In the past few weeks, I’ve posted a couple of “From the Vault” episodes over at brioux.tv: the podcast. One featured a 2014 interview with Bill Daily talking about his boss on The Bob Newhart Show; the other was another 2014 interview, this time with WKRP in Cincinnati creator Hugh Wilson. I’ve done others in
Back in 1995, during my days writing for TV Guide Canada, I had a memorable encounter with Faye Dunaway. At the time, the Academy Award-winning actress had a reputation for being difficult; certainly on a set during a production but also in exchanges with reporters. “Good luck,” I was warned after landing the assignment. My
FX’s powerful historical drama Shōgun was the big winner Friday night at the 40th annual Television Critics Association Awards. The lavishly-produced, first-year series took home four wins including the Program of the Year Award. It also was voted the 2023-24 season’s Outstanding Achievement in Drama and Outstanding New Program. In addition, it earned an Individual
Before there was Netflix, or Apple TV+, or Amazon or any of the myriad of streaming services, there was only one place to go for ‘prestige’ TV, and that was HBO. HBO changed television forever with the debut of The Sopranos 25 years ago. Since then, HBO has produced a raft of the best TV
I realize Bill Maher is a polarizing figure. That makes him a lot like many of the politicians he roasts on Real Time with Bill Maher. That doesn’t mean he’s bad television — quite the opposite. Of all the commentators and talk show hosts who were sidelined during the 148 day writers’ strike, his was
My favourite unscripted TV series since the start of the pandemic returns Friday for a third and final season: How to With John Wilson (HBO/MAX; Crave). How to with who what?? John Wilson, that’s who. This somewhat anxious, 36-year-old New Yorker points his camera around his neighbourhood and deconstructs things such as scaffolding, public restrooms
An overnight, estimated audience of 3,413,000 watched CTV’s broadcast of the 95th Annual Academy Awards Sunday night. The Hollywood movie awards gala, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, drew an additional 1,153,000 to the red (or champagne) carpet pre-show on the Canadian broadcaster. In the US, Fast National Live+Same Day data suggests 18.7 million viewers watched the
Think casting The Sopranos was easy? Fagetaboutit. Tony Sirico originally read for the part of Uncle Junior on the award-winning HBO series. After the audition, creator and executive producer David Chase called the actor at home with a “good news, bad news” scenario. The bad news was that Sirico did not get the part of