a good one. Feel good, breezy, talented diverse ensemble cast, smartly written, and some superb character development!

I was initially skeptical thinking how far can you really take the "I see dead people" premise.

Oh, the premise. White middling NYC writer inherits a Catskills mansion cos a lot of older relatives die, moves there with her Desi chef husband to start a B&B. An accident makes her capable of seeing and talking to ghosts of all who died on the property and are trapped there.

I thought it would mostly be formulaic hijinks based on the ghost thing, like when Jay pretends he didn't finish all the cookies and the ghosts tell on him and he's like not cool guys.

But it's a really well developed show. Like a quasi history show as we learn about the ghosts!

It's an ongoing "network" show in its first season and available on Paramount+ on streaming. Not sure where all it is available overseas.

Remember, "network" shows have a fundamentally different business model & timetable than cable or premium cables or streaming shows.

This is my favorite "will they won't they" storyline that has been going on for 250 years 😂😂😂

In high school days, for a street play competition, some of us wrote a script where Gandhi returns to 1995 India and is given any update on things. Mostly preachy, as a street play kinda has to be. But it was fun writing scenes where we explain then-current tech to Bapu.

And it's been a frequent day dreaming trope of mine. How would I explain Twitter to someone from the 1930s versus 1970s versus someone from the year 2000.

That show uses that trope in clever and hilarious ways.

Also as a history nerd who recently became a Hudson Valley property owner, I'm super impressed at the thought & research the writers of #GhostsCBS have put in creating the ghost back stories. People outside the region won't know or care, but VERY authentic sounding ensemble.

From the wayward viking to the Lenape storyteller to the revolutionary war officers to the cholera ghetto survivors to the gilded age dowager to the 1920s jazz diva to the 60s Woodstock flower child to the 80s boy scout leader to the 90s wall street fratboy to now 2020s hipsters.

Each of those characters represents very legit eras in the centuries long varying and rich history of the Hudson Valley - Catskills region. Not like they just took the British show and created a vaguely familiar US version. It's a proper adaptation not a copy.

It's one of those shows where I started off with a very unfavorable initial impression last year. "Oh great, it's like someone in a new show brainstorming session said, hey, I recently watched sixth sense. How about that but in an upstate mansion? Pass! Won't last the season!"

And then a couple of episodes in, I was intrigued. Some good jokes. Very good actors. Tight script and editing. But but but, how many episodes, forget seasons, can you get out of the ghost setting. Was still skeptical.

Took about 6-7 episodes to see, you know what, this is GOOD!

And it's been the biggest new network hit in ratings as well as with the critics and in reviews. Already renewed for a second season. And I can see that this show is going to have several seasons. They really hit the ground running with this show. Give it a try.