Month: April 2021

Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for April 19: Second chances for “Idol” and for author

1) “American Experience: American Oz,” 9-11 p.m., PBS. After a blissful childhood, Frank Baum dreamed big, often with his dad’s financial backing. He raised thoroughbred chickens; he wrote, produced and starred in a touring musical. In South Dakota, he tried a high-end store and then a newspaper that went from feminism to proposing Indian annihilation. He failed often and then, in his 40s, succeeded with children’s short tales … a window-dressers’ magazine … and “The Wizard of Oz,” a classic book that became an immensely popular movie (shown here). Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 17, 2021
News and Quick Comments

Nashville soars; Hollywood snores?

On Sunday (April 18), Nashville reminded us of something important: An award show — shown here with Carrie Underwood and CeCe Winans — can be very good.
A week later, Hollywood may remind us of the flip side: Awards can be truly, terribly awful.
These shows used to be partly built on the fun of seeing celebrities being themselves (or, perhaps, prettier versions of themselves). They said things that were funny or fumbling or emotional or whatever.
But all of that has changed lately. They recite names; they thank managers and agents and, worse, “my team.” They are dull; the show can only be saved with humor and/or music. So what will the Oscars do, from 8-11 p.m. ET April 25? It is banishing humor — no host, no funny presenters (so far) — and music; the five nominated songs will be wedged into the preview at 6:30 p.m., lest entertainment take any time away from droning speeches. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 17, 2021
News and Quick Comments

Beyond the blubber: Whales show rich personalities

We kind of know what whales are like – big and blubbery and such.
Or maybe we don’t know them at all. They vary widely, photographer Brian Skerry told the Television Critics Association. That can depend on the species, the region, even the individual.
“These animals do have languages,” said Skerry, whose richly crafted “Secrets of the Whales” (shown here) has an Earth Day debut on Disney+. “They do have dialects. (They) have rich lives, much like our own.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 17, 2021
Stories

After Earth Day, films continue

Earth Day is gone now, but its impact lingers on our TV sets and computer screens.
There’s PBS’ Greta Thunberg film (see separate story), which now reruns on three Wednesdays. And a surge of films on the streaming channels, including the splendid “Secrets of the Whales” (see separate story) and the fun “The Year the Earth Changed.”
And on April 23, there’s the back half of a two-day rerun marathon. Let’s start there: Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 16, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for April 18: music via country, “Idol” and “Zoey”

1) Academy of Country Music awards, 8-11 p.m., CBS. Miranda Lambert will open the show, singing “Drunk” with Elle King (they’re shown here); she’ll also link with Jack Ingram and Jon Randall for “In His Arms.” Her ex-husband Blake Shelton will celebrate the 20th anniversary of “Austin” and also do “Minimum Wage.” From three Nashville locations, others include Carrie Underwood (with gospel great CeCe Winans), Dierks Bentley, Luke Combs, Kane Brown, hosts Brad Paisley and Mickey Guyton, and many more. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 16, 2021
Weekly Previews

Week’s top-10 for April 19: Earth Day is strong; Oscar night is weak

1) Academy Awards, 8 p.m. ET Sunday, ABC. For the third straight year, the Oscars will go without a host … and might pay little attention to the songs. That can be disastrous: Humor and music are key, when many winners give dreary speeches (thanking agents and such) and many viewers haven’t seen the films. Nominated for best picture are “Promising Young Woman” (shown here with Carey Mulligan), “Mank,” “Minari,” “Nomadland,” “Trial of the Chicago 7,” “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “The Father” and “Sound of Metal.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 15, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for April 17: envy, murder and a giant

1) “Envy,” 8-10 p.m., Lifetime. Serayah (shown here) – who made an impressive TV debut in “Empire” (as Tiana, Hakeem’s es-wife) gets the title role, sort of. Learning she has a prosperous half-sister, she suddenly wants it all. This is the second faith-based film produced by Bishop TD Jakes, based on novels about the seven deadly sins. “Lust” was last week; production on “Greed” was delayed by the pandemic. The others – including, alas, sloth and gluttony – may take a while. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 15, 2021
Stories

Teen conquers complex role

In rare moments, a master actor gets to play a double or triple role.
That includes comedy guys – Eddie Murphy, Jerry Lewis, Peter Sellers – and various Englishmen who become Jekyll and Hyde. And now, sort of, there’s Chiara Aurelia.
No, you probably haven’t heard of her. She’s 18 and has had some roles … five of them playing the younger version of a main character. But when “Cruel Summer” debuts (9 and 10 p.m. Tuesday, April 20, on Freeform), she has virtually a triple role – the same teen-ager (Jeanette, shown here, center, at the start), over three summers that transform her completely.
“Each year kind of represents a different element of all of our lives,” Aurelia told the Television Critics Association. “You know – the darkness, the sadness, the youthfulness.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 15, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for April 16: violins in China, vampires in Romania

1) “Van Helsing” season-opener, 10 p.m., Syfy. After four seasons with Vanessa Van Helsing (shown here) in a near-future world, this goes back to the roots of vampire-hunting: It starts its final season with three episodes set in old Romania. This opener was beautifully directed by Jonathan Scarfe, a gifted actor (and son of Canadian star Sara Botsford) who later will return to his role as Axel. Jack (Nicole Munoz) has been flung into the past, told only to “kill the Dark One.” That’s not easy, amid castle schemes. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 14, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for April 15: “Mom,” “Moodys” mirth

1) “Mom,” 9 p.m., CBS. Only five episodes remain in this show’s great, eight-year run. For a time (after “Big Bang” left), this was TV’s best comedy. It slipped a tad this season, with Anna Faris (as Christy) leaving; still, it has sharp scripts and one of TV’s great characters. That’s Bonnie, perfectly played by Alison Janney, who has two Emmys in the role … plus five in other roles and an Oscar. Tonight (shown here), after a fairly funny “United States of Al” at 8:30, Bonnie is jealous of Tammy’s success. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 14, 2021