Year: 2020

Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for May 9: British drama, gritty or refined

1) “Line of Duty,” 11 p.m., AMC. To Americans, Keeley Hawes is the star of classy PBS dramas, from “Our Mutual Friend” to the “Upstairs Downstairs” reboot and “The Durrells in Corfu.” In England, however, she often does intense crime shows. Now AMC is rerunning this terrific series. As the six-week second season begins, Hawes is a cop (shown here), suddenly getting an emergency call. The early and late scenes in this opener pack a fierce jolt; in between is a solid drama, centering on a gifted actress. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 7, 2020
News and Quick Comments

CBS renews most of its line-up

For frustrated TV viewers, the pandemic may bring one plus – fewer cancellations of current shows.
At least, that’s the indication from CBS’ announcement today (Wednesday). In one swoop, it has renewed 18 shows … to go along with five that were previously renewed.
The virus shutdown came just as shows are usually shooting pilot films, leaving a question: Would networks take a gamble – grabbing a show without a pilot – or simply keep what’s already there? Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 6, 2020
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for May 8: Orchestra turns 100, “Blacklist” turns 150

1) “The Blacklist,” 8 p.m.. NBC. The show’s 150th episode is stuffed with guest stars – Tom Wopat as a warden, Fisher Stevens(shown here) as an ex-con working in a toy store, Al Roker as … well, Al Roker, but an intense version. The main story – a seemingly impossible suspect – is far-fetched, but intriguing. Alongside that are divided loyalties for both Dembe and Liz. It adds up to a strong and well-crafted hour. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 6, 2020
News and Quick Comments

Your commencement speakers are …

TV keeps finding new ways to create social-distance entertaiment.
Coming next weekend (May 15-16) are a video show and (really) a graduation ceremony, with the Obamas (shown here) as speakers.
Before that, the emphasis will be on at-home music. On Sunday, ABC has “Disney Family Singalong II” at 7 p.m. and “American Idol” from 8-10 p.m.; on Monday and Tuesday, NBC has “The Voice.” Then come the variations: Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 6, 2020
News and Quick Comments

At-home shows take opposite routes

Now two big network shows are in their music-from-home phase.
It’s “American Idol” on Sundays, “The Voice” on Mondays and Tuesdays. That’s five hours a week, to remind us that fun continues even when people stay home.
But as similar as they are, the shows are opposites in a key way: “Idol” seems to embrace its at-homeness; “Voice” (shown here with Mandi Castillo) seems almost in denial. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 5, 2020
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for May 7: It’s a game-y night

1) “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” 8 p.m., ABC. Brad Rutter is back, partly via rerun. First, there’s “Jeopardy,” rerunning its “Greatest of All Time” tournament (check local listings); that continues through May 14, with (from left) James Holzhauer, Ken Jennings and Rutter. Then he’s part of the new “Millionaire” twist: Each contestant is allowed to bring one guest to confer with; tonight, Hannibal Burress concludes and Catherine O’Hara begins … with Rutter as her guest. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 5, 2020
Stories

Two Marvel stars,two miniseries, three big roles

There’s a reason we need all those big-deal cable and streaming mini-series.
They let Marvel stars remind us that they’re also serious actors. Now we have:
– Chris Evans in “Defending Jacob,” which is halfway through its eight-episode run on Apple TV+. He plays an assistant district attorney whose teen son becomes a murder suspect.
– Mark Ruffalo in “I Know This Much is True,” a six-parter that starts Sunday on HBO. With the help of editing, he plays twins (shown here). One of them is schizophrenic … which is not to be confused with when Paul Rudd recently played a guy and his clone in “Living With Yourself” on Netflix. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 5, 2020
News and Quick Comments

Welcome to Star Wars Day

Welcome to Star Wars Days, on May the Fourth.
(Isn’t it nice when a holiday is on a Monday, extending the weekend?)
This is when we’re expected to sit in front of a screen, staring at “Star Wars” shows. Possible exemptions are for essential workers and/or people who are busy doing “Star Wars” puzzles, games or art projects.
Fortunately, three networks make it easy for us, with marathons (shown here with “The Last Jedi”) and such. That includes: Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 4, 2020
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for May 6: Quirky comedy with baseball and vampires

1) “Brockmire” series finale, 10 p.m. ET, IFC. When the show started, Jim Brockmire (Hank Azaria, shown here) – a former big-time sportscaster — was at the bottom of the minor leagues. Now, after just four seasons and 32 episodes? We’ve jumped ahead to 2034 and the nation is in ruins. So is baseball, which has made Brockmire its commissioner. He ponders aligning with an artificial intelligence that has already crushed Google and Facebook and plans to rule the world. It’s a clever – and quite funny – finale. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 4, 2020