Stories

A rootless start propelled Root’s career

When Stephen Root (shown here) does a TV role – which is often – a slice of his dad emerges.
“Everything I do probably comes a little bit from him.” Root said.
Well – maybe some things morte than others. Root is both a voice actor – including the intriguing “Praise Petey,” which debuts at 10 and 10:30 p.m. Friday (July 21) on Freeform – and an on-camera guy, including his Emmy-nominated role in the just-ended “Barry.” His roles range afar.
He’s been a vampire, an exterminator, a coach, a mental patient and a royal tart toter. He’s been Superman’s uncle and Batman’s nemesis. He’s been real people (J. Edgar Hoover, NASA leader Chris Craft) and Fred Flintstone, Santa Claus and a Klingon officer. He’s been lots of judges and officials, plus guys called Zeb Zoober, Woozy Winks, Big Ducky and Mr. Big Corporation. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 19, 2023

Stories

Amid strikes, networks plan a makeshift fall

As Hollywood’s mega-strike begins, viewers are wondering about the fall TV season.
There will be one, of course; there always is. But it will have lots of non-fiction – reality shows, game shows and such – plus others. There will be sports (especially football), Fox’s Sunday cartoons (including the new “Krapopolis,” shown here), a few foreign imports, some Disney movies … and, of course, reruns.
All of that became more inevitable when the 160,000-member actors’ union joined the picket lines today (July 14). The 10,000-member writers’ union had been there since May 2.
Even if there’s a quick settlement – a possibility, at least, now that both unions are involved – it’s way too late to start a normal season. Here’s what the broadcast networks have announced so far: Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 14, 2023

Stories

Raylan has an insta-grown daughter … and a fun story

Kids grow up fast these days, we’re told. So Willa Givens shouldn’t surprise us.
She was a baby (literally), the daughter of U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens and a former court stenographer, when “Justified” began its final season. And now, eight years later?
In “Justified: City Primeval” (shown here) – debuting with episodes at 10 and 11:15 p.m. Tuesday (July 18) on FX – she’s 15, an attractive teen with long hair, goofy smile and adventurous spirit. How did this happen?
“We fudged the timeline,” writer-producer Dave Andron admitted to the Television Critics Association. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 13, 2023

Stories

South savors storytelling skill

A tradition has sprawled across generations in the South. “We are a region of storytellers,” Harper Lee once said.
She told one classic story, “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Her Alabama neighbor (and childhood friend) Truman Capote told many. They joined a trend ranging from authors (Faulkner, Welty, Hurston, Grisham) to the poems of Maya Angelou and the songs of Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson and emerging stars like Adia Victoria (shown here).
The South has offered a rich tapestry. And now a PBS series visits some of the modern-day people. “Southern Storytellers” airs at 9 p.m. on three Tuesdays, starting July 18
“Southerners tend to wear their souls and their hearts on their sleeves,” said Courtney Pledger, CEO of the Arkansas PBS stations producing the series. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 9, 2023

Stories

Basic-cable gems survive in a dwindling field

The TV universe is littered with endangered species.
Variety shows? Daytime soap operas? Saturday-morning cartoons? All have become scarce.
But now there’s a broader category to worry about – scripted shows on basic-cable networks. Those have ranged from “Monk,” “Mad Men” and “Mr. Robot” to “Breaking Bad” and “Battlestar Galactica.” But lately, they’ve been wounded by streamers and cord-cutters.
“The basic-cable business is really struggling to compete,” John Landgraf, the FX chief, told the Television Critics Association earlier this year. “I think FX and AMC are kind of holding the fort.”
Still, summer is when cable channels have their best shot. TBS’ cleverly offbeat “Miracle Workers” (shown here with Geraldine Viswanathan) debuts at 10 p.m. Monday, July 10 … putting it against “Cruel Summer,” the surprisingly well-crafted teen drama on Freeform. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 7, 2023

Stories

Retro TV? Try CBS or digital or CW’s Canadian shows

Staring at the tangled TV universe, some people have a plea: Can’t this just be like it used to be?
It can. That’s why we have CBS …. and digital channels … and, especially, Canada.
Sure, Canada can annoy us when it sends wildfire smoke or winter wind or hockey. But it’s also full of nice people and easy-to-digest TV shows. Now a fresh batch is coming to the CW mini-network.
That starts Friday (July 7), with the second season of “Family Law” (shown here) starting at 8 p.m. and the first of “Moonshine” at 9. They’re light dramas, pleasant-enough detours from a summer of reality and reruns. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 3, 2023

Stories

Growing footprint: pets, pigs, pythons, more

Humans keep adding things to their world.
They brought pigs to Hawaii, pythons to Florida (shown here), Asian carp to the Midwest, dogs and cats to their living rooms. They water grass so it looks pretty, grow crops so they can feed (and then eat) animals.
There may be a temptation to judge, said Shane Campbell-Staton, whose “Human Footprint” is 9 p.m. Wednesdays on PBS. “Seeing hundreds of thousands of gallons of water sprayed on something that nobody’s going to eat – it’s complicated,” he told the Television Critics Association. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 1, 2023

Stories

He gets close-up views of fame, football and Fourth fireworks

For singers, July 4 at the Capitol can be imposing.
There they are, live on PBS, belting to the multitudes – estimated at 300,000 or more. Faith Hill was once startled by even the afternoon rehearsal crowd.
“It never gets old,” said Charles Esten (shown here), who will sing “Let Freedom Ring” this year (8 p.m., rerunning at 9:30), as fireworks flare. “You always feel the energy.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / June 28, 2023

Stories

Even during strike, PBS and others deliver drama

Facing the bleak prospect of an unscripted TV season, viewers have some solace:
Yes, there are still some other countries in the world. Many of them speak English, just like we do (or even better). And yes, especially, there’s PBS.
The latest news is the fall line-up of “Masterpiece” mysteries, which fill PBS’ Sundays. It will include the second seasons of “World on Fire” (shown here in the first season) and “Annika,” the third of “Van der Valk” and the fifth of “Unforgotten.” If the past is any hint, these will be smart and involving, if a tad drab. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / June 23, 2023

Stories

Her restaurant life? It’s “crazy and wonderful”

If you watch any restaurant show – especially “The Bear,” the acclaimed drama-comedy that returns to Hulu on June 22 – there are two logical reactions:
1) I would never want to work in a restaurant. People fret, fail, shout, rage, agonize; they also have bad hours and are prone to addiction and alcoholism.
2) I’d really like to work in a restaurant. It looks like fun.
Courtney “Coco” Storer (shown here), the inspiration and “culinary producer” for “The Bear,” occasionally leans toward the first one. “I always ask myself, ‘Why am I doing this? Are you insane?’” she said.
But mostly, she’s with the second. “I love it,” she told the Television Critics Association. “I don’t think I’ll ever leave the hospitality world. As crazy as it is, I think it’s equal parts crazy as it is wonderful.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / June 19, 2023