Day: November 4, 2019

“King and I”: a stern, serious musical for all eras

Right now, PBS is helpfully reminding us of a key fact: Musicals can be very different. Very.
Last Friday (Nov. 1), the network had the relentlessly shallow “42nd Street.” It had sharp songs, zesty dancers … and a plot so thin that some (but not all) actors gave campy performances.
And this Friday (9 p.m. Nov. 8)? “The King and I” (shown here) is pretty much the opposite. It has some flaws, but dead-serious intentions.
Both are part of TV’s current musicals surge, outlined in stories at the left. Now for a few “King” comments: Read more…

Best-bets for Nov. 6: Fox is back; Halloween lingers

1) “The Masked Singer,” 8 and 9 p.m., Fox. When the World Series went seven games, it wiped out two Wednesdays for Fox, creating confusion. Fox scheduled “Masked Singer” and “Almost Family” for tonight, then detoured. “Almost” (a good show) will sit out for its third straight week, so “Masked” can double up. Things starts with a terrific performance by “Rottweiler” and an interesting one by “Ladybug”(shown here) … whom Jenny McCarthy promptly proclaims “the Lady Gaga of ladybugs.” Read more…