“Almost Family” is an almost-terrific show that reminds us of what’s possible
:A show can still try to do it all. It can have heavy-duty, life-and-death crises one moment … light human drama the next … and some outright comedy scattered in between.
Lots of shows did that in the past, from “Lou Grant” to “L.A. Law”; fewer have tried lately. Read more…
1) “This Is Us,” 9 p.m., NBC. Last week’s season-opener repeated a clever trick from the pilot film: Introduce some apparent strangers, without telling us a time-leap is involved. Only in the final minutes did we see that the blind singer (shown here) is a future view of Kate’s baby. In the present, the teen father befriended Deja, Randall’s adopted daughter; the alcoholic veteran (Jennifer Morrison) met Nicky, Jack’s long-lost brother. Now Randall’s family adjusts to life in the city, where he’s a new councilman. Read more…
So now we’re in the post-Downton era.
The “Downton Abbey” movie has arrived, drawing an expected rush of praise and an unexpectd rush of money. Now viewers wonder what else can capture that British-style charm and class.
Experts had guessed the “Downton” movie would bring $20 million in its North American debut. It got $31 million – topping the predictions (and the next-highest movie) by more than 50 per cent.
As expected, it has style, class, deep characters and some dashes of humor. Where can we go for more? I’d suggest: Read more…
1) “Bob (Hearts) Abishola,” 8:30 p.m., CBS. Abishola has no hobbies, no diversions, no distractions. “Nigerians don’t do useless things,” she says. Bob (Billy Gardell) would love to be distracted; he fell for her when she was his cardiac nurse. Both are short on words and long on charm; but where can the show finds more laughs? That’s what goofy relatives are for. In last week’s opener, we met his weird siblings; in this episode (which is quite funny), we meet her even-weirder aunt and uncle (shown here). Read more…
It can be one person’s biggest fear, another’s yummiest delicacy.
It has as many arms as the Beatles, as many hearts as the Three Stooges, as many brains as Albert Einstein. It got here perhaps 300 million years before we did and may remain – thanks to its survival skills – after we’re gone.
It’s the octopus, the subject of the “Nature” season-opener Wednesday (Oct. 2) on PBS. It’s been known as the kraken in Norse mythology … and as Heidi (shown here) in David Scheel’s home.
“Friends (were) very taken with the animal,” Scheel said. “But the notion that it was in my living room was just a little bit odd.” Read more…
1) “Masterpiece: Poldark” season-opener, 9 p.m., PBS. The final season begins, for an epic that has a cinematic look and giant plot twists. This busy (but well-crafted) opener includes arson and an assassin, plus love, hate and political corruption. Part is in London, where Ross (a member of Parliament) rushes to help a friend, as the slavery issue rages. And part is back home (shown here), amid the beauty of Cornwall. Ross’ wife faces threats, his first love Elizabeth is dead and Elizabeth’s widower seems to be losing his sanity. Read more…
1) “Batwoman” debut, 8 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 6), CW. The next great TV hero (shown here) has all the usual qualities – strong and silent, smart and solemn and terribly attractive, while smashing tough men and loving a beautiful woman. It all sounds like a cliche, except that it’s tautly written and beautifully filmed … and this hero is female. Ruby Rose (variously described as gender-fluid and a lesbian) is superb in the role. Dark, angry and violent, this isn’t for everyone; still, it’s skillfully executed, with movie-quality visuals. Read more…
1) “Saturday Night Live” season-opener, 11:29 p.m., NBC. Woody Harrelson hosts, 17-year-old Billie Eilish is the music guest … and almost everyone is back. Even Kate McKinnon (shown here as Ruth Bader Ginsburg), who was rumored to be leaving, returned; the one surprise is Leslie Jones leaving the show that made her a mid-life star. “SNL” added Chloe Fineman, Bowen Yang (its first Asian-American regular) and Shane Gilliis … then dumped Gillis four days later, after old comments (including anti-Chinese ones) surfaced. Read more…
1) “Transparent” finale, any time, Amazon Prime. Sometimes, but not often, tragedy begets triumph. That’s what the characters want here; it’s also what the show achieved … slowly. An award-winner, it imploded when Jeffrey Tambor (who starred as Maura, a trans woman) was dumped. Now – 22-plus months after the previous episode – here’s a musical finale. The early numbers are brilliant; then a solemn sameness takes over during the memorial service (shown here). “Transparent” drifts, but bounces back with “Joyocaust” and pure triumph. Read more…
What can a TV show do when it suddenly loses its star?
Most quit, a few push on … and one created a musical.
That didn’t happen quickly. “Transparent” debuts its musical finale Friday, almost two years after the last previous episode. And Jill and Faith Soloway had a head start.
“Faith has been writing these songs that come from the heart of the Soloway family saga,” Jill said. “We had been dreaming of a Broadway musical one day.” Read more…
Best-bets for July 24: moon, movies and murder 
Best-bets for July 23: adventures on Earth and beyond 
Best-bets for July 22: Davids, “Dumbest,” Pompeii 
