Mike Hughes

Weekly Previews

Week’s top-10 for Feb. 22: from “Snowfall” grit to Globes glitter

1) Golden Globe awards, 8 p.m.ET Sunday, with red-carpet at 7, NBC, (on the West Coast, 5 p.m. PT, repeating at 8. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler (shown here in a previous year) again host — but on opposite coasts. Fey’s in New Yorik, Poehler in Los Angeles. Viewers might not recognize many of the nominated movies, but may know the TV shows – all of them from cable or streaming: The nominated dramas are “The Crown,” “The Mandalorian,” “Ozark,” “Ratched” and “Lovecraft Country”; the comedies are “Emily in Paris,” “The Great,” “Ted Lasso,” “The Flight Attendant” and “Schitt’s Creek. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 19, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Feb. 20: Fun fiction or tough true tales

1) “The Long Island Serial Killer: A Mother’s Hunt for Justice,” 8-10:03 p.m., Lifetime. For its 400th original movie, Lifetime went to some familiar names. This is written by John Pielmeier, who has had four Broadway plays (including “Agnes of God”) and three Humanitas nominations (winning for TV’s “Choices of the Heart”). Kim Delaney (shown here), an Emmy-winner, plays a mom trying to nudge police into action. It’s a solidly crafted film, with a real-life story that has odd surprises, but no convenient finish. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 18, 2021
News and Quick Comments

CNN plans new line-up for April

CNN has finally set the details of its new daytime line-up.
That begins in April, with more Jake Tapper (shown here), less Wolf Blitzer and no Brooke Baldwin, plus a later Alyson Camerota and an earlier Brianna Keller. There will also a weekday hour for Ana Cabrera, key weekend slots for Jim Acosta and more. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 18, 2021
Stories

Solid, stoic Murdoch discovers slapstick

There are many words we’d associate with the lead character (shown here) in “Murdoch Mysteries.”
They include “steady,” “sturdy,” “solid,” “stoic” and such. They do NOT include “slapstick.”
But here is the season-opener, at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT) Saturday (Feb. 20) on Ovation, directed by the show’s star, Yannick Bisson. It has versions of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Stan Laurel, plus a big sight gag, complete with a collapsing building. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 17, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Feb.19: lots of drama, lots of Denzel

1) Denzel Washington films, cable. Some viewers can jump between Washington’s Oscar-winning performances. His first (supporting actor) was for “Glory” (1989), a brilliant film (shown here with Washington and Morgan Freeman) about a Black unit in the Union army; that’s 8 p.m. on Starz. His second (actor) was for “Training Day” (2001), as a corrupt and street-smart cop; it’s 7 and 9:30 p.m. on Vice. For more, catch “The Equalizer” (2014), at 10:30 p.m. on TNT. In a variation on the TV series, he plays a former federal agent, helping the little guy. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 17, 2021
Stories

As stardom loomed, he stocked groceries

When the COVID shutdown began, it was important to be nice to grocery-store workers.
They were essential, after all. And one of them was waiting patiently to be a movie star … or, at least, to play one on TV.
That’s Bradley Constant (shown here), one of three people playing early versions of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on “Young Rock,” at 8 p.m. Tuesdays (starting Feb. 16) on NBC. Landing the role was a big break … followed by a long COVID delay.
His reaction? “I went back to working at the grocery store,” he said. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 15, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Feb.17: “Masked Dancer,” “Black Church” conclude

1) “The Masked Dancer,” 8-10 p.m., Fox. This first season has seen surprises under those masks. That’s ranged from a science guy (Bill Nye) to a boxer (Oscar De La Hoya), from former kidnap victim Elizabeth Smart to Vinny from “Jersey Shore.” It’s also included three music people – Brian McKnight, Jordin Sparks and Ice-T. All that remain are Sloth, Tulip (shown here) and Cotton Candy. Tonight – after a recap of the season so far – we’ll have the final dance-off. Then “The Masked Singer” returns March 10. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 15, 2021
Stories

Rocky road led to Rock stardom

Being Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson should be easy, it seems.
He’s bigger, stronger and (we’re told) better-looking than other people. He’s open and amiable. Also, his movies have made more than $12 billion.
But getting there was complicated. When “Young Rock” debuts (8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, on NBC), it will bounce between three phases, catching small slices of a large life.
“I lived in 13 different states by the time I was 13 years old,” Johnson (shown here) told the Television Critcs Association. “I also lived in New Zealand.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 15, 2021
News and Quick Comments

At last: Hallmark Channel discovers diversity

The Hallmark Channel people say their shows are a lot better now … without quite acknowledging that they were a lot worse before.
The new-look Hallmark has more diversity, Wonya Lucas, CEO of the channel and its spin-off networks, told the Television Critics Association. It reflects “the complexity of what it means to love and be a family in a more authentic, varied and inclusive way.”
That includes racial and LGBT issues. “What I’m really excited about is our first gay lead,” said Michelle Vicary, the channel’s executive vice-president of programming.
She was talking about “Mix Up in the Mediterranean” (9 p.m. Saturday, rerunning at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20-21), with Jeremy Jordan, a Broadway star and a “Smash” and “Supergirl” co-star. “He plays twins …. One is gay, one is straight and, through a comedy of errors, they have to switch places.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 14, 2021