Okay, THAT is the way to end an “American Idol” season.
The winner was the singer called Just Sam. And celebrating on camera was … well, just Sam.
It was a reminder that good things can happen in isolation. And that pure talent can prevail … when accompanied by some luck. Read more…
As the virus shut down large chunks of life, Michael Colbert was sure of two things.
Yes, there would still be Memorial Day, even without some of the parades and picnics and such.
And the night before that, there would be the annual “National Memorial Day Concert” (shown here from a previous year); that’s at 8 and 9:30 p.m. May 24 on most PBS stations. “We need to have our rituals,” Colbert said. Read more…
1) “Stargirl” debut. 8 p.m. CW. When her mom remarries, Courtney is whisked from California to small-town Nebraska, where the high school is full of Hollywood-stereotype mean kids. She’s not happy. Then, of course, she finds her dad ha s a magic staff that only she can control. After a messy start, “Stargirl” becomes a well-crafted tale of angst and awe. Brec Bassinger (shown here) is immensely likable as Courtney and Luke Wilson brings real depth as her dad. Read more…
1) “The Voice” finale, 8-10 p.m., NBC. The final five singers have one more shot at our votes, before the winner is announced Tuesday. Performing from home, they’re a varied bunch. Toneisha Harris, in Georgia, is 44; Todd Tilghman, a Mississippi pastor, is 41 and a father of eight. Others are from South Carolina (CammWeiss, 21), Hawaii (Thunderstorm Artis, 23, shown here) and Japan (Micah Iverson, 25). Read more…
The CBS people are turning to familiar titles – “Grease” and “Star Trek.”
For “Grease,” it will simply be a singalong version of the 1978 movie (shown here) with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. For “Trek,” however, CBS All Access will stream a series set on the Enterprise, a decade before the Kirk/Spock days. Details are: Read more…
As the music competitions end their seasons – “American Idol” on Sunday (May 17), “The Voice” on Monday and Tuesday – some things are clear:
Yes, both shows are flawed, especially with judges who … well, don’t want to seem judgmental.
But the music-from-home part has worked well. “Idol” — with people like Just Sam (shown here) — quickly got it right; “Voice” flubbed its first try, then made a course-correction. Read more…
1) “American Idol” finale, 8-10 p.m., ABC. We can expect a couple powerhouse moments. One has Cynthia Erivo lead the show’s final 11 in an Aretha Franklin medley; the other has Lionel Richie and some “Idol” alumni sing “We Are the World,” which he co-wrote with Michael Jackson. (They’re shown here, with famous friends.) There’s much more – a song by each of the other judges, two songs by the final five contestants – and a champion. Read more…
1) “The Voice” finale, 8-10 p.m. today, 8-11 p.m. Tuesday, NBC. This year’s final five is a richly varied field. The young people are from Japan (Micah Iverson, 25), Hawaii (Thunderstorm Artis, 23) and South Carolina (CammWess, 21). And the others? Todd Tilghman – a Mississippi pastor and father of eight, some of them in this hectic screen shot – is 41; Toneisha Harris, of Georgia, is 44, resuming her career after her son recovered from leukemia. Tonight, they sing from home; performances rerun at 8 p.m. Tuesday, with the finale at 9. Read more…
The CW network has a fresh plan for stocking a fall schedule in the age of COVID:
It will simply wait. It will have a patchwork of acquired shows this fall and hold back the main ones – “Flash” and “Batwoman” (shown here) and “Riverdale” and such – until January. Read more…
1) “Graduate Together: America Honors the Class of 2020,” 8 p.m, CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox and social media. This is the graduation ceremony we all deserve – Barack and Michelle Obama (shown here) as the commencement speakers, joined by music people – Pharell Williams, H.E.R., Bad Bunny, Ben Platt and the Jonas Brothers. LeBron James will also be there. He organized this event because three million people will graduate from high school this year without a prom or a full graduation ceremony. Read more…
