Mike Hughes

Stories

It’s a sweet, prah-lean kind of movie

Television, we all know, is an educational medium.
So here’s today’s lesson, via a Christmas movie: A tasty confection is not pronounced “pray lean,” as much of the world assumes. It’s “prah lean.”
“We learned that really fast,” said Keshia Knight Pulliam, the producer and star of “A New Orleans Noel” (shown here), at 8 p.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 3-4) on Lifetime.
Brad James, her husband and co-star, also had to learn this. But Angela Tucker, the director and co-writer, was well aware of how to say it … and how to eat it. “I had a praline, probably, for breakfast, lunch and dinner” while filming, she said. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / November 29, 2022
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Dec. 1: Dolly leads a Christmas spree

1) “Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas” (shown here), 8-10 p.m., NBC. There’s a ragged feeling to this odd hybrid. But there are great moments … and a reminder that Parton, 76, is an amazing songwriter. She tosses off a couple of her hits (way too briefly) at the start, then does less-familiar ones, from gospel to pop, that are brilliantly done. The scripted parts are weak; the music – with Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Willie Nelson, Jimmie Allen and more – soars. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / November 29, 2022
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Nov. 30: a masked winner and a festive tree-lighting

1) “The Masked Singer” finale, 8-10 p.m., Fox. The first hour reviews what’s happened so far – which is a lot. The show has unmasked a boxer (George Foreman), a wrestler (Chris Jericho), a captain (William Shatner), real singers (Gloria Gaynor, Montell Jordan) and more. Last week it ousted Ray Parker Jr. (the “Ghosbusters” guy) and comedian Nikki Glaser. In the second hour, the finalists – the Lambs trio (shown here) and Harp – try for the championship. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / November 28, 2022
Stories

Adam Reed (one of them) molds a Christmas cartoon

A logical mind might expect that all Adam Reeds are the same.
Or, at least, that all Adam Reeds who make animated TV shows are the same.
Not so. One such Adam Reed makes “Archer,” which is a popular Emmy-winner … and ripples with cynicism. The other is the creative force behind “Reindeer in Here” (shown here), which debuts at 9 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 29) on CBS, with abundant optimism.
“I couldn’t find a positive Christmas” book, the latter Reed said. He was particularly down on “Elf on the Shelf,” which he has called “creepy.” So he wrote a thoroughly non-creepy, non-cynical book. The basic notion, Reed said, is that “every child, at some point, feels different.” In this case, it’s a boy who has moved a lot and feels alone. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / November 27, 2022
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Nov. 28: Bright lights, strong singers … and Bumper

1) “The Great Christmas Lights Fight” opener (shown here), 8-10 p.m., ABC. For six hours (over three Mondays), we’ll see supersized holiday displays. Each hour has four homes, with one chosen as the winner. Tonight has a piano and a mini-golf course, both playable, and a ride through Lollipop Land. One display sprawls over a 90-acre farm; another (on a mere four acres) glows with 250,000 lights. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / November 26, 2022
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Nov. 27: a busy night for dance, music, more

1) “Magical Musical Celebration,” 8-10 p.m., ABC. Now ABC seizes the holiday. It debuts “Mickey Saves Christmas” (simulcast on Disney cable channels) at 7, reruns “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure” at 7:30, then has two hours in Disney parks. There’s music from Derek Hough (shown here) and his sister Julianne Hough, who are the hosts, pluys Maren Morris, Ne-Yo, Meghan Trainor, Becky G, Jordin Sparks, Il Volo, Chloe Flower, Black Eyed Peas, Run DMC and David Foster and Katharine McPhee. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / November 25, 2022
Stories

Chippendales: big biceps, big profits, big scandal

The Chippendales world began modestly enough, 43 years ago. A failing night club tried some strip shows using male dancers.
Then things soared in odd ways. There were huge crowds, big profits, creative differences … and investigations for murder and arson and more.
That’s already been the subject of movies, books and, last year, a four-part Discovery+ documentary. Now there’s the “Welcome to Chippendales” mini-serie (shown here), on Hulu. The third episode is Nov. 29, with the others on the next five Tuesdays.
This is a true story, peppered with odd details. “It has this glossy, kind of campy overlay, because it’s the Chippendale dancers,” said, Annale Ashford, who co-stars. “And then underneath that, there’s the belly of everything that was happening socially.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / November 25, 2022
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Nov. 26: Awards show nudges cartoons aside

1) “TheGrio Awards,” 8-10 p.m., CBS. In a late switch, CBS has pushed two Christmas cartoons to next Saturday. Instead, it debuts these awards for Black icons (plus “Jeffersons” producer Norman Lear). Patti LaBelle (shown here) will sing and receive an award. Also singing are Yolanda Adams, Tyrese and Fantasia. Other awardees are Dave Chappelle, Jennifer Hudson, Kenan Thompson, Queen Latifah, Tyler Perry, Ben Crump, Allyson Felix and more. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / November 24, 2022
News and Quick Comments

Here’s an all-inclusive (almost) list of Christmas TV

When the Thanksgiving Day parade (shown here) begins, one thing will be clear: TV’s Christmas season has begun.
Yes, some cable channels have slipped in some new movies early. They’re like that.
But the rush begins on Nov. 24-27. During those four days, the Christmas line-up includes at least 20 new cable or streaming movies … three new music specials … one new cartoon special, plus eight classics (including “Grinch” and “Frosty”) … and a few classic big-screen movies, including “Wizard of Oz” (twice), “Polar Express” (twice) and all-day marathons of “Elf” and “Christmas Vacation.”
And all of that is before the Freeform channel starts its annual “25 Days of Christmas” rush. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / November 24, 2022