Day: August 29, 2020

Boseman’s films offered quality and variety

(Disney’s grand gesture — showing “Black Panther on ABC, commercial free, as a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman — has ended now, but plenty of other Boseman films are available. Here’s the story I posted Saturday and updated Sunday.)
The flow of tributes to the late Chadwick Boseman now includes an unprecedented one:
At 8 p.m. today (Sunday, Aug. 30), ABC will show his “Black Panther” movie commercial-free. That will be followed by a special – “Chadwick Boseman — Tribute For a King” – from 10:20 to 11 p.m.
Boseman played the king of a fictional African land in “Black Panther,” but he also played real-life heroes – Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall – and music superstar James Bown.
He had a six-year stretch of great movie roles. Now we learn that for four of those years, he was fighting colon cancer.
He died at 43 on Friday (Aug. 28), which happened to be Jackie Robinson Day for Major League Baseball. In the days ahead, viewers can catch his work on TV and via streaming. Read more…

Best-bets for Aug. 31: Gorgeous planet, eternal queen

1) “Planet Earth: A Celebration” (shown here), 8-9:25 p.m. ET, BBC America and IFC; 8-9:25 p.m. ET/PT AMC and Sundance. This began with two great series – “Planet Earth II” and “Blue Planet II.” The BBC chose eight gorgeous segments and added new music, performed by the members of the BBC Orchestra (separated by six feet) and Hans Zimmer (separated by the Atlantic Ocean). The moments – from hilarious parading flamingos to horrifying racer snakes – are brilliantly crafted. Read more…

Conventions are over; take a breath … then rush

For a moment, TV people can pause for breath. It’s post-conventions rehab time.
The two parties have had their virtual gatherings. (The Republican finale is shown here.) People can worry about something else now … briefly. Coming soon are:
– Town halls, with candidates talking to undecided voters. ABC has set Donald Trump for Sept. 15; it has invited Joe Biden for a separate night.
– Debates. They’re set for Sept. 29, Oct. 15 and Oct. 22; the vice-presidential debate is Oct. 7. Read more…