Mike Hughes

Week’s top-10 for July 24: deep “Winds,” tough sharks

1) “Dark Winds” season-opener, 9 p.m. Sunday, AMC. Under his stoic exterior, police Lt. Joe Leaphorn (shown here) has deep layers of emotion. A mining explosion killed his son – his only child, because many Navajo women (including his wife, now a nurse) were sterilized after giving birth. Now he has a case that may be linked to the explosion. Like the first season, this is a six-week story, beautifully crafted, with understated perfection from Zahn McClarnon as Joe. Read more…

Best-bets for July 21: a cult, a clone, a classic

1) “Praise Petey” (shown here) debut, 10 and 10:30 p.m., Freeform, rerunning at midnight. In New York, Petey has lots of clothes, lots of therapy and few opinions. Then her world implodes … and a new one appears: She inherits the small-town cult her father created. Freeform’s first animated show stars Annie Murphy (“Schitt’s Creek”). Like many cartoons, it sometimes pushes too hard for laughs; still, it’s a fairly clever show about colliding values in a new world. Read more…

A rootless start propelled Root’s career

When Stephen Root (shown here) does a TV role – which is often – a slice of his dad emerges.
“Everything I do probably comes a little bit from him.” Root said.
Well – maybe some things morte than others. Root is both a voice actor – including the intriguing “Praise Petey,” which debuts at 10 and 10:30 p.m. Friday (July 21) on Freeform – and an on-camera guy, including his Emmy-nominated role in the just-ended “Barry.” His roles range afar.
He’s been a vampire, an exterminator, a coach, a mental patient and a royal tart toter. He’s been Superman’s uncle and Batman’s nemesis. He’s been real people (J. Edgar Hoover, NASA leader Chris Craft) and Fred Flintstone, Santa Claus and a Klingon officer. He’s been lots of judges and officials, plus guys called Zeb Zoober, Woozy Winks, Big Ducky and Mr. Big Corporation. Read more…

Best-bets for July 20: “Password,” “Project,” prideful comedy

1) What We Do in the Shadows,” 10 p.m., FX, rerunning at 10:36 and 11:12. This clever show often prefers the dry and droll – understated reactions to bizarre, vampires-in-Staten-Island situations. Not this time; instead, brash sight gags are piled high. There’s a two-faced head … a vampire in the stratosphere … and an LGBQ parade by a candidate (shown here) who isn’t even sure what the letters stand for. It’s not the usual “Shadows,” but it’s quite funny. Read more…

CBS patches fall line-up with “Yellowstone,” more

Battered by two strikes, CBS is turning to its corporate allies.
It will borrow “Yellowstone” (shown here) from the Paramount Network and two shows — “SEALS” and “FBI True” — from Paramount+. And, like other networks, it will load up on reality shows.
Several networks – ABC, Fox and CW – have already announced full schedules designed to circumvent the writers’ and actors strikes. CBS hasn’t finalized one yet, but it announced key pieces: Read more…

As others scramble, PBS plans a busy fall

As the upcoming TV season crumbles, PBS becomes more important.
The network has just released its plans for the fall. It has lots of Sunday dramas, a string of Friday profiles, a speck of music and, as usual, loads of non-fiction.
That includes a strong Latino emphasis, plus subjects ranging from buffalo (shown here) to Elon Musk, from nature to reflections on integration, busing and women’s sports. Read more…

Best-bets for July 19: music, “Mayans,” “MasterChef”

1) “CMA Fest” (shown here with Little Big Town), 8-11 p.m., ABC. This country concert has an arena-rock vibe. Guitars wail, crowds roar, the music is almost relentlessly high-octane. It’s always fun and, at scattered moments, more. We hear great songwriting (Jordan Davis’ “Buy Dirt,” Cody Johnson’s “’Til You Can’t”) and splendid combos. When Vince Gill and Luke Combs do “One More Last Chance” or Hardy and Lainey Wilson do “Wait in the Truck,” we’re at the heart of country. Read more…

Best-bets for July 18: great storytellers from Detroit and the South

1) “Justified: City Primeval” openers, 10 and 11:15 p.m., FX. Eight years after its finale, the terrific “Justified” series has been cleverly spliced onto another tale. Raylan (Timothy Olyphant, shown heree) isn’t in the “City Primeval” novel, but both were created by Elmore Leonard and they fit well. Raylan, from Kentucky, is whisked to Detroit with his troublemaking teen (well-played by Olyphant’s real daughter Vivian). There’s humor, violence and vivid characters. Read more…

Best-bets for July 17: cruel drama, miraculous comedy

1) “Cruel Summer,” 10 p.m., Freeform. This has become a surprisingly good show, with complex characters played by gifted young actors. Tonight’s episode (the 8th of 10) finally shows most of what happened the night Luke was killed. As usual, it also bounces to six months earlier and later. In some ways, the transition of Megan unrealistically extreme. Still, Sadie Stanley (shown here, second from left, in a previous episode) makes if believable. Read more…