Month: February 2017

Winter TV 2017: Another spinoff, another movie reboot

Violence and behind-the-scenes crime-solving seems to be a trend this winter TV season.

Two of these three shows make you think about what strangers may know about you…and one has already seen better days.

Here are my reviews, based on the pilot only.

 

‘THE BLACKLIST: REDEMPTION’

10 p.m. Thursdays on NBC

This spinoff focuses on a set of characters whom all appeared on the original “Blacklist,” but it’s not necessary to know the original to understand this show.

It might help with backstories, but a new mystery fuels this drama.

The show is a little run-of-the-mill, with the usual elements of technology, crime, backstabbing…but there is a twist of family and betrayal that may hook some viewers.

Grade: B-

 

‘DOUBT’

10 p.m. Wednesdays on CBS

I thought this show somhow managed to make law interesting, but I may be alone in that sentiment.

Despite a cast of heavy-hitters( Judith Light, Katherine Heigl, Laverne Cox Elliott Gould and Dule Hill), the CBS show has already been pulled from the schedule.

Centered around the concept of “beyond reasonable doubt,” I appreciated the high stakes without being over the top.

The love story wasn’t necessary, but there were some interesting relationships.

Grade: B

 

‘TAKEN’

10 p.m. Mondays on NBC

This NBC drama barely resembles the original 2008 movie with Liam Neeson.

Yes, the main character wants to protect his family, but (spoiler alert) his sister dies within the first five minutes, unlike in the movie when the lead saves his daughter.

I don’t think the show is as interesting as the movie; it doesn’t have the heart or pace.

Grade: B-

 

What’s your favorite new TV show?

Colbert, Letterman: Late-night talk show shuffleboard

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on May 4, 2014.

Jimmy Fallon. Seth Meyers. Jimmy Kimmel. Conan O’Brien. Chelsea Handler.

All of these people are late-night talk show hosts.

Anyone else notice they are all men, except for Handler? And her late-night show isn’t even on a big network. It’s on E! And it’s only half an hour.

On April 3, David Letterman (who, in case you didn’t know, is a Ball State alumnus) announced he would retire from the late-night talk show circuit in 2015.

On April 10, it was announced that Stephen Colbert would replace Letterman.

Really? Why?

I personally find Colbert a bit intolerable. I don’t enjoy his show, and it really annoys me when people call it a news show. It’s news satire.

And what about Craig Ferguson? You would think the person who has a talk show after Letterman’s would be next in line.

To me, it wasn’t a surprise when Ferguson announced his departure from CBS on April 28.

And what about women in late night?

There are plenty of women in the talk show world. But most are featured during the day, and many of them are in groups (Ex: The View, The Talk).

A woman could easily hold her own on a talk show. Rachael Ray does it. Ellen DeGeneres does it. Handler does it.

And, in case anyone forgot, Oprah did it with flair. Her show had heart, but it tackled tough issues, too.

Woman like talking, so what’s holding major networks from throwing a woman in the late-night ring? Is it too risky?

If it is, it’s 2014, so get over it.

According to news reports, Ferguson’s departure had been in the works for some time. But since he doesn’t step down till December, I say it’s time to give a woman a chance.

Valentine’s Day 2015: 5 TV episodes celebrating the holiday

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Feb. 10, 2015.

Love is in the air. Or not.

Whether you’re single and ready to mingle or hopelessly in love, here are five Valentine’s Day-themed TV episodes you can enjoy.

Desperation Day: “How I Met Your Mother,” season 6

Oh, Barney. Always searching for what’s easy.

Barney refuses to have a Valentine’s Day date, but that doesn’t mean he can’t find a “victim” on Desperation Day, aka Feb. 13.

Lily struggles to get Marshall to care about their relationship after the death of his father. In the end, he pulls through for his Lilypad.

My Funky Valentine: “Modern Family,” season 1

Phil and Claire aren’t always the most adventurous, so to mix things up, they create fake personas.

But things go awry when Claire’s overcoat gets stuck in the escalator, and everyone, including her father, sees.

The One with the Candy Hearts: “Friends,” season 1

In a lot of moments of this beloved show, Ross can’t seem to catch in break.

In this episode, he ends up on a date at the same restaurant as Carol and Susan, his (first) ex-wife and her partner. Awkward.

Chandler ends up on a blind date with Janice, the woman he can’t seem to shake off. Also awkward.

Phoebe, Monica and Rachel burn mementos of ex-boyfriends. Not awkward, just super funny.

First Date: “That ’70s Show,” season 1

After a bit of back and forth, it seems like Donna and Eric will finally get together.

But this is TV, so of course, there’s a hitch. And his name is Hyde.

It’s an episode featuring young love and the nervousness that comes with it.

Silly Love Songs: “Glee,” season 2

Back when “Glee” was still good, this episode featured the right amount of cheesiness, heartbreak and sappy songs.

Puck tries to woo a girl by singing “Fat Bottomed Girls,” and we get to see Artie and Mike channel Michael Jackson with “P.Y.T.”

