Year: 2021

Stories

Ralph: presidential power in a witchly world

When pre-med student Sheryl Lee Ralph reached college, she got a quick lesson in being “the other.”
That was 1972, the first year Rutgers admitted women. There were only 450 of them – about one-percent of the enrollment; it was good preparation for her acting career.
“There was no room for me,” Ralph (shown here) – who has a key guest role in the season’s final two episodes of “Motherland: Fort Salem” – said of early auditions. “People were not open to open-casting back then.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / August 13, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Sunday, Aug. 15: Farewell to love, Cassie and more

1) “Unforgotten” season-finale, 9 p.m., PBS. Battered by the emotional stress of cold-case murders, Cassie (Nicola Walker, shown here) tried to retire early. Officials said she had to stay three more months, to get a pension. She soon obsessed on a final case – a murder 30 years ago, linked to a car filled with police-academy grads. Short on sleep, she was close to solving it – then had a fierce car crash. Here’s the potent finish, putting an exclamation point on a great (if grim) season. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / August 13, 2021
News and Quick Comments

PBS this fall: Serious subjects abound

Peeking ahead to PBS’ fall schedule, one thing is clear:
These people are serious. Other networks may have become a bit lighter and brighter and simpler, but you won’t find that here.
In a three-day stretch of virtual press sessions, PBS took the Television Critics Association through imposing subjects, from Muhammad Ali (shown here) to the aftershocks of Sept. 11.
Yes, the network can sometimes be fun – especially on Sundays, when it has dramas and (on Aug. 29) a concert version of “Wicked.” But often, it will be serious, including: Read more…

By Mike Hughes / August 13, 2021
Weekly Previews

Week’s top-10 for Aug. 16: zombies, videos and Dr. Phil

1) “The Walking Dead,” 9 p.m. Sunday, AMC, rernning at 11:07p.m., 12:14 a.m., more. After a long delay, this ratings-leader starts its final season. It’s a long one – eight episodes now, then a break, with 16 more coming. The last new episode (16 months ago) will rerun at 7:52 p.m., with the final battle with the Whisperers. Now a food-gathering mission fails; Maggie proposes a dangerous plan that Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan, shown here must lead. Then a fierce storm forces them into a subway tnnnel filled, of course, with zombies. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / August 12, 2021
News and Quick Comments

PBS dramas: “Grantchester” soon, “Sanditon” later

For fans of the lush “Sanditon” series (shown hee), PBS has semi-encouaging news:
It will be back … well, sometime. And probably in 2022.
“They are just about three weeks into filming now,” Susanne Simpson, the “Masterpiece” producer, told the Television Critics Association. “But you will see ‘Sanditon’ next year.”
Based on a novel that Jane Austen had barely started, the show created a seaside world filled with schemes, ambition and romance. It drew mildly favorable reviews from critics and strongly favorable comments from viewers … but the British company that created it decided against a second season. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / August 12, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Aug. 14: the glory of Galapagos and Adele

1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. After three straight weeks of being bumped by the Olympics, “SNL” is back to its summer reruns. That starts with two gifted women – Adele, in her first time as host, and H.E.R. as the music guest. Adele does get to sing parts of her songs, during a clever “Bachelor” bit. And a particularly funny sketch (shown here) flashes back to pre-COVID, when a fortune-teller (Kate McKinnon) brings bad news. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / August 12, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Aug. 13: Two strong series conclude

1) “Icon: Music Through the Lens” finale, 9 and 10 p.m., PBS. At first, photographer Gered Mankowitz says, his work seemed temporary. “The idea that a (rock-music) photo would have a life a year later” was odd. Then life changed; photos of Janis (shown here) and Mick and such filled books and galleries. Photographers were special … until super-cameras arrived. “Do we really need a camera that can make me an omelet?” Neal Preston asks. In 60 years, the annual number of images increased 460-fold; these excellent hours offer vivid stories. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / August 11, 2021
Stories

After a looong pause, PBS ripples with music and dance

Right now, the arts world is ready to end one of the longest intermissions ever.
Broadway is rehearsing, orchestras are retooling, bands and ballerinas are reviving. They reflect “the resiliency of the performing arts,” PBS president Paula Kerger told the Television Critics Association.
Now her network will spotlight that. Even before its fall season starts, PBS has specials celebrating orchestra (Aug. 27), Broadway (Aug. 29), an opera conductor (Sept. 3) and ballet (Sept. 17).
There’s more in the fall, including a John Williams (shown here) premiere, a Martin Scorsese film and a triple-diva concert that reflects the resiliency Kerger was discussing. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / August 11, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Aug. 12: fun on NBC, baseball on Fox

1) “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” season-opener, 8 and 8:30 p.m., NBC. It’s been a bumpy ride for one of TV’s better comedies. “Nine-Nine” started strong: In its first season, it won Golden Globes for best comedy and actor (Andy Samberg, shown here, left, with Joe Lo Truglio and Melissa Fumero), with Television Critics Association nominations for best comedy and new show. It’s still well-made (with four Emmy nominations for Andre Braugher), but Fox cancelled it after five seasons. NBC added three more, but this final season (after a 16-month pause) will only e 10 episodes. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / August 10, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Aug. 11: Shows return; Jughead vanishes

1) “Riverdale” return, 8 p.m. CW. When we last saw this show, it seemed to have taken craziness to the limit. There was a jail break at the for-profit prison built by Veronica’s dad … and a fire … and escapees trashing Riverdale High … and a drug-crazed Jughead (really) wandering loose. And now? Things somehow get crazier – peaking with a psychedelic musical scene alongside a “Batman”-style fight. It’s all very well-done … but a long leap from the cheery Pop’s diner days (shown here) of the past. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / August 9, 2021