Day: August 13, 2021

Stories

Ralph: presidential power in a witchly world

When pre-med student Sheryl Lee Ralph reached college, she got a quick lesson in being “the other.”
That was 1972, the first year Rutgers admitted women. There were only 450 of them – about one-percent of the enrollment; it was good preparation for her acting career.
“There was no room for me,” Ralph (shown here) – who has a key guest role in the season’s final two episodes of “Motherland: Fort Salem” – said of early auditions. “People were not open to open-casting back then.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / August 13, 2021

Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Sunday, Aug. 15: Farewell to love, Cassie and more

1) “Unforgotten” season-finale, 9 p.m., PBS. Battered by the emotional stress of cold-case murders, Cassie (Nicola Walker, shown here) tried to retire early. Officials said she had to stay three more months, to get a pension. She soon obsessed on a final case – a murder 30 years ago, linked to a car filled with police-academy grads. Short on sleep, she was close to solving it – then had a fierce car crash. Here’s the potent finish, putting an exclamation point on a great (if grim) season. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / August 13, 2021

News and Quick Comments

PBS this fall: Serious subjects abound

Peeking ahead to PBS’ fall schedule, one thing is clear:
These people are serious. Other networks may have become a bit lighter and brighter and simpler, but you won’t find that here.
In a three-day stretch of virtual press sessions, PBS took the Television Critics Association through imposing subjects, from Muhammad Ali (shown here) to the aftershocks of Sept. 11.
Yes, the network can sometimes be fun – especially on Sundays, when it has dramas and (on Aug. 29) a concert version of “Wicked.” But often, it will be serious, including: Read more…

By Mike Hughes / August 13, 2021