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Interview with Alan Tudyk

Posted on by TvMegasite Admin

TV Interview!

Alan Tudyk (from his Instagram)

Interview with Alan Tudyk of “Devil May Care” on Syfy by Suzanne 2/2/21

This is a fun animated show. Tudyk does a great take on this kinder, gentler Satan.  It was very nice to speak with him! It was only four minutes – part of a longer interview I did with him. He’s one of the few people to have two shows on Syfy at the same time!

Here is the audio version of it, or you can hear the entire interview here.

Suzanne: Hi, Alan, how are you?

Alan: Hey, how you doing?

Suzanne: Oh, good.

Alan: I’m great.

Suzanne: I’m a huge. I’m a huge fan of yours ever since Firefly.

Alan: Thank you very much.

Suzanne: They wanted me to [ask you about] “Devil May Care.”

Alan: Devil May Care. It’s on the TZGZ Syfy midnight animation block. I don’t know what TZGZ stands for.

Suzanne: I don’t either.

Alan: Has anybody has told anybody? I think it just sounds good together, and it’s for some reason memorable. I’m the devil –

Suzanne: Was it fun developing the voice for the devil?

Alan: Yeah, you know, he’s similar to a character I played in Knocked Up for a head of an Entertainment Tonight or Weekly type executive or something like that, which seems appropriate. [laughs] “Come on, be a team leader! “That’s the way the devil is different in this show.

Suzanne: He’s not evil sounding.

Alan: He’s not evil – not sounding, and not even in the way he goes about running Hell. He’s trying to gentrify Hell. He wants it to be a place where you can go and have a good time. He just happens to be the angel that got put in charge of Hell is the thing.

Suzanne: How many total episodes are there for Devil May Care?

Alan: That’s a good question.

Suzanne: Oh, you don’t know? It’s okay.

Alan: [laughs] I think it’s eight. Yeah, eight ten, but only like fifteen-minute episodes. It’s got like an Adult Swim type feel to the shows…It’s crazy.

Suzanne: It was fun to recognize Louis Black in the first episode. Are there a lot of recognizable guest star voices in the other episodes?

Alan: Yes, there’s somebody else that I was stoked that we got, but I didn’t know that we got Louis until I saw the episode, because, again, this was all very pandemic in the way we recorded it. So, you can you can record whole things and never meet another person. You’re able to talk and meet and handshake, but it’s just that we haven’t been able to do [that]. I don’t know. I don’t have a list of who all is in the show, but yeah, Louis Black is a cool cat.

Suzanne: You do a lot of animated shows, do you have to turn down a lot of them, because you get so much animated voice work?

Alan: Yeah, I guess I’m choosy in my animated work. They’re pretty easy to do, as far as the time commitment and things like that, but, yeah, it kind of feels like when you’re spoiled. [laughs] I love tacos, and then you move to a neighborhood that has the best taco place and [someone’s] like, “You want a taco?” “From where?” I’m at the “from where?” place. “Who’s making the taco. What are the fixins?”

Suzanne: Thank you so much!

Alan: Thank you.

Interview Transcribed by Jamie of http://www.scifivision.com

MORE INFO:

Watch “Devil May Care” on YouTube

SYFY GREENLIGHTS NEW ANIMATED SERIES ‘DEVIL MAY CARE’ STARRING ALAN TUDYK FOR LATE-NIGHT ADULT ANIMATION BLOCK ‘TZGZ’

— Network Also Greenlights Three TZGZ Pilots —

NEW YORK, NY – June 15, 2020 – SYFY today announced new original projects for its late-night adult animation block, TZGZ, including a new original animated series and three original pilots. Airing on SYFY every Saturday at midnight-ish, TZGZ is a 90-minute block of adult comedic, animated, genre-based programming of varying lengths. Since its 2019 debut, TZGZ has grown +7% in the 18-49 demo vs prior year, and continues to bring younger viewers to the network.*

DEVIL MAY CARE, TZGZ’s second internally developed pilot greenlit to series, has earned a 7-episode series pickup. For the series, the Devil (Alan Tudyk, SYFY’s “Resident Alien”) hires a social media coordinator (Asif Ali, “BoJack Horseman”) to rebrand Hell as the ultimate place to live, and the two form the most unlikely of friendships. Recurring roles are played by Fred Tatasciore, Pamela Adlon and Stephanie Beatriz.

Created and executive produced by Douglas Goldstein (3x Emmy winner, “Robot Chicken”), this 15-minute series is developed and executive produced by Amanda Miller at PSYOP in partnership with Titmouse, the Emmy-award winning independent animation production company. Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski and Ben Kalina from Titmouse are also executive producers.

Additionally, SYFY has greenlit 3 pilots for TZGZ:

  • From ShadowMachine (“Final Space,” “BoJack Horseman”), CHRONICLES OF FRANK follows an overzealous squirrel that kidnaps an exterminator from the Bronx, transporting him to a magical realm where he must conquer the forces of evil and maybe win back his girlfriend. Ordered for a 15-minute pilot, CHRONICLES OF FRANK is created and executive produced by Chris Osbrink (Writer/Director, “Trip Tank,” Writer/Director, “Campus Law”), with ShadowMachine executive producers Corey Campodonico and Alex Bulkley.
  • In a galaxy far, far away there’s an epic war of the worlds where countless alien species will fight to the death – and THE BLACK HOLE is about the crappy dive bar where they drink. Picked up for a 15-minute pilot, THE BLACK HOLE from Starburns Industries (“Rick and Morty,” “Moral Orel”) is written and executive produced by Dino Stamatopoulos (Creator, “Moral Orel”) and Michael Waldron (Producer, “Rick and Morty”). Paul Young (EP, “Key & Peele”), James A Fino (EP, “Rick and Morty”), Duke Johnson (Director, “Anomalisa”) and Nick Weidenfeld (President of Programming, Viceland) also executive produce.
  • Heavy is the belly that wears the suit in THE POLE, a twisted, edgy comedy about the struggle for power on the North Pole. From Yeti Farm Creative (“Hotel Transylvania” Season 2, “Pete the Cat” Season 2), THE POLE has been ordered for a 15-minute pilot. Created and executive produced by Matthew Bass (Writer, “Future Man”) and Theodore Bressman (Writer, “Future Man,” Writer/EP, “Jungleland”). Mark Gordon (Producer, “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Ray Donovan”) also executive produces, as well as Frank Saperstein and Jay Surridge from Yeti Farm Creative.

More at SyfyWire

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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Devil (Alan Tudyk) and Beans (Asif Ali)

Primetime DVD Review: “Masterpiece: The Long Song”

Posted on by TvMegasite Admin

DVD Review!

"The Long Song" DVD cover

“Masterpiece: The Long Song” Review by Suzanne 2/10/21

This is a gripping drama, but it also has some humor in it. The characters are rich and interesting. We’ve all seen many movies, TV series and miniseries about slavery. This one is about a particular young woman, July (Tamara Lawrance), who grows up on a British sugar plantation in Jamaica. The 3-part series shows not only her hardships, but those of the rest of her family, including her mother, her boyfriend, and her son. There is an uprising, but just as in real life, the rebelling slaves did not live a happy life or get the freedom they wanted.

There are many moments of love, joy and friendship. July is a happy soul when she’s younger because although she’s the slave of a ditsy woman (Hayley Atwell), she is able to do a lot that other slaves aren’t. Eventually, her situation changes, and terrible things happen.  July never loses her strength or her fighting spirit, and she passes those traits on to her son. This is worth watching for the emotions it stirs up and the peek into this world in an area with which most Americans aren’t very familiar. We should never forget the terrible pain that slaves endured as well as the effect slavery had on world history.

Buy this DVD

MORE INFORMATION:

THREE NEW DRAMAS FROM MASTERPIECE 
ON DVD & BLU-RAY THIS FEBRUARY 
FROM PBS DISTRIBUTION
Below is a listing of the upcoming DVD/Blu-Ray releases from PBS Distribution slated for February.Every purchase helps support public television for all.

  • MASTERPIECE: The Long Song – 2/16/21

Genre: Historical Drama
Run Time: 180 min. on 1 disc – DVD
SRP: $24.99

“The Long Song,” an adaptation of the award-winning novel by Andrea Levy set during the final days of slavery in 19th century Jamaica. The story follows the strong-willed, young slave July on a sugar plantation owned by her odious mistress Caroline Mortimer. When a charming new arrival to the island, Robert Goodwin, becomes the new overseer, July and Caroline are both intrigued by his seemingly revolutionary determination to improve the plantation for the slaves and mistress alike.

