Mike Hughes

News and Quick Comments

After R. Kelly? Next is Jeffrey Epstein

LOS ANGELES — Jeffrey Epstein is heading toward TV’s R. Kelly turf.
The Lifetime cable channel has already drawn praise and an Emmy nomination for its “Surviving R. Kelly” documentary series. Now – as Kelly faces 18 more charges, including child sexual exploitation and child pornography — a sequel is being prepared.And now Lifetime has announced plans for:
— “Surviving Jeffrey Epstein.” A Lifetime executive said it will focus on the billionaire, charged with human traficking, and “all the famous friends who shielded him.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 23, 2019
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for July 25: For “iZombie,” the end is near

1) “iZombie,” 8 p.m., CW. Next week, two CW gems will depart. It will be the final episodes of “Jane the Virgin” on Wednesday and “iZombie” a week from today; add “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” (which concluded this spring) and you have the network’s best shows. As for tonight … Liv – the doctor who accidentally became a crimesolving zombie – gets devastating news; also, Clive (shown here) does some society dancing. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 23, 2019
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for July 24: Nearing the finish, “Jane” soars

1) “Jane the Virgin,” 9 p.m., CW. At the end of a terrific episode. Jane’s mom quietly asks: “How do we say goodbye?” Good question; after five seasons and 98 episodes, we hate to see “Jane” end. It started well (including a Golden Globe for Gina Rodriguez and a best-comedy-series nomination), stumbled a bit, but is ending with humor and warmth. This episode manages to settle most of the plot points, even providing some warmth for ex-spouses Rafael and Petra, shown here. In fact, one problem is disposed of quite spectacularly. We’re not sure what will be left for next week’s two-part finale. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 22, 2019
Daily Best Bets

Best bets for July 23: Catch a comedy while you can

1) “Modern Family,” 9 and 10 p.m., ABC, and more. In giddy stretches of the 1990s, a network would have 16-18 situation comedies. And next week? Counting everything (except cartoons), the broadcast networks will have a total of four sitcoms. Really. CBS and NBC had already replaced theirs with summertime reality; next Tuesday, most of ABC’s sitcoms will be replaced by the “Bachelorette” finale. So savor these laughs while you can,including “Modern Family” (shown here in a graduation episode), plus “The Connors” (8 p.m.), “American Housewife” (8:30) and “Black-ish” (9:30 and 10:30). Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 22, 2019
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for July 22: At last, a Lukeless Hannah

1) “The Bachelorette,” 8-10:01 p.m., ABC. This edition takes longer than usual, due to a lingering Luke. Two weeks ago, Hannah Brown refused to trim from four guys to three, inexplicably keeping Luke Parker (shown here with Brown). She dismissed him last week, but he’s persistent. Tonight, he finally leaves; Chris Harrison talks to Brown and to Parker and 16 other rejects, finding emotional moments with Mike Johnson. That sets up next week’s two-parter with Jed Wyatt, Peter Weber and Tyler Cameron. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 20, 2019
Stories

Now “Grantchester” has its rock ‘n’ roll, crimesolving preacher

For “Masterpiece” fans, waiting for the new vicar is like waiting for Halley’s Comet or a Cubs pennant.It takes patience … but yes, it’s worth it.
On July 28 – in the season’s third week and fourth episode – Tom Brittney finally takes over as Will Davenport, the crimesolving vicar in a little English village. He replaces James Norton, who had finished his three-year contract and stayed for some transition episodes.
In some ways, it might not seem like a big change. Both stars are tall, handsome and young; Norton is 34, Brittney is 28.But this is set at a time when a few years seemed like a new generation.
“I represent this sort of youth coming in at the end of the ’50s – the rock ‘n’ roll, leather-jacket-wearing, motorbike-riding, Elvis-listening people,” Brittney said. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 19, 2019
Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for July 21: The end of “Truth” and “Lies”

1) “Big Little Lies” season-finale, 9 p.m., HBO. It’s a night for shows to conclude their second seasons, wrapping up mini-series-type stories. At 8 p.m. is CW’s eight-week “Burden of Truth”; then is this seven-week story. The first season won eight Emmys, including best actress (Nicole Kidman) and mini-series. The second ends with Celeste (Kidman) grilling her late husband’s mother (Meryl Streep) about his childhood tragedy. Also, Madeline (Reese Witherspoon) feels secrets are tearing the five friends apart; they’re shown here, with Streep looming in the background. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 19, 2019
Weekly Previews

Week’s top-10 for July 22: End is near for Jane and Hannah

1) “Jane the Virgin,” 9 p.m. Wednesday, CW. This terrific episode ends with Jane’s mom asking: “How do we say goodbye?” Good question; after five seasons and 98 episodes, we’ll hate to see the show end. It started well (including a Golden Globe for Gina Rodriguez and a best-comedy-series nomination), stalled a little, and then is soaring at the end. Indeed, this episode manages to settle most of the plot points, one of them (at Jane’s dad’s party, shown here) spectacularly. We’re not sure what will be left for next week’s two-part finale. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / July 18, 2019