Primetime TV Review: “United We Fall”

TV Review!




United We Fall

“United We Fall” on ABC, Review by Eva 7/19/2020

I wanted to watch this show because the commercials for it looked funny, and I enjoy watching sitcoms.  Comedies are my favorite thing to watch on television, so I’m always looking for a new sitcom to watch.  I was not too impressed with “United We Fall” as I thought the show was going to be funny since Jane Curtin (Saturday Night Live, Kate & Allie, 3rd Rock from the Sun) is in the cast.

Will Sasso plays Bil,l and Christina Vidal plays Jo – couple raising two young daughters, who are constantly wondering if they’re good parents.  Bill’s mother Sandy (Jane Curtin) got sick two years ago, so Bill and Jo let her move in with them, so they could care for her.  Sandy is now better but doesn’t want to move out of their house.  Sandy is also very critical of the way Bill and Jo are raising her granddaughters. I think Will Sasso and Christina Vidal have great chemistry and are believable as a married couple.  They’re also funny, but I think that, at times, they try to make them funny by doing these long monologues in which they yell at each other, or someone else, telling that person that they don’t know how hard it is for them to raise their little girls (which are not that funny).  I also think that they are wasting Jane Curtain’s talent by not using her enough, and by not including her enough in the main story of the show.  They should make her part of the main story of the episode, not give her a different story to play which has nothing to do with it.

I give this show 3 out of 5 stars because they need to make the cast more of an ensemble and get them all  involved in the two different stories of each episode so that at the end of each episode, both stories can end, and the audience feels like these characters are a family and not people just living together with their own separate lives.

More Information:

  • Trailer: United We Fall
  • Press Release: United We Fall
    United We Fall – Promos, Premiere Date + Press Release *Updated 27th June 2020*
    Cast Includes Will Sasso (‘The Orville’), Christina Vidal-Mitchell (‘Sneaky Pete’), Guillermo Diaz (‘Scandal’) and Jane Curtin (‘Saturday Night Live’)Parenting can be tough. Throw some overzealous extended family members into the mix and chaos will undoubtedly ensue. Join the ride with the latest addition to ABC’s comedy slate, “United We Fall,” set to premiere with back-to-back episodes on WEDNESDAY, JULY 15 (8:00–9:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. The series is from Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios. Episodes can also be viewed the next day on demand and on Hulu.

    The profoundly realistic family sitcom follows the trials and tribulations of Jo and Bill, parents of two young kids, as they try to make it day to day as a functioning family. Bill’s very judgmental live-in mother and Jo’s large Latinx Catholic family will never hesitate to let our couple know they’re seemingly screwing up, but Bill and Jo will always have each other’s backs, united against everyone – other parents, teachers, doctors, specialists, coaches, co-workers and especially their kids.

    “United We Fall” is the latest addition to ABC’s iconic family comedy brand, which includes two of TV’s top four comedies – “The Conners” and “The Goldbergs” – plus the Emmy® Award-nominated “black-ish” and its spinoff “mixed-ish,” which is about to enter its sophomore season; “American Housewife” starring Katy Mixon; and the new comedy “Call Your Mother,” starring Kyra Sedgwick, which debuts next season.

    Related News Darren Star’s ‘Emily in Paris’ Starring Lily Collins Moves to Netflix – TV Insider
    “United We Fall” stars Will Sasso as Bill Ryan, Christina Vidal Mitchell as Jo Rodriguez, Jane Curtin as Sandy Ryan, Guillermo Diaz as Chuy Rodriguez and Ella Grace Helton as Emily Ryan.

    Julius “Goldy” Sharpe (“Making History”) wrote and executive produced the pilot. Seth Gordon and Julia Gunn are also executive producers. Mark Cendrowski directed the pilot, which was produced by Sony Pictures Television, Exhibit A Film, Julius Sharpe International Petroleum & Writing Inc. and ABC Studios. ABC Studios is a part of Disney Television Studios, alongside 20th Century Fox Television and Fox 21 Television Studios.

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The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers.

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United We Fall cast


Primetime TV Review: “Curious George”

TV Review!




