Mike Hughes

Best-bets for Sept. 4: From fun films to Breonna Taylor tragedy

1) “New York Times Presents,” 10 p.m., FX and Hulu. The death of Breonna Taylor (shown here) has drawn intense focus. Here’s a long look, with friends, neighbors, officials, boyfriend Kenneth Walker and her mom. Key comments are from David James, a Black ex-cop and a Louisville councilman. Banging on the door without identifying as police “is the most dangerous thing you can do,” he says. Most neighbors say the cops didn’t identify themselves; one disagrees. Walker fired a shot; a police barrage then killed Taylor. Read more…

Swank’s century: Seething in jail, soaring in space

If you flash through Hilary Swank’s career, you might decide that society is improving, after all.
There she was in “Iron Jawed Angels” (2004), as real-life militant Alice Paul, surviving arrests and hunger strikes while fighting for women’s right to vote.
And here she is in “Away,” which Netflix debuts Friday – 100 years and nine days after that voting-right became official. She plays the captain of a Mars mission.
“We’ve definitely come far in the last hundred years,” Swank told the Television Critics Association recently. “And we still have so much more to accomplish in equality for women. But … the show is such a beautiful reflection of where we’re headed.” Read more…

FX film digs into the Breonna Taylor case

In the heated debate over Breonna Taylor’s death, David James is situated perfectly.
The argument has multiple sides – police, politicians, Blacks and officials. He happens to fit all of those – a Black councilman in Louisville and a former narcotics officer who spent 14 years as a cop.
And now he’s key to “The New York Times Presents,” at 10 p.m. Friday (Sept. 4) on FX and Hulu.
This is an extensive look – an hour without commercials, 81 minutes on FX. It has a brief portrayal of Taylor, 26, described by friends, her mother and her boyfriend (Kenneth Walker, shown here with Taylor) as an upbeat soul, an emergency medical technician at work, a fun person at home. Then it gets into the case. Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 3: Holey moley, there’s lots of games and such

1) “Holey Moley,” 8 p.m., ABC. Thursdays have become the centerpoint for summertime games and reality shows. At 8 p.m., that includes two shows on CBS (“Big Brother” and “Love Island”), two hours of “Beat Shazam” on Fox and “The Wall” on NBC. It also includes this goofy miniature-golf show (shown here), which has a final spot to fill in next week’s $250,000 championship. Contestants range from a law student to a pageant queen, from a musician to a former pro football player. Read more…

“Wolves” leads a pack of fresh streaming shows

As September arrives, the streaming networks are determined to keep their grip on us.
Yes, several networks have plans for makeshift fall seasons; PBS and cable have more. By Sept. 21, the TV world will feel sort of busy; by Sept. 27 – the launch of two engrossing cable series, “Fargo” and “Comey Rules” – it will seem packed.
But the streamers are loading up first. On Thursday – one day before Netflix’s ambitious “Away” debuts and Amazon Prime’s “The Boys” returns – four series or mini-series arrive, including Ridley Scott’s “Raised by Wolves” (shown here): Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 2: Results for “Tough,” “Talent”

1) “Tough as Nails” finale, 9-11 p.m., CBS. The team prize was handed out last week, but now comes the big one – an individual prize of $200.000 and a truck. Starting with 12 people, “Nails” – already renewed for next season – has its final five. There are two women – Linda Goodridge, 29, a deputy sheriff; and Callie Cattell, 28, a fisherman – and three men. Danny Moody, 33, is a drywaller; Miles Pak, 28, is a forestry tech; “Murph” Murphy (shown here), 47, is a Marine veteran. Phil Keoghan hosts. Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 1: One strong drama debuts, another continues

1) “Transplant” debut, 10 p.m., NBC. At a Middle Eastern restaurant in Canada, a tragedy strikes. There are life-and-death moments, as one of the workers (Hamza Haq, shown here) takes action. Then … well, we won’t say any more. “Trasnsplant” is careful to reveal itself slowly; watching this first hour that way is a rewarding experience. John Hannah, a Scottish star, is the only actor Americans might recognize. (We see him first as a restaurant customer.) The Canadian cast, led by Haq, performs with subtle skill. Read more…

Boseman’s films offered quality and variety

(Disney’s grand gesture — showing “Black Panther on ABC, commercial free, as a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman — has ended now, but plenty of other Boseman films are available. Here’s the story I posted Saturday and updated Sunday.)
The flow of tributes to the late Chadwick Boseman now includes an unprecedented one:
At 8 p.m. today (Sunday, Aug. 30), ABC will show his “Black Panther” movie commercial-free. That will be followed by a special – “Chadwick Boseman — Tribute For a King” – from 10:20 to 11 p.m.
Boseman played the king of a fictional African land in “Black Panther,” but he also played real-life heroes – Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall – and music superstar James Bown.
He had a six-year stretch of great movie roles. Now we learn that for four of those years, he was fighting colon cancer.
He died at 43 on Friday (Aug. 28), which happened to be Jackie Robinson Day for Major League Baseball. In the days ahead, viewers can catch his work on TV and via streaming. Read more…

Best-bets for Aug. 31: Gorgeous planet, eternal queen

1) “Planet Earth: A Celebration” (shown here), 8-9:25 p.m. ET, BBC America and IFC; 8-9:25 p.m. ET/PT AMC and Sundance. This began with two great series – “Planet Earth II” and “Blue Planet II.” The BBC chose eight gorgeous segments and added new music, performed by the members of the BBC Orchestra (separated by six feet) and Hans Zimmer (separated by the Atlantic Ocean). The moments – from hilarious parading flamingos to horrifying racer snakes – are brilliantly crafted. Read more…

Conventions are over; take a breath … then rush

For a moment, TV people can pause for breath. It’s post-conventions rehab time.
The two parties have had their virtual gatherings. (The Republican finale is shown here.) People can worry about something else now … briefly. Coming soon are:
– Town halls, with candidates talking to undecided voters. ABC has set Donald Trump for Sept. 15; it has invited Joe Biden for a separate night.
– Debates. They’re set for Sept. 29, Oct. 15 and Oct. 22; the vice-presidential debate is Oct. 7. Read more…