A tale of hope and endurance based on the bestselling novel by Andrea Levyon MASTERPIECE Sundays, January 31 – February 14, 2021 on PBS

Tamara Lawrance (King Charles III) stars as an indomitable house slave in Jamaica during the era of emancipation, with Hayley Atwell (The Avengers) as her demanding, capricious mistress, in The Long Song. Based on the award-winning novel by Andrea Levy, the miniseries airs in three parts on MASTERPIECE, Sundays, January 31 – February 14, 2021 at 10/9c on PBS.

The British press applauded the UK broadcast of The Long Song, with The Guardian calling it “a beautiful, moving, horrifying adaptation of Levy’s unsimple tale, that honors the source and its subject.” The Radio Times judged it “so finely-tuned and carefully-balanced that it’ll break your heart—and make you laugh at the same time.” And The Times opined, “What can a period slavery drama tell us that we don’t already know? Quite a bit.”

Scripted by Sarah Williams (Flesh and Blood), who previously adapted Levy’s International Emmy® Award–winning Small Island for MASTERPIECE, The Long Song also stars Jack Lowden (Mary Queen of Scots), Sharon Duncan-Brewster (Rogue One), Jordan Bolger (Peaky Blinders), Ayesha Antoine (Doctor Who), Gordon Brown (Only God Forgives), Leo Bill (The Living and the Dead), Madeleine Mantock (Into the Badlands), and the acclaimed comic, actor, and activist Sir Lenny Henry (Broadchurch).

Andrea Levy, who died in 2019, was born in London to Jamaican parents and spent her writing career probing her heritage. Her numerous literary awards included the Walter Scott Prize for The Long Song (published in 2010), which was also a finalist for the English language’s most prestigious book award: the Man Booker Prize.

The Long Song is framed by the reminiscences of July (played as a young woman by Lawrance), who grew up as a slave on a sugar plantation in Jamaica and is now looking back on her life. In extended flashbacks, she recounts her tumultuous story, which has been shaped by villains, heroes, and well-meaning people who are an unsettled mix of the two.

First there are July’s parents: Her mother, Kitty (Duncan-Brewster), is a stoic field slave. Her father is the brutal Scottish overseer of the plantation, Tam Dewar (Brown), who regularly rapes Kitty.

As a young girl, July is callously taken from her mother at the whim of Caroline (Atwell), the sister of the plantation owner, John Howarth (Bill). Caroline wants July for a lady’s maid and bestows on her a more genteel name, Marguerite. July grows up catering to Caroline’s impulses, surrounded by other slaves, including the canny Godfrey (Henry), the spiteful Molly (Antoine), and the haughty Clara (Mantock). There is also the debonaire Nimrod (Bolger), who has bought his freedom and fancies July, promising her a fairy-tale life with him.

A moment of truth arrives with the Christmas Rebellion of 1831, a slave uprising that heralds the end of official slavery in Jamaica and other English colonies—but at a great cost in lives, including some who are near and dear to July. In the aftermath, a handsome new overseer, Robert Goodwin (Lowden), rides into the story. He will set hearts aflutter, establish an enlightened tone with the emancipated slaves, and play a tragic role in the fates of all.

The Long Song is a Heyday Television Production for BBC. It is based on the novel by Andrea Levy. The Executive Producers are David Heyman, Rosie Alison, Andrea Levy, Sarah Williams, and Tom Coan. Ben Irving is the Executive Producer for the BBC. The Producer is Roopesh Parekh. The writer is Sarah Williams. The Director is Mahalia Belo.

About MASTERPIECE

Winner of 83 Primetime Emmys® and 18 Peabody Awards, MASTERPIECE has been essential Sunday night viewing for millions of fans since 1971. Susanne Simpson is the executive producer and Rebecca Eaton is the executive producer-at-large for the series. Funding for MASTERPIECE is provided by Viking and Raymond James with additional support from public television viewers and contributors to The MASTERPIECE Trust. Produced for PBS by GBH Boston, MASTERPIECE is known for recent hits such as Sherlock, Downton Abbey and Victoria, and beloved classics such as Upstairs Downstairs, Prime Suspect, The Forsyte Saga and Poldark.

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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

"Masterpiece: The Long Song"

Primetime DVD Review: “Masterpiece Mystery!: Miss Scarlet and the Duke”

Posted on by TvMegasite Admin

DVD Review!

"Masterpiece Mystery!: Miss Scarlet and the Duke" DVD cover

“Masterpiece Mystery!: Miss Scarlet and the Duke” Review by Suzanne 2/10/21

I love this show! I watched every episode when it aired on PBS and just loved it. It has a “Sherlock Holmes” type of feel to it, but it’s a “lady detective” instead of a man. Unlike so many series nowadays, it’s completely original. It’s not based on a book series or anything like that.

Miss Eliza Scarlet’s father was a detective, and he taught her everything he knew about detective work, until he died. She has to fend for herself (with very little money) in a man’s world without having to marry someone she doesn’t love just to satisfy society’s rules.  She has a love-hate relationship with a police detective, William Wellington, who was a friend of her father’s. Her father was his mentor, so he feels a certain amount of responsibility for Eliza. He tries to keep her out of detective work, but she ignores his efforts. There is a lot of chemistry between the two of them, of course.

Aiding them is “Moses,” who has criminal connections. They get off to a bad start, but then he helps Eliza for a fee, and even William eventually comes around to trusting him.

The DVD has some great features, including a Behind the Scenes bonus video and more. This would make a great gift for anyone who likes period dramas or detective shows.

Buy this DVD

MORE INFORMATION:

THREE NEW DRAMAS FROM MASTERPIECE 
ON DVD & BLU-RAY THIS FEBRUARY 
FROM PBS DISTRIBUTION
Below is a listing of the upcoming DVD/Blu-Ray releases from PBS Distribution slated for February.Every purchase helps support public television for all.

  • MASTERPIECE MYSTERY!: Miss Scarlet & The Duke – 2/16/21

Genre: Mystery, Drama
Run Time: 270 min. on 2 discs – DVD
SRP: $34.99

Kate Phillips (Peaky Blinders) stars in a six-part mystery as the headstrong, first-ever female detective in Victorian London. Stuart Martin (Jamestown) plays her childhood friend, professional colleague, and potential love interest, Scotland Yard Detective Inspector William Wellington, a.k.a., The Duke.

Miss Scarlet in the parlor with the dead manMiss Scarlet & The DukeKate Phillips and Stuart Martin star in a new Victorian mystery serieson MASTERPIECESundays, January 17 – February 21, 2021 on PBS
Before Marple and Tennison, there was Scarlet—Miss Eliza Scarlet, private detective. Kate Phillips (Wolf Hall) stars as Victorian London’s brilliant, beautiful, and first-ever female sleuth, with Stuart Martin (Jamestown) as her friend and associate, Detective Inspector William “The Duke” Wellington. Celebrating MASTERPIECE’s 50th anniversary in 2021, Miss Scarlet & The Duke premieres with six thrilling episodes, Sundays, January 17 – February 21, 2021 at 8/7c on PBS.
Lighthearted yet gripping, the series features Kevin Doyle (Downton Abbey) as Eliza’s father, Henry Scarlet, who is also her mentor in crime-solving. Danny Midwinter (Casualty) plays the Duke’s profane but proficient sergeant, Frank Jenkins. And Ansu Kabia (World on Fire) is the shadowy underworld figure, Moses, whose motives keep the police guessing.
Also appearing are Andrew Gower (Poldark) as the companionable aristocrat Rupert Parker, who is living a double life; Cathy Belton (Philomena) as Eliza’s devoted housekeeper and former nursemaid, Ivy; and Nick Dunning (The Tudors) as the Duke’s insufferable boss, Superintendent Stirling.
Miss Scarlet & The Duke is set in London at the start of the Sherlock Holmes era, circa 1880. Eliza’s father, Henry, is a widowed retired police officer, currently a private detective running up bills and drinking through his occasional earnings. Nonetheless, he is a talented investigator, and he has taught his only child, Eliza, the trade since she was a girl. She is now determined to break into this male-only profession.
Fortunately, Eliza’s childhood friend happens to be a detective inspector at Scotland Yard: William “The Duke” Wellington. He gets his nickname from the most famous Englishman of the 19th century: the Duke of Wellington, victor over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. Like that other Wellington, the Duke is cool and decisive in a scrape. And he is also a ladies’ man, which leads to interesting complications with Eliza.
Sometimes working together—but often at odds—Eliza and the Duke tackle a series of fascinating cases. On launching her business, Eliza’s initial chal–lenge is not criminals or clients so much as getting society to take a female detective seriously, even one who has mastered wounds, poisons, motives, and red herrings. But she forges ahead and sees her first commission—a simple search for an older gentleman’s lost niece—turn into something very sinister, which she resolves with the Duke’s help.

