Stories

Stories

ABC’s fall plan: Fewer new shows, but more “Conners”

ABC will jump into the fall with a less-is-more plan. Except for “The Conners,” for which more is more.
Last year at this time, the network was announcing seven new fall shows, plus four more for mid-season. It was too much, new programming chief Karey Burke said this morning; she has just four new fall shows (one a familiar reboot), with three for mid-season.
She will, however, have more “Conners” (shown here), the show that powers Tuesdays. It had only 11 episodes this season and nine (as “Roseanne”) the previous one. Now Burke expects to be “very close to a full season,” which would be about 22. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 14, 2019
Stories

Fox in the fall: Scripted shows are scarce

When the new TV season starts next fall, something will be missing (almost) from Fox: Scripted, live-action (not animated) shows
.Indeed, the network will only have five of them, all wedged into a Monday-through-Wednesday stretch. The rest of the week has football, wrestling, “The Masked Singer” and Sunday’s animation.
Gone are “Star,” “Lethal Weapon,” “The Cool Kids,” “Rel,” “The Gifted” and more. In addition, this will be the final season of “Empire” (shown here), which Fox is painting as a positive. “We are turning the last season of ‘Empire’ into a large event,” said programmer Michael Thorn. “We really want to go out with a bang.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 13, 2019
Stories

“Big Bang”: The end of a long and funny journey

For a dozen years, “The Big Bang Theory” has given us great comedy – sharply written, perfectly played, with likable characters colliding in fun ways. It has its last new episodes Thursday (May 16), so here are a few things:
First, an overall story, partly looking back to the show’s start. Then a few time-and-channel details, followed by some trivia. Also, please catch the recent story about Kevin Sussman, who plays Stuart. Here we go: Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 12, 2019
Stories

Here are Bunker and “Big Bang,” old and new

Right now, TV viewers can tour classic comedies, old and new.
At the core are network events on May 16 and 22. Before that, two other channels – one cable, one digital – get us in the mood:
— May 16: “The Big Bang Theory” has its final new episodes on CBS. Earlier — including tonight (May 10) — cable’s TBS has “Big Bang” reruns, often focusing on one character per night
.– May 22: ABC tries live productions of scripts from “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons.” Before that, the GetTV digital channel has a five-night, 30-episode “All in the Family” spree. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 10, 2019
Stories

Once-woeful Stuart is going out with a big bang

It was another celebration – one of many in the final “Big Bang Theory” season – and Kevin Sussman seemed apologetic.
“I have to go,” he said quietly. “I’ve got an audition.”
Auditions used to bring futility and frustration. “As a struggling actor, I couldn’t get any work,” he said.
But now things should be different: He’s Stuart on “Big Bang.” The show is – as Warner Brothers TV chief Peter Roth said in the celebration — “the longest-running multi-camera comedy in television history.” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 7, 2019
Stories

Chernobyl re-visited: A continent in fear

For a time in 1986, fear encased Europe.
A fire raged at a nuclear plant, in the Ukraine city of Chernobyl. Hundreds of people were hospitalized’ 30 died soon, thousands had lingering deaths. The health impact remained for generations.
But there’s more. Kary Antholis, HBO’s mini-series chief, recalls the pitch from writer-producer Craig Mazin: “He said, ‘You have no idea …. It was hours away from devastating millions of lives and wreaking havoc on the European continent.’” Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 4, 2019
Stories

A new/old notion: The 10-minute sitcom

Television needs its comfy, half-hour chunks. Situation comedies want 30 minutes (22 plus commercials); dramas want an hour
But now comes the new/old notion of a mini-show.
“State of the Union” has 10 episodes, bunched into two weeks on the Sundance Channel. Each is only 10 minutes long; each has the same two people talking in the same pub. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / May 2, 2019
Stories

A Lori-less “Heart” finally returns

(Updated May 6)
The transition is complete: Like Russian dictators of old, Lori Loughlin has become a non-person.Scenes were re-edited, re-shot, re-written. After seven weeks in limbo, Hallmark’s “When Calls the Heart” returned Sunday and continues Monday (May 5-6).
The feel-good show centers on Elizabeth (Erin Krakow), who left her privileged background in 1910, to teach on the Canadian frontier. Devastated by a mining tragedy, the town was held together by sturdy women, especially Abigail (Loughlin). Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 29, 2019
Stories

Gloria’s glory time: A power couple celebrates

In their latest burst of TV fame, the Estefans have familiar duties.
Gloria is out-front, doing most of the talking; she’s the people person, the fan favorite. Emilio says a little, then returns to the background.
It all seems natural, during PBS’ “Gershwin Prize” special. But in the old days, it was flip-flopped. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 27, 2019
Stories

Growing up Fosse: Surrounded by sunshine and despair

Maybe this was a fantasy for many of us:
The teacher expects us to parrot his or her theories about what some author – Shakespeare or such – meant. We wish we could grab Shakespeare and get a second opinion.
Nicole Fosse – a producer and consultant for the “Fosse/Verdon” mini-series — did that as a teen-ager. Read more…

By Mike Hughes / April 26, 2019