Month: December 2020

Stories

Carrie and great Christmas: an update

(Here’s a quick update on my commentary on Carrie Underwood and the very best of Christmas TV. The Carrie part remains the same, but there are a few additions to the list at the bottom – an extra night for the classic “Grinch” … two cable showings of “Wonderful Life” … and a changed night for the Patrick Stewart “Christmas Carol.” Here’s the update.)
Carrie Underwood’s new Christmas special is the ultimate in sleek simplicity.
It has no gimmicks, no guests (except briefly). It has no distractions and – this is streaming – no commercials. It simply has a great voice, warmly caressing each song.
It also reminds us of something else: Even in this crowded, cluttered season, there are some TV moments that are really worth watching – or re-watching.

+ Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 2, 2020
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Dec. 4: Pop art, popular dramas

1) “American Masters: Keith Haring: Street Art Boy,” 9 p.m., PBS. Haring (shown here) grew up in Pennsylvania Dutch turf, forever chosen last for games. He was quick to leave his small town, move to New York and make a splash. Soon, his uncluttered artwork was on buildings, walls, floors … then in international galleries. In his 31 years (before being one of the first celebrities to die of AIDS), he made more than 10,000 artworks and became a pop-culture star. Here’s a fascinating story, richly illustrated. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 2, 2020
News and Quick Comments

Pro football: No home, no name, no quarterback, no (?) schedule

There was a time when every pro football team had a home. And a name. And a quarterback (several actually). And a schedule, set in stone.
That was a dull-but-simple time, before the chaos of 2020. Now the changes keep coming.
There are games — some involving the unbeaten Pittsburgh Steelers (shown here) — at unexpected times – this Wednesday afternoon (Dec. 2) … early Monday evening (Dec. 7) … and Tuesday night (Dec. 8). For the second time, a Thursday-night game will be scrapped. And schedules have changed and unchanged for NBC, ABC and Fox.
Most, but not all, of this is COVID-related. The changes include: Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 1, 2020
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Dec. 3: Carrie’s Christmas or comedies

1) “My Gift,” any time, HBO Max. Here’s the consummate Christmas special – no gimmicks, no distractions, no commercials, just a great singer. Carrie Underwood (shown here)  has shown her religious passion with “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “Something In the Water” (both included here), but she hadn’t done a Christmas album until this year. She soars in the classics (“O Holy Night,” “Silent Night,” etc.) and links beautifully with John Legend on his “Hallelujah” and with her son, 5, on “Little Drummer Boy.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 1, 2020