And with that her career, if not her income, is off and running. Eliza’s exploits range from an open-and-shut murder case that only she realizes is not so clear-cut, to a dastardly plot that will make history if it succeeds, to a client being harassed from beyond the grave. In her final investigation of the season, spanning Episodes 5 and 6, Eliza is pursuing the mystery of her father’s demise when she unwittingly lures the Duke into a deathtrap. Naturally, the ordeal is a bonding experience for the two quarrelsome but secretly affectionate crime-solvers.

Miss Scarlet & The Duke is an A+E NETWORKS INTERNATIONAL and ELEMENT 8 ENTERTAINMENT production co-produced with MASTERPIECE in association with Eighty Seven Films and Bandidos Yanquis. The writers are Rachael New (Episodes 1-3 & 6) and Ben Edwards (Episodes 4 & 5). The director is Declan O’Dwyer. The Executive Producers for A+E NETWORKS INTERNATIONAL are Melissa Madden, Moshe Laniado-Peleg, Hannah Dal Pozzo, Zalika Webley and Matthew Zagha. pbs.org/masterpiecePress ContactsEllen Dockser:

About MASTERPIECE

Winner of 83 Primetime Emmys® and 18 Peabody Awards, MASTERPIECE has been essential Sunday night viewing for millions of fans since 1971. Susanne Simpson is the executive producer and Rebecca Eaton is the executive producer-at-large for the series. Funding for MASTERPIECE is provided by Viking and Raymond James with additional support from public television viewers and contributors to The MASTERPIECE Trust. Produced for PBS by GBH Boston, MASTERPIECE is known for recent hits such as Sherlock, Downton Abbey and Victoria, and beloved classics such as Upstairs Downstairs, Prime Suspect, The Forsyte Saga and Poldark.

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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

The Duke, Miss Scarlet and Moses

Primetime DVD Review: “American Masters: Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page”

Posted on by TvMegasite Admin

DVD Review!

American Masters: Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page DVD cover

“American Masters: Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page” Review by Suzanne 2/10/21

This is a fascinating documentary, especially for anyone who’s interested in American history, has read Wilder’s books or who was a fan of the show “Little House on the Prairie.” Laura Ingalls Wilder’s personal diaries are compared to the fictional accounts of her life (her novels). Of course, her novels are very different from reality.

I really don’t know why anyone settled in these areas of Wisconsin, Illinois, Kansas and North Dakota. Why did they think that they would survive in that weather? It’s pretty amazing. I’ve only lived briefly in that kind of weather, and it’s not for me! On the other hand, I don’t think living in the South would have been very fun without air conditioning, either.

There are also some great interviews with actors from the TV shows and with author Linda Sue Park, who wrote a “Little House on the Prairie” book, but with an Asian-American heroine. That sounds very interesting. I’ve never read the original books. I might have to read some of them now.

Buy this DVD

MORE INFORMATION:

THREE NEW DRAMAS FROM MASTERPIECE 
ON DVD & BLU-RAY THIS FEBRUARY 
FROM PBS DISTRIBUTION
Below is a listing of the upcoming DVD/Blu-Ray releases from PBS Distribution slated for February.Every purchase helps support public television for all.

  • American Masters: Laura Ingalls Wilder – Praire to Page – 2/16/21

Genre: Biography
Run Time: 83 min. on 1 disc – DVD
SRP: $24.99

American Masters Explores the Cultural Legacy and Complicated History of Author Laura Ingalls Wilder in a New Documentary

Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page presents an unvarnished look at the unlikely author whose autobiographical fiction helped shape American ideas of the frontier and self-reliance. A Midwestern farm woman who published her first novel at age 65, Laura Ingalls Wilder transformed her frontier childhood into the best-selling “Little House” series. The documentary delves into the legacy of the iconic pioneer as well as the way she transformed her early life into enduring legend, a process that involved a little-known collaboration with her daughter Rose. Directed and produced by Emmy® Award winner Mary McDonagh Murphy (Harper Lee: American Masters).

Featuring never-before-published letters, photographs and family artifacts, the film explores the context in which Wilder lived and wrote, as well as the true nature of her personality. Victor Garber (Argo, Alias, “Titanic”) narrates, with Academy Award nominee Tess Harper (“No Country for Old Men,” Breaking Bad, “Crimes of the Heart”) reading Laura Ingalls Wilder and Amy Brenneman (NYPD Blue, Judging Amy, The Leftovers) reading Rose Wilder Lane. The film includes original interviews with Caroline Fraser, who won a Pulitzer Prize for her Wilder biography; Pamela Smith Hill, author of “Laura Ingalls Wilder: A Writer’s Life” and editor of Wilder’s New York Times bestselling memoir; Wilder biographer and editor of “The Selected Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder” William Anderson; Christine Woodside, writer of “Libertarians on the Prairie”; authors such as Louise Erdrich, Roxane Gay, Lizzie Skurnick and Linda Sue Park; and actors from the beloved TV series Little House on the Prairie, including Melissa Gilbert (Laura Ingalls Wilder), Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson) and Dean Butler (Almanzo Wilder). Historians, scholars and fans provide additional perspectives on Wilder’s life and legacy.

Wilder has an enduring fanbase — including self-proclaimed Bonnetheads — and the books and TV program loosely based on them have become cultural touchstones. Starting with “Little House in the Big Woods” (1932), the books chronicle the adventures of a family struggling to survive on the American frontier and have inspired four generations with the courage and determination of their heroine. Though Wilder’s stories emphasized real life and celebrated stoicism, she omitted the grimmer and contradictory details of her personal history: grinding poverty, government assistance, deprivation and the death of her infant son. In recent years, Wilder’s racist depictions of American Indians and Black people have stirred controversy, and made her less appealing to some readers, teachers and librarians. Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page reveals the truth behind the bestsellers, exploring a rags to riches story that has been embraced by millions of people worldwide.

Now in its 34th season on PBS, American Masters illuminates the lives and creative journeys of our nation’s most enduring artistic giants — those who have left an indelible impression on our cultural landscape. Setting the standard for documentary film profiles, the series has earned widespread critical acclaim and 28 Emmy Awards — including 10 for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series and five for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special — 14 Peabodys, an Oscar, three Grammys, two Producers Guild Awards and many other honors. To further explore the lives and works of more than 200 masters past and present, the American Masters website offers streaming video of select films, outtakes, filmmaker interviews, the American Masters Podcast, educational resources and more. The series is a production of THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET.

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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

American Masters: Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page

Primetime DVD Review: “Nova: Saving Notre Dame”

Posted on by TvMegasite Admin

DVD Review!

"Nova: Saving Notre Dame" DVD cover

“Nova: Saving Notre Dame” Review by Suzanne 2/10/21

I don’t watch the “Nova” series regularly, but when I do watch it, I always enjoy it and learn a lot. This is a very good episode about the Notre Dame fire in 2019 and how they’ve been repairing and rebuilding it. It’s very interesting because it uses art, engineering, architecture and more. Of course, all of these series are very educational, but they’re also fascinating.

I grew up Catholic, but above and beyond the religious aspects of Notre Dame is the fact that it’s a major historical building. The documentary does talk a bit about the historical aspect of the cathedral as well as what’s going on in the modern world. It’s only an hour long, so it won’t take much of your time. Check it out if you have an interest in France, Notre Dame, or art restoration.

Buy this DVD

MORE INFORMATION:

THREE NEW DRAMAS FROM MASTERPIECE 
ON DVD & BLU-RAY THIS FEBRUARY 
FROM PBS DISTRIBUTION
Below is a listing of the upcoming DVD/Blu-Ray releases from PBS Distribution slated for February.Every purchase helps support public television for all.

  • NOVA: Saving Notre Dame – 2/16/21

Genre: Documentary
Run Time: 57 min. on 1 disc – DVD
SRP: $24.99

When the Notre Dame cathedral caught fire in April 2019, Paris came very close to losing over 800 years of history. Now engineers are in a different race against time: to rebuild the roof and secure the medieval structure.

NOVA GOES INSIDE NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL

AS RESTORATION TEAMS FIGHT TO SAVE THE MEDIEVAL MEGASTRUCTURE AND PRESERVE ITS HISTORY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

NOVA “SAVING NOTRE DAME”

Premieres Wednesday, November 25 at 9 p.m. ET/8C on PBS

pbs.org/nova|@novapbs

(Boston, MA)—On November 18, 2020 the PBS science series NOVA, a production of GBH Boston, will premiere SAVING NOTRE DAME, a one-hour special examining the challenges  of restoring  Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after it took on extensive damage from a devastating fire in 2019. As the world watched in horror last year, the Gothic masterpiece became engulfed in a fiery inferno, and Paris came perilously close to losing an 850-year-old treasure. The film tells the story of the fire and the race to stabilize the structure and stave off a total collapse.  Watch the trailer here.

