When you’re hanging out with old friends, watching a movie is often the last resort when looking for something to do. After all, you can’t talk during a movie anyway (at least not too much), and you could always watch a movie on your own and get equal enjoyment from it. But even though going […]
Here’s a look at the noteworthy premieres of the fall season. I’m skipping over the bland sitcoms (even if they’re based on a clever Twitter feed or star Joanna Garcia) and the procedural remakes (“Hawaii Five-O”) and spinoffs (like the one for “Criminal Minds”). But I encourage you to check out Zap2It’s guide for a more comprehensive […]
With last week’s “Glee” season capper, we’ve come to the end of the TV year (more or less), and I’m ready for my State of Television Address. Usually it’s a three-parter, but I’ll skip the section on canceled shows, because I took individual looks at the four big ones last month. I’ll start with my […]
A friend of mine recently said he hates “Glee” (the first-season finale will air at 7:59 p.m. Central Tuesday on Fox). He shared his opinion after the episode that featured two KISS songs, and he’s a big KISS fan, and I think it might have been the first episode he watched, but still, he makes a valid […]
Sorry I’m late with my summer movie column this year. But at least I’m getting it out by Memorial Day, which used to mark the end of the TV season and the start of the summer movie season. Now, of course, summer movies start in April and TV finales sometimes air in June.
On Tuesday morning, television is going to look a lot worse than it does right now. On Sunday, we’ll say farewell to “Lost,” and on Monday, “10 Things I Hate About You,” “24” and “Law & Order” will bow out. We haven’t reached the “put your TV out with the trash” stage; at least a half-dozen very good shows will […]
“10 Things I Hate About You” (7 p.m. Central Monday on ABC Family, one hour) On air: 2009-10, one season Why it was great: For some reason, traditional sitcom humor works for me only if it’s teenagers delivering the lines. When it’s adults, it all seems so juvenile. There’s something likable about teens who are quick with a […]
“24” (7 p.m. Central Monday on Fox, two hours) On air: 2001-10, eight seasons Why it was great: When it was clicking, nothing on TV was more suspenseful. We saw split screens, instant cell-phone communications, information at analysts’ fingertips and highways and streets that always opened up for CTU vehicles. Those could all turn into hoary clichés with […]
“Law & Order” (9 p.m. Central Monday on NBC) On air: 1990-2010, 20 seasons Why it was great: It ripped about one-third of its stories from the headlines. I’m not a big news-watcher — I find it depressing — but I am a big entertainment guy, so when I can be entertained and keep up with current issues […]
On Friday, “The Empire Strikes Back” marks its 30th anniversary. That’s right, 30 years ago, the movie industry was capable of putting out a Memorial Day weekend blockbuster that people wanted to see and that was not only worth the price of admission, but was so good that we’d talk about it 30 years later. “The Empire […]