The episode will leave you saying, “Awww.”

Winter TV 2017: ’24: Legacy’ feels stale, ‘Superior Donuts’ could do better

The new shows keep coming this winter TV season.

Unfortunately, they aren’t all good. Here are my latest reviews of the winter TV season, after watching only the pilot:

 

‘24: LEGACY’

8 p.m. Mondays on Fox

“24” may have been an exciting show, but without Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland is starring in ABC‘s “Designated Survivor“), “24: Legacy” seems dated.

This reboot/spinoff follows the same real-time, hour-by-hour drama, but you don’t have to have watched any of the original to understand this show.

The plot revolves around terrorism and back-door knowledge, but it’s not as exciting as it might sound.

Grade: B-

 

‘APB’

9 p.m. Mondays on Fox

How technology can change our world seems to be a trend in TV shows this season, and with “APB,” it’s technology meets the police force.

Celebrity billionaire Gideon (Justin Kirk) wants to avenge his friend’s death, so he convinces the mayor of Chicago (Nestor Serrano) to let him buy a whole police district to make it better.

He creates an app to help bring efficiency to the force, but the character doesn’t have much of a heart yet. He comes off as a bored man who knows money talks…and the mayor isn’t happy about having Gideon messing with the system.

Grade: B

 

‘POWERLESS’

8:30 p.m. Thursdays on NBC

For a show about superheroes, this one is super boring.

The first TV comedy about superheroes is over-the-top cheesy, and predictable without any sort of high stakes.

All the material should be there. So should the acting, with Vanessa Hudgens, Danny Pudi and Alan Tudyk all starring.

But wow was I uninterested. They need the real Bruce Wayne, but I doubt even that would help.

Grade: C-

 

‘SUPERIOR DONUTS’ 

9 p.m. Mondays on CBS

I didn’t laugh once during this new CBS comedy.

For a half-hour show, they covered a lot of issues: race, police, gentrification, terrorism. But none of it was done well.

Sure there were some touching moments, but it was predictable and slow.

This show may be Jermaine Fowler‘s brand, but it didn’t work on CBS.

Grade: C

 

‘TRAINING DAY’

10 p.m. Thursdays on CBS

If you want to see yet another movie reboot, here you go.

This drama is based on a 2001 movie starring Denzel Washington, but this iteration stars Bill Paxton.

It reminded me a bit of “Rush Hour” without the comedy.

It focuses on undercover police/detective work, but the real reason for going undercover is a little to-be-determined.

I can’t say I’ve seen the movie, but I bet it’s better.

Grade: B-

 

What are your favorites?

‘Rush Hour’: Movie chemistry better than CBS TV show

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on April 12, 2016.

Another movie takes a turn to the TV screen.

“Rush Hour” the TV show premiered March 31, more than 15 years after the first movie in the series premiered.

And while the show isn’t bad, it’s not as good as the movie.

Both are advertised as a comedy, but the TV show has more drama edge and doesn’t have the kitsch of the movie.

The pilot of CBS’ “Rush Hour” is mostly a play-by-play of the movie. One big difference is the relationships. In the movie, Hong Kong detective Lee comes to America to protect a consul’s daughter, but in the TV show, he comes to figure out what’s happened to his sister, Kim, who was thought to be dead but actually has joined a group who kills people.

Other relationship differences are at LA cop Carter’s work. I love that a woman (Wendie Malick, “Hot in Cleveland”) is in charge instead of another white male in the TV show. I wish there was a woman out in the field, but hey, it’s a start.

And in the movie, Carter flirts with a woman who works with bombs and has more of a desk job. But on the show, Carter is friends with a woman who used to be his partner (Aimee Garcia, “The George Lopez Show”), but he covered for her when she wanted to move to a desk job for her kid’s sake. I’m guessing that relationship will go somewhere romantically as the series progresses.

The chemistry isn’t quite there between Justin Hires and Jon Foo, the stars of the CBS show. In the original movie, Carter (Chris Tucker) and Lee (Jackie Chan) get into a groove of working together. They poke fun at each other while solving problems.

Hires and Foo have this bossy, who’s-better-than-who vibe that’s not as enjoyable to watch. I thought that would subside after the pilot, but it hasn’t so far.

Chan and Tucker had natural chemistry, playing off each other’s comedic chops. It worked in the movie, which also included jokes and music/dance bits (“War,” anyone?).

In both versions of “Rush Hour,” the Hong Kong detective took some time to adjust — not speaking English right away, etc. But in the TV show, Lee/Foo plays it straight, but it’s so mechanical that it doesn’t come off funny.

CBS’ “Rush Hour” lacks the playful vibe of the movie, which makes the cheesiness of the martial arts extra sounds/slow motion takes seem extra silly. In time, that might change, but I’m not sure I have high hopes for it. Stick to the movie.

“Rush Hour” airs at 10 p.m. Thursdays on CBS.