Curious George

“Curious George” on Peacock, Review by Eva 7/19/2020

The Peacock streaming service has created an original series about the lovable monkey Curious George.  The show is perfect for your preschoolers because it is about a curious monkey named George who loves to help friends and strangers.  However, his curiosity gets him in some unique situations.  George is a very smart monkey and always figures out a way to get out of the problems that his curiosity causes for him and his friends.

I love this show because it teaches children to be kind to other people and how to solve problems.  The episodes are short and fun to watch as well.  I give this show 5 out of 5 stars

More Information::

  • Trailer: Curious George
  • Press Release: Curious George
    First introduced to the world of children’s literacy over 75 years ago, Curious George® was created by Margret and H.A. Rey in 1941 and remains one of the most beloved children’s classics of all-time. The animated series targets preschool viewers and follows the adventures of everyone’s favorite monkey and his insatiable curiosity to bring delightful antics, gentle humor and heartfelt emotion to each fun-filled episode. With a focus on education, the Emmy® award-winning program incorporates early concepts in math, science, technology and engineering and encourages children to use their imagination and expand their own investigations of the world.The Curious George voice cast includes Emmy® award winner Frank Welker (Scooby Doo and Guess Who?), Jeff Bennett (The Loud House) and Rino Romano (Spaceballs: The Animated Series).Universal 1440 Entertainment, the original content production arm of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, continues to develop and produce Curious George ensuring the timeless character continues to be easily accessible today and for many future generations to come.

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The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers.


Curious George and Yellow Hat Man

Primetime TV Review: “The Capture”

TV Review!





The Capture poster

“The Capture” on Peacock, Review by Eva 7/19/2020

This Peacock six episode mini-series that originally aired in Britain is a fast-paced, exciting thriller that makes the viewer question what they see and if you can trust video to really show the truth.  Callum Turner stars as Shaun Emery, whose conviction of murder is overturned when his lawyer Hannah Roberts (Laura Haddock) proves that what you see on video isn’t exactly what happened in the situation.  Shaun doesn’t have time to enjoy his freedom because Hannah is kidnapped and Shaun is once more put in jail because of video evidence.  The question for the audience becomes, Did Shaun kidnap Hannah, or did someone else do it?”

This show is interesting to watch if you love mysteries. Each episode gives you clues to help you find the real culprit.  The only thing I don’t like is that it is rated for mature audiences because it uses the F word way too much.  I wish “The Capture” was a bit longer than six episodes, but this show is a stand-out for Peacock.  I give the show 5 out of 5 stars

More Information:

  • trailer: The Capture
  • Press Release: The Capture
    The Capture is a conspiracy thriller that looks at a troubling world of fake news and the extraordinary capabilities of the intelligence services. When soldier Shaun Emery’s (Callum Turner, War & Peace, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald) conviction for a murder in Afghanistan is overturned due to flawed video evidence, he returns to life as a free man with his young daughter. But when damning CCTV footage from a night out in London comes to light, Shaun’s life takes a shocking turn and he must soon fight for his freedom once again. Detective Inspector Rachel Carey (Holliday Grainger, Strike, Patrick Melrose) is drafted to investigate Shaun’s case, but she quickly learns that the truth can sometimes be a matter of perspective. The Capture also stars Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Hand of God), Famke Janssen (X-Men, Taken), Ben Miles (The Crown, Coupling), Laura Haddock (Transformers: The Last Knight, Guardians of the Galaxy), Lia Williams (The Crown, Kiri), Sophia Brown (Clique, Marcella) and Paul Ritter (Chernobyl, Friday Night Dinner).From Heyday Television and NBCUniversal International Studios, a division of NBCUniversal Content Studios, The Capture is created, written and directed by Ben Chanan (The Missing, The People Next Door). Executive Producers are David Heyman (Marriage Story, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood), Rosie Alison (Paddington 2, The Light Between Oceans) and Tom Winchester (Endeavor, Bouquet of Barbed Wire) for Heyday Television, Tom Coan (Hanna, The Long Song) for NBCUniversal International Studios, Ben Irving (Gentleman Jack, Silent Witness) for BBC One and Ben Chanan. Derek Ritchie serves as Producer.

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The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers.

