Month: May 2024

Stories

A pure-country Marine sparks Memorial concert

Jamey Johnson had been to way too many burials of his fellow Marines.
Each brought deep emotions and a 21-gun salute. “Sometimes, I was one of the men firing the guns,” he said.
After the emotions percolated for decades, he co-wrote “21 Guns.” Now he’ll perform it at the “National Memorial Day Concert,” at 8 and 9:30 p.m. Sunday (May 26) on PBS.
There will be plenty of other stong voices — Gary LeVox (of Rascal Flatts); Broadway’s Cynthia Erivo, Patina Miller and Ruthie Ann Miles– plus the National Orchestra and more, including Bryan Cranston and others reading passionate stores. But Johnson will be the one bringing his years in the Marine Reserves. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 20, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for May 21: Good-bye to a good doctor

1) “The Good Doctor” series-finale, 10 p.m., ABC. For seven years, Freddie Highmore (shown here) has built a subtly moving portrait of Shaun, an autistic doctor with a brilliant mind, troubled past and good soul. He’s become a husband, father and respected surgeon. Now he and the others face one of their toughest cases, while pondering their futures. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 19, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for May 20: three finales and the Pope

1) “The Voice,” 8-10 p.m., NBC. After an opening song by Keith Urban, the five finalists each do a ballad and an uptempo song. John Legend has Nathan Chester, 27, and Bryan Oleson, 49; Reba McEntire has Asher HaVon 31, and Josh Sanders, 35; Dan + Shay have Karen Woldrup (shown here), 36. Their performances will be recapped at 8 p.m. Tuesday, with the finale from 9-11 p.m. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 18, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for May 19: finale time for dramas and “Idol”

1) “American Idol,” 8-11 p.m., ABC. The finale has two Southerners – Will Mosely, 23, from Georgia, and Jack Blocker (shown here), 25, from Texas – and Abi Carter, 21. Both guys auditioned with original songs; Carter did a Billie Eilish song, which fits; like Eilish, she’s a Californian who was home-schooled. Before the results, we’ll hear Jason Mraz. Seal, CeCe Winans, Cody Johnson, Wynonna Judd and more. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 17, 2024
Weekly Previews

Week’s top-10 for May 20: a flood of finales

1) “The Voice” finale, 8-10 p.m. today and 8-11 p.m. Tuesday, NBC. Tonight, the final five each perform a ballad and an uptempo song. John Legend has Nathan Chester, 27, and Bryan Oleson (shown here), 49; Reba McEntire has Asher HaVon 31, and Josh Sanders, 35; Dan + Shay have Karen Woldrup, 36. On Tuesday, after music by Jelly Roll, Thomas Rhett, The Black Keys, Lainey Wilson, etc. — there’s a winner. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 16, 2024
News and Quick Comments

CW’s multi-personality continues this fall

This fall, the CW network will continue its multiple personality.
Twice a week, it will seem like a traditional broadcast network, with back-to-back dramas. (including “Sullivan’s Crossing,s’ shown here. On other days, it will be more like a cable network, with wrestling, sports, movies and game shows.
That’s part of the transition for the network once known for sleek superheroes. The new owners canceled most of the previous slate and went for cost-efficiency, including dramas co-produced in other countries.
For this fall, that means Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 16, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for May 18: Elvis, Jake & Bruce Lee

1) “Saturday Night Live” season-finale, 11:29 p.m., NBC. The 49th season concludes and “SNL” starts preparing for a big-deal 50th. Tonight, Jake Gyllenhaal – now beefed up for his “Road House” remake (shown here) on Amazon Prime – has his third turn as host. Sabrina Carpenter – a former Disney star, now 25 – has her first as music guest. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 16, 2024
News and Quick Comments

Pac-12 (or Pac-2) now has a TV deal

The Pac-12 conference now has its own football deal with a broadcast network.
It’s not a big network, but then again, it’s not a big conference. It only has two teams, Oregon State (shown here) and Washington State.
We’ll pause here, for the benefit of idealists who assumed the Pac-12 has 12 teams. These are the same people who think the Big Ten has 10.
(It has 14 now, but in August will have 18, none of them specializing in math.) Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 15, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for May 17: a great diva and tough cops

1) “Audra McDonald at the London Palladium,” 9-10:30 p.m., PBS. Broadway’s all-time leader (with six Tonys) fills the night with show tunes, backed by a 40-piece orchestra. Some viewers will wish she spent less time in the upper octaves. Still, McDonald (shown here in a previous concert) finds lots of fun and has powerhouse moments, including several songs about diversity, plus the triumphant “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 15, 2024
Stories

ABC this fall: new doctor, few comedies

ABC will fix any doctor shortage this fall. Its comedy gap, however, keeps growing.
The network’s “The Good Doctor” wraps its seventh and final season next Tuesday (May 21). But “Doctor Odyssey” will arrive in the fall, sharing Thursdays with “Grey’s Anatomy” and “9-1-1.”
But comedies? “Abbott Elementary” (shown here) will be all alone, surrounded by non-fiction on Wednesdays. One comedy (“Not Dead Yet”) has been canceled; another (“The Conners”) will wait until mid-season for its final season.
Lots of other shows will be with it. “Will Trent” and “The Rookie” will have 18-episode seasons, but will be waiting with “The Conners” and several reality shows. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 14, 2024