SAVING NOTRE DAME follows a team of architects, engineers, scientists, and master craftspeople, as they work to read the minds of the original builders and rediscover the lost history of the structure. Using new technologies, including an innovative 3D digital map of the complete structure, they race to preserve what remains while setting out to restore one of the world’s most precious landmarks.

The film explores the intricacies of Notre Dame’s architecture and the medieval craftsmanship that created the iconic structure. One year after a powerful fire ravaged its timber and lead roof, the structure is still perilously close to a collapse. The special gives viewers an inside look at the fire itself and the incredible effort to stabilize the teetering walls. Once they’re secured, a restoration project begins: Teams prepare to rebuild the oak roof and fallen spire and save the centuries-old stained glass, all while  preventing rain from pouring in through  gaping holes in the limestone vaulting—and working amid the toxic lead contaminating the site and 550 tons of melted scaffolding threatening to collapse at any moment. NOVA joins scientists as they determine their reconstruction plans and whether the key to a successful restoration lies within the structure of the cathedral itself.

“We are thrilled to be able to tell the inside story of the dramatic rescue  of Notre Dame,” said NOVA Co-Executive Producer Chris Schmidt. “In the first days after the fire, no one was sure whether the huge bell towers, walls, or flying buttresses would remain standing. The exhaustive process of diagnosing the damage and embarking on the restoration of the great cathedral relies on new technologies and medieval craftsmanship alike.”

“It was a great privilege to gain such rare access to shoot inside the cathedral during this important recovery period,” said Director Joby Lubman. “To be able to spend so much time inside Notre Dame and witness this unprecedented effort was deeply moving and truly humbling.”

In the absence of firsthand information about the original construction of Notre Dame or the craftspeople who built it, these new studies of the cathedral’s materials and engineering provide a unique opportunity to unlock its secrets. To secure the iconic structure, experts began an unprecedented collaboration between architects and scientists to meticulously analyze the impact on centuries-old materials and to develop a restoration plan.

The film follows Chief Architects of France’s historic monuments Philippe Villeneuve and Rémi Fromont as they gather data and formulate a plan.  After securing the walls of the cathedral with giant timber frames and preventing a potential collapse, the experts are able to begin work inside to gain a complete picture of the damage and formulate a decontamination and restoration protocol.

The team faces unimaginable challenges: removing lead stains from precious stained glass windows, sourcing  limestone from the original quarries beneath Paris to match the properties of the original vault stone, and recreating the complex timber framework using medieval tools and techniques similar to those used in the original construction.

Navigating a perilous environment inside, Claudine Loisel, a glass scientist, focuses on restoring the cathedral’s most fragile wonder—its famed stained glass. While the glass masterpieces remain intact, they were subject to ‘thermal shock,’ forming micro-cracks in some panels. They were also showered with toxic lead dust emitted when the lead roof burned—further complicating an already complicated project. To remove the vaporized toxic metal without further damaging the glass, Loisel develops a decontamination plan that employs a precision vacuum cleaner, followed by painstaking application of distilled water using simple cotton balls to remove any residue. To guide them, the team invented a novel use of x-ray spectroscopy to determine the exact number of gentle wipes required  to lift the lead off the glass, without damaging precious paint.

High overhead the damage to the stone vault and roof present one of the greatest threats. Here the work is treacherous and the stakes are high—since the total collapse of the vault would likely cause the walls of the cathedral to give way as well. In order to stabilize and restore the vault, experts must identify limestone with identical properties as the centuries-old blocks already intricately locked  in place. Geologist Lise Leroux studies the stone to find its origin, leading her to the quarries deep beneath Paris, now commonly known as the Catacombs, where she is able to match micro-fossils found there with the samples from the vaulting stones in the cathedral. This discovery allows the team to properly source the limestone that will fill the holes in Notre Dame’s ceiling.

With the  timber framework of the roof destroyed by the fire, the team also faces the challenge of recreating the network of beams created by medieval carpenters. Timber scientist Catherine Lavier identifies markings on burned beams that enable her to use tree-ring analysis to decode the age and origin of the oaks used originally. A team of carpenters employing medieval tools and techniques to restore a French chateau in the countryside provides hope that the skills still exist that will make it possible to rebuild Notre Dame’s lost roofing in the original style. No original plans survive, but by a sheer stroke of luck, Rémi Fromont had already created a 3D scan of the complex roofing structure back in 2014, which promises now to provide the data they will need to bring it back exactly as it was before.

Mindful now of the fragility of the great monument, a parallel restoration effort is also underway—as Remi and others gather the data they need to create a groundbreaking 3D digital twin of Notre Dame to protect against ever again risking the loss of the secrets and memory of what some call “the heart of France”.

SAVING NOTRE DAME premieres Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at 9 p.m. ET/8C on PBS and will be available for streaming online and on the PBS video app.

SAVING NOTRE DAME is a NOVA Production by Windfall Films Ltd. (part of the Argonon Group) for GBH Boston in association with BBC. Director is Joby Lubman. Producer is Alessandra Bonomolo. Executive Producer is Carlo Massarella. Executive Producers for NOVA are Julia Cort and Chris Schmidt. NOVA is a production of GBH Boston.

National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Draper. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the David H. Koch Fund for Science, the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.

About NOVA

NOVA is the most popular primetime science series on American television, demystifying the scientific and technological concepts that shape and define our lives, our planet, and our universe. The PBS series is also one of the most widely distributed science programs around the world, and is a multimedia, multiplatform brand reaching more than 55 million Americans every year on TV and online. NOVA’s important and inspiring stories of human ingenuity, exploration, and the quest for knowledge are regularly recognized with the industry’s most prestigious awards. As part of its mission to make the scientific enterprise accessible to all, NOVA is committed to diversity and inclusiveness in all its work, from the production process to the range of stories we tell and voices we feature. In addition, science educators across the country rely on NOVA for resources used in the classroom as well as in museums, libraries, and after-school programs. NOVA is a production of GBH Boston; more information can be found at pbs.org/nova, or by following NOVA on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

About PBS

PBS, with nearly 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches nearly 100 million people through television and nearly 28 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirms that PBS’ premier children’s media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV – including a new 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.

About GBH

GBH is the leading multi platform creator for public media in America. As the largest producer of content for PBS and partner to NPR and PRX, GBH delivers compelling experiences, stories and information to audiences wherever they are. GBH produces digital and broadcast programming that engages, illuminates and inspires, through drama and science, history, arts, culture and journalism. It is the creator of such signature programs as MASTERPIECE, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, FRONTLINE, NOVA, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, Arthur and Molly of Denali, as well as WORLD Channel and a catalog of streaming series, podcasts and on-demand video. With studios and a newsroom headquartered in Boston, GBH reaches across New England with GBH 89.7, Boston’s Local NPR®; CRB Classical 99.5; and CAI, the Cape and Islands NPR® station. Dedicated to making media accessible to and inclusive of our diverse culture, GBH is a pioneer in delivering media to those who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind and visually impaired. GBH creates curriculum-based digital content for educators nationwide with PBS LearningMedia and has been recognized with hundreds of the nation’s premier broadcast, digital and journalism awards. Find more information at wgbh.org.

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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.

"Nova: Saving Notre Dame" DVD cover

Review of “The Equalizer”

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TV Review!

Cast of "The Equalizer" on CBS

“The Equalizer” on CBS Review by Suzanne 2/8/21

It’s nice to see a woman (particularly an African-American woman) kicking ass and taking names on TV. However, I’m not too fond of the concept of this show (as I wasn’t of the original series, either). That is, I’m not too fond of vigilante justice, whether it comes from a cop or a former CIA agent. Sure, I’m fine with vigilantes like Dexter, Batman, and Supergirl because those are not at all realistic. They’re fantasy shows. No real person could be like them. No one person should have the power to just shoot people and get away with it. I’m not saying that this show is gritty and realistic, because it’s not. It doesn’t quit fit into a fantasy world, either. It walks a fine line between reality and fantasy, much like most broadcast TV shows. If you want gritty reality, watch shows on AMC or HBO. Those who loved the original 80’s series, or the Denzel Washington movies, may not enjoy this one as much for that reason.

In this new series, at least they’ve toned down the violence from the original show. Robyn McCall (Queen Latifah) doesn’t seem to kill people. She does use violence, but she doesn’t kill. I’m not sure if that makes the show better or worse. Perhaps they think that having a woman killer won’t fly on broadcast TV. I hope not. It makes sense, though, because of the changes they made in the story (compared to the original 1980’s version). Edward Woodward’s McCall went after violent offenders (the focus was on the villains). This McCall defends women that are being targeted (the focus is on the victims). This makes her a little less vigilante and a little more superhero. Because it’s 2021, she has a computer geek helping her out (like most dramas do now). Woodward’s McCall hid in the shadows, at night; while she works during the day, using disguises.

