Day: June 16, 2022

Weekly Previews

Week’s top-10 for June 20: masters of music, food, comedy … and hockey

1) “Mark Twain Prize,” 9-10:30 p.m. Tuesday, PBS. Jon Stewart (shown here) gets the comedy prize – leading to a cascade of warmth, ribbing and hardy laughs. Stewart led “The Daily Show” for 16 years, winning 10 straight best-variety-show Emmys – which, we’re told, he kept in a cardboard box. We hear from his former correspondents (Steve Carell, Olivia Munn, Stephen Colbert, Samantha Bee, John Oliver, Ed Helms), fellow comics (Pete Davidson, Dave Chappelle, Jimmy Kimmel) and more, including two songs from Bruce Springsteen. It’s a great show. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / June 16, 2022
News and Quick Comments

“Abbott” leads TCA nominations

At a time when network comedies are staggering, a couple of new ones managed to stand out.
ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” (shown here) leads all shows with five nominations for Television Critics Association awards. CBS’ “Ghosts” landed two.
For “Abbott,” that includes program of the year. It faces three other new shows – “Squid Game,” “Severance” and “Yellowjackets” — plus the returning “Hacks,” “Succession” and “Better Call Saul.”
Both “Abbott” (9 p.m. Wednesdays, sometimes ousted by sports) and “Ghosts” (9 p.m. Thursdays) were also nominated for new program and comedy. In addition, “Abbott” had individual nominations for Quinta Brunson (shown here) – who created the show and stars as a teacher – and Janelle Jones, who plays her self-obsessed principal. The nominations were officially released at noon ET today (June 16), with the awards in August. Here are some of the key program categories: Read more…

By Mike Hughes / June 16, 2022
Stories

This time, Juneteenth is a big-deal TV event

A couple years ago, the holiday known as Juneteenth had a mixed existence.
To some people, it was big and festive. Others – including a president – had never heard of it.
Not any more. For the first time, Juneteenth (June 19) is officially recognized in all 50 states. And this year – falling on a Sunday, a prime day for TV specials – it’s a major television event.
That peaks with a concert (8-11 p.m., CNN) that is stuffed with gospel talent (including Yolanda Adams, shown here), plus dancers, storytellers, and Earth Wind & Fire. Other cable channels will rerun movies. BET even has a two shows with Juneteenth themes – its “The Recipe” food show at 1 p.m. and the new movie “Block Party” at 5. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / June 16, 2022
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for June 18: Real life brings heroes and a killer

1) “After Jackie,” 8-10 p.m., History. Yes, Jackie Robinson (shown here) transformed baseball by breaking its color barrier. But it was 12 more years before every team was integrated … and 16 years after that before the first Black manager. This richly detailed film views three greats – Bill White, Curt Flood and Bob Gibson – at the St. Louis Cardinals. Facing segregated housing (in spring training) and a bigoted manger, they prevailed, winning two World Series titles. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / June 16, 2022