As someone who had the distinct pleasure of watching The Muppet Show when it first premiered in 1976, and who thanks also to Sesame Street, has had a lifelong association with and love of the Muppets, it’s always been fascinating to watch how the legacy of Jim Henson’s superlatively wonderful Continue Reading
TV
Godzilla vs. Aquaman: Fantastically imaginative pop culture mash-ups
They’re called action figures but let’s be honest – most of the time, OK all of the time, unless you’re an imaginative five-year-old (probably not), they don’t do much more than just sit on your display shelves, giving you warm and fuzzy pop culture vibes. But Instagrammer, Jax Navarro aka Continue Reading
Grab the remote! A terrific trio of sci-fi TV(ish) trailers: The Mandalorian (S2), Time Lord Victorious-Daleks!, Moonbase 8
Staying home isn’t all bad, is it? Well, you could be forgiven for wondering what more than once this year as COVID-19 forced time and again to find shelter in our homes away from a virulent virus, from harm and threat, and sadly, all too often from other people. Even Continue Reading
Pardon her French: The awkwardly funny romance of Emily in Paris
SNAPSHOTCreated, written and executive produced by Star, Emily In Paris centers on Emily (Collins), a driven twenty-something American woman from the Midwest, who moves to Paris for an unexpected job opportunity, tasked with bringing an American point of view to a venerable French marketing firm. Cultures clash as she adjusts Continue Reading
Heroes comes in all sizes: Tiny Earth (narrated by Paul Rudd) comes to Apple TV+
SNAPSHOTMeet nature’s littlest heroes and see the extraordinary things they do to survive in the new Apple Original docuseries, narrated by Paul Rudd. (synopsis (c) Apple TV+ via Laughing Squid) We live in a world that is obsessed with the bigness of things. We equate being noticeable with being important, Continue Reading
Underneath the helmet: The VFX secrets of The Mandalorian revealed
Are you the sort of person who likes to peek behind the curtain and find out what kinds of whirring parts are making the TV show you love come to life? Or do you like to leave the magic intact, the special effects unexplained and lose yourself in a world Continue Reading
Lowkey striving: Thoughts on Insecure (season 4)
Transitions in life are never easy. Exciting, sure. Ripe with possibilities, certainly. But easy? Rarely, if ever. That becomes abundantly clear in the fourth season of Insecure where Issa Dee (Issa Rae) is trying to get her event organising career off the ground. The plan is to stage a big Continue Reading
Blink if you’re in trouble: The Duchess and love and motherhood
SNAPSHOTCreated by and starring Ryan in her scripted series debut, The Duchess follows the powerful and problematic choices of a fashionably disruptive single mom living in London. Her daughter, Olive, is her greatest love so she debates a second child with her greatest enemy — Olive’s Dad. Can two wrongs Continue Reading
Swirly vague ideas made real: Watch the final table read for The Good Place
There is no doubt The Good Place was, and will always remain, a very special TV show. Just how special is articulated beautifully by creator Mike Schur who begins the table read of the final two episodes or chapters of the show with as eloquent, poetic and heartfelt a tribute Continue Reading
Julie and the Phantoms: You only live once, but you can rock forever
SNAPSHOT“[Julie and the Phantoms] stars Madison Reyes as Julie, a talented singer who’s feeling uninspired after her mother died. But then three musicians come into Julie’s life and convince her to join their band, giving her a chance to rediscover her voice…and maybe fall in love along the way.” (synopsis Continue Reading