Day: July 29, 2019

PBS: The one spot with no regime change

LOS ANGELES — In a TV world filled with regime change, PBS’ Paula Kerger is the exception.
Already the longest-lasting head of a major network, Kerger announced today (July 29) that she’s signed for five more years as the network’s president and CEO
.That’s not what she expected when she started the job 13 years ago, Kerger said. “I thought, ‘Five years, maybe.’” Read more…

Best-bets for July 31: Farewell to “Jane”

1) “Jane the Virgin” series finale, 9 p.m., CW. Jane’s grandmother (shown here with her daughter and granddaughter) has always loved telenovela finales. “The good people get what they deserve,” she says. “And there’s usually a wedding.” Now we get all of that and more. It’s the 100th episode (if you count the 8 p.m. hour of interviews as No. 99) and many of the key issues were settled in No. 98. Still, there are a few surprises … including a bizarre wedding vehicle. Eventually, good people — and good viewers — do get what they deserve. Read more…

At last, TV has lots of sketchy women

LOS ANGELES — TV has always been fond of sketch comedy.It’s gone from Sid Caesar and Milton Berle to The Kids in the Hall and “Saturday Night Live.” It’s had the full range of people … but only if your range is mostly confined to white males.But now there’s the flip side — two shows centering on all-female casts:– “A Black Lady Sketch Show” (shown here) opens Friday on HBO, with four black women at the core. “It hadn’t been done before,” Issa Rae said. She produces the show and is in some sketches, but says this was propelled by Robin Thede and “her passion for comedy.” Read more…