Before we get to the end-of-the-year accolades (Best movies, TV, books, etc.) let’s get the bad news out of the way first in AL’s third annual “Worst TV Characters of the Year” list… As always, the unofficial subtitle of the list is “…in an otherwise good show,” as I’m sure there are worse characters out…
Category: Entertainment Editorial
The Most Disappointing TV of the Year
Not all TV is created equal, and even though this year saw more terrific TV shows than ever before, they weren’t all gems. The following is a list of “disappointing” TV developments that could be TV moments, episodes, subplots, or entire seasons. And it’s not so much “the worst” TV as it is shows that…
10 Fall Movies I’m Looking Forward to…And 10 I’m Not
It’s that time of year again, when Hollywood actually cares about making good movies–or at least releasing good movies so that they can stand the best chance at getting awards recognition. Perhaps it’s revealing that I didn’t review a single new movie released in August, but will have plenty to choose from before the year…
The 7 Best Series You’re not Watching: “Hannibal,” “Show Me a Hero,” “Another Period,” and More
In a week’s time, 7 of the best series that you’re (probably) not watching will have experienced their season or–for shame–series finales, and now might be as good a time as any to catch up with them. Honorable Mention: Welcome to Sweden…I’m sad to see this terrific, underrated Greg Poehler gem go since NBC has already…
Series Finale of “Mad Men” and Ranking the Seasons
Sometimes, when you’ve been watching a TV show for 7 seasons (that were really stretched over nine years) and said TV show has always inspired conflicting emotions—like “Is Mad Men really that good or are we getting suckered by the prestigious vibe?” or “Was that last episode just straight-up depressing and unsatisfying or true art…which is often depressing and…
Series Finale Review of “Justified” PLUS Ranking All the Seasons
It’s an understatement to say that I’m sad to see “Justified” go. Longtime readers know that I was always a big fan of this show, its characters (particularly the “bad” ones), and author Elmore Leonard’s work in general. Plenty of other TV reviewers have called this “the death of the modern Western” but they said…
Book Reviews: “Golden Son” and “Near Enemy”
Two very different sequels to science fiction hits—their predecessors “Red Rising” and “Shovel Ready” are already being shaped into movies—that largely continue their first installments quality (or lack thereof). Near Enemy by Adam Sternberg…The best thing I can say about this book (a continuation of the journeys of futuristic hitman Spademan in a dismal near-future…
Book Reviews: “Her” and “The Girl on the Train”
Two different domestic thrillers that are both England-set and both alternating between opposing female narrators, and that may be a lot of coincidences but these books are worth reading for entirely different reasons… The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins…By far the more well-known book of the two and it’s easy to see why…
Book Reviews: “Red Rising” and “The Peripheral”
It’s been too long since the last book reviews, so I’ll kick things off today with a pair of Sci-Fi novels (at least one of which is excellent) and roll out more book reviews later in the day… Red Rising by Pierce Brown…An excellent example of everything commercial science fiction should be, and it’s no surprise this…
“Parks and Recreation” Series Finale Review AND Ranking the 7 Seasons
Only a few weeks ago, NBC said goodbye to one of their only two shows I really loved: “Parenthood.” Then last night NBC said goodbye to the other one:”Parks and Recreation.” With that, I pretty much said goodbye to NBC since out of their current lineup I now only watch “The Blacklist” (but for how…
The Oscars: Keaton and “Boyhood” Snubbed and Self-Seriousness Reigned
Out of my 16 predictions I got 12 right (all of the smaller categories I predicted except Editing) and 4 wrong (Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Editing, and Best Director) but I freely admitted that I was very shaky on Actor, Director, and Original Screenplay and was really more hoping to see Keaton and Linklater take…
Oscars: Who Will Win, Who Should Win, and Who Should Have Been Nominated
Although one never knows exactly which films and performances will win, I like my odds of predicting this a lot better than a sports game which is really a crap-shoot. Best Supporting Actor…Who Will Win And Who Should Win: J.K. Simmons for “Whiplash” because who doesn’t love it when a 60-year-old character actor finally breaks through? His music teacher is…
SNL’s Dismal 40th Anniversary Special AND Their First Episode Ever
Two SNL events happened this weekend, one you’re probably aware of and one that didn’t receive nearly as much attention. I’m writing about the SNL 40th anniversary special on Sunday night, but also NBC’s interesting decision to rebroadcast the very first SNL ever the Saturday night before. SNL 40th Anniversary Special…This was 3 and a half hours…