Day: May 2, 2019

A busy summer: FX sets six dates

Cable-TV has become a permanent solution for TV’s summertime blues.
Now FX has set the summer starts for “Baskets,” “Legion” and then “Snowfall,” the deep drama produced by the late John Singleton. Three other shows had already been set, starting with “Archer” — which was an action-adventure last year (shown here), but now goes sci-fi. Read more…

A new/old notion: The 10-minute sitcom

Television needs its comfy, half-hour chunks. Situation comedies want 30 minutes (22 plus commercials); dramas want an hour
But now comes the new/old notion of a mini-show.
“State of the Union” has 10 episodes, bunched into two weeks on the Sundance Channel. Each is only 10 minutes long; each has the same two people talking in the same pub. Read more…

Best bets for May 4: Adam Sandler returns (at last)

1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. Adam Sandler was enmeshed in a wild “SNL” era, alongside Chris Farley, David Spade, Mike Myers, Dana Carvey and more. He left in 1995 – he and Farley were fired, he said later – and has made only brief appearances on the show since then. Here’s his first time as host. Shawn Mendes – born three years after Sandler left “SNL” — is the music guest. Read more…

Week’s top 10 for May 6: Full of finales

1) “Modern Family” season finale, 9 p.m. Wednesday, ABC. In a week stuffed with finales, this may be the big one: It wraps up the second-to-last season of a show that won the best-comedy Emmy in each of its first five seasons. (One year, everyone playing an adult was nominated, landing four of the five spots for supporting actor.) It’s almost time for Haley and Dylan (shown here in a previous episode) to have their twins; that spurs people to recall their recent birthdays. Read more…