What makes this show great is that she has a sordid past that she’s trying to make up for. She has a police detective who both helps her and wants to put her behind bars. This makes for an interesting dynamic. They also have a sexual attraction between them. Besides making up for her past, McCall experienced some serious trauma that she’s having to deal with, which affects her daughter. This makes her a very interesting character to watch, which is great if you watch the show.

MORE INFORMATION:

THE EQUALIZER is a reimagining of the classic series starring Academy Award® nominee and multi-hyphenate Queen Latifah (“Chicago,” “Bessie”) as Robyn McCall, an enigmatic woman with a mysterious background who uses her extensive skills as a former CIA operative to help those with nowhere else to turn. McCall presents to most as an average single mom who is quietly raising her teenage daughter. But to a trusted few, she is The Equalizer – an anonymous guardian angel and defender of the downtrodden, who’s also dogged in her pursuit of personal redemption. Robyn’s clandestine work and her personal life collide when her smart and observant daughter, Delilah, and her aunt Vi, who lives with Robyn to help her balance life as a working mother, discover her secret career as a vigilante. While Robyn contends with uncertainty at home, she is joined in her pursuit of justice by William Bishop, her former CIA handler and longtime friend; Melody “Mel” Bayani, an edgy bar owner, and sniper from Robyn’s past; and Harry Keshegian, a paranoid and brilliant white-hat hacker. As Robyn aids the oppressed and exploited, she sometimes works with Marcus Dante, an NYPD detective who once sought to uncover her identity, but now respects the need for Robyn’s type of justice even as he often questions her methods.

Begins its second season Sunday, Oct. 10 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and available live and on demand on the CBS app and Paramount+.

 
ON AIR: Sundays (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT)
ORIGINATION: New Jersey

FORMAT:

 Drama (Filmed in HD)

STARRING:

 Queen Latifah (Robyn McCall)
Tory Kittles (Detective Marcus Dante)
Adam Goldberg (Harry Keshegian)
Liza Lapira (Melody “Mel” Bayani)
Laya DeLeon Hayes (Delilah)
WITH: Lorraine Toussaint (Viola “Vi” Marsette)
AND: Chris Noth (William Bishop)

PRODUCED BY:

 Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with CBS Studios

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:

 Andrew W. Marlowe, Terri Edda Miller, Dana Owens (Queen Latifah), John Davis, John Fox, Debra Martin Chase, Shakim Compere and Joseph C. Wilson
CREATED BY: Developed for television by Andrew Marlowe and Terri Miller, as based on the original series co-created by Richard Lindheim

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theequalizercbs

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theequalizercbs

Instagram: @theequalizercbs

CBS Twitter: https://twitter.com/CBSTweet

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Queen Latifah and Chris Noth of "The Equalizer" on CBS.

Primetime TV Review of “Firefly Lane”

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TV Review!

Kate and Tully as teens in "Firefly Lane" on Netflix

“Firefly Lane” on Netflix Review by Suzanne 2/6/21

This drama is about two girls who become great friends during the early 70’s. One is shy and unpopular (Kate), and the other one is very cool and popular (Tully), but with a terrible home life. The show traces their beginning until middle age (it goes back and forth a lot, which I found a bit confusing). In the present, Tully is a successful (but lonely) talk show host. Kate has just been divorced and is raising her teen daughter, so she’s trying to get back into journalism. Although they’re good friends, they have their issues. However, they face what life throws at them, together.

I think most women will be able to relate to this great female friendship and the struggles that women have. It’s entertaining yet realistic. There haven’t too many shows or movies that involve important female friendships. There are some fun and lighthearted moments as well as real drama.  Check it out!

MORE INFORMATION:

Based on the New York Times Bestselling book, Firefly Lane is the sweeping story of two inseparable best friends and their enduring, complicated bond, spanning four tumultuous decades.

Starring: Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke

Showrunner and Executive Producer: Maggie Friedman

Executive Producers: Stephanie Germain, Lee Rose, Katherine Heigl

Best friends Tully and Kate support each other through good times and bad with an unbreakable bond that carries them from their teens to their 40s.

PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION:
· Ali Skovbye as Young Tully Hart
· Beau Garrett as Cloud
· Ben Lawson as Ryan
· Brandon Jay McLaren as Travis
· Brendan Taylor as Mutt
· Jenna Rosenow as Kimber Watts
· Jon Ecker as Max Brody
· Katherine Heigl as Tully Hart
· Patrick Sabongui as Chad Wiley
· Roan Curtis as Young Kate Mularkey
· Sarah Chalke as Kate Mularkey
· Yael Yurman as Marah
CREW INFORMATION:
· Katherine Heigl as EP
· Kristin Hannah as BOOK/CO-EP
· Lee Rose as EP
· Maggie Friedman as CRTR/EP
· Peter O’Fallon as EP/DIR (Pilot)
· Stephanie Germain as EP

NETFLIX ORDERS NEW SCRIPTED SERIES “FIREFLY LANE,” BASED ON THE NOVEL BY KRISTIN HANNAH

Logline: Kate and Tully meet as young girls and become inseparable best friends throughout thirty years of ups and downs, successes and failures, depression and disappointments. When an unthinkable betrayal breaks them apart, the two women go their separate ways and it’s unclear whether they will ever be able to reconcile.

The series is based on the novel of the same name by New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah, who serves as co-executive producer.

Episodes: 10

Writer/Showrunner/Executive Producer: Maggie Friedman

Executive Producer: Stephanie Germain

Kristin Hannah bio

Kristin Hannah is the award-winning, bestselling author of more than 20 novels published in 43 languages, including the international blockbusters, The Nightingale and The Great Alone both of which are currently in production at TriStar Pictures with Michelle MacLaren set to direct The Nightingale. Now with her novel Firefly Lane being adapted for Netflix, Kristin Hannah has three of her bestsellers currently in production.

Trailer

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Kate and Tully as women in "Firefly Lane" on Netflix

Primetime TV Review of “The Long Song”

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TV Review!

"The Long Song" on PBS

“The Long Song” on PBS Review by Suzanne 2/6/21

This is a brilliant historical miniseries from PBS. It’s a little bit hard to watch at times because of the realistic depiction of slavery. July (Tamara Lawrance) is a slave in 1800’s Jamaica. She becomes the house maid for a spoiled white woman (Hayley Atwell) and her brother. The Christmas Rebellion, a slave uprising, causes problems for everyone. Then the king declares that slavery will be over soon, and a new young man comes to the plantation to improve conditions.

This is very well done, with lots of great music and drama. Although the slaves speak with heavy accents, it’s easy enough to understand them without the closed-captioning. It’s a bit heartbreaking, but you have to admire July’s spirit in the face of great odds. Although she suffers greatly, she perseveres and eventually finds some love, family and freedom. Don’t look for a completely happy ending, though, because this is not a particularly happy period in history.

MORE INFORMATION:

A tale of hope and endurance based on the bestselling novel by Andrea Levyon MASTERPIECE Sundays, January 31 – February 14, 2021 on PBS. Tamara Lawrance (King Charles III) stars as an indomitable house slave in Jamaica during the era of emancipation, with Hayley Atwell (The Avengers) as her demanding, capricious mistress, in The Long Song. Based on the award-winning novel by Andrea Levy, the miniseries airs in three parts on MASTERPIECE, Sundays, January 31 – February 14, 2021 at 10/9c on PBS.

The British press applauded the UK broadcast of The Long Song, with The Guardian calling it “a beautiful, moving, horrifying adaptation of Levy’s unsimple tale, that honors the source and its subject.” The Radio Times judged it “so finely-tuned and carefully-balanced that it’ll break your heart—and make you laugh at the same time.” And The Times opined, “What can a period slavery drama tell us that we don’t already know? Quite a bit.”Scripted by Sarah Williams (Flesh and Blood), who previously adapted Levy’s International Emmy® Award–winning Small Island for MASTERPIECE, The Long Song also stars Jack Lowden (Mary Queen of Scots), Sharon Duncan-Brewster (Rogue One), Jordan Bolger (Peaky Blinders), Ayesha Antoine (Doctor Who), Gordon Brown (Only God Forgives), Leo Bill (The Living and the Dead), Madeleine Mantock (Into the Badlands), and the acclaimed comic, actor, and activist Sir Lenny Henry (Broadchurch). Andrea Levy, who died in 2019, was born in London to Jamaican parents and spent her writing career probing her heritage. Her numerous literary awards included the Walter Scott Prize for The Long Song (published in 2010), which was also a finalist for the English language’s most prestigious book award: the Man Booker Prize.The Long Song is framed by the reminiscences of July (played as a young woman by Lawrance), who grew up as a slave on a sugar plantation in Jamaica and is now looking back on her life. In extended flashbacks, she recounts her tumultuous story, which has been shaped by villains, heroes, and well-meaning people who are an unsettled mix of the two.

