Year: 2024

Stories

Gina’s fierce fun ripples through “Bob” comedy

On the “Bob (Hearts) Abishola” set, people were semi-celebrating a semi-successful run.
The show has spent much of its five seasons in the top-25 of Nielsen ratings. It’s been a rare throwback to the days when comedy was king.
So members of the Television Critics Association directed questions to its stars (Billy Gardell, Folake Olowofoyeku) and producer Chuck Lorre — who made one thing clear: “We would have never gone far with the show had we not found Gina.”
That’s Gina Yashere, ready for her close-up. In the show, she’s Kemi, a noisy friend who’s there for a few quick laughs. In the second-to-last episode (8:30 p.m. Monday, April 29, on CBS), she finally gets the focus (shown here), with a Las Vegas wedding.
But the core of the show – including its culture conflict – springs from Yashere.
“They found me on Google,” she said later. “I turned it down. But my best friend and my brother said, ‘You’re being stupid.’” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 24, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for April 26: musical lives of Jon and Yo-Yo

1) “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story” opener, Hulu and Disney+. This four-parter juggles two stories: One is semi-interesting: Jon Bon Jovi, now 62, battles throat problems, hoping to launch his band’s 40th-year tour. The other is compelling – a story of “five guys from nowhere” (led by a young Jon Bon Jovi, shown here) becoming, at times, the world’s leading rock band. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 24, 2024
News and Quick Comments

Crimesolving is fun again, beyond paradise

Every now and then, TV returns to something it’s quite good at – light tales that solve a mystery at the end of each hour.
That isn’t its first choice. It prefers deep, dark tales that go for weeks – good ones like “Parish” (9 p.m. Sundays, AMC) or “Veil” (starting April 30, Hulu).
But a few shows have the right, light touch. There’s the delightful “Elsbeth” (10 p.m. Thursdays, CBS) and occasional British shows on PBS and streaming on Acorn or Britbox. Right now, I’d point to Britbox’s “Beyond Paradise” (shown here). Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 23, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Aug 25: quarterbacks, chefs and ghosts

) Pro football draft, 8-11:30 p.m. ET, ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. Once barely noticed by TV, this has become an adventure that gobbles up 11 hours over three days, on three networks. And that’s not counting the previews; ESPN starts at 7 p.m., the NFL Network starts (really) at 1. Those two networks will focus more on stats and such; ABC leans to the people side, starting with Caleb Williams (shown here), whom the Bears are expected to grab with the first pick. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 23, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for April 24: spicy judges, cool coral

1) “The Masked Singer,” 8 p.m., Fox. This may be your only chance to see Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke do a Spice Girls song. The theme is “girl groups,” so they’ll open the show singing “Wannabe” with fellow judges Rita Ora and Jenny McCarthy (they’re all shown here). Later, past contestants Carnie Wilson and Raven-Symone will also perform; current ones will do such songs as “I’m So Excited.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 22, 2024
Stories

After 40 years (throat permitting), Bon Jovi rocks on

Like a good father should, John Bongiovi Sr. took his son to a some music teachers.
One was at the school, one was private, both said the same: The kid was not a singer.
Except now he is one. As Jon Bon Jovi (shown here), he’s one of the top-selling rock frontmen. His band has soared beyond 100 million records; five of his Grammy nominations (including his one win) are for vocals.
“I pride myself on having been a true vocalist,” he said. “I’ve sung with Pavrotti. I know how to sing; I’ve studied the craft for 40 years.”
That adds to the poignancy of a four-part documentary that debuts Friday (April 26) on Hulu and Disney+. Alongside a history of his band, it focuses on Bon Jovi struggling with vocal issues – trying other steps and then resorting to surgery. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 21, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for April 23: “Shogun” ends, amid reruns

1) “Shogun” finale, 10-11:30 p.m., FX; also, Hulu. Gorgeous visually, yet relentlessly morose, the finale ends solemnly. We see the lethal result of the castle raid and its aftershocks. We also learn of Toranaga’s long-range scheme and see hints of the fate of Blackthorne, the English mariner. Overall, the miniseries (shown here) could be considered masterful or merely a long monotone. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 21, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for April 22: Earth’s day, fun or somber

1) Earth Day fun. This is the day when TV shows us the Earth at its best. That’s led by the National Geographic Channel, with epic mini-series. There’s “Secrets of the Elephant” (shown here) at 9:50 a.m., “Queens” at 12:50 p.m. and the superb “Secrets of the Octopus” (which debuted Sunday) from 7:08 to 10 p.m. Disney+ has the NatGeo shows, debuts “Tiger” and has 15 previous nature epics. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 20, 2024
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for April 21: crime, romance and octopuses

1) “Secrets of the Octopus,” 8-10:52 p.m., National Geographic Channel. Ignored (or feared) for centuries, octopuses (shown here) are the new media stars. They deserve the attention. They can change color, shape and image; they can hide from a predator, befuddle a prey, befriend a scientist. This terrific three-parter reruns at 10:52 p.m. today and then at 7:08 p.m. Monday, in an Earth Day marathon. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 19, 2024