Month: October 2023

Stories

At times, Perry had a Chandler-esque life

After the “Friends” pilot was finished, the producers took the six stars out for separate lunches. For Matthew Perry (shown here, middle), that turned out to be prescient.
“I remember telling them I had just been on a date the previous night,” Perry recalled in “Friends ,,, ‘Til the End” (TimeInc, 2004). “I got home, I called my friend and he said, ‘How did the date go?’
“And I said, ‘I’m going to die alone.’”
That was a funny line at the time … one that his character (Chandler Bing) soon said. Later, it became too true: Perry did apparently died alone, in his hot tub Oct. 28, at 54. He had never married. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / October 31, 2023
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Nov. 2: Soldiers return, buddies depart

1) “SEAL Team” return, 10 p.m., CBS. After years on CBS, this show slid over to the Paramount+ streamer. It aired the first four episodes of the fifth season on CBS, then made the jump. Now it’s back, filling a strike-time void. It starts with the two-parter that opened that fifth season: The crew members (including David Boreanaz, shown here, center, in a previous episode) get at-home time, starts a “training exercise” … and learn it’s a real (and dangerous) rescue mission. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / October 31, 2023
News and Quick Comments

Cable and streamer set Perry “Friends” marathon

For fans of the late Matthew Perry, there are plenty of ways to watch his “Friends” episodes this week.
They can catch them early in the morning on one cable channel (TBS) or late at night on another (Nickelodeon). Or they can catch them any time on Max.
Perry (shown here, second from left) died Saturday at 54, bringing a flood of praise for his work … and fresh interest in seeing it.
The easiest way is on Max, which spent a fortune for streaming rights to all 10 seasons … then added a much-praised reunion special with the six stars. In addition, however, two cable channels stepped in, Read more…

By Mike Hughes / October 31, 2023
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Nov. 1: new dramas and ancient Earth

1) “Quantum Leap,” 8 p.m., NBC. For Raymond Lee (shown here, center), this is a leap into fairly familiar turf. Lee (who has Korean roots) plays Ben, forever leaping into different bodies; now he’s in a young Korean-American. It’s April 29, 1992, the day of battles between Korean merchants and Blacks who were angered by a not-guilty verdict for the Los Angeles police who beat Rodney King. This hour gets way too talky, but does deliver emotional impact. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / October 30, 2023
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Oct. 31: a swarm of scares and fun

1) “The Swarm” season-finale, 9 p.m., CW. The first seven episodes –slow, but solidly crafted – have had the seas churning. Whales attacked; crabs marched ashore. Secret drilling on the ocean floor may have unleashed a creature; last week, scientists arrived by ship to see. One tried to communicate; another tried a mini-sub mission. Now something has infiltrated the ship and one person is in a coma. Charlie (the talented Leonie Benesch,shown here) faces a lonely decision. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / October 29, 2023
News and Quick Comments

Ready to stream: Poirot and lots of Greeks

Two movies – the kind we’re supposed to see in theaters – reach our TV sets this coming week.
Each was directed by its star. Each is sort of a “part three,” filmed in interesting corners of Europe. Neither is anywhere near as good as the first … but yes, they’re still worth watching.
On Tuesday – in time for one last Halloween scare – “A Haunting in Venice” (shown here), Kenneth Branagh’s third Hercule Poirot film, reaches Hulu. Then on Friday, Peacock has “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3.”
In many ways, these two are opposites – one dark and foreboding, the other quite cheery. Here are looks at both: Read more…

By Mike Hughes / October 29, 2023
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Oct. 30: It’s a ghastly holiday eve

1) “Ghosts,” 8 and 8:30 p.m., CBS. This likable show finally returns – but only for one night and two reruns. These are the Halloween ones, both excellent, from the first two seasons: Neighborhood kids plan to vandalize the place; the ghosts try to help. Then a séance accidentally brings someone from Hetty’s past (shown here). After that, be patient: Tentative plans have reruns returning Nov. 16, alongside the original, British version of the show. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / October 28, 2023
Stories

She went from village hall to Sting/hip hop impact

Like many small-town kids, Kate Prince dabbled in dance and music.
In a village hall in England, she tried ballet and tap and modern dance. In her family’s garage, she played an electric keyboard, mastering a Sting song at 11.
“‘Every Breath You Take’ is the first song I learned to play fairly well,” she said, in a Zoom press conference with Sting.
Lots of kids might try such things, but Prince never let up. Now, 38 years later, PBS has “Message in a Bottle” (shownhere) her dance piece done to the music of Sting. That’s 9 p.m. Nov. 3 on “Great Performances,” which a week earlier (Oct. 27) has a more-traditional dance concert by the New York City Ballet. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / October 27, 2023
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Oct. 29: “Billions” ends, but “Simpsons” are eternal

1) “The Simpsons,” 7 and 8 p.m., Fox. Most years, this is the night for a new “Treehouse of Horrors” (an example is shown here),with witty and/or gruesome tales. But this year’s episode – two OK stories and then a gem – is delayed until next week. Instead, we get reruns of last year’s “Treehouse” (including a charming anime tale) and “Bob’s Burgers” (ominous orchard trip) at 7 and 7:30. Then a new “Simpsons” has a “documentary” about Mr. Burns and a young woman’s start-up scheme. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / October 27, 2023
Weekly Previews

Week’s top-10 for Oct. 30: Halloween, Earth and baseball

1) “The Simpsons,” 8 p.m. Sunday, Fox. Once a year, “Simpsons” offers a “Treehouse of Horror,” with three tales that are sometimes witty, sometimes gory, always odd and imaginative. The first 32, plus a special, rerun Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to midnight; No. 33 reran last Sunday and No. 34 (shown here) debuts Sunday (Nov. 5). Its first two tales are fairly good (and quite gory), but the third one is the real gem, offering a world in which everyone has Homer-ic habits. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / October 26, 2023