Day: September 28, 2019

News and Quick Comments

Yes, there’s TV life after “Downton”

So now we’re in the post-Downton era.
The “Downton Abbey” movie has arrived, drawing an expected rush of praise and an unexpectd rush of money. Now viewers wonder what else can capture that British-style charm and class.
Experts had guessed the “Downton” movie would bring $20 million in its North American debut. It got $31 million – topping the predictions (and the next-highest movie) by more than 50 per cent.
As expected, it has style, class, deep characters and some dashes of humor. Where can we go for more? I’d suggest: Read more…

By Mike Hughes / September 28, 2019
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Sept. 30: No-nonsense Nigerians

1) “Bob (Hearts) Abishola,” 8:30 p.m., CBS. Abishola has no hobbies, no diversions, no distractions. “Nigerians don’t do useless things,” she says. Bob (Billy Gardell) would love to be distracted; he fell for her when she was his cardiac nurse. Both are short on words and long on charm; but where can the show finds more laughs? That’s what goofy relatives are for. In last week’s opener, we met his weird siblings; in this episode (which is quite funny), we meet her even-weirder aunt and uncle (shown here). Read more…

By Mike Hughes / September 28, 2019
Stories

Here’s the ultimate, eight-armed guest

It can be one person’s biggest fear, another’s yummiest delicacy.
It has as many arms as the Beatles, as many hearts as the Three Stooges, as many brains as Albert Einstein. It got here perhaps 300 million years before we did and may remain – thanks to its survival skills – after we’re gone.
It’s the octopus, the subject of the “Nature” season-opener Wednesday (Oct. 2) on PBS. It’s been known as the kraken in Norse mythology … and as Heidi (shown here) in David Scheel’s home.
“Friends (were) very taken with the animal,” Scheel said. “But the notion that it was in my living room was just a little bit odd.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / September 28, 2019