Mike Hughes on TV

Stories

For Fox’s dramas, these are turbulent times

The Fox network’s scripted shows are in a state of transformation. Or, maybe, turbulence. Consider:
— “Monarch,” Fox’s big plunge for this fall, has been canceled.
— “The Resident” (shown here), a consistently well-made show, has been trimmed. Last season, it had 23 new episodes; this season, it has 13, with the final new ones on Jan, 3, 10 and 17.
— The best launching pad for a new drama – after the Super Bowl – won’t go to a scripted show … or to any new show. Instead, it will start the second season of Gordon Ramsay’s “Next Level Chef.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 15, 2022

News and Quick Comments

tWitch brought hip hop joy to dance shows

Over its 17 seasons, “So You Think You Can Dance” has propelled gifted dancers and choreographers.
Few, however, matched the impact of Steven “tWitch” Boss (shown here), who died Tuesday (Dec. 13) at 40.
The death – ruled suicide by the Los Angeles County medical examiner – is inexplicable. Boss was a vibrant force who had a wife, three kids and an enviable career.
Long, lean and limber, he was a hyperactive kid who got his nickname early. He grew up in Alabama, studied dance in college, was a semi-finalist on one show (“The Wade Robson Project”), then made his mark on another. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 15, 2022

Daily Best Bets

Bet-bets for Dec. 17: double Lizzo, sevenfold football

1) “iHeartRadio Jingle Ball,” 8-9:30 p.m., CW. It’s a double-Lizzo (shown here) night. She’s on a new “Saturday Night Live” (see) next item, shortly after this special, which is packed with pop stars. Also performing are Jack Harlow, Dua Lipa, Pitbull, Demi Lovado, Sam Smith, Khalid, Black Eyed Peas, Backstreet Boys, The Kid Laroi, Tate McRae, Lewis Capaldi and more. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 15, 2022

News and Quick Comments

After one big flub, Disney got it right

Maybe wisdom involves learning from mistakes, getting it right the second time.
If so, the Disney people have made a genius move: “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration” is terrific … which makes it approximately a zillion-percent better than “Little Mermaid Live.”
You can catch “Beauty” from 8-10 p.m. Dec. 15 on ABC or any time starting Dec. 16 on Disney+. You’ll see two gifted stars – H.E.R. (shown here) and Josh Groban – and some clever staging and direction … a surprise compared to to the first try. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 15, 2022

Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Dec. 16: Bowls begin; videos return

1) Football, ESPN. The bowl season starts this morning – yes, morning – with the Bahama Bowl at 11:30 a.m. ET; two 6-6 teams collide, with Miami of Ohio (shown here) and Alabama-Birmingham. That’s followed at 3 p.m. by the Cure Bowl, with 11-2 teams. Texas – San Antonio (ranked No. 25) faces Troty (the one in Alabama, not the one in Greece), No. 24. Seven more bowls follow on Saturday. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 14, 2022

News and Quick Comments

It will be the final season for “Sanditon” romance

“Sanditon” – the show that took two centuries to launch – will end this spring.
PBS has announced that the third sepason, starting March 19, will be the last. In that season, several newcomers will arrive to complicate the fractured love life of Charlotte (Rose Williams, shown here).
Jane Austen had barely started her “Sanditon” novel when she died in 1817, at 41. Afterward, some authors tried to complete the story, with little success. Then came the PBS/British co-production. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 13, 2022

Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Dec. 15: ghosts, Grinch and beastly beauty

1) “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration,” 8-10 p.m., ABC. The 1991 “Beauty and the Beast” was a gem. The first animated film to be nominated for a best-picture Oscar, it also had three of the five song nominations – for “Belle,” “Be Our Guest” and the Oscar-winning title song. Now we get a hybrid – scenes from the film, along with live performances by H.E.R. (shown here), Josh Groban, Shania Twain, David Alan Grier, Rizwan Manji and Jon Jon Briones. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 13, 2022

Stories

A non-flop propelled her career of music and more

Fresh from a classy British drama school, Karen David jumped into her first professional job.
It seemed like an odd one at the time – a musical that simply patched together pop hits.
“I remember all my classmates just saying, ‘You’re going to ruin your whole career before it even starts …. This is going to be the biggest flop and you’ve just done Chekhov and Ibsen and Shakespeare at the Globe,’” David recalled in a press conference for her new movie (shown here), “When Christmas Was Young.”
The show, “Mamma Mia,” didn’t flop. It’s still in London, 23 years later; it did 14 years on Broadway, has been seen by 65 million people worldwide and been spurred two movies. And David’s career didn’t flop, either; she stars in “When Christmas Was Young,” at 8:30 p.m. Sunday (but 8 p.m. on the West Coast) on CBS. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 12, 2022

Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Dec. 14: finals for survivors and Lego folks

1) “Survivor” finale, 8-10 p.m., CBS, with reunion at 10. There’s one sorta-old guy, surrounded by youth. That’s Mike Gabler, 52, (shown here, left, in last week’s episode) who works with surgeons who insert heart-valve catheters. He faces Cassidy Clark, 26, a designer; Karla Cruz Godoy, 28, an educational project manager; Owen Knight, 30, a college admissions director; and Jesse Lopez, 30, who has a doctorate in political science. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 12, 2022

Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Dec. 13: “Voice” leads a musical night

1) “The Voice” finale, 8-11 p.m., NBC. It’s time for the 22nd champion … eventually. At 8 p.m. is a recap of previous performances; from 9-11 p.m. is a surge of music — Blake Shelton with his three finalists (Brayden Lape, Bryce Leatherwood, Bodie) and with Kane Brown. Camila Cabello and John Legend sing with their finalists, Morgan Myles and Omar Cardona. Also: Kelly Clarkson, Adam Lambert and more, including the previous winners (shown here), the sibling trio Girl Named Tom. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 11, 2022

Mike Hughes on TV

In a comedy, it was her cross to bear

Celebrating Cline, 61 years after her death

Tortured genius? No, Leo was the life of the party

Fox mid-season: “Doc,” comedies, Super Bowl push

Patience, please: There’s a good comedy-drama here

For Fox’s dramas, these are turbulent times

tWitch brought hip hop joy to dance shows

Bet-bets for Dec. 17: double Lizzo, sevenfold football

After one big flub, Disney got it right

Best-bets for Dec. 16: Bowls begin; videos return

It will be the final season for “Sanditon” romance

Best-bets for Dec. 15: ghosts, Grinch and beastly beauty

A non-flop propelled her career of music and more

Best-bets for Dec. 14: finals for survivors and Lego folks

Best-bets for Dec. 13: “Voice” leads a musical night

Fox mid-season: “Doc,” comedies, Super Bowl push

Best-bets for Nov. 21: doctor dramas & dead(?) dog

Patience, please: There’s a good comedy-drama here

Best-bets for Nov. 20: country stars, nature’s star

In a comedy, it was her cross to bear

Mike Hughes on TV