Tag: SNL

Winter TV 2021: February brings silly shows

I could say cold weather brings warm shows…but I wouldn’t say that’s accurate.

Here’s the latest quick takes of new broadcast TV shows.

equalizer

8 p.m. Sundays on CBS

Like most movies to TV, the pilot of this drama covers the plot of the entire movie, but it left the door open for how the show will grow into a slightly more interesting procedural.

There are some nice updates from the movie, mostly with technology and how it can be used for good or evil.

Queen Latifah brings warmth and character to the show. She’s the reason to watch.

Try it

Clarice

10 p.m. Thursdays on CBS

Did we need a TV sequel of “Silence of the Lambs”? No. We did not. But here it is, as a procedural.

Also, if you know the premise, you shouldn’t be surprised that it’s a bit gross for a broadcast show.

Skip it

Young Rock

8 p.m. Thursdays on NBC

The first episode was called “Working the Gimmick”…and boy did they. At least they were upfront?

It’s such a silly premise, and the Rock’s story could’ve easily been a TV special or a movie, not a cheesy 80s-set episodic comedy.

As a note, Andre the Giant makes an appearance, and it’s unsettling to see another actor play him, even if they do a decent job to show his large size.

Skip it

Kenan

8:30 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC

This comedy is basically “Full House” but with some “SNL” flair.

Kenan, a longtime SNL cast member, plays a single dad who hosts a talk show (which feels a lot like Weekend Update meets any daytime talk show from the 90s). There’s not much to it; it feels caricature instead of heartfelt.

How they got Don Johnson to star in this show as Kenan’s father-in-law is beyond my understanding.

Skip it

Superman & Lois

9 p.m. Tuesdays on the CW

Greg Berlanti can keep signing those CW paychecks.

This show mixes cheesy superhero theatrics and family/teen drama, which at times is also cheesy.

It’s nothing new, but it fits right in with CW.

Try it

Emmys 2018: 3 ways to improve the award show

If the most talked about thing that happened during the Emmys is a surprise on-camera proposal, you’ve done something wrong.

The 2018 Emmys aired Monday night, and no one seemed too interested.

Here are three ways the award show could improve:

stop airing on Monday nights

I’m sorry, but when has it become the norm to air a 3-hour award show on a Monday?

I used to work weird hours, and I watch The Bachelor (for the workout, only, I swear) so I understand that some people can watch a Monday night show without issues.

But many people work normal hours, so they don’t have time to devote to an award show on a Monday vs. a Sunday.

Plus sitting through a 3-hour show that’s not that interesting gets so old, so fast, especially on a weekday.

find good hosts

Amy Poehler and Tina Fey are the gold standard. Period. Who’s missing their hosting?

Michael Che and Colin Jost (the current Weekend Update hosts on “SNL”) were fine, but not memorable. No one is raving about their performance.

Hosting can make or break an award show. They typically aren’t around much, but they start and finish the show, so they need to keep viewer’s attention in an entertaining, unique way.

Or hey, do what the Grammys did for a while and don’t bother with a host. The attendees are wired to perform, so producers can figure something out.

No one needs an annoying reminder of a bad host.

Change the voting process

It makes perfect sense that the Emmy nominations are picked by people in the respective peer category (acting, directing, etc.). In your peer category, you can best understand the nuances within that division.

And it also makes perfect sense that nominees submit best work to be watched, and you have to confirm you’ve watched the content to submit a vote.

But if you’re voting for a winner, you can vote in any category, so how easy would it be for the same voter to pick the same show?

It seems too easy, given that the same few shows swept multiple categories Monday night.

If you have to nominate within your peer category, why shouldn’t you vote for winners in only your peer category?

Also, as I’ve suggested before, it may be time to divide awards by cable/streaming and broadcast. Too many restrictions restrict broadcast TV, and it’s causing a discrepancy.

Emmy nominations 2014: ‘Modern Family’ up for fifth win, ‘Orphan Black’ snubbed

In preparation for Sunday’s 2016 Emmys, here is a blog about the 2014 Emmys, originally published on elkharttruth.com on July 10, 2014.

It’s summer TV time, but it’s also Emmys time.

The Emmy nominations for 2014 were announced Thursday, July 10, and as usual, there were obvious choices and total snubs.

Here’s my breakdown of this year’s nominations:

Surprise nominations

While “Mad Men,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “Breaking Bad” and this year’s season of “American Horror Story” are obvious returning nominations, there were a few unexpected twists.

“Bonnie and Clyde” was nominated for best miniseries. Considering many critics didn’t love the A&E, History and Lifetime show, which was plagued with historical inaccuracies, it was a shock to see it receive a nomination. It won’t win, though. The race will be between “American Horror Story: Coven,” and Billy Bob Thornton’s “Fargo.”

Melissa McCarthy is nominated for her work on “Mike & Molly.” Out of all the comedic actresses, I think there were other choices from shows more people are watching.

Biggest snubs

Andy Samberg, who (surprisingly) won the Golden Globe for his role on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” was left out of the Emmy race. The Fox comedy wasn’t nominated either.

“The Good Wife” received many deserved acting nominations, including Julianna Margulies 10th overall Emmy nomination — she had won once for “ER” in 1995 and once for “The Good Wife” in 2011, but the CBS show was left off the best drama category. Considering its rise to Sunday TV gold this season, I figured it would be a shoo-in for a nomination.

But perhaps the biggest snub of all was the omission of “Orphan Black.” It’s a show that may not appeal to everyone, but Tatiana Maslany plays multiple clones. Multiple! How does that not deserve a lead actress nomination?

“Modern Family” again?

The ABC comedy is up for outstanding comedy series for the fifth year in a row.

It’s been nominated every year it’s been eligible, and it’s won every year so far.

Will the show take the win again? It could happen. “Modern Family” showcased touching moments that still turn out a laugh, including Cam and Mitchell’s (played by Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson) wedding in the season 5 finale.

But I think a new show could take over, and with “Orange is the New Black” and “Silicon Valley” being first-time nominees, I expect the reign of “Modern Family” to end.

The conundrum of “Orange is the New Black” nominations

In its first year of eligibility, “Orange is the New Black,” the hit Netflix prison dramedy, snagged a decent amount of nominations. That’s no surprise, considering how popular and acclaimed the show is.

But what is surprising is what categories in which the actresses were nominated. Taylor Schilling (Piper) is in the lead actress category, with Kate Mulgrew (Red) is the supporting actress category.

Three actresses, however, are nominated in the guest actress category. Natasha Lyonne, Uzo Aduba and Laverne Cox have been lumped together with Tina Fey (“Saturday Night Live”), Melissa McCarthy (“SNL”) and Joan Cusack (“Shameless”).

The last three are guest actresses for those shows. But the OITNB stars, while not the leading actresses, are certainly more than guest actresses. Aduba is credited with being in 37 of the show’s 39 episodes, and Lyonne is credited with being in every episode on IMDb. They had standout and background moments. The characters are key to the story, so to only put them in the guest actress seems a bit strange.

The Emmys will air at 8 p.m. Aug. 25 on NBC. The show will be hosted by Seth Meyers.

What do you think? What were your surprises and snubs?