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Spurlock’s films had a super sized impact

Morgan Spurlock, who died Thursday at 53, did much to expand the noble world of documentaries.
Like Michael Moore, he showed that “look at me” can be a legitimate technique … and that a light approach can fit a serious subject.
And unlike most people, he showed that everyday subjects can be documentary-worthy. That began two decades ago, with “Super Size Me” (shown here).
Spurlock died of complications from cancer, a spokesman said. He left a rich body of work that fit neatly into the prime of cable-TV. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 24, 2024

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“Wild Cards” gets its overdue renewal

After a prolonged pause, the CW network has decided the obvious: “Wild Cards” (shown here) will be back for a second season.
That won’t be until 2025, but it will be for 13 episodes, compared to 10 for the first year.
The light-hearted crime show did relatively well in the ratings, but the network was noncommittal about its future. The news finally came two months after the show’s first season ended and a week after the network set its fall schedule. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 24, 2024

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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

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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

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Corman mastered micro-budget movies

Roger Corman – who died recently at 98 – will probably be remembered most for all the great careers he launched.
This was the guy who gave many people their directing debuts. That included James Cameron, Ron Howard, Jonathan Demme. Joe Dante, Peter Bogdanovich and more.
But something else made him stand out: He was the master of getting something for (almost) nothing.
Corman (shown here) had an engineering degree and a sophisticated manner, but his specialty was making entertaining schlock on tiny budgets. In a world now stuffed with people dreaming of making movies on their smartphones, he was someone to sort of emulate. Later, I’ll have a longer commentary on his life and work. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 13, 2024

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Strike survivors key to NBC’s fall line-up

After helping NBC survive the strikes, two dramas will be rewarded with cushy timeslots this fall.
“The Irrational” (shown here) will be at 10 p.m. Tuesdays, after the second “Voice” night. “Found” will be at 10 p.m. Thursdays, after two “Law & Order” shows.
They’ll be joined by just one new drama – “Brilliant Minds,” with Zachery Quinto – and two new comedies. One, from the “Superstore” producer, is set in a hospital and will be paired with “Night Court”; the other, starring Reba McEntire, will be paired with “Lopez vs. Lopex.”
To make room, the network is moving “Law & Order: Organized Crime” to the Peacock streamer and dropping several others. They includes “Magnum P.I.,” the sci-fi shows “Quantum Leap” and “La Brea” and the Jon Cryer comedy “Extended Family.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 11, 2024

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Fox’s summer starts early, with games and balls

If you’re in a hurry to see summer-TV shows, then Fox is your network. It starts one on May 16 and willl add five more before the end of the month.
And if you don’t want summer shows? Alas, the other networks also begin soon.
NBC starts “America’s Got Talent” on May 28 … ABC adds Sunday movies on June 2 (starting with “Inside Out”), but holds everything else until a spurt starts with “Bachelorette” on July 8 ….CBS builds its summer around the three-a-week “Big Brother,” starting July 17.
By then, Fox’s shows will be deep into their run. The network has one new show (“The Quiz With Balls”), four season-openers (including “Food Stars,” shown here with Gordon Ramsayand Lisa Vanderpump) and two shows that are returning after filling in during or shortly after the strikes. The line-up — chronologically, with at least one more show expected — is: Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 8, 2024

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Broadway spree begins: Hamlet, Audra, Purlie, more

Each year, PBS does something others overlook: It celebrates Broadway.
There used to be lots of TV people who did that, from Ed Sullivan to Rosie O’Donnell. But for now, it’s mostly this one burst — four Fridays on PBS (May 10-31) and then the Tony Awards on CBS (June 16).
In that stretch, PBS will offer two plays (“Hamlet,” shown here, and “Purlie Victorious”) and two concerts, stuffed with Broadway tunes. One has Audra McDonald, the all-time Tony-leader, alone and another has her joined by lots ofother stars. “I’m the only one I’ve never heard of,” powerhouse baritone Michael Ball says during the concert.
These shows offer awesome talent … but still aren’t for everyone. For instance: Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 6, 2024

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CBS’ fall schedule: Stick with the steady viewers

As younger viewers drift away, TV networks pondered alternate solutions:
1) Go after them. Copy what the streaming networks are doing. Get guttier and grittier. Interweave some tough stories that stretch over eight or 10 hours.
2) Don’t chase them; they won’t be back anyway. Service the viewers you still have.
That second one has worked fairly well in the Nielsen ratings for CBS. Now it ripples through the play-it-safe line-up the network has announced for fall, including a “Matlock” reboot (shown here). Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 3, 2024

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After loooong pause, tough drama returns

The second season of “61st Street” (shown here) will arrive this summer – finally.
The opener – 9 p.m., July 22, on the CW network – comes more than two years after the first season ended on AMC. And 14 months after the CW bought the rights. It’s even a year after the second season streamed in Australia.
Now it’s part of CW’s summer plans: “All American” (now airing at 9 p.m. Mondays) is adding two more episodes, to continue through July 15. “All American Homecoming,” its spin-off, will air two episodes alongside it, then will be the lead-in to “61st Street.” Both will be anomalies, in a summer when scripted shows are rare on broadcast TV. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 1, 2024