From the category archives:
The River [ABC, Tuesday, 9/8C] is the latest attempt to produce a scary horror show for network television. Co-created by Oren Peli – of Paranormal Activity fame – it’s a show that follows the family, friends and crew of a famed explorer/television host as they follow a previously unknown offshoot of the Amazon River six months after he disappeared. And, yeah, it’s scary.
Smash [NBC, Mondays, 10/9C] is a risky oddball of a series that was developed for cable before winding up on NBC. The story of the mounting of a Broadway play, Marilyn: The Musical, it is a big budget swing for the fences that knocks it out of the park.
It is extremely refreshing to see a series where a courtroom, a hospital, or a crime scene are nowhere in sight. Networks don’t often take chances on a series without one of those popular and successful staples as its foundation. And let’s also get another thing straight – with the exception of the inclusion of songs and musical numbers, there is simply no comparison between Smash and Glee, the first being a serious drama and the latter a comedy that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The good thing about Glee is that its success helped open the door to other shows interested in including music in its formats.
Smash takes us behind the scenes into the world of Broadway giving us views through the eyes of the struggling artist looking for that one break to fulfill their dreams; the creative team looking for inspiration in developing the next big thing along with its music and dance numbers; and the people who can write the checks to pay for it all. The characters involved through each of these views are interesting and engaging, and the talented cast does an excellent job bringing them to life. The musical numbers are richly produced and give a true sense of a Broadway stage while giving us an often-painful peek behind the curtain. But the thing that will keep viewers interested will be the personal dramas associated with all the characters. Based on the Pilot episode alone, Smash appears to be hitting all the right notes.
The long-awaited second season of Spartacus – Spartacus: Vengeance [Starz, Fridays, 10/9C] – finds two former champions of Capua struggling between the demands of promised leadership and personal quests: Spartacus to avenge his wife; Crixus to find his lost love.
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Over five completely unexpected seasons – the show was always on the bubble – NBC’s little show that could, did! Chuck [Friday, 8/7C], wraps up its fifth and final season with a two-hour finale that will make you laugh, cry and laugh some more [before you cry some more]. If any other show wraps its run like this, it would be a crime. For Chuck to wrap this way is perfect.
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Tim Kring’s new series, Touch, marks Kiefer Sutherland’s return to primetime television. In it, he plays Martin Bohm, single parent to Jake – a remarkable ten-year old boy who has been misdiagnosed as autistic, but is something… more.
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Phil Ochs was a protest singer’s protest singer. He wrote what he saw, and what he saw was injustice. Unlike more famous and more lauded protest singers, he didn’t couch his songs in metaphor – he was incisive and disturbing.
On American Masters [PBS, 10/9C], Phil Ochs: There But For Fortune follows Ochs’ life and music from its beginnings in the early sixties to his suicide at 35.
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American Idol: Randy Jackson O..
Late last week, the affable and very busy Randy Jackson took a bit of time to talk to a group of...
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Sam Huntington of Being Human [Syfy, Mondays, 10/9C] is appearing as a guest judge on Face Off [Syfy,...
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Ve Neil has a long history in Hollywood as one of the go to people for Make-up design. This year she...
Fringe’s Jasika Nicole T..
Although it was cutting things pretty fine, Jaskia Nicole spoke with the press about her characters’...
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Earlier this week, Joss Whedon, Samuel L. Jackson, Clark gregg and Tom Hiddleston took part in a...
Chuck’s Joshua Gomez Tal..
Morgan Grimes has to be one of the coolest characters on television, he manages a group of misfits...
Hip-Hop Icon RZA launches R..
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The Vampire Diaries Get Suc..
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Konami releases details for..
February 21st, 2012 marks the release date for the first DLC (downloadable content) pack...
Marvel Avengers MMO is Comi..
This week Disney Interactive unveiled the details of their upcoming Marvel Avengers Alliance...
Contest – Get up and ..
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This is something that Metal Gear Solid fans have been waiting for. Today Konami has released...
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On November 21st, 2011 Eclipse Magazine had posted an article about a new game for Facebook...
Safe House – Housekee..
After Green Lantern, it’s a pleasure to see Ryan Reynolds matching wits [and chops] with...
Coriolanus – Before H..
Had Coriolanus been in wider release before New Year’s, it would likely have made my...
New Spider-Man Trailer..
Gotta say this summer is shaping up to be an amazing year for Super-Hero movies –...
The Big Superbowl Movie Tra..
Instead of a million different trailer posts. All the big Superbowl Movie Trailers are here...
Ve Neil Make-Up Artist Extr..
Ve Neil has a long history in Hollywood as one of the go to people for Make-up design. This...
The Super Bowl’s Best..
You tell him, Tony! ...
The Double Blu-ray Review &..
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It’s A High-Def Flesh..
Maybe no one ever listens to Tim, but you can see him get snubbed in glorious high definition...
Michelle Loves Real Steel B..
If I did a top ten list last year, Real Steel would be on it. I first watched footage of...
Styx: The Grand Illusion: P..
Tomorrow on January 31st, 2012, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Styx: The Grand Illusion:...
Contest: Real Steel Hits Bl..
Real Steel is one of my favorite movies of 2011 and if I did a top 10 list, this movie...
Battle Royale: The Complete..
Battle Royale and Battle Royale II are among the most brutally poetic films ever made....
Goin’ Down That Spook..
The River [ABC, Tuesday, 9/8C] is the latest attempt to produce a scary horror show for...
SMASH Should Be A Smash!..
Smash [NBC, Mondays, 10/9C] is a risky oddball of a series that was developed for cable...
NBC’s “SMASH”..
It is extremely refreshing to see a series where a courtroom, a hospital, or a crime scene...
NBC is scheduling the premiere of unique drama Awake for Thursday, March 1st in the 10-11...
2012 DGA Awards..
The Directors Guild of America honored directors from both the film and television industry...
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