Mike Hughes

Social-distancing? We can all be Butt-head

Most of us have that inner voice, telling us to watch less television.
It’s always been there. We were told not to watch so many cartoons or so much sci-fi silliness, not to watch Beavis and Butt-head (shown here) watching videos. We’re reminded not to become Beavis or Butt-head.
But now that changes: With coronavirus concerns, watching TV is a socially responsible thing to do.What used to be anti-social behavior is now a fine form of social distancing.
Fortunately, the timing is right; this is the “platinum age” for TV fiction, when quantity and quality intersect. If you’re just getting re-acquainted with your TV set, here’s an update, starting at the top Read more…

Best-bets on Friday-the-13th: “Flack” starts, Rhyme ends

1) “Flack” season-opener, 10 p.m., Pop. Anna Paquin (shown here) produces this smart, saucy show and stars as Robyn, a public-relations whiz who shields London’s celebrities … while ducking her own pill addiction. As the second, six-week season starts, she adds a new personal problem … and more people need help. One is caught in a brothel raid; another (Daniel Dae Kim) is brought by Robyn’s boss’ ex-husband … played by Sam Neill, Paquin’s “The Piano” co-star. Read more…

Best-bets for March 12: A “Runway” winner, an “Okay” finale

1) “Project Runway” finale, 9 p.m., Bravo. It’s time for the final four … or maybe three. Last week, four designers each showed three pieces, with judges considering sending someone home before the Fashion Week final. Then … well, the episode ended without telling us if they all survived. For now, we have opposites: Nancy Volpe-Beringer (shown here) is 64 and went to fashion school at 58. Victoria Cocieru is 27 and was a teen TV host in her native Moldava. Sergio Guadarrama is 36; Geoffrey Mac is 42. Read more…

“Dragon” is slain (temporarily) by virus

This may be good and bad news, all rolled into one:
“Slay the Dragon” (shown here) – the praised documentary about Michigan’s anti-gerrymandering drive – was expected in a few theaters this weekend. Now, instead, it will have one release date, April 3, for theaters, video-on-demand and digital platforms.
“We saw what was happening with the spread of coronavirus and sat down with (the distributor) to discuss a last-minute change in our release plan,” the directors (Barak Goodman and Chris Durrance) said in a statement. The new plan, they said, means “nearly every home in America will have access.” Read more…

Bestd-bets for March 11: “Modern” memories

1) “Modern Family” marathon, 8-11 p.m, ABC. Four weeks from its finale, this clever show – five-time winner of the best-comedy Emmy – reruns six episodes chosen by viewers. That starts with the pilot, introducing Lily to the family, and follows at 8:30 with the hilarious moment when the kids see their parents having sex. Jay helps Manny’s sales at 9, with a Las Vegas trip (shown here) at 9:30; a gem using Claire’s computer at 10; and an alliance to hide mistakes at 10:30. Read more…

Best-bets for March 10: Fox has love, pain and music

1) “Empire,” 9 p.m., Fox. When Tracy was killed last week, it set off aftershocks. Cookie, who shot her in self-defense, keeps flashing back to a long-ago murder she committed. Her son Andre’s condition is getting worse, as he imagines that he sees – and is controlled by – Tracy’s late son Jeff Kingsley. As usual, “Empire” mixes soap-opera excess with great music. Now it’s Kiandra Richardson (shown here) as the immensely talented Yana, reminding us that this overwrought show is still about music-makers. Read more…

Best-bets for March 9: “The Bachelor” ends; the world begins

1) “The Bachelor” finale, 8-10 p.m., ABC; concludes 8-10 p.m. Tuesday. Let’s not even try to figure this out. Peter Weber, 28, a pilot, is supposed to choose Madison Prewett or Hannah Ann Sloss (shown here), both 23. But Prewett, a foster parent recruiter, had said she’s saving herself for marriage and probably couldn’t continue if he’d slept with the others; he said he had. Prewett left … and returned. Now Weber is supposed to choose her or Sloss, a model. First, there’s a visit form his family and some more drama. Read more…

Best-bets for March 8: Songs and stories blend

1) “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist,” 9 p.m., NBC, and more. In an era that lacks music variety shows, we’ll settle for scripted shows that ripple with songs. Here are three, with Skylar Astin in two of them. In “Playlist” — a fun show, with Zoey (Jane Levy) hearing people’s thoughts via song — Astin (shown here with Levy) is Zoey’s friend Jesse; tonight has a key moment with his bubbly girlfriend. In “Perfect Pitch” (2012, 5:50 p.m., Freeform), he’s Max, in a choral group. He’s not in “Yesterday” (2019, 6:55 p.m., HBO), but it’s a music gem. Read more…

A good time for actors, great time for ‘Blood’

Glancing over four decades of TV and movies, Adrian Dunbar was upbeat
.“This is a great time to be an actor,” he said.
He said that quite convincingly – well, actors can do that – and the facts back him up.
Right now, Dunbar, 61, has deeply nuanced roles in two British shows that reach the U.S. via streaming.In “Line of Duty,” he plays an honest-but-troubled cop; in “Blood” and its jolting new seque (shown here)l, he’s an earnest-but-troubled doctor. Read more…

Week’s top-10 for March 9: Finales and “Modern” memories

1) “Modern Family” marathon, 8-11 p.m. Wednesday, ABC. As its April 8 farewell nears, this show – five-time winner of the best-comedy Emmy – revisits its splendid past. Here are six episodes chosen by viewers’ votes; that starts with the pilot(shown here)  that introduced Lily to the family and the show to us. At 8:30 is the great moment when the kids spot their parents having sex. Also: Jay helps Manny’s sales at 9; a Las Vegas trip at 9:30; a gem seen through Claire’s computer at 10; an alliance to hide mistakes at 10:30. Read more…