I have to admit I'm really not a fan of verite-style documentaries.
Those are the ones that simply have a camera follow around, hoping to capture something. They have their moments, but can't compare to the crisp power of the great documentaries of PBS' "American Masters," "Frontline" or "American Experience."
Black History Month starts today, bringing a fresh cascade of shows. Here's the story and list I sent to papers:
By MIKE HUGHES
Each February, two strong forces –
PBS and cable – propel Black History Month.
This year's shows range from the upbeat
and uptempo – a Cab Calloway profile (Feb. 27), a vibrant
production of the Tony-winning musical “Memphis” (Feb. 24) – to
the dead-serious.
There are some veteran singers, I'm sure, whose voices are just a fraction of their prime.
Not Tony Bennett. When he sang to the Television Critics Association recently, everything -- his voice, his phrasing, his back-up quartet -- was precise. At 85, this guy remains a strong talent.
Many people can sample that on Friday, when Bennett has a "Duets" special on PBS' "Great Performances." Here's the story I sent to papers:
By MIKE HUGHES
In the vast wasteland of Friday-night television, PBS has inserted a rich variety of concerts. This week, there's "Let Me Down Easy," Ann Deavere's one-woman show about life and death and health care and more. Here's the story I sent to papers:
By MIKE HUGHES
As Anna Deavere Smith crafts her shows,
one fact stands out: People are VERY different.
As the "Downton Abbey" sequel nears (see previous story), you're forgiven for not remembering who's who and who does what.
No problem; here's a handy guide I sent to papers:
By MIKE HUGHES
Life can get tangled inside a grand
estate in 1916 England. As the second round of PBS' “Downton Abbey”
begins, here's a guide to the characters:
The Crawleys
You're first duty now is to watch the season-openers of the IFC (Independent Film Channel) comedies, at 10 and 10:30 p.m. tonight (Friday, Jan. 6).
They're both odd and funny; there's a preview two blogs ago. The blog that I sent after that has newsy bits about NBC's makeover.
That leaves your next duty, to catch Sunday's elegant "Downton Abbey" season-opener. Here's the story I sent to papers; later, I'll also put a handy guide to the characters:
By MIKE HUGHES
Earlier, I put my TV top-10 list here (see previous blog) and promises to add an overview of the TV year. Here's the the story I sent to paper:
By MIKE HUGHES
For TV viewers, the new year started
with a new network and new hopes.
Imagine you're at a "Transformers" movie and you realize that America's dance master is sitting nearby.
It's possible. Bill T. Jones admits a fondness for action adventures and more. He's an amiable guy in conversation; a fiercely imposing one at work. Now he's featured in a PBS special tonight; here's the story I sent to papers:
By MIKE HUGHES
Rich contrasts ripple through the world
of Bill T. Jones, the dance master. He's:
One of the best notions PBS has come up with lately has been the idea of nine straight arts-related Fridays.
The shows have differed widely -- from a deep portrait of Pearl Jam to a rather silly operetta. This week, it's a look at Bill T. Jones, who's been compelling as a dancer, a choreographer and more. Here's the story I sent to papers:
By MIKE HUGHES
Rich contrasts ripple through the world
of Bill T. Jones, the dance master. He's:
Ken Burns seems to keep topping himself. "Prohibition" -- Sunday through Tuesday on PBS -- is another masterpiece. Here's the story I sent to papers:
By MIKE HUGHES
For 14 noisy years, Americans had their
social experiment. They banned alcohol; they turned collectively
sober.
Well, not quite. Even leaders found
ways to duck the law:
