I’d been watching some fairly good dramas – shows (NBC’s “The Village,” CBS’ “The Code,” CW’s “In the Dark”) that try hard and have their moments.
Then I saw the season-finale for “This Is Us.” Man …. that, very simply, is great television. Read more…
1) “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” finale and concert, 8 and 9 p.m., CW. From its first moments, “Crazy” has been extraordinary. Each hour of a moderately clever comedy-drama is spiced by two or three music numbers; they work because the lyrics are brilliant and the cast has Broadway-type talent. Now the series concludes with Rebecca choosing a guy – Josh or Nathaniel or Greg or maybe no one. Then the cast combines for a concert, backed by band, orchestra and flashy videos. Read more…
The question lingers: Why does Canada provide so many talented actors?
The country doesn’t have that many people; its population is smaller than California’s. But it keeps delivering gifted stars, from Sandra Oh and Rachel McAdams to the Ryans (Gosling, Reynolds), Michael J. Fox and a ton of comedy people.
We’ll ask Andrea Roth – who’s had great moments in “Rescue Me” and the current “Cloak & Dagger” — in a minute. But first, here are two theories we’ve heard: Read more…
1) The Big Bang Theory,” 8 p.m., CBS. For two weeks – basketball blotted out TV’s best comedy night. Now it’s back – “Mom” and “Young Sheldon” and, especially, “Big Bang,” for the final seven episodes of its final season. Sheldon craves a Nobel Prize, but two competitors (Kal Penn and Sean Astin, shown here) are charming in a publicity tour. Now Sheldon tries to lobby some of the past winners. Read more…
Since its earliest days, TV has given us animals.
They were caged — “Zoo Parade” in 1950, the British “Zoo Express” in ’54 — then wild. Still, there’s never been anything like this surge.In December, BBC America concluded “Dynasties.”
On Monday, the National Geographic Channel launches “Hostile Planet” … four days before Netflix’s “Our Planet.” Read more…
The mega-gobble is complete now. One big movie studio (Disney) has swallowed another (Fox). That Read more…
It’s been a tough year for Fox. Some pretty good new shows (“Cool Kids,” “Proven Read more…
If you like comedy with a personal, homemade feel, then this was a mixed week. Read more…
1) Academy of Country Music awards, 8-11 p.m. Sunday, CBS. Generations and genres blend, with fresh collaborations.
It will be Brooks & Dunn with Luke Combs; Kane Brown with Khalid; Dierks Bentley with Brandi Carlile; George Strait with Miranda Lambert (who also does a flashback medley). Kelly Clarkson separately joins Dan + Shay and Jason Aldean … who also links with Florida Georgia Line. Others performers include Reba McEntire (who hosts), Chris Stapleton and Carrie Underwood. Read more…
1) “Abby’s” debut, 9:30 p.m. Thursday, NBC. A quarter-century after “Cheers” closed its doors, NBC has a new Thursday bar. It’s outdoors and probably illegal. Its proprietor (Natalie Morales) is a foot shorter than her best customer (Neil Flynn) or her worst obstacle (Neil Franklin), but she’s an ex-Marine and people obey her.
Be warned that many critics dislike “Abby’s”; we disagree and find two of the barflies (played by Jessica Chaffin and the massive Leonard Ouzts) hilarious. See what you think. Read more…
