John’s top 10 TV shows of 2019

2019 television: 2019 saw the continued dominance of streaming services and the rise to prominence of standalone miniseries.

‘Veronica Mars’ Season 1 reviews

John’s “Veronica Mars” Season 1 flashback review, johnvhansen.com, June 12, 2013 “Veronica Mars” Season 1 (2004-05, UPN), episodes 1-9 – “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives” get the magazine covers, but “Veronica Mars” (8 p.m. Tuesdays on UPN) is my favorite new show of the season. Created by Rob Thomas — soon to be more famous than the

New ‘Veronica Mars’ novel ‘Mr. Kiss and Tell’ explores justice system abuses (Book review)

As with the first “Veronica Mars” novel (last year’s “The Thousand Dollar Tan Line”), the follow-up, “Mr. Kiss and Tell” (January, paperback), is a wonderful continuation from the TV show and movie. With Rob Thomas writing (along with Jennifer Graham), it’s no surprise that I can easily picture Kristen Bell saying Veronica’s lines, and that the mystery

Movies, TV, books and comics John is looking forward to in 2015 (Commentary)

Here are 10 movies, TV series, books and comics I’m looking forward to in 2015: “Marvel’s Agent Carter” (TV show, Jan. 6, pictured) – While I’m not a huge fan of the Marvel movie franchise, I have found some things to like about the sort-of-Joss-Whedon-produced “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” This eight-episode ABC prequel has my interest

John’s top 10 movies of 2014

These were my 10 favorite movies of 2014: 1. “Dumb and Dumber To” – Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels effortlessly slip back into Lloyd and Harry’s born-of-stupidity mistreatment of animals and their fellow man, but this isn’t merely a reunion tour. The sequel has lots of great new hits, like Harry getting into Arizona State and being

First episode impressions: ‘Play It Again, Dick’ (TV review)

In the ongoing push to take “meta” to new and absurd levels, “Play It Again, Dick” (Tuesdays, CW Seed) joins the likes of “The Comeback,” “Episodes” and “Extras” (or James Van Der Beek playing “himself” on “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apt. 23”) as it chronicles the making of the fake “Veronica Mars” spinoff “Private Dick.”