FUNDING FOR MASTERPIECE PROVIDED BYFirst there are July’s parents: Her mother, Kitty (Duncan-Brewster), is a stoic field slave. Her father is the brutal Scottish overseer of the plantation, Tam Dewar (Brown), who regularly rapes Kitty.As a young girl, July is callously taken from her mother at the whim of Caroline (Atwell), the sister of the plantation owner, John Howarth (Bill). Caroline wants July for a lady’s maid and bestows on her a more genteel name, Marguerite. July grows up catering to Caroline’s impulses, surrounded by other slaves, including the canny Godfrey (Henry), the spiteful Molly (Antoine), and the haughty Clara (Mantock). There is also the debonaire Nimrod (Bolger), who has bought his freedom and fancies July, promising her a fairy-tale life with him.A moment of truth arrives with the Christmas Rebellion of 1831, a slave uprising that heralds the end of official slavery in Jamaica and other English colonies—but at a great cost in lives, including some who are near and dear to July. In the aftermath, a handsome new overseer, Robert Goodwin (Lowden), rides into the story. He will set hearts aflutter, establish an enlightened tone with the emancipated slaves, and play a tragic role in the fates of all.The Long Song is a Heyday Television Production for BBC. It is based on the novel by Andrea Levy. The Executive Producers are David Heyman, Rosie Alison, Andrea Levy, Sarah Williams, and Tom Coan. Ben Irving is the Executive Producer for the BBC. The Producer is Roopesh Parekh. The writer is Sarah Williams. The Director is Mahalia Belo.

About MASTERPIECE Winner of 83 Primetime Emmys® and 18 Peabody Awards, MASTERPIECE has been essential Sunday night viewing for millions of fans since 1971. Susanne Simpson is the executive producer and Rebecca Eaton is the executive producer-at-large for the series. Funding for MASTERPIECE is provided by Viking and Raymond James with additional support from public television viewers and contributors to The MASTERPIECE Trust. Produced for PBS by GBH Boston, MASTERPIECE is known for recent hits such as Sherlock, Downton Abbey and Victoria, and beloved classics such as Upstairs Downstairs, Prime Suspect, The Forsythe Saga and Poldark.

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"The Long Song" on PBS

Primetime TV Review of “Jann”

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TV Review!

"Jann" on HULU

“Jann” on HULU Review by Suzanne 2/5/21

Canadian singer/songwriter Jann Arden stars in this series, which she also helped create. It’s about a middle-aged singer/songwriter who had some hits back in the 90’s, but now she’s having trouble booking gigs. She’s “washed up,” according to the rest of the world. She has a manager, Todd (Jason Blicker) who’s not very good; an ex-girlfriend, Cynthia (Sharon Taylor) that she still pines for – who ditched her for a younger woman; a mom, Nora (Deborah Grover) with memory problems: and a married sister, Max (The wonderful Zoie Palmer), who keeps getting pregnant and isn’t happy about it. Jann even has to rent out her home to celebrities when they visit her town. One of the best characters on the show is Cale (Elena Juatco), who is not too polite but later helps Jann out. The series is a wry commentary on family, the entertainment world and fame.

It’s a pretty funny show, but I felt that the second episode dragged a bit. It picks up later. This was a hit in Canada, where they’ve aired the first two seasons. HULU has picked it up now. The 3rd season will be filming soon. Since Jann is a real-life person, with real hit songs, they play those in the series, and we do hear her perform as well.

The show is only semi-autobiographical, according to Arden. Just sit back and enjoy the laughs and the music. Check out our interview with Jann Arden below.

Read My Interview with Jann Arden!

MORE INFORMATION:

CTV Original Comedy JANN to Exclusively Stream in The U.S. on Hulu

− Premium streaming service to become U.S. home to Seasons 1 and 2 of hit comedy from Project 10 Productions and SEVEN24 Films –

− Co-created by series star Jann Arden, with Leah Gauthier and Jennica Harper, new episodes of Season 2 of JANN continue Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV –

− The critically acclaimed series was the most-watched new Canadian comedy series of the 2018-19 broadcast season −

“JANN blew everyone out of the water, establishing Jann Arden as a comic force on television.” – TV, eh?

“JANN is the real deal: a funny, biting satire about the entertainment industry that isn’t afraid to make fun of its star.” – NOW Magazine

“Arden aces it. She is fearless, a born comedienne, as in on the joke as a Second City veteran.” – Bill Brioux

“Jann Arden’s narcissistic alter ego shines in CTV’s JANN… Arden, with her sheer force of personality, breezy blunt speak and take-no-prisoners delivery, manages to showcase remarkable comic chops.” – Toronto Star

TORONTO (October 21, 2020) – CTV, Project 10 Productions, and SEVEN24 Films announced today that hit CTV Original comedy JANN has been acquired by streaming platform Hulu. In a deal executed by Project 10 Productions and SEVEN24 Films, Hulu secures exclusive U.S. rights for the first two seasons of the Canadian Screen Award-nominated series. The half-hour comedy, which was the most-watched new Canadian comedy series of the 2018/19 season, was co-developed by Bell Media and Project 10 Productions and is produced by Project 10 Productions and SEVEN24 Films in association with CTV. The first season, consisting of six episodes, and the eight episode second season of JANN will stream in the U.S. exclusively on Hulu early next year.

“Jann has done such an incredible job bringing this character to life, and the series is enjoyed by viewers across Canada,” said Randy Lennox, President, Bell Media. “Along with our partners at Project 10 Productions and SEVEN24 Films, we’re absolutely thrilled to introduce JANN, and the hilarious and heartwarming world they’ve created, to U.S. audiences through this sale to Hulu.”

“JANN is quickly becoming an iconic comedy sensation in Canada, and launching on Hulu is the first step in sharing this series with the rest of the world,” said Andrew Barnsley of Project 10 Productions and Jordy Randall of SEVEN24 Films in a shared statement.

“I cannot even begin to express my excitement and sincere gratitude to be partnered with the incredible people at Hulu,” said Jann Arden, co-creator, star, and executive producer. “We look forward to having JANN join their lineup of world class programming and we can’t wait to launch south of the border.”

JANN is created by multi-platinum award-winning Canadian singer, songwriter, broadcaster, and author Jann Arden, who is also an Executive Producer alongside co-creators Leah Gauthier and Jennica Harper, who also serves as Showrunner. In JANN, Arden plays a fictionalized, self-deprecating version of herself: a singer songwriter of a “certain age” in severe denial of the harsh reality that her former music career is slowly (okay rapidly) fading away. But it’s not just Jann’s career that’s on life support – she’s newly single (don’t remind her), her sister may disown her, and her mother may be showing early signs of memory loss. Jann’s personal life is in shambles and she’s convinced that the cure-all is to enlist a new manager to help rebrand her image. Jann is at the crossroads between who she was and who she wants to be. Can Jann stage a comeback, reclaim fame… and be there for the people who love her?

Starring alongside Arden in JANN are Zoie Palmer (PURE, DARK MATTER) as Jann’s sister Max; Deborah Grover (ANNE WITH AN “E”) as Jann’s mom Nora; Patrick Gilmore (TRAVELERS; YOU, ME, HER) as Jann’s brother-in-law Dave; Elena Juatco (OPEN HEART, SCHITT’S CREEK) as Jann’s new manager Cale; Jason Blicker (F/X: THE SERIES, STATE OF GRACE) as Jann’s long-time manager Todd; Sharon Taylor (BAD BLOOD) as Jann’s ex-girlfriend Cynthia; Alexa Rose Steele (DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION) as Jann’s eldest niece Charley; Ceilidh MacDonald as Jann’s niece Sammie; and Keaira Pliva (TIN STAR) as Jann’s niece Frankie.

Guest stars in the inaugural season of JANN include Canadian indie pop singer-songwriter and guitarist Leslie Feist, Canadian singer and multi-instrumentalist Kiesza, and TV personality Rick Mercer. Guest stars for Season 2 include singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan as herself; Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang as herself; actress Elisha Cuthbert (THE RANCH, HAPPY ENDINGS); singer, host, and actress Keshia Chanté (SOUL, PRIVATE EYES); and more.

Season 2 of JANN airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, with episodes from both seasons streaming on CTV.ca, the CTV app, and Crave.

