I seemed to be in the minority among TV critics last month in Pasadena during the Television Critics Assocation’s semi-annual press tour. I was not so knocked out with Palm Royale. The 10-part dramedy begins streaming Wednesday on AppleTV+. Maybe for me its that old bugaboo, “dramedy.” Is it simply not funny enough to be
Most viewers with even a passing interest in American history can name the man who assasinated US president Abraham Lincoln. But did you know the rest of that story? Manhunt, which starts streaming Friday March 15 on AppleTV+, is a seven-part, true crime limited series about the hunt for John Wilkes Booth. He is the
If you are looking for 9-1-1 when it returns Thursday for a seventh season, well, you may have to call 911 to find it. Not in Canada, however, where it returns Thursday, March 14 at 8 pm ET on Global and STACKTV. In the US however, where the series originates, 9-1-1 is switching networks. It
Here is the naked truth about Sunday night’s 96th Annual Academy Awards: ratings were up. Bell Media credited native son Ryan Gosling’s “big Canadian Kenergy” for boosting CTV’s coverage of the Oscars to an average audience of 3.5 million viewers. That makes it the most-watched English entertainment broadcast of the year according to Numeris, with
I have a lot of time for Troy Reeb. Last month, when the opportunity arose to speak with the top programming executive at Corus Entertainment about Global Television’s 50th anniversary, I quickly jumped at the chance. Mr. Reeb is generally readily accessable to reporters and, as a former on-air correspondent for Global News, is articulate,
Kudos to Jimmy Kimmel, who, in his fourth turn as Oscar host, brought the show in on time and — just before it ended — managed to roast one of his harshest critics. Kimmel was smooth and confident throughout, keeping things fun as well as moving. Suggesting the show was running short towards the end,
Thanks to all who came out to the TV on Film “Retro-‘Toon Party” Saturday at The Westdale in Hamilton, Ont. Thanks as well to neighbour Doug Urban who snapped this hilarous photo of me on stage, Newton-like, as Hercules looked down from Mount Olympus. The largest gathering yet at these Westdale TV on Film screenings
Maureen Donaldson would tell such outrageous stories you’d swear she was making it all up. Who packs all this into one life: a May-September affair with Cary Grant? A parrot that once belonged to Muhammad Ali? A first job with The Beatles? Word came via a Facebook posting this week from mutual friend Ray Bennett
In 1982, I was invited to a private dinner with Norman Jewison. Memories of that encounter flooded back on the news this week that the dean of Canadian film directors had passed away Saturday at 97. Forty-two years ago, he had accepted an invitation to be a guest lecturer at the University of Toronto. The
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour had a profound effect on this 10 to 12-year-old. You watched TV as a family back then, in front of the one screen in the house, in our case, a 25-inch Clairtone. “From Television City in Hollywood,” said announcer Roger Carroll. “Ladies and gentlemen, The Smothers Brothers.” Shot from above,
Every year I plan on taking a short cut by posting this list with the idea of simply cutting and pasting something I wrote from a previous year. Every year, however, a few shows jump to the top of the list that were overlooked in the past. This year is no exception, starting with the
Andre Braugher’s performance as Detective Frank Pembleton on David Simon’s critically acclaimed police drama Homicide: Life on the Street (1993-1999) was nuanced and electric. It was almost shocking, therefore, to see him bring such sharp comedy chops 14 years later to Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-2021). Braugher’s impressive range as an actor was absolutely akin to what
Some of the people who make the TV we love pass away so soon we can’t believe it. Then there are those legends who live so long, we’re surprised that they pass away at all. Norman Lear died Tuesday, Dec. 5 in Los Angeles at 101. His face, under that trademark floppy off-white hat, would