Year: 2024

News and Quick Comments

CBS tries (carefully) a third morning-show hour

CBS is taking its first, hesitant steps toward having a longer morning show.
On Sept. 30, “CBS Mornings Plus” will debut at 9 a.m. ET. Tony Dokoupil, one of the “CBS Mornings” hosts, will stick around for the third hour, joined by Adriana Diaz. (They’re shown here.)
But the network says the show will only be on a few stations it owns – in Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Miami and San Francisco – plus the streaming service, CBS News 24/7. Presumably, it could expand to others. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / September 4, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Sept. 5: Cruise, Kidman, kick-off

1) Football, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC, with pre-game at 7. The pro season opens with a classic rematch. The Baltimore Ravens sailed through last season with a 13-4 record, won the divisional playoffs 34-10, then sputtered; the Kansas City Chiefs (shown here), 11-6, won 17-10 and then won the Super Bowl. Now it’s Ravens-Chiefs time again. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / September 3, 2024
Stories

A friend spurred Lithgow’s thundering heroics

If you move into a new place, a good friend will give you a floral arrangement or a fruit plate.
A great one will give you a horse.
The latter describes Rex Linn. “I bought some land in Montana,” John Lithgow said. “He told me, ‘You can’t own that land and not have a horse.”
The result is reflected 30 years later, when “The Old Man” starts its second season, at 10 p.m. Sept. 12 on FX. There is Lithgow (shown here, left, with Jeff Bridges) – not usually an action hero – riding a horse and wielding a rifle. “It’s perfect heaven,” he said. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / September 3, 2024
News and Quick Comments

The first new shows: 1 out of 2 works fine

The first two new shows of the TV season are coming, bearing responsibility.
After a slow spring and a slack summer, viewers need something good. Now the fall season begins with:
— “English Teacher” (shown here), at 10 p.m. Mondays on FX, starting Sept. 2. It’s quite good; once it sheds its early monotone, it leans toward terrific.
— “Universal Basic Guys,” at 8 p.m. for three Sundays (starting Sept. 8) on Fox, before sliding to 8:30 when “The Simpsons” returns on Sept. 29. The opener is mainly for people who are amused when a mistreated chimp rips off the protagonist’s face. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / September 2, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Sept. 4: killer clown and strong streamers

1) “The Real CSI Miami” season-finale, 9 p.m., CBS. A young mom was killed by someone in a clown costume, in front of her son. Almost 30 years later, DNA cracked the case; Lou Sessa (shown here) and other agents discuss the case. That hour (originally set for last week) is the season’s last new episode. But at 10, a rerun relates the murder of heiress/patron Jill Halliburton Su. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / September 2, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Sept. 3: Tran, “Talent” time

1) The Bachelorette” finale, 8-11 p.m., ABC. Jenn Tran (shown here) is down to her final two guys. Tran, 26, who is near her Master’s degree to become a physician’s assistant, might choose Marcus Shoberg, 31, a former Army Ranger, or Devin Strader, 28, who owns a freight company. Then she’ll reflect in “After the Rose.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / September 1, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Sept. 2: Crisp comedy debuts

1) “English Teacher” debut, 10 and 10:32 p.m., FX; rerunning at 11:06. In a liberal sub-section of Texas (suburban Austin), Evan is a proudly gay teacher. Most people are fine with it, but issues appear: Kissing his boyfriend? A drag show? This sounds heavy, but writer-star Brian Alvarez (left) keeps it funny, with a great supporting cast. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / August 31, 2024