Mike Hughes

Stories

Tony Soprano and the White House: A golden age began

(This is a revised version o the latest chapter of the book-in-progress, “Television, and How It Got That Way.” To read the full book, so far, from the beginning, click “The Book,” under “categories.”)

All in all, the 20th century was quite interesting.
It sort of started (in January of 1901) with the death of Queen Victoria. It ended (in 1999) with the birth of both “The Sopranos” and “The West Wing.”
In short, the century began with the end of the Victorian era and ended with the start of a TV golden age. In between, other stuff happened.
For TV, the new era has gone by different names. John Landgraf, the FX networks chief, calls it “Peak TV.” David Bianculli, a TV critic, calls it “The Platinum Age.” I’ll go with the second golden age of drama. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 7, 2025
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for May 9: musical passion, heroic Percy

1) “Next to Normal,” 9-11:30 p.m., PBS. A four-Friday Broadway series starts with a stunning musical — a roller-coaster through grief and a fractured mind. Some viewers will consider this too painful; more will find it deeply moving. In its original version (shown here), it won a Pulitzer Prize for drama and Tonys for its music. Now cameras can add the subtlety behind quaking emotions. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 7, 2025
Stories

Slay the monsters; then start high school

So let’s say you’ve been busy.
You’ve battled monsters and searched for Zeus’ lightning bolt. You’ve met centaurs and satyrs and lots of gods –Hades and Hermes and Medusa and Kronos and Poseidon and such.
OK, now it’s time to go start high school.
That’s what happened to Walker Scobell (shown here), star of “Percy Jackson & The Olympians.” The first season (now rerunning Fridays on the Disney Channel) debuted on Disney+ in December of 2023, when he was 14. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 6, 2025
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for May 8: It’s a double-delight — Elsbeth and Charlie

1) “Elsbeth” season-finale, 9 p.m., CBS. It’s a real stretch to plunk Elsbeth into prison, alongside eight people she helped convict. But it’s worth it, to see them again. Several are good singers (Gina Gershon, Retta, Alyssa Milano (shown here), Elizabeth Lail), so there’s even a dream scene of a song from “Chicago.” And there’s a clever, in-prison murder mystery. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 6, 2025
News and Quick Comments

Sad sign of the times: “Equalizer” cancelled

The too-short lifespan of “The Equalizer” (shown here) says a lot about current TV.
Here was one of the heroes of the pandemic. When TV was at its low point, it leaped to No. 2 in the ratings.
Now, after a modest five seasons, it’s been canceled. The season-finale (10 p.m. Sunday, May 4, on CBS) has also become the series-finale.
“Equalizer” had exactly two flaws: It’s expensive and it’s from the wrong company. TV is like that these days. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 3, 2025
News and Quick Comments

ABC’s summer: games, flirting, but no “Bachelorette”

After pausing for a sports-stuffed June, ABC will start its summer line-up in July.
It will be a trimmed-down one, though, with no “Bachelorette.”
Instead, there will be two nights of game shows — including Martin Short hosting a “Match Game” revival — plus “Bachelor in Paradise” (shown here in a previous season). There will also be lots of room for reruns, plus Disney movies on Sundays. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 2, 2025
Stories

Charlie is back … and as sharp and quirky as ever

Like most good things in life, good TV shows make us wait.
They have shorter seasons, further apart. And they’re worth it.
Which is to say that “Poker Face,” one of TV’s best shows, is finally back.
The first, brilliant season ended in March of 2023. The second returns to Peacock with three terrific episodes on May 8, then has one a week for seven more Thursdays. It again ripples with sharp wit and quick twists, reflecting the two people in charge: Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 2, 2025