Month: February 2021

Stories

Solid, stoic Murdoch discovers slapstick

There are many words we’d associate with the lead character (shown here) in “Murdoch Mysteries.”
They include “steady,” “sturdy,” “solid,” “stoic” and such. They do NOT include “slapstick.”
But here is the season-opener, at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT) Saturday (Feb. 20) on Ovation, directed by the show’s star, Yannick Bisson. It has versions of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Stan Laurel, plus a big sight gag, complete with a collapsing building. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 17, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Feb.19: lots of drama, lots of Denzel

1) Denzel Washington films, cable. Some viewers can jump between Washington’s Oscar-winning performances. His first (supporting actor) was for “Glory” (1989), a brilliant film (shown here with Washington and Morgan Freeman) about a Black unit in the Union army; that’s 8 p.m. on Starz. His second (actor) was for “Training Day” (2001), as a corrupt and street-smart cop; it’s 7 and 9:30 p.m. on Vice. For more, catch “The Equalizer” (2014), at 10:30 p.m. on TNT. In a variation on the TV series, he plays a former federal agent, helping the little guy. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 17, 2021
Stories

As stardom loomed, he stocked groceries

When the COVID shutdown began, it was important to be nice to grocery-store workers.
They were essential, after all. And one of them was waiting patiently to be a movie star … or, at least, to play one on TV.
That’s Bradley Constant (shown here), one of three people playing early versions of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on “Young Rock,” at 8 p.m. Tuesdays (starting Feb. 16) on NBC. Landing the role was a big break … followed by a long COVID delay.
His reaction? “I went back to working at the grocery store,” he said. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 15, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Feb.17: “Masked Dancer,” “Black Church” conclude

1) “The Masked Dancer,” 8-10 p.m., Fox. This first season has seen surprises under those masks. That’s ranged from a science guy (Bill Nye) to a boxer (Oscar De La Hoya), from former kidnap victim Elizabeth Smart to Vinny from “Jersey Shore.” It’s also included three music people – Brian McKnight, Jordin Sparks and Ice-T. All that remain are Sloth, Tulip (shown here) and Cotton Candy. Tonight – after a recap of the season so far – we’ll have the final dance-off. Then “The Masked Singer” returns March 10. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 15, 2021
Stories

Rocky road led to Rock stardom

Being Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson should be easy, it seems.
He’s bigger, stronger and (we’re told) better-looking than other people. He’s open and amiable. Also, his movies have made more than $12 billion.
But getting there was complicated. When “Young Rock” debuts (8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, on NBC), it will bounce between three phases, catching small slices of a large life.
“I lived in 13 different states by the time I was 13 years old,” Johnson (shown here) told the Television Critcs Association. “I also lived in New Zealand.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 15, 2021
News and Quick Comments

At last: Hallmark Channel discovers diversity

The Hallmark Channel people say their shows are a lot better now … without quite acknowledging that they were a lot worse before.
The new-look Hallmark has more diversity, Wonya Lucas, CEO of the channel and its spin-off networks, told the Television Critics Association. It reflects “the complexity of what it means to love and be a family in a more authentic, varied and inclusive way.”
That includes racial and LGBT issues. “What I’m really excited about is our first gay lead,” said Michelle Vicary, the channel’s executive vice-president of programming.
She was talking about “Mix Up in the Mediterranean” (9 p.m. Saturday, rerunning at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20-21), with Jeremy Jordan, a Broadway star and a “Smash” and “Supergirl” co-star. “He plays twins …. One is gay, one is straight and, through a comedy of errors, they have to switch places.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 14, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Feb. 16: “Black Church” soars, new comedies struggle

1) “The Black Church” (shown here), 9-11 p.m., PBS. One of the season’s best shows begins its joyous, two-night run. Henry Louis Gates does point out flaws in some Black churches – biases against women and gays and more. Mostly, though, he looks at immense progress. He ranges from tiny shacks to a 14,000-seat arena with video screens and a band. He tells of slaves who brought religions – Christian, Muslim, more – from Africa and transformed them, making into pillars of survival, change and great music. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 14, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Feb. 15: True artistry and true crime

1) “American Experience: Voice of Freedom,” 9-11 p.m., PBS. This starts a great PBS week, including the superb “The Black Church” on Tuesday and Wednesday, plus an emotional season-finale of “All Creatures Great and Small” on Sunday. First is this compelling portrait of Marian Anderson. The world’s highest-paid singer, heralded by Arturo Toscanini for a “once in 100 years” voice, she was banned by a Whites-only concert hall; instead her free Lincoln Memorial concert (shown here) drew 75,000 people. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 13, 2021
Stories

“Black Church” ripples with history, humanity

For centuries, the Black church has towered over American life.
“The church was the epicenter,” Stacey Holman, producer-director of a vibrant PBS documentary, told the Television Critics Associaition. It was “where we could gather freely, we could commune freely.”
It’s been a place of music and message, said gospel great Yolanda Adams. “Jesus was always about uplifting the people who were downtrodden.”\
And it’s been a place of permanence, said Henry Louis Gates (shown here), the show’s writer and host. “The Black church is the oldest, the most continuous and most important institution” in African-American history. So he’s fashioned “The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song,” from 9-11 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday (Feb. 16-17). Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 12, 2021