JANN is executive produced by Andrew Barnsley and Ben Murray for Project 10 Productions, Tom Cox and Jordy Randall for SEVEN24 Films, and Randy Lennox for Bell Media. Jann Arden, Leah Gauthier, and Jennica Harper created the series and also serve as Executive Producers with Jennica Harper showrunning. For Bell Media, Chris Kelley is Production Executive; Sarah Fowlie is Director, Comedy Original Programming; Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Original Programming. Pat DiVittorio is Vice-President, Programming, CTV and Specialty. Mike Cosentino is President, Content and Programming, Bell Media. Randy Lennox is President, Bell Media.

Source: Numeris, Broadcast Season 2018-19 (Sept. 24, 2018 – May 26, 2019). Final data.

Social Media links @CTV_PR @CTV @TheLede_ca @JannArden @ZoiePalmer @PatrickGilmore @ElenaJuatco @AlexaSteele @SharonCTaylor Facebook.com/CTV @CTV_PR @CTV @TheLede_ca @JannArden @Zoiepalmerzeeeps @PatrickGilmore @ElenaJuatco @JasonBlicker @AlexaSteele @Sharontwashere

About Project 10 Productions

Project 10 is a global television production company with offices in Toronto and Los Angeles specializing in scripted comedy. The company works closely with high-profile talent to develop and produce compelling content for the worldwide marketplace. The principal executives for Project 10 Productions Inc. are Andrew Barnsley, Ben Murray (Toronto) and Andrew Moncrief (Los Angeles). Leveraging their considerable strengths and decades of experience with those of partner and three-time MLB All-Star Vernon Wells, Project 10 has established itself as a go-to partner for domestic and international creators, broadcasters and distributors alike.

About SEVEN24 Films

SEVEN24 Films is an independent film and television production company whose work has spanned over two decades. Executive Producers Tom Cox and Jordy Randall have produced dramatic series, mini-series, television movies and feature films garnering over one hundred industry awards and nominations. Their focus on integration of scripted programming with interactive content and social media has helped make Heartland and Wynonna Earp two of the most dynamic scripted television projects in the digital space.

In addition to the People’s Choice Award winning series, Wynonna Earp, current projects include: Family Law, a one-hour legal series for Global, JANN, the #1 new Comedy on CTV, and the hit family series Heartland, the longest running one-hour series in Canadian history, now in its fourteenth season for CBC and UPtv.

Previous projects include Fortunate Son, a political thriller for CBC and NBCU International, Dark Cargo, a noir thriller for YouTube Premium, Young Drunk Punk for Rogers and CBC, the Canadian Screen Award winner Borealis, the Gemini Award winning movie Mayerthorpe and Gemini Award winning Mini-Series Burn Up. Tom Cox and Jordy Randall were also co-producers on numerous high-profile feature films including the Academy Award nominated Brokeback Mountain, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and Resurrecting the Champ and are both recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of their contribution to the arts.

About Bell Media Original Productions

Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada’s most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit series commissioned by CTV include #1 Canadian drama TRANSPLANT; record-breaking Canadian formats THE AMAZING RACE CANADA and MASTERCHEF CANADA; #1 new Canadian comedy series JANN; culinary series MARY’S KITCHEN CRUSH; and CANADA’S WALK OF FAME AWARDS. Upcoming new series include CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING from the producers of LETTERKENNY and the inspirational lifestyle series HOLMES FAMILY EFFECT starring Mike Holmes, his son Michael, and daughter Sherry. Among the original series on Bell Media specialty and streaming platforms are CTV Sci-Fi Channel’s WYNONNA EARP and upcoming THE SURREALTOR; CTV Drama Channel’s mystery dramedy CARTER; and CTV Comedy Channel’s CORNER GAS ANIMATED. Crave Originals include hit comedy LETTERKENNY and much-anticipated CANADA’S DRAG RACE; dozens of original stand-up specials; original feature documentaries THE NEW CORPORATION and INCONVENIENT INDIAN, and more. Discovery is home to Bell Media’s hit factual series and franchises HIGHWAY THRU HELL, HEAVY RESCUE: 401, and DISASTERS AT SEA, in addition to upcoming docu-series MUD MOUNTAIN HAULERS and THE LAST OF THE GIANTS, and others. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. Learn more at www.BellMedia.ca.

About CTV

CTV is Canada’s #1 television brand. CTV provides unparalleled entertainment programming across two broadcast television networks; a powerful suite of specialty channels including CTV Comedy Channel, CTV Drama Channel, CTV Life Channel, and CTV Sci-Fi Channel; and digital channels CTV Throwback and CTV Movies, streaming on demand from CTV.ca and the CTV app. CTV has been Canada’s most-watched television network for the past 19 years in a row and features a wide range of sports and information programming, including CTV News, Canada’s highest-rated national and local newscasts. CTV’s parent company is Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and out-of-home advertising.

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Jann and her mom, Nora (Deborah Grover)

Primetime TV Review of “Resident Alien”

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TV Review!

"Resident Alien" on Syfy

“Resident Alien” on Syfy Review by Suzanne 2/5/21

I love this show. Syfy let me see the first 7 episodes because I recently interviewed the star of the show, Alan Tudyk. The first episode is good, but it gets better and better. There were many times I laughed out loud. The story is great, and it has many wonderful characters.

Alan Tudyk (Firefly, Doom Patrol) stars as an alien that crash-lands in the small, snowy town of Patience, Colorado. He finds this doctor in a nearby cabin and kills him, then takes his identity. His mission was to drop a small device that will kill everyone, but he ends up crashing instead. He then has to try to find his spaceship and the pieces of the device, out in the snowy wilderness.

However, the town doctor is found dead, so the alien, now posing as Harry, the doctor, takes over his office temporarily. It’s fun to watch Harry learn how to be human. We also hear his voice-over, which is very funny. There are many characters, but the writing is so good that you don’t get any confusion about who they all are. Harry makes friends with the doctor’s nurse, Asta (Sara Tomko), and her friend D’arcy (Alice Wetterlund), the town bartender. There is also a funny town sheriff, Mike (Corey Reynolds), his deputy Liv (Elizabeth Bowen), the mayor (Levi Fiehler), the mayor’s son, Max (Judah Prehn), and more. Max is the only one in town that can see the alien as he really is.

You’ll notice that the show will remind you of other scifi shows, like “Mork & Mindy,” “Starman,” “Alien Nation” and more. We’ve really never seen a scifi comedy like this one, however. Not only is it a comedy/drama/scifi show, but it’s also a mystery. For each episode, they really leave you wanting more. As the episodes progress, we see that Harry is not alone here and that there are some people who know he’s here (and are not friendly). Linda Hamilton (“The Terminator”) plays a general that’s hunting for the alien.

Asta and her family are native Americans, and it’s great that they showcase them because that’s rare on American TV. Canadian TV shows seem to show them much more often than we do on this side of the border.

If you’re a fan of scifi or comedy, you won’t want to miss this one.

MORE INFORMATION:

‘RESIDENT ALIEN’ BLOOPER REEL & DELETED SCENE REVEALED
 
—Season Finale Airs Wednesday, March 31 at 10/9c—
 
In advance of the season finale, we’re excited to share the hysterical season 1 blooper reel and deleted scene from episode 7.
 

Based on the Dark Horse comic, SYFY’s RESIDENT ALIEN follows Harry, an alien played by Alan Tudyk (“Rogue One,” “Firefly”) that crash lands on Earth and passes himself off as a small-town human doctor. Arriving with a secret mission to kill all humans, Harry starts off living a simple life… but things get a bit rocky when he’s roped into solving a local murder and realizes he needs to assimilate into his new world. As he does so, he begins to wrestle with the moral dilemma of his mission and asking the big life questions like: “Are human beings worth saving?” and “Why do they fold their pizza before eating it?”

From UCP, in association with Amblin TV and Dark Horse Entertainment, RESIDENT ALIEN was adapted to television by executive producer Chris Sheridan (“Family Guy”). Mike Richardson (“Hellboy”) and Keith Goldberg (“The Legend of Tarzan”) of Dark Horse Entertainment (“The Umbrella Academy”), and Justin Falvey (“The Americans”) and Darryl Frank (“The Americans”) of Amblin TV also executive produce. David Dobkin (“Wedding Crashers”) executive produced and directed the pilot. “Resident Alien” also stars Sara Tomko, Corey Reynolds, Alice Wetterlund and Levi Fiehler.

