Mike Hughes

Stories

A 4th of July void? TV has an answer

For four decades, “A Capitol Fourth” has had a cozy place in holiday plans.
It was a choice – a traffic-free, mosquito-free way to catch music and fireworks on the 4th of July. Some years, it was PBS’ most-watched show.
And now? Suddenly, it’s gone from being “a choice” to being almost “the only choice.” With cities canceling fireworks — and with only one other network (NBC) stepping in – “Capitol Fourth” (shown here in a previous year, with Kelli O’Hara) gets a fresh focus.
“So many people have called, wanting to be part of this,” said Michael Colbert, the producer. “We have 15 new performances – the most we’ve ever had.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / June 27, 2020
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for June 29: Activist women, horny men

1) “POV: And She Could Be Next,” 9-11 p.m., PBS; concludes Tuesday. Filmed in 2017-18, this fits the current surge in minority activism. We see women fighting the odds in political races. Tonight wraps up two stories: In Michigan, Rashida Tlaib (shown here) tries to be the first Muslim woman in Congress; in Chicago, Bashra Amiwala, a Palestinian-American teen, runs for county board. It also starts several other stories, including Stacey Abrams in Georgia. The result is long and slow, but involving.
Read more…

By Mike Hughes / June 27, 2020
News and Quick Comments

“Pose” stars link for special tonight

This is short-notice, but let me get it out there :
At 10 p.m. today (Friday, June 26), three networks – FX. Freeform and Hulu – combine for an event called “Pose-a-thon.” Billy Porter, shown here, will co-host.
That gives you a night of virtual shows. First, catch the Daytime Emmys at 8 p.m. on CBS; then switch to “Pose-a-thon” at 10. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / June 26, 2020
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for June 28: Music stars and dreadfully good drama

1) BET Awards, 8-11 p.m., CBS and BET. As the networks take a fresh interest in black lives, here’s a first: CBS simulcasts this show with its sister channel, BET. Comedian Amanda Seales hosts a virtual ceremony; it has awards for best actor, actress and movie, but the emphasis is on music. Performers include Chloe x Halle (shown here at the Super Bowl), Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Lil Wayne, Kane Brown, Wayne Brady, DaBaby, D Smoke, Jonathan McReynolds and Megan Thee Stallion. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / June 26, 2020
Weekly Previews

Week of June 29: Slow start and fireworks finish

1) “A Capitol Fourth” (shown here in a previous year), 8 p.m. Saturday, PBS, rerunning at 9:30. For the second time, a big-deal event gets a social-distance twist. The National Memorial Day Concert skillfully mixed new music (taped in Washington and beyond) and past highlights. This has some of the same people (Trace Adkins, Kelli O’Hara, Renee Fleming), adding Patti LaBelle, John Fogerty, Yolanda Adams, Andy Grammer, Brantley Gilbert, Mandy Gonzalez, Brian Stokes Mitchell, the Temptations, tributes and fireworks. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / June 25, 2020
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for June 27: Rogue cops are fun … or not

1) “Lethal Weapon.” all day, AMC. We used to think rule-breaking cops were kind of fun. That era returns with four films that have Danny Glover and Mel Gibson (shown here) as mismatched partners. They’re at 12:30 p.m. (1987), 3 (1989), 5:30 (1992) ad 8 (1998). At 11 p.m.is a “Line of Duty” episode that debuted in England in 2016, but reflects current crises: Last week, the Armed Response Unit was called in and ended up killing the suspect. In this hour (the second of six), some tips aid the investigation. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / June 25, 2020
News and Quick Comments

From isolation comes strong drama

(I posted this a week or so ago, but that was before “Isolation Stories” reached the U.S. Now it’s here, via Britbox, and worth catching. So here’s the commentary again.)
As Americans poked at the notion of social-distance drama, some Englishmen went full-throttle.
They created four separate tales. Now “Isolation Stories” (shown here) has reached the U.S.; it debuted Tuesday (June 23), via the Britbox streaming service.
Each story is only 15 minutes long, but stuffed with strong drama. Individually, most are terrific; combined … well, they need a bit more variety. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / June 24, 2020
Stories

Gloria’s glorious life gets fresh focus

In some ways, a show about Gloria Steinem’s life seems easy and obvious.
It’s been a big, bold life, one that helped transform society. Now it shows up on stage … on TV … and, soon, in movie theaters.
“She’s everywhere,” said Christine Lahti, who portrayed her on stage and in “Gloria: A Life,” at 9 p.m. Friday, June 26 (check local listings) on PBS. “And she needs to be everywhere.”
But doing a show about her, with Steinem (shown here) looking on? That’s not so easy. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / June 24, 2020
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for June 26: Daytime Emmys; a Gloria-ous life

1) “Great Performances: Gloria – A Life,” 9-11 p.m., PBS (check local listings). It’s been a big life, actually. Once a Toledo kid dreaming of being a Rockette, Gloria Steinem helped alter the possibilities for American women. Christine Lahti (shown here) portrays her, with six actresses taking all the other roles. It’s a good (if flawed) show that ends with a twist: Steinem, strong and sharp at 86, arrives. She takes comments from people in the audience … many of them witnesses to a world she transformed. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / June 24, 2020