Day: January 4, 2021

News and Quick Comments

Thursday-comedy stars converge for “Mr. Mayor”

Neil Bremer has all the key qualifications to be mayor.
He’s tall and silver-haired, with an agreeable countenance and an affable manner. He has everything except … well, plans, proposals, projects and such. Maybe he’ll think of some later.
He’s the central character in “Mr. Mayor,” which debuts at 8 and 8:30 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 7) on NBC. It has all of NBC’s key Thursday people: Ted Danson (shown here) stars; Tina Fey and Robert Carlock are producers.
You may remember NBC Thursdays: That used to be “must-see TV”; then it became “might-see TV” and then sort of “whatever.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / January 4, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Jan. 6: It’s game(s) night on TV

1) “Name That Tune” debut, 9 p.m., Fox. This is a night when ancient game shows suddenly return to prime time. “Tune” began on radio in 1952, moved to primetime -TV (NBC and then CBS) the next year, then slid to daytime and two syndicated runs – one with the future Kathie Lee Gifford as vocalist. Now it’s back, with Jane Krakowski (shown here) as host and Randy Jackson as the producer and bandleader. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / January 4, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Here’s a portrait of dreams, large and small

We hear a lot about “the American dream” – especially when a pandemic might sideswipe it.

But what is that dream? PBS “American Portrait” reminds us how varied it can be.
It can be something huge. A young Alaskan dad links with a friend to start their own airline; a student struggles to get into medical school – a chance that was denied to her mother in Afghanistan.
Or it can be more basic: A young construction worker (shown here) and his girlfriend, dreamig of some day having a house and a family. Those three stories are at the core of the “Portrait” opener, at 9 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 5). Read more…

By Mike Hughes / January 4, 2021