Day: January 2, 2021

Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Jan. 4: “Bachelor” begins, “Finest” ends

1) “The Bachelor” opener, 8-10 p.m., ABC. Back in June, ABC announced its first Black “Bachelor.” Now, after COVID delays, we meet Matt James (shown here), 29. At Wake Forest, he was a receiver (6-foot-5, 220 pounds) who had injuries and then a strong senior year – 40 catches, 401 yards and a brief pro try-out. He got an economics degree, works in New York and also started a project teaching kids about food and exercise. In the opener, he meets 32 women, including two lawyers, a pharmacist and a ballerina. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / January 2, 2021
News and Quick Comments

Zoey is back — bright, bubbly and amiably odd

To savor “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” – which starts its second season Tuesday (Jan. 5) – you must buy into one tiny little premise and …
OK, it’s actually a huge premise: Zoey was listening to her headphones inside a CAT scan. There was an earthquake, creating an anomaly. Now, of course, she keeps seeing people expressing their deepest personal thoughts via pop songs.
Yes, that’s a lot to accept. But we’ve seen a teen-ager gain the strength of a spider … and a guy turn into a hulk when he gets angry … and (in one cartoon series) a boy turn into an automobile. Unlike some of those shows, this one offers warmth, humor and intelligence.
“Playlist” (8 p.m., NBC), which has the TV’s brightest color palette, could have settled for silliness. Instead – with the writing and with the casting of Jane Levy (shown here) – it makes Zoey smart and caring. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / January 2, 2021