Year: 2019

News and Quick Comments

The Eaton era: masterful “Masterpiece”

The Rebecca Eaton era is ending at “Masterpiece.” It has been … well, mostly masterful.
At its peak, it has provided some of the finest moments on television – “Downton Abbey” (shown here), “Prime Suspect,” “Wallander,” “Sherlock” and more, including “Little Women” and “Bleak House” reboots.
At its low point, it’s merely been bland, such as the recent “The Chaperone.” Then it has bounced back.
PBS announced recently that Eaton, 72, is being “promoted” to “executive-producer-at-large.” She’ll work at developing new drama projects, while also fundraising for The Masterpiece Trust, which has raised $20 million since she launched it eight years ago. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / November 25, 2019
Stories

Mister Rogers? Yes, he really was like that

TV critics are used to pomp and hype, to overstuffed praise for underdeveloped shows.
So it’s refreshing when we get the opposite: That was the day Fred Rogers showed up.
It springs to mind now – almost 22 years later – because of the odd (and oddly wonderful) movie, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” Here is Tom Hanks playing a gentle man who happened to be an important TV producer-writer-composer-star; people might wonder: Was Rogers really like that?
Apparently. And that’s what we got that January day in 1998. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / November 25, 2019
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Nov. 26: Dolly is eternal

1) “Dolly Parton: 50 Years at the Opry,” 9-11 p.m., NBC. Parton (shown here), 73, continues her triumphant tour of the networks. ABC had a primetime profile, then featured her at the Country Music Association awards. Netflix made eight movies based on her songs; on Dec. 8, Hallmark has her “Christmas at Dollywood” movie. And NBC has her performing along with some famous friends, including Toby Keith, Dierks Bentley, Emmylou Harris, Lady Antebellum, Margo Price, Hank Williams Jr. and more. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / November 24, 2019
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Nov. 25: “Stars” and “Bars”

1) “Dancing With the Stars” finale, 8-10:01 p.m., ABC. The final-four line-up is stuffed with people who almost won other competitions. Lauren Alaina, 25, was runner-up on “American Idol” … Ally Brooke (shown here with Sasha Farber), 26, was in a group (Fifth Harmony) that finished third on “X-Factor” … and Hannah Brown, 25, finished seventh on “Bachelor”; she then became the “Bachelorette” star. Now one of them might be a winner; they’re in the finals, alongside Kel Mitchell, Kenan Thompson’s former comedy colleague. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / November 23, 2019
Stories

Inside prison, it’s a second-chance education

In the hard-scrabble world of big-city teens, these two were the lucky ones.
Sebastian Yoon grew up in a middle-income home, with two siblings and a hard-working dad. Jule Hall was a bright kid who enjoyed homework; “I loved school,” he said.
Both had the potential to go far. Before 18, they were both in New York’s tough Rikers Island jail.
Now they’re featured in “College Behind Bars” (shown here), 9-11 p.m. Monday and Tuesday (Nov. 25-26), after a different sort of luck. They were among the few people who landed spots in the Bard College prison program. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / November 22, 2019
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Nov. 24: American music, British drama

1) American Music Awards, 8 p.m, ABC. Taylor Swift (shown here) will perform and be crowned artist of the decade. But Post Malone leads this year, with seven nominations; he’ll perform with Ozzy Osbourne, Travis Scott and WATT. Ciara hosts a strong night for women: Selena Gomez has her first TV performance in two years; Shania Twain has her first AMA one in 16 years. Also performing:Billie Eilish, Thomas Rhett, Christina Aguilera, Green Day, Camila Cabello, Dua Luppo, Lizzo, Kesha, more. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / November 22, 2019
Weekly Previews

Week’s top-10: Christmas consumes our TV

1) Thanksgiving Day Parade, 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, NBC and CBS, Even if you’re not into parades, this represents something important: It’s the start of a packed day (see next item) and of the crowded Christmas-TV season. And the parade? It has 11 bands, 1,000 clowns, 1,200 cheerleaders and dancers and 26 floats, many bearing lip-syncing stars. Networks also add separate acts, especially early. CBS has Miranda Lambert; NBC opens with “Sesame Street” Muppets and has the casts of four musicals. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / November 21, 2019
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Nov. 23: The Grinch and Will Ferrell

1) “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” 7 and 8 p.m., TBS. Over the next five weeks, we’ll get lots of lookalike Christmas shows, each aspiring to adequacy. So it’s good to stop first and savor some holiday greatness; this 1966 cartoon offers TV at its best. It starts with Dr. Seuss’ brilliant book, then adds superb animation by Chuck Jones, the man behind Road Runner cartoons. Boris Karloff offers the droll narration, with Thurl Ravenscroft singing about a mean one (shown here), Mr. Grinch. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / November 21, 2019
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Nov. 22: Dramas like Thanksgiving, too

1) “Dynasty,” 9 p.m., CW. Comedies love Thanksgiving, but some dramas also get a crack at it. Now Blake Carrington (Grant Show, shown here) – facing criminal charges – realizes this could be his last chance for a family Thanksgiving. First, he wants Cristal and Adam to quit bickering. Also, Dominique is being pushed to disclose important information … and she’s pushing Monica to work with her new singer. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / November 20, 2019