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An outsider shakes the Philadelphia courts

To some people, the idea — Larry Krasner (shown here) running for Philadelphia district attorney – seemed bizarre.
He had never been a prosecutor. He had spent 30 years as a defense attorney, often representing protesters and suing police. The police-union president called the idea “hilarious.”
Except Krasner won quite easily, even surprising himself. “I was a political unknown,” he told the Television Critics Association. Originally, “I thought I had about a 40 percent chance to win.”
Then came the tough part, traced in “Philly DA,” an eight-hour series starting 9-11 p.m. Tuesday (April 20) on PBS: He wanted to de-emphasize some crimes and to quit asking for cash bail for most. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 19, 2021

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Nashville soars; Hollywood snores?

On Sunday (April 18), Nashville reminded us of something important: An award show — shown here with Carrie Underwood and CeCe Winans — can be very good.
A week later, Hollywood may remind us of the flip side: Awards can be truly, terribly awful.
These shows used to be partly built on the fun of seeing celebrities being themselves (or, perhaps, prettier versions of themselves). They said things that were funny or fumbling or emotional or whatever.
But all of that has changed lately. They recite names; they thank managers and agents and, worse, “my team.” They are dull; the show can only be saved with humor and/or music. So what will the Oscars do, from 8-11 p.m. ET April 25? It is banishing humor — no host, no funny presenters (so far) — and music; the five nominated songs will be wedged into the preview at 6:30 p.m., lest entertainment take any time away from droning speeches. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 17, 2021

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Beyond the blubber: Whales show rich personalities

We kind of know what whales are like – big and blubbery and such.
Or maybe we don’t know them at all. They vary widely, photographer Brian Skerry told the Television Critics Association. That can depend on the species, the region, even the individual.
“These animals do have languages,” said Skerry, whose richly crafted “Secrets of the Whales” (shown here) has an Earth Day debut on Disney+. “They do have dialects. (They) have rich lives, much like our own.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 17, 2021

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Scripted summer shows? Fox will try some

Will summertime TV become a blur of reality and reruns?
Well, mostly. Fox, however, will try some scripted shows – two cartoons– including the new “Housebroken” (shown here) — on Mondays and, sometime in August, a new version of “Fantasy Island.”
The Fox news came shortly after ABC announced an ambitious summer plan, filling five nights with reality (including “Bachelorette”), games and quirks. Fox’s plan, with more coming, has: Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 7, 2021

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ABC plans a summer surge

After losing much of last summer to the pandemic, the networks aren’t ready to do it again.
ABC has announced a line-up that has four full nights of non-reruns – or more, if you add in news and sports. That includes a quick return of “The Bachelorette” (now with Katie Thurston, shown here), a slow return of “Bachelor in Paradise” and a flood of games, quirks and reality. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 7, 2021

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The dead will keep walking

The dead will, apparently, keep walking for a while.
Last weekend (on Easter Sunday, oddly), “The Walking Dead” finished its second-to-last season. This Sunday (9 p.m., April 11), “Fear the Walking Dead” (shown here) returns.
But the season-finale also included a key announcement: The final season will start earlier (Aug. 22) and last longer (24 episodes) than usual; it will also have more size and scope. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 7, 2021

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For dramas, familiar franchises rule

Fan of “procedurals” – the TV dramas that wrap a story at the end of each hour – can get used to this:
For now, there will be lots of spin-offs from existing franchises.
CBS recently announced two of them for next season – a new “FBI” show and a reboot of the first “CSI.” with some of the original stars, including William Petersen (shown here). That comes as NBC airs its new variation of “Law & Order.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 5, 2021

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News specials eye Asian-American bias, COVID overview

Two timely specials are airing – or re-airing – this week:
– “Asian Americans Battling Bias: Continuing Crisis” is Wednesday (March 31) on the CBS News network, at www.cbsnews.com/live, with Elaine Quijano hosting. It’s at 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and midnight ET (3, 5 and 9 p.m. PT) and will air on the Smithsonian Channel at 10 p.m. Easter Sunday (April 4).
– CNN will rerun “COVID War: The Pandemic Doctors Speak Out” with Dr. Sanjay Gupta (shown here, pre-pandemic) from 8-10 p.m. ET (5-7 PT) Friday on CNN. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / March 31, 2021

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TV helps fill any empty Easters

For the second straight year, television has a bigger Easter role.
Some churches remain closed by COVID; others downsize their events. TV, however, booms ahead. It has old movies — “Ben-Hur” (shown here) and “Ten Commandments” and such — and new ones, including “Mahalia,” on Easter eve. It has music and mini-seres and more.
Here’s a round-up of events between Palm Sunday (March 28) and Easter Sunday (April 4). Not included here are the kids’ shows, with bunnies and eggs and such. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / March 26, 2021

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PBS is back, filling TV’s gaps

Even in our overcrowded, overheated TV world, something has been missing lately.
That’s PBS. It provides things that are otherwise absent, even in a 500-channel universe.
For the first three weeks of March, the network mostly shut down during prime time, so individual stations could have their pledge drives. That’s fine if you happen to like music memories (we do) or self-improvement lectures (we don’t, but probably should), but it’s not what PBS does best.
Now comes a week ranging from Twyla Tharp’s choreography (shown here) to New Orleans funerals. For that, just look at its first week back (check local listings). Read more…

By Mike Hughes / March 19, 2021