Month: July 2024

Stories

Convention viewing: small sip or supersized

These days, viewers can try three sizes of convention coverage. There’s:
— The big gulp. PBS (shown here) has three hours (8-11 p.m.ET,, through Thursday) of gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Republican convention. So do the cable and digital news channels.
— Small sips – an hour a night, starting at 10 ET. That’s on ABC, CBS and NBC (which adds a 9 p.m. hour on Wednesday and Thursday).
“We gave much more time to the conventions” in the old days, Andrew Lack — a network news executive from 1976 to 2001 – told the Television Critics Association. That gave networks room “for more reporting that they could share with the public over a longer period of time.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 16, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for July 18: Convention ends; Shaq show begins

1) Republican convention. The four-day event (shown here iin a prevous year) concludes, as always, with the acceptance speech by the presidential nominee, followed by balloons and commotion. That’s expected to be at 10 p.m., when ABC and CBS join the coverage (and when Fox stations can use the Fox News Channel feed). NBC starts at 9 p.m., PBS at 8, news channels even earlier. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 16, 2024
Stories

PBS’ fast start this fall: mysteries, elections, Hispanic history

While the broadcast networks get off to a semi-groggy start this fall, PBS will be busy quickly.
Its three-mystery Sundays will start Sept. 15, centering on “Moonflower Murders” (shown hare), witty sequel to the 2022 “Magie Murders.” Some of its non-fiction shows start that week, with an early emphasis on the elections.
A few hings will arrive even earlier, including a profile of writer-director Blake Edwards (“Pink Panther,” “10”) on Aug. 28. Like the late Edwards, it managed to be funny and joyous, with moments of morose depth.
And some will be late. Sara Bareilles will star in her “Waitress” musical on Nov. 15. Three days later, PBS starts Ken Burns’ “Leonardo Da Vinci,” a richly detailed, two-night, four-hour film Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 15, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for July 16: Judge Steve and Judge, Aaron

1) ”Judge Steve Harvey” return, 9 p.m , ABC.Tuesdays become Harvey’s night. At 8 p.m., he hosts “Celebrity Family Feud” (shown here in a previous episode); one round pits singers (Meghan Trainor vs. Tori Kelly), the other has alumni of “Bachelor” shows. At 9, he hears real-life conflicts, including a missing wedding officiant and a defamed pickleball player. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 14, 2024
News and Quick Comments

CBS sets a staggered start this fall

After rushing into a post-strike season this spring, CBS is taking a pause.
Its new season will officially start Oct. 14, three weeks later than usual. And its ratings-leaders – “Tracker” and “The Equalizer” –will wait until Oct. 27.
Those dramas usually dominate Sundays. This fall, however, the Sunday slot will be used for various things – advance previews of “Matlock” (shown here) and “The Summit,” a music special and “Big Brother,” a summer show that extends to Oct. 13. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 13, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for July 15: sharks, politicians and romance

1) Republican convention (shown here in a previous year). As the campaign grind speeds up, networks have varied approaches. PBS will be there from 8-11 p.m. ET … CBS and ABC will jolin at 10 … cable nnews channels will obsess. And in a late change, NBC will have two parts – at 9 p.m., Lester Holt’s interview of Joe Biden; from 9:40 to 11, convention coverage.
Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 13, 2024
News and Quick Comments

“Shogun” and “Hacks” lead TCA awards

“Shogun” and “Hacks” dominate this year’s Television Critics Association awards.
The top overall awards – program of the year and best new program– .go to “Shogun.” So do the two drama awards, for best show and best individual (Anna Sawai, shown here). The comedy ones go to “Hacks” and its star (Jean Smart).
There are also awards for the “Baby Reindeer” mini-series, some non-fiction shows and two Disney+ family shows, “Bluey” and “Doctor Who.”
Overall, the awards are a sign that traditional television – or semi-traditional – can still do well, if given some modern touches. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 13, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for July 14: Tough “Tulsa” leads a dramatic night

1) “Tulsa King” opener, 8 p.m., CBS. In the wobbly world of CBS and its owners (Paramount), Taylor Sheridan has been vital For Paramount Network, he made “Yellowstone”; for Paramount+, he made its prequels, plus “Mayor of Kingstown” and this show, with Sylvester Stallone (shown here) as a newly arrived mobster. Before its second season starts, the first reruns on CBS. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 12, 2024
Weekly Previews

Week’s top-10 for July 15: baseball, “Big Brother” & lots of politics

1) “Big Brother” opener, 9 p.m. Wednesday, CBS. This began in 2000 with a high-tech, futuristic notion: Strangers shared a house filled with cameras; the world could peek in at any time. Now life is even higher-tech and this edition is being dubbed “BB:AI.” Julie Chen Moonves (shown here) hosts, as always, with new hours also at 9 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 11, 2024