Mike Hughes

News and Quick Comments

“The Stand”: King’s potent, twice-told tale

For most authors, Hollywood wonders if any of their stories should be filmed.
For Stephen King, it’s a different matter. They all should be filmed, apparently, so there’s another question: Which ones should be done a second time?
The latest is “The Stand” (shown here), which arrives Thursday (Dec. 17) for a nine-week run on CBS All Access. It follows plenty of other King two-timers, including “Carrie,” “It,” “The Shining,””Salem’s Lot,” “Pet Semetary,” “Creepshow,” “The Dead Zone” and more.
In short, Hollywood really likes the guy. “He’s one of the great storytellers in the history of humanity,” said Benjamin Cavell, the “Stand” showrunner. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 15, 2020
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Dec. 17: “Carol,” comedies, more

1) “A Christmas Carol” (1999), 8 and 10 p.m., TNT. It’s a three-Carol day, which some people might figure is two – or even three – too many. Freeform has the Jim Carrey version (2009) at 3:45 p.m.; FX has the Guy Pearce one (dark, dreary and way too long) at 8 and 11:30. But give this one a try; it’s sharply filmed and Patrick Stewart (shown here) is the consummate Scrooge. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 15, 2020
News and Quick Comments

Two specials celebrate a Pride-ful life

Over the next few days, viewers can celebrate one of the great figures in Americana music.
Charley Pride died Saturday (Dec. 12) at 86, of complications from COVID. By various counts, he had between 29 and 36 No. 1 country hits, including “Kiss an Angel Good Morning” and “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone?”Now come two chances to revisit his life, via:
– PBS. “Charley Pride: I’m Just Me,” an excellent “American Masters” documentary, is available through Dec. 26 at www.pbs.org/americanmasters and on the PBS app.
– The CMT cable channel. “CMT Remembers Charley Pride” will air at 8 p.m. Wednesday (Dec. 16), rerunning on 9 a.m. Thursday and noon Saturday. It will include clips of Pride, plus comments (new or past) from his wife of 64 years, plus Tim McGraw, Loretta Lynn, the late Merle Haggard, Shania Twain and Darius Rucker … who had a key connection with Pride this year. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 15, 2020
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Dec. 16: Finales for “Masked” and “Race”

1) “The Masked Singer” finale, 8-10 p.m., Fox. Only three singers remain, neatly hidden under the masks of Sun, Mushroom (shown here) and Crocodile. They’ve already outlasted some talented pros – old (Paul Anka), young (Tori Kelly, Taylor Dane), in-between (Clint Black) and multi-faceted (Dr. Elvis Francois, the Mayo Clinic’s “singing surgeon”). Then again, snowboarder Chloe Kim and basketball’s Lonzo Ball also came close. Tonight, they’ll be unmasked and the judges will choose the champion. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 14, 2020
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Dec. 15: “Big Sky,” big voices

1) “Big Sky” mid-season finale, 10 p.m., ABC. This has been a mixed blessing so far. Yes, it has great dialog and skilled actors; we expect that from David E. Kelley shows, from “L.A. Law” to “Big Little Lies.” But the story has an overload of truly wretched people, including (shown here) a cop and a trucker who have abducted two teen sisters and a trans prostitute .Kelley has promised that a part of the story will conclude this week; when the show returns Jan. 26, it will have at least 11 more episodes. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 13, 2020
Stories

“The Prom”: Ryan Murphy and stars, at their best

I’m starting to be OK with Ryan Murphy’s Netflix deal.
It took me a while. When he signed it (two-plus years ago), I grumbled that a streamer had stolen one of TV’s best producers, the guy behind everything from “Glee” to the O.J. Simpson mini-series.
But now comes “The Prom” (shown here), the zestful musical that has just arrived on Netflix (and in a few movie theaters). Chances are, few people except Murphy could have pulled it off. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 12, 2020
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Dec. 14: A surge of music

1) “The Voice” finale, 8-10 p.m. NBC. This is a big music night, with performers — see below — including Billie Eilish (shown here), Kelli O’Hara … and the final five for “Voice.” Blake Shelton has two singers – Jim Ranger and Ian Flanigan – in the running, with one apiece for Gwen Stefani (Carter Rubin), John Legend (John Holiday) amd Kelly Clarkson (DeSz). Tonight’s performances rerun at 8 p.m. Tuesday, with the two-hour finale at 9. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 12, 2020
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Dec. 13: Two cartoon classics

1) “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” 7:30 p.m., PBS (check local listings) and PBS Kids; “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” 8 p.m., TBS. By coincidence, two of TV’s all-time greatest half-hours run back-to-back. The Charlie Brown cartoons had gone to Apple TV+, causing fears that a classic (shown here) would be out-of-reach for many people. Then came a compromise: Non-subscribers can find it this weekemd (through tonight) on Apple online; it’s at 7:30 p.m. nationally on PBS Kids and most PBS stations. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 11, 2020
Weekly Previews

Week’s top-10 for Dec. 14: Finals for “Voice,” “Masked,” more

1) “The Masked Singer” finale, 8-10 p.m Wednesday, Fox. Three finalists remain, masked up as Sun, Crocodile and Mushroom. Chances are, they’re music pros; they’ve already outlasted some strong talent – Tori Kelly (shown here in her Seahorse mask), Taylor Dane, Paul Anka, Clint Black and Dr. Elvis Francois, the Mayo Clinic’s “singing surgeon.” Then again, snowboarder Chloe Kim and basketball’s Lonzo Ball also made it close to the finals.. Tonight, the last three will be unmasked and the judges will choose the champion. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 10, 2020