Mike Hughes

Stories

In the shadow of “ER,” “The Pitt” finds its path

When “The Pitt” began, it faced a basic question:
Would this just be re-doing “ER”? After all, it had the same producer (John Wells), one of the same stars (Noah Wyle, shown here) and the same idea — a fast-moving show, with handheld cameras zipping around an emergency department.
Yes, the show (which starts its second season Jan. 8 on HBO) amps that up by having the entire season trace one, 15-hour day. But beyond that, what could be different?
“We took a huge dry-erase board and just wrote all the things that we never did on ‘ER’ thar could be talked about today,” Wyle told the Television Critics Association. “We were amazed at how fast we filled up that board.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / January 5, 2026
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Jan. 6: a busy night for new, old and PBS

1) “Best Medicine” debut, 8 p.m., Fox. Here’s a second chance to see the start of this excellent comedy-drama. It debuted Sunday after football, now repeats that hour in its regular spot. Remaking an English gem (“Doc Martin”), it sees a surgeon, devoid of people skills, hired as the village doctor. He clashes instantly with the townsfolk, including (shown here) his charmmingly distracted assistant. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / January 4, 2026
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Jan. 5: taut dramas, medical and criminal

1) “Brilliant Minds” return, 10 p.m., NBC. Van had fallen back in love with his ex-wife. (He’s shown here with their son.) Then came a fierce car crash; ow, after a month-long break, the show resumes with her being rushed to surgery. Some of the reactions of the other driver and by Van are terribly misplaced; then the show gets back on track, wrapping up a pivotal and emotional hour. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / January 3, 2026
News and Quick Comments

Gates guides us through the past, bright and grim

As other shows bounce in and out of the PBS line-up, there’s one we can count on:
“Finding Your Roots” is usually there, With new episodes or reruns, it anchors most Tuesdays at 8 p.m., with Henry Louis Gages (shown here) finding deep insights into stars’ pasts.
The show has already done 11 seasons and 116 episodes, profiling about 232 people. Now a new season starts Jan. 6, adding 10 more hours.
It begin with a sometimes-cheery hour, focusing on actors America Ferrera and Darren Criss. Then things turn serious. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / January 2, 2026
Weekly Previews

Week’s top-10 for Jan. 5: Vets and docs lead a great week

1) “All Creatures Great and Small” season-opener, 9 p.m. Sunday, PBS. A good series starts its sixth season with its best episode yet, deeply moving on multiple fronts. Since Mrs. Hall’s departure, Siegfried (shown here) finds his home and life in shambles … a sheepdog’s ailment endangers the flock … and World War II is in its sixth year. The final minutes here are superb. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / January 2, 2026
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Jan. 4: Two doctor shows soar

1) “The Pitt,” 11:30 a.m. to 11:41 p.m, HBO. Here’s the first season in one gulp, portraying an intense, 15-hour hospital shift. The show has already won five Emmys — including best drama and actors Noah Wyle (shown here, second from right), Katherine LaNasa and Shawn Hatosy). Now, four days before the second season on HBO Max, it’s up for four Critics Choice Awards. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / January 2, 2026
Stories

It’s no “Doc Martin,” maybe, but it’s a fun show

The news was greeted with understandable skepticism.
Fox was planning a reboot of “Doc Martin.” A British gem — droll and dry, quiet and clever — was being remade by the network of Gronk, Ken Jeong, screaming chefs, bulky lifeguards and “Krapopolis.”
The result? This new version (shown here) called “Best Medicine,” doesn’t match the original, but it’s surprisingly good.
You can catch the opener twice — after football (about 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) on Sunday, Jan. 4, then at 8 p.m. Tuesday, which becomes its regular spot. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / January 1, 2026
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Jan. 2: It’s time for “Citizen Barbie”

1) “Citizen Kane” (1941), 8 p.m. ET Turner Classic Movies; “Barbie” (2023), 8 p.m., TBS. Remember “Barbieheimer,” with same-day arrivals of films about a nuclear scientist and a plastic doll? Here’s a similar pair: “Kane,” No. 1 on the American Film Institute’s all-time list, is brilliantly crafted and black-and-white; “Barbie” (shown here) is smart, fun and quite pink. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / December 31, 2025