Now that “Saturday Night Live” has tried its first social-distancing episode (shown here), three key questions appear:
Will “SNL” do it again? Was it a ratings success? And was it good?
The answers: We don’t know yet … Definitely … And, well, sort of. Read more…
Even in the darkest times, Elmo (shown here) remains eager and upbeat. So now, of course, he’ll have a special during the coronavirus shutdown.
“Sesame Street: Elmo’s Playdate” will be 7 p.m. Tuesday (April 14) on HBO, many of its sister channels, and PBS Kids. Guests include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Anne Hathaway and Tracee Ellis Ross. Read more…
As the coronavirus shutdown lingers, TV networks have empty spots at the end of their season.
Now CBS has a temporary solution: It will wipe aside its Sunday line-up – “God Friended Me,” “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “NCIS: New Orleans” – and replace it with movies.
During May, all five Sundays will be movie nights – two Indiana Jones films (shown here), plus “Titanic,” “Forrest Gump” and “Mission: Impossible.” Read more…
While many TV shows have stopped filming, “All Rise” will take an alternate approach:
On May 4, it will have an episode about the shutdown … filmed shutdown-style.
One of the show’s producers is Gil Garcetti, the former Los Angeles County district attorney. He’s been talking to the others, CBS said, about how the legal system works amid social-distancing.
That led to a story in which Judge Lola Carmichael (Simone Missick) presides over a trial from her home. Other characters will be shown in their homes, using FaceTime, WebEx, Zoom and more. Director Michael Robin will use some special effects and will have a lone camera person, inside a vehicle, getting shots of a now-desolate Los Angeles Read more…
As TV shows race through our stay-at-home lives, we sometimes have to stop and marvel:
Wait, that one – the most recent “Mom” episode (shown here) – was really good. It was probably the best situation-comedy episode I’ve seen since “The Big Bang Theory” departed.
I shouldn’t be surprised, of course. “Mom” is from Chuck Lorre, the producer of “Big Bang” and the master of big-laugh sitcoms taped in front of a studio audience. It’s become TV’s best sitcom. And this episode renewed its best pairing. Read more…
TV’s music-from-home trend is getting a double boost, with two shows returning:
– “Garth & Trisha Live” (shown here) will rerun at 10 p.m. Sunday (April 5) on CBS, right after a new country special.
– “The iHeart Living Room Concert For America” reruns at 9 p.m. Monday on Fox. Read more…
TV’s music-from-home spurt has finished its pop-music phase. Country is next.
Elton John hosted Sunday’s concert on Fox; James Corden did Monday’s on CBS. Both had plenty of pop stars giving at-home performances. In fact, both had Billie Eilish (shown here in a previous photo).
Now country takes over, on CBS. It will be Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood at 9 p.m. Wednesday, then much of Nashville from 8-10 p.m. Sunday.
Corden tried brief interviews Monday, with so-so success. We did learn that Eilish has been binging Fleabag (wise choice) and Chrissy Teigen has been making yummy food to eat with her husband John Legend. The stationary camera, alas, only gave us Teigen from the neck down. Read more…
The first crack at doing a music-from-home TV special was mostly terrific.
Sure, there were flaws. Every variety special – well, every one except “Color Me Barbra” and “Liza With a Z” – has had some.
But mostly, Fox’s “iHeart Living Room Concert For America” on Sunday proved that sheer talent can thrive, even under stark conditions. That’s good news, because there are three similar specials this week (10 p.m. Monday, 9 p.m. Wednesday, 8-10 p.m. Sunday) on CBS.
The “iHeart” show was stuffed with gifted singers, including Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Tim McGraw and Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes (they’re shown here in the crowded old days). Remarkably, however, the greatest moment came from a singing doctor. Read more…
Television has suddenly re-discovered music, in the midst of the coronavirus shutdown.
Music-from-home specials span two networks (CBS and Fox) and two genres (country and pop). In an eight-day stretch, they total four specials, five hours and an abundance of stars.
The latest addition will have Garth Brooks and Tricia Yearwood (shown here in a previous concert) on Wednesday (April 1). CBS announced that today (Sunday, March 29) … while Fox was announcing last minute additions for its special tonight. Read more…
When CBS said it would have some country stars for an April 5 special, it wasn’t kidding.
The list, announced this morning (March 26), seems to include most of Nashville and beyond. It has top country stars – Luke Bryan (shown here), Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton and more – and even adds pop stars, including John Legend, Sheryl Crow, Brandi Carlisle and Gwen Stefani.
That will be 8 p.m. on April 5. The Academy of Country Music awards were originally scheduled then, but they’ve been pushed back to Sept. 16, with Keith Urban hosting. Read more…
