Year: 2019

Stories

ABC’s fall plan: Fewer new shows, but more “Conners”

ABC will jump into the fall with a less-is-more plan. Except for “The Conners,” for which more is more.
Last year at this time, the network was announcing seven new fall shows, plus four more for mid-season. It was too much, new programming chief Karey Burke said this morning; she has just four new fall shows (one a familiar reboot), with three for mid-season.
She will, however, have more “Conners” (shown here), the show that powers Tuesdays. It had only 11 episodes this season and nine (as “Roseanne”) the previous one. Now Burke expects to be “very close to a full season,” which would be about 22. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 14, 2019
Daily Best Bets

Best bets for May 16: By-bye “Big Bang”

1) “The Big Bang Theory” finale, 8 and 8:30 p.m., CBS. Television’s best comedy is finally ending after 12 seasons — a record for situation comedies done in front of an audience. The show has drawn huge laughs, but it’s also made us care deeply about its weird-but-good-hearted characters. As the end nears, we’ll see how their lives turn out. Will Sheldon and Amy (shown here) win the Nobel Prize? Will Penny change her mind about not having kids? Will Raj’s fiance return? We’ll root for them. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 14, 2019
News and Quick Comments

Doris Day: With the right script (or song), she was great

In her long career and longer life, Doris Day was many things. She was a big-band singer with an incredibly gorgeous voice.
She was a serious actress who boosted films like “Midnight Lace” (1960). She was an animal-rights advocate.
But mostly, Day – who died today, at 97 – was known for her comedies, some good and some awful. We can sample them on June 9, with a Turner Classic Movies marathon. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 13, 2019
Stories

Fox in the fall: Scripted shows are scarce

When the new TV season starts next fall, something will be missing (almost) from Fox: Scripted, live-action (not animated) shows
.Indeed, the network will only have five of them, all wedged into a Monday-through-Wednesday stretch. The rest of the week has football, wrestling, “The Masked Singer” and Sunday’s animation.
Gone are “Star,” “Lethal Weapon,” “The Cool Kids,” “Rel,” “The Gifted” and more. In addition, this will be the final season of “Empire” (shown here), which Fox is painting as a positive. “We are turning the last season of ‘Empire’ into a large event,” said programmer Michael Thorn. “We really want to go out with a bang.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 13, 2019
Daily Best Bets

Best bets for May 15: “Survivor” finale

1) “Survivor” finale, 8-11 p.m., CBS. The show has its final five now – with one more emerging from the “Edge of Extinction.” And newcomers have prevailed. Four people (including Kelley Wentworth, shown here) had each done two previous editions; all were sent to the Edge. The finalists are: Lauren O’Connell, 21, a Baylor student; Victoria Baamonde, 23, a Bronx waitress; Gavin Whitson, 23, a YMCA program director in Erwin, Tenn; Rick Devens, 33, a morning TV anchor in Macon; and Julie Rosenberg, 46, a New York City toymaker. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 13, 2019
Daily Best Bets

Best bets for May 14: A string of drama finales

1) ‘New Amsterdam” season-finale, 10 p.m., NBC. You can spend all night with drama finales. It’s CW’s “The Flash” at 8 p.m., CBS’ “FBI” at 9 and a choice at 10 – CBS’ “CSI: New Orleans” or this hour, which “New Amsterdam” has led to all season. Max (Ryan Eggold) tried to be everywhere and do everything at the hospital. Now cancer puts his life in danger; as he fades, Dr. Sharpe (Freema Agyeman, shown here with Eggold) tries a creative approach. Also, Dr. Kapoor gets surprising news and Dr. Reynolds takes a big step. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 12, 2019
Stories

“Big Bang”: The end of a long and funny journey

For a dozen years, “The Big Bang Theory” has given us great comedy – sharply written, perfectly played, with likable characters colliding in fun ways. It has its last new episodes Thursday (May 16), so here are a few things:
First, an overall story, partly looking back to the show’s start. Then a few time-and-channel details, followed by some trivia. Also, please catch the recent story about Kevin Sussman, who plays Stuart. Here we go: Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 12, 2019
Daily Best Bets

Best bets for May 13: “Bachelorette” begins

1) “The Bachelorette” opener, 8-10 p.m., ABC. After finishing seventh on “The Bachelor,” Hannah Brown gets a quick promotion: She’s in charge, with 30 guys to choose from. Brown is 24, a former Miss Alabama USA; the men range from 23 to 33. Some have serious jobs (two are pilots); others include a singer, a surfer, a pro golfer and a guy who plays pro basketball overseas. There’s also a political consultant, an unemployed guy and “Chicago’s Box King.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 11, 2019
Stories

Here are Bunker and “Big Bang,” old and new

Right now, TV viewers can tour classic comedies, old and new.
At the core are network events on May 16 and 22. Before that, two other channels – one cable, one digital – get us in the mood:
— May 16: “The Big Bang Theory” has its final new episodes on CBS. Earlier — including tonight (May 10) — cable’s TBS has “Big Bang” reruns, often focusing on one character per night
.– May 22: ABC tries live productions of scripts from “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons.” Before that, the GetTV digital channel has a five-night, 30-episode “All in the Family” spree. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 10, 2019