Month: September 2024

Stories

Frasier’s back, bringing joyful pomposity

We expect streaming networks to deliver the odd and the obscure. Space men are good; dragons are better.
But Paramount+ also has one of the most familiar characters in TV history. Its “Frasier” sequel (shown here) starts its second season Thursday (Sept. 19).
Frasier Crane has already been in 481 TV episodes, dubbed into languages worldwide. “The guy who does the Spanish one is very good,” said Kelsey Grammer, who plays him.
And the reruns seem inescapable. “We go to England quite a bit,” Grammer told the Television Critics Association. There, “Frasier” has been a morning rerun “for 30 years, I guess. (My) kids are like, ‘Oh God, Dad’s on.’” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / September 18, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Sept. 20: civil discussion, Mookie construction

1) “Secret Celebrity Renovation,” 8 p.m., CBS. A year ago, this amiable show wrapped its third (and, seemingly, final) season. But here’s a new, stand-alone episode. Baseball star Mookie Betts returns to Nashville to renovate his father’s house. Soon, he’s swinging a sledge hammer (shown here) instead of a bat, with help from designer Sabrina Soto and construction guy Rob Mariano. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / September 18, 2024
News and Quick Comments

Amid new-world chaos, she found literary fame

Julia Alvarez was 10 when her sunny life began to spiral.
Her father was linked to an attempt to kill the Dominican Republic dictator. She fled to the U.S. with her parents and sisters. The family was “losing everything,” she told the Television Critics Association. It was a new language and a new culture, with little money or sunshine.
And 30 years later, that would lead to a novel (“How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents”) that would bring praise from readers and disagreement within her family. Now she’s the focus of “American Masters,” at 9 p.m. Tuesday (Sept. 17) on PBS. Read more…

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

Emmy telecast: At least, it was fun and funny

If you’re planning an awards show, here’s the essential requirement:
Make sure that Steve Martin is there early as (at least) a presenter.
Martin has been a delight working solo … or with Martin Short … or as part of the “Only Murders in the Building” triad, with Short and Selena Gomez.
That’s what he did Sunday, early in the Emmys (shown here). Alongside some great work from the hosts (Eugene and Dan Levy), we knew this would be a fun night. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / September 16, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Sept. 18: Reality shows conclude, begin

1) “MasterChef” finale, 8-10 p.m., Fox. This started with home chefs from four generations. But in recent weeks, the remaining older chefs (ages 52, 62, 63 and 70) were ousted. Surviving are Kamay Lafalaise, 34; Michael Leonard, 27; and Becca Gibb, 24. They’ll prepare an appetizer, entree and dessert; then the judges (shown here in a previous episode) will choose the $250,000 winner. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / September 16, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Sept. 17: “Talent” finale and two openers

1) “America’s Got Talent,” 8-10 p.m., NBC. The 10 finalists perform; then viewers vote … and wait a week to learn who won. The choices include two singers (including Dee Dee Simon, shown here), a comedian and a magician, plus a dance group, an acrobatic group, an aerial duo, a drone duo, a dog act and an “air dance” group. They’re from Japan, Australia, Spain, Portugal, Tanzania and the U.S. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / September 15, 2024
News and Quick Comments

Her quirky show helps fill a comedy void

When it comes to comedies, TV has turned upside down.
Now it’s the broadcast networks that fail to be funny. And it’s the streamers or a basic-cable network that fill the void.
Already arrived are FX’s “English Teacher” and Hulu’s “How to Die Alone” – a delight (shown here) that we’ll get back to in a minute.
Coming next are the second seasons of the “Frasier” reboot and “Colin From Accounts” (Sept. 19 and 26, both on Paramount+) and “Shrinking” (Oct. 16, Apple TV+). Also, there’s the final season of the delightful “What We Do in the Shadows” (Oct. 21, FX), with more coming. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / September 14, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Sept. 16: a Feudathon and more

1) “Family Feud,” 8-11 p.m., ABC. At 9 p.m., Chrissy Teigen and her husband, John Legend, (they’re shown here) face her food-show mate, David Chang. Other half-hours skip families and have colleagues from shows — two teams from “The Golden Bachelor”; “9-1-1” vs. “Jury Duty”; “Deadliest Catch” vs. “Star Trek” shows. At 10 is a “Best of Steve Harvey” compilation. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / September 14, 2024