Day: February 21, 2023

An ’80s epic starts a compelling (and final) season

Eight years ago, an unknown English actor met a well-known American producer-director-writer.
Damson Idris had done a few plays, a few TV episodes, one movie; he knew nothing about the chaotic 1980s era in South Central Los Angeles. John Singleton knew everything about it.
They ate Jamaican food in South Central and talked. And then? “He waited for me to get home,” Idris told the Television Critics Association, “before calling me and telling me, ‘Hey, you got the part.’”
That’s the lead role in “Snowfall” (shown here with Idris), the fierce and compelling drama starting its sixth and final season. Its first two episodes – 10 and 11:11 p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 22) on FX, then going to Hulu – conclude with a sensational scene pitting Idris (as Franklin) against Amin Joseph (as Jerome, his uncle). Read more…

Best-bets for Feb. 23: big night for two eternal dramas

1) “Grey’s Anatomy” return, 9 p.m., ABC. Ellen Pompeo already has her place in TV history, playing the same character (Meredith Grey) for 19 seasons. Only a few people have topped that in primetime, including Mariska Hargitay (“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”), Kelsey Grammer (“Cheers and “Frasier”) and James Artness (“Gunsmoke”). Aas the show returns from a 15-week break, it’s her last day at the hospital (shown here) and the doctors plan a surprise. Read more…