Month: April 2023

Best-bets for April 4: dramas — large, small and retro

1) FBI crossover, 8-11 p.m., CBS. Bigger isn’t better, but it grabs attention. This starts big, with a man-made tragedy in Belarus. Then it jumps to Rome (shown here with Jeremy Sisto), where an American is kidnapped near the Colosseum. And then it keeps growing, linking people from all three FBI shows. Things get repetitious. Both sides (cops and crooks) do a lot of shooting and some torturing; officials also shout at each other a lot. Read more…

Quiet comedy and zesty action blend neatly

As “Murder Mystery 2” unfolds, Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler (shown here) become action heroes.
She’s dangling from the Eiffel Tower, he’s fighting a muscular villain, both are battling bad guys inside a speeding van.
But the strength of this film – which debuted Friday (March 31) on Netflix – involves their quieter bits.
They play a husband and wife who can’t help questioning and correcting each other – even when there are bigger things to focus on. That provides the fun, as we wait for the next big moment. Read more…

“FBI” event: no place for the timid (or the subtle)

Let’s assume you’re a fan of pregnant pauses, subtle shrugs and mixed emotions.
If so, you’ll want to avoid CBS this Tuesday (April 4). Until the final moments, there’s not a hint of subtlety, not a moment of mixed anything.
Then again, if you prefer rampant rage, I have a show for you.
It’s three shows, actually – “FBI: International,” “FBI” and “FBI: Most Wanted,” all in a seamless story (shown here), from 8-11 p.m. Read more…

Best-bets for April 3: Brooke, basketball and Bill T.

1) “Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields,” Hulu. Shields’ career started quickly. She did a TV commercial before she was 1, portrayed a prostitute at 12, was on the cover of Vogue at 14, did infamous jeans commercials and sensual movies at 15 (shown here) and 16. “I’m amazed that I survived,” she says at 57. Beyond survival, she’s been a Princeton grad and a busy actress; she’s been married for 23 years, with two kids. She’s told her story in books, but this adds visuals. Read more…