Day: October 7, 2019

News and Quick Comments

A farewell to much-loved men, real and fictional

In many teen shows, the parents are after-thoughts. They’re there to say “no” … and to be ignored.
An exception has been “Riverdale” and Fred Andrews, the good-guy dad played so convincingly by Luke Perry (shown here).
Seven months after Perry died, Fred’s death fills the season-opener .It’s a tribute to the character and the man who played him. “Luke came in and… just was Fred Andrews,” producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa said last year. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / October 7, 2019

Stories

Double duty? “Nancy Drew” star knows the drill

In the new “Nancy Drew” series, Nancy does double duty; she’s a waitress who solves crimes.
That seems like a lot … except to aspiring actors. They’re forever leaping between day jobs – waiters and waitresses, usually – and auditions.
Kennedy McMann (shown here), the new Nancy, varied slightly, working as an afterschool nanny. “I would be, like, ‘Hey, guys, you know what’s a fun playtime? Help me learn my lines.’” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / October 7, 2019

Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Oct. 9: Moving moments for Fred (and Luke)

1) “Riverdale” season-opener, 8 p.m., CW. Alongside its flaws (big ones, sometimes), “Riverdale” has had a key strength: It’s had some profoundly decent characters — Archie Andrews, his dad Fred and their neighbor Betty Cooper – at its core. Luke Perry, a small-town Ohio guy, gave Fred real depth and believability; his death in March (at 52, after two strokes) is approached tonight (shown here) with quiet respect. This hour could be considered too one-note; still, that note is deeply moving and well-deserved. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / October 7, 2019