Mike Hughes

Stories

“Masked Singer” returns, illusions and all

“The Masked Singer”is back, with its layers of illusion.
The performers (shown here in a previous season) are masked, the voices are altered and the studio audience is make-believe.
“We want to give people something that takes them away from the reality,” Robin Thicke said.
That reality is COVID-scarred. Performers sing to an empty theater; Nick Cannon, the host, was replaced by Niecy Nash for the already-taped first half of the season (8 p.m. Wednesdays on Fox, starting March 10), after he tested positive. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / March 7, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for March 9: Hospital dramas rule the night

1) “New Amsterdam,” 10 p.m., NBC. Last week’s season-opener took us to a post-pandemic time, with remnants of the tragedy. Now Dr. Kapoor (shown here with Max in a previous episode) lingers near death, while Elia (his son’s ex-girlfriend) nears the birth of her baby and his grandchild. Meanwhile, Iggy bares his pain and Max’s opioid rules have backfired. It’s a busy – sometimes too busy – hour that stumbles, but ends with steong emotions. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / March 7, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for March 8: Mondays become sci-fi turf

1) “Snowpiercer,” 9 p.m., TNT, rerunning at 10. Most humans have already been killed by the bitter cold. Now the few survivors – on a thousand-plus-car train – have added to the toll; Till and Layton (shown here in a previous episode) investigate the latest murders. This hour is dark and downbeat – even for an apocalyptic thriller – but sharply crafted. It also finds people worrying about Miss Audrey: Ostensibly on a date with Mr. Wilford, she planned to plant a listening device. Now she hasn’t returned. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / March 6, 2021
Stories

Working for Oprah has its benefits

There’s an added benefit to doing an Oprah Winfrey Network show: You might meet Oprah Winfrey.
Well, maybe not a three-dimensional, in-person Oprah, during this social-distancing era. But there’s her image, talking to you on your computer screen.
“It was like some angel landed in the Zoom,” said Maahra Hill (shown here), who has the title role in “Delilah,” at 9 p.m. Tuesdays (starting March 9) on OWN.
Jill Marie Jones, who co-stars, recalled the first such Zoom call: “She had her Oprah voice that was just so golden goodness. And then she said my name in her Oprah voice and I just died.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / March 6, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for March 7: royals who fled, moms who robbed

1) “Oprah With Meghan and Harry,” 8-10 p.m., CBS. Exactly a year ago, Meghan Markle had her last official duty in the royal family. She and her husband, Prince Harry (they’re show here), have since moved to the U.S. and become financially independent. Their son Archie turns 2 on May 6; their third anniversary is May 19. This Valentine’s Day, they announced that Markle is pregnant. Now this special – scheduled for 90 minutes, then expanded – has her conversing with Oprah Winfrey; then they’re joined by Harry. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / March 5, 2021
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for March 5: Mac, Murdoc, Murphy, more

1) “MacGyver,” 8 p.m., CBS. Murdoc (shown here) has been Mac’s prime villain forever … and now he’s showing up more often. In the original show (which started in 1985), he did seven episodes in seven year; now, midway through its fifth season, the reboot has its 11th Murdoc episode. He links with Andrews (Joe Pantoliano) to hack devices and steal secrets from Mac and friends. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / March 3, 2021
News and Quick Comments

Paramount Plus: “Star Trek” to “SpongeBob” and beyond

As the streaming services harvest their latest Golden Globe awards, a newcomer arrives.
On Thursday (March 4), Paramount Plus debuts. It will immediately offer a new “SpongeBob” movie (shown here) and series, with plans to revive everything from “Frasier” to ”Beavis ad Butt-Head.”
And it leaves a key question: Do we really need another streaming service?
No, actually, but don’t worry. This is simply a bigger, bolder version of one of the first streamers. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / March 2, 2021
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Best-bets for March 4: FBI folks fret; teens sing

1) “Clarice,” 10 p.m., CBS. This richly crafted series has had one persistent flaw: It uses the cliché of higher-ups who ignore evidence and just get in the way. That’s been especially true of Clarice’s FBI boss, Krendler; a terrific actor (Michael Cutlitz, shown here) has been stuck in a one-note role. Now the remedy begins by a simple means – bringing in someone much worse. As Krendler is investigated, he adds much-needed depth. It’s a good episode – in a darkly Gothic way – but ends with the story in limbo. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / March 2, 2021