Earlier this week I was asked to preview the coming fall TV season for CBC radio syndication. It is something I look forward to — a half-day marathon timed at ten minute intervals with radio markets right across Canada. Wednesday, they included radio hosts from Kelowna to St. John’s, with stops in Victoria, Vancouver, Whitehorse,
What’s the opposite of a Golden Age? Tin? Aluminum? Plastic? Whatever it is, we are definitely NOT in a golden age of network TV comedy. NBC has just two lame programs, the revived Night Court and something called Lopez vs. Lopez. ABC has Abbott Elementary, which despite critical acclaim, is at best feel-good pablum. The
One of the comfort food shows re-watched start-to-finish in the Brampton bunker during the pandemic was Frasier. The series, which ended an 11-season run in May of 2004, seemed even funnier the second time around. Why did it hold up so well? The usual reasons: great writing, excellent cast. It was of its time but
Can Frasier make it without Niles, Daphne, Roz and Eddie the dog? Rebooting Kelsey Grammer’s Frasier without David Hyde Pierce as younger brother Niles does seem a little like reteaming Laurel without Hardy. Consider, however, that Grammar brought nobody with him when he left Cheers. Sometimes fresh blood is an essential part of new surroundings.
Pluto TV is one of the newest, and most heavily promoted, of the free streaming services to arrive in Canada. Part of the Paramount entertainment colossus, it boasts 100 channels and thousands of movies, all free. Canadian content, especially newscasts and “How To” shows, is boosted through an alliance with Corus Entertainment. The service is
This festive Larry Fritz illustration graced the cover of TV Guide for the week of December 24, 1955–exactly 67 years ago today. That was back when television was something you watched for free as long as you were willing to put up with the occasional commercial – sort of like FAST channels such as Pluto-TV
While Canadians emerged from our turkey fog a month-and-a-half ago, Americans are just getting around to celebrating Thanksgiving today. NBC is airing their annual Macy’s Day Parade, signaling that lipsynching is still a thing and that Black Friday is upon us. In that spirit, here are 10 things to be thankful for on TV this
Some of these I’ve listed before, but I try to change it up a bit every December. You’ll find some vintage Christmas episodes free to stream at CTV’s Throwback channel. Hamilton’s CHCH is also holding a daylone Christmas sitcom marathon Dc. 24 and 25th. Here, in chronological order (and heavy on the ’60s) is my