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Primetime TV Review: “The Baby-Sitters Club”

The Baby-Sitters Club” Review by Eva 7/5/2020


The Baby-Sitters Club PosterThe Baby-Sitters Club,  based on the book series by Ann M Martin, has been made into a series now streaming on Netflix.

For those (like me) who have never read the books, they center around a group of best friends who start a babysitting business. The show has been updated for 2020, with nods to the past — like the fact that the girls use a landline to get their babysitting job calls.  The phone is a white princess push button phone that they bought on Etsy.  The girls also want to use social media to advertise their business, but they can’t because they are not thirteen and are unable get an account.  The girls decide to use an old-fashioned form of advertising: they print fliers and hand them out in their neighborhoods.

I really enjoyed this show; it is very well-written and smart.  The girls speak like junior high girls and don’t sound too grown-up or younger than their age.  I originally watched this show because I thought my six-year-old niece might like it, but I think this show is more appropriate for kids ten years old and up… not because it has anything bad in it, but because older kids will be able to understand it better.  I think this show is great for families to watch together.  Parents will enjoy it, and so will the kids.  I think it is the perfect show for families to binge-watch together because it is a positive, happy, funny show.  I give this show 5 stars.

More Information:

Watch it at www.netflix.com/thebaby-sittersclub

THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB RETURNS!

ORIGINAL LIVE-ACTION DRAMEDY BASED ON THE BELOVED BOOK SERIES BY ANN M. MARTIN COMES TO NETFLIX

  • Kristy Thomas, Mary Anne Spier, Claudia Kishi, Stacey McGill, and Dawn Schafer are back … this time on Netflix!
  • Based on Ann M. Martin’s best-selling book series, The Baby-Sitters Club is a contemporary live action original series that will follow the friendship and babysitting adventures of five best friends in Stoneybrook, Connecticut.
  • The family-friendly adaptation comes from Walden Media and Michael De Luca, who will executive produce. De Luca Productions’ Lucy Kitada will also serve as an executive producer. Rachel Shukert (GLOW) will serve as showrunner and Lucia Aniello (Broad City) will serve as director and executive producer. Ann M. Martin and Walden Media’s Naia Cucukov will produce alongside Aniello’s Paulilu Productions. There is a 10-episode order.
  • The beloved and best-selling book series is a timely story of female friendship, entrepreneurialism and empowerment. The series has over 200 books licensed in over 20 territories with more than 180 million copies sold to date.
  • “I’m amazed that there are so many passionate fans of The Baby-Sitters Club after all these years, and I’m honored to continue to hear from readers – now grown, who have become writers, editors, teachers, librarians, filmmakers – who say that they see a reflection of themselves in the characters of Kristy and her friends. So I’m very excited about the forthcoming series on Netflix, which I hope will inspire a new generation of readers and leaders everywhere,” said Ann M. Martin, author of The Baby-Sitters Club.
  • “For generations, young people have been captivated and inspired by the enterprising young women of The Baby-Sitters Club,” said Frank Smith, president and CEO of Walden Media. “Bringing this iconic series to life comes at a pivotal moment in Walden’s expansion into scripted televised content. We are honored to be part of this special collaboration with Ann M. Martin, Netflix, and Michael De Luca.”
  • “The themes of The Baby-Sitters Club still resonate 30 years after the original book series was released and there has never been a more opportune time to tell an aspirational story about empowering young female entrepreneurs,” said Melissa Cobb, vice president of Kids & Family at Netflix. “Together with Ann M. Martin and the team at Walden Media, our ambition is to contemporize the storylines and adventures of this iconic group of girlfriends to reflect modern-day issues.”
  • “The entire team at Michael De Luca Productions is ecstatic to be working with Netflix and Walden Media to bring Ann M. Martin’s best-selling book series to a global audience,” said De Luca and Kitada. “These iconic books have sold more than 180 million copies to date and now, through Netflix, they will be brought to life in a new way for audiences in over 190 countries.”

De Luca recently was nominated for a PGA Award for producing Ben Stiller’s award-winning Escape at Dannemora. De Luca was Emmy-nominated for producing both the 89th and the 90th Academy Awards.

About Netflix

Netflix is the world’s leading internet entertainment service with 139 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.

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The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers.

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The Babysitters Club