News and Quick Comments

News and Quick Comments

CBS remembers (sometimes) to make it special

In a pre-packaged, pre-processed world, television should be its best when it’s live and, well, special.
TV specials have offered music, humor and even bits of spontaneity. Then they seemed to disappear … except on CBS.
That comes to mind now, after a one-two punch: On June 12 was a terrific Tony Award ceremony, propelled by the immense talent of Ariana DeBose. On June 24 was a Daytime Emmy (shown here) ceremony that was really quite adequate … which makes it roughly 3,000-percent better than last year’s show. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / June 25, 2022
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“Abbott” leads TCA nominations

At a time when network comedies are staggering, a couple of new ones managed to stand out.
ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” (shown here) leads all shows with five nominations for Television Critics Association awards. CBS’ “Ghosts” landed two.
For “Abbott,” that includes program of the year. It faces three other new shows – “Squid Game,” “Severance” and “Yellowjackets” — plus the returning “Hacks,” “Succession” and “Better Call Saul.”
Both “Abbott” (9 p.m. Wednesdays, sometimes ousted by sports) and “Ghosts” (9 p.m. Thursdays) were also nominated for new program and comedy. In addition, “Abbott” had individual nominations for Quinta Brunson (shown here) – who created the show and stars as a teacher – and Janelle Jones, who plays her self-obsessed principal. The nominations were officially released at noon ET today (June 16), with the awards in August. Here are some of the key program categories: Read more…

By Mike Hughes / June 16, 2022
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Dr. Adam — real and fictional — mixes humor and emotion

There are two key things to know about Dr. Adam Kay (the fictional version).
First, he says “I’m sorry” a lot. Second, he has good reason to.
And there are many things to know about former-doctor Adam Kay (the real one), starting with this: He’s a brilliant writer, one who can toss off funny asides, while building a deeply moving moment.
Now the two combine for “This Is Going to Hurt,” a terrific series streaming on AMC+. We meet a character – sharply written by Kay, perfectly played by Ben Whishaw (shown here) – a lot like the real Kay. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / June 2, 2022
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Yes, it’s still pleasant to visit Downton

A visit to Downton Abbey always seems to be pleasant and unassuming.
That doesn’t sound like much … but it’s what we need now. “Downton Abbey: A New Era” (shown here) is not a great movie (or even an exceptionally good one), but it’s still worth catching.
For a couple hours, we’re in splendid settings, re-meeting people who – flaws and all – are good and well-meaning.
The film starts sluggishly, with a dispassionate wedding and then some stiff scenes about an unexpected windfall. “New Era” seems determined to show us everyone – it’s a HUGE cast – while getting us involved with no one. Clearly, something more is needed. We get that, when a movie is filmed in the mansion, at the very end of the silent-film era. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 27, 2022
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“Lincoln Lawyer” lofts lotsa legal loops

A decade ago, “The Lincoln Lawyer” was an OK movie that felt like a pretty good TV episode. Afterward, there was talk of turning it into a TV series, the sort where our hero wins a case each week. Fortunately, David E. Kelley has crafted something better (shown here).
Kelley has already done TV’s best lawyer shows – “L.A. Law,” “The Practice” and more. Lately, he’s spent more time on mini-series, including “Big Little Lies” and “Nine Perfect Strangers.”
Now he’s adapted some Michael Connelly novels into a 10-part”Lincoln Lawyer” mini that arrived recently on Netflix. “The Lincoln Lawyer” could go another season, but doesn’t have to. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 24, 2022
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CW sets new shows … and delays its big ones

When the big networks battle this fall, a smaller one will wait semi-patientlly.
The CW will hold many of its top shows until mid-season. That includes “The Flash,” “Superman & Lois,” “Nancy Drew” and the final year of “Riverdale.”
Instead, it will try an intriguing assortment. Two summer shows – “Stargirl” and “Coroner” – will be promoted to the main season. Four new dramas will also be there – including a “Walker” prequel (shown here) and a “Supernatural” prequel. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 19, 2022
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CNN boosts its Sunday plans

Somewhere amid the storm and fury of the first Warner Brothers Discovery presentation to advertisers there were glimpses of what’s ahead for CNN.
Yes, Chris Licht, the network’s new chief, is talking about getting back to basics. “In a time when extremes are dominating cable news, we will go a different way,” he insisted.
But Licht is also continuing CNN’s habit of being an entertainment network on Sunday nights. This fall, that will include:
— Some of the shows that were slated for the now-vanished CNN+. Chris Wallace (shown here) will have his interview show then … on the same night where his dad (Mike Wallace) used to rule with “60 Minutes.” Eva Longoria will also have her food-and-travel show viewing Mexico. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 18, 2022
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ABC for fall? “Stability” trend continues

ABC calls it “unprecedented stability”; viewers might call it “same old, same old.”
Either way, the trend is clear: The fall schedule that ABC announced Tuesday (May 17) has few new shows. The same was true of the ones that NBC and Fox announced Monday.
ABC has only three new ones, and two sound terribly familiar – a “Rookie” spin-off starring Niecy Nash and a series version of “Celebrity Jeopardy.”
That leaves only one totally new show, which brings some solid credentials: “Alaska” (shown here) is written by Oscar-winner Tom McCarthy (“Spotlight”) and stars two-time Oscar-winner Hilary Swank as a disgraced reporter, trying to re-start her life at a newspaper in Anchorage. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 17, 2022