News and Quick Comments

News and Quick Comments

Even in somber moments, Oscar joy and optimism

Billy Crystal has strong moments at the Oscars, but none like this.
In a a eulogy for his friend, Rob Reiner, he did it all. It was sometimes funny, sometimes emotional, but always a celebration of a great life.
It included the professional — now-classic movies at the start of Reiner’s directing career — and the personal. With his wife Michelle, Reiner successfully championed progressive causes, including gay marriage;
That was part of the best (and busiest) in-memoriam stretch in Oscar history. It started with Reiner, paused in the middle for Diane Keaton, then closed with Robert Redford and the unexpected touch: Read more…

By Mike Hughes / March 16, 2026
News and Quick Comments

It’s somber Larry and hopeful Barack

Here’s an odd-couple pairing: Barack Obama and Larry David.
One speaks of hope and “yes we can”; the other professes hopelessness and “we probably can’t.” Now they sort of have a show together.
“Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness” will debut at 9 p.m. June 26 on HBO. That’s a Friday, a night that has worked well for Bill Maher.
David (shown here) co-created and stars in the show. Obama isn’t necessarily in it, but Higher Ground (his company with his wife Michelle) is the production company. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / March 14, 2026
News and Quick Comments

Chicago crossover: high stakes, strong emotions

NBC’s post-Olympic push hits a peak Wednesday (March 4).
That’s when all three Chicago shows mold into one high-stakes, high-octane night (shown here). The result — even with some scattered flaws — is compelling.
Fresh from high ratings for the Winter Olympics, the network wanted to keep the momentum. The first week, that meant launching “The Voice” on a Monday, with a quick rerun on Wednesday. The Chicago shows would have to wait a week. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / March 4, 2026
News and Quick Comments

Alysa Liu: joy on ice

As the team portion of Olympic figure skating peaked, NBC’s Terry Gannon had a question.
“Is Alys Liu ever NOT smiling?” he asked.
Apparently not. Liu (shown here) had finished her part, the short program, and now was sitting with her teammates, mostly beaming. A week later, she had something more to smile about: She became the first U.S. woman to win figure-skating gold in 24 years.
Viewers can get a sampling Saturday, when NBC has the Olympics skating gala in two bursts, at 2:55 p.m. and 3:50 p.m. ET. There will be no rules, no judges, just the medalists skating for fun. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 20, 2026
News and Quick Comments

Springtime at Fox? It will look like summer

Fox’s spring line-up will look suspiciously like a summer one.
Three shows that usually anchor the summer — “MasterChef,” “The 1% Club” (shown here) and “The Quiz With Balls” — will arrive in mid-April. By then, the network will be awash in games and reality.
And scripted shows? Most will end their seasons early — “Memory of a Killer,” April 6; “Best Medicine,” April 7; “Doc,” April 14; “Animal Control” and “Going Dutch,” April 19. After that, it will be just the cartoons.
Fox’s one new scripted show — a three-Sunday mini-series, “The Faithful: Women of the Bible” — will conclude on Easter, April 5. Soon after that, the network will be all games, reality and cartoons: Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 18, 2026
News and Quick Comments

“Lincoln Lawyer”: facing an enemy that has badges

For a big-time attorney, Mickey Haller seems to be in perpetual jeopardy.
In the first three “Lincoln Lawyer” (shown here) seasons, thugs chased, threatened and beat him. He survived, with the help of brains, guts, two ex-wives and a biker.
But in this fourth season, those thugs have badges and subpoenas. Things get a lot more complicated.
The 10-part season just arrived on Netflix. It has a few flaws — some detours that are kind of empty stuffing, plus an ending that feels anti-climactic. Still, it’s a terrific story, with Mickey facing huge stakes and getting great help. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / February 8, 2026