SYFY PICKS UP DARK HORSE COMICS’ ‘RESIDENT ALIEN’ TO SERIES

breaking news | May 30, 2019Alan Tudyk Stars in Series from UCP, with Chris Sheridan Executive Producing Alongside Dark Horse Entertainment and Amblin TV

David Dobkin Executive Produced and Directed the Pilot

NEW YORK, NY – February 28, 2019 — SYFY today announced the series pickup of RESIDENT ALIEN, a comedic drama based on the popular Dark Horse comics series by co-creators Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse. From Universal Content Productions (UCP), in association with Amblin TV and Dark Horse Entertainment, the series was adapted to television by executive producer Chris Sheridan (“Family Guy”). Mike Richardson (“Hellboy”) and Keith Goldberg (“The Legend of Tarzan”) of Dark Horse Entertainment (“The Umbrella Academy”), and Justin Falvey (“The Americans”) and Darryl Frank (“The Americans”) of Amblin TV will also executive produce. David Dobkin (“The Judge”) executive produced and directed the pilot.

RESIDENT ALIEN is a twisted and comedic fish-out-of-water story that follows a crash-landed alien named Harry (Alan Tudyk) who, after taking on the identity of a small-town Colorado doctor, slowly begins to wrestle with the moral dilemma of his secret mission on Earth — ultimately asking the question, “Are human beings worth saving?”

Tudyk (“Doom Patrol,” “Rogue One”) is joined by series regulars Sara Tomko (“Once Upon A Time”), Corey Reynolds (“The Closer”), Alice Wetterlund (“People of Earth”) and Levi Fiehler (“Mars”). The series will begin production in Vancouver this summer.

About SYFY
SYFY is a global, multiplatform media brand that gives science fiction fans of all kinds a universe to call home. Celebrating the genre in all its forms, SYFY super-serves passionate fans with original science fiction, fantasy, paranormal and superhero programming, live event coverage and imaginative digital and social content. The brand is powered by SYFY WIRE (www.syfy.com), the premier portal for breaking genre news, insight and commentary. SYFY is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

About UCP
UCP is a premium content studio that operates with a highly curated indie sensibility, while simultaneously leveraging the power and scale of NBCUniversal. As fierce advocates for creators with an eclectic point of view, the UCP team develops pioneering original programming with partners such as Amazon (“Homecoming”), Netflix (“The Umbrella Academy”), Hulu (“The Act”) and YouTube (“Impulse”). In addition, UCP produces high-caliber content for NBCU Cable networks, including Bravo (“Dirty John”), USA (the Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning drama “Mr. Robot,” the Golden Globe nominated “The Sinner,” “The Purge” and “Suits” ) and SYFY (“Happy!,” and “The Magicians”). UCP’s content library also features 800 hours of award-winning and critically-acclaimed content, including the Emmy Award-winning “Monk,” the Peabody and Hugo Award-winning “Battlestar Galactica” and the Emmy nominated “Psych.”

About Amblin Television:
Amblin Television, a long-time leader in quality programming, is a division of Amblin Partners, a content creation company led by Steven Spielberg. Amblin Television’s co-presidents, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey, oversee all development, production and programming for the company. Amblin Television currently has thirteen projects in various stages of production including “Bull” and “Tommy” for CBS, “Roswell, New Mexico” for the CW, “The Haunting of Bly Manor” for Netflix – the follow-up chapter to The Haunting of Hill House, “Amazing Stories” for Apple, “Halo” for Showtime, a straight-to-series order for “Brave New World” from USA Network, “Cortes and Moctezuma” for Amazon, “Animaniacs” for Hulu, “Why We Hate” for Discovery, “Resident Alien” for SYFY, and the documentary films “Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind” for HBO and “Laurel Canyon” for Epix.

Some of Amblin Television’s previous credits include the Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning drama “The Americans” for FX, Emmy-nominated HBO movie “All The Way” starring Bryan Cranston, “Smash” for NBC, “Under the Dome” for CBS, “Falling Skies” for TNT, “The Borgias” and “The United States of Tara” for Showtime, and “Las Vegas” for NBC.

About Dark Horse Entertainment:
Dark Horse Entertainment was spun off from founder Mike Richardson’s Dark Horse Comics in 1992. The company’s first major hits—THE MASK and TIMECOP — were based on Richardson’s creations and DHE has since produced over 30 films and series, including an Emmy Award–winning documentary, MR. WARMTH: THE DON RICKLES PROJECT. Recent projects include THE LEGEND OF TARZAN with Warner Bros., the DARK MATTER television series for Syfy network and POLAR, adapted from Victor Santo’s noir graphic novel starring Mads Mikkelsen (Rogue One) at Netflix. Current projects include a reboot of Mike Mignola’s HELLBOY starring David Harbour (Stranger Things) directed by Neil Marshall (The Descent), and THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY, a Netflix original series based on the comics created by Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance) and Gabriel Ba.

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"Resident Alien" on Syfy

Primetime TV Review of “50M2”

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TV Review!

"50M2" on Netflix

“50M2” on Netflix Review by Suzanne 2/5/21

In this entertaining Turkish show, a man named Gölge is working for a mobster, Servet, that took him in as a child and trained him to be his henchman. Gölge only has a photo of his parents and wants to know who they are and where he comes from (as well as his real name). He learns that Servet has been lying to him. Servet tries to kill him, but he escapes. Meanwhile, he finds out that a tailor, Adil, in the small village of Güzelce, has died, and the people there think that he’s the tailor’s long-lost son, Adem. He hides out at the tailor’s shop, posing as Adem and building a very different life for himself.

The name is based on the size of the small shop: 50 meters squared (That’s 165 square feet to us Americans).

This is a really cool, stylish show that reminds me of shows I liked growing up, like “Mission: Impossible” or “It Takes a Thief.” It has some aspects of “The Bourne Identity” as well. It’s a good action-drama, but there’s a lot of humor and mystery in it as well. Of course, it is violent, but not exceedingly so. Any fan of action should enjoy it.

MORE INFORMATION:

FROM BURAK AKSAK & SELCUK AYDEMIR, NETFLIX’S ORIGINAL SERIES “50M2” BEGINS PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY

FROM BURAK AKSAK AND SELCUK AYDEMIR, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BKM, NETFLIX’S NEW ORIGINAL SERIES “50M2” BEGINS PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Starring Engin Ozturk, Aybuke Pusat, Kursat Alniacik, Cengiz Bozkurt, Tolga Tekin, Yigit Kirazci, Hasan Yalnizoglu, Ozgur Emre Yildirim, Tuncay Beyazit, Tugce Karabacak and Murat Kilic

He needs a 50m2 space to be reborn… How many lives could fit in a 50m2?

Istanbul, Turkey – January 15 2020 – Netflix, the world’s leading internet entertainment service, begins principal photography on 50m2, a dark comedy series, in partnership with BKM.

Produced by BKM, 50m2 will be directed by the highly acknowledged director Selcuk Aydemir alongside the renowned writer/director Burak Aksak who is also the scriptwriter of the series. The eight-part dark comedy series stars Engin Ozturk, Aybuke Pusat, Kursat Alniacik, Cengiz Bozkurt, Tolga Tekin, Yigit Kirazci, Ozgur Emre Yildirim, Tuncay Beyazit, Tugce Karabacak, Hasan Yalnizoglu and Murat Kilic.

The series tells the story of a mysterious hitman named Golge (Engin Ozturk) who tries to find himself on the run for his life. While escaping from his wealthy and dark like followed by a betrayal from Servet who treated him like his long-lost father, he suddenly finds himself living in a 50 meter square tailor shop in a foreign neighborhood. While hiding in there until the situation settles down, he discovers those in the neighborhood think that he is the son of the deceased store-owner. However, he quickly realizes that maintaining this identity won’t be as easy as he thinks.The more he lives in this new neighborhood, the more he will discover the secrets about his past and his real identity, the more he helps those around him, the more he will become someone else.

The series is expected to launch globally in 2020.

Video    Source Netflix, Inc.

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"50M2" on Netflix

Primetime TV Review of “Go Dog Go”

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TV Review!

"Go Dog Go" on Netflix

“Go Dog Go” on Netflix Review by Suzanne 2/5/21

This is a very entertaining and cute CGI animated kids show. All of the characters are dogs, and they live in Pawston. They have a lot of energy and fun. Some of them sing. Of course, they also learn some valuable lessons. The show doesn’t hammer you over the head with the “lesson,” though. They like to zoom around in fast cars, which is why it’s entitled “Go, dog, go!”

The main dog is Tag, who’s like a 6 year old child, and in the first episode he meets a newcomer to town, Scooch Pooch. Scooch Pooch is from a farm, so he is new to city life. They have a big dog party in a tree. Everyone wants to go, so the traffic is slow. They keep trying different ways to get there: on foot, by river and by blimp! They are all slow.

The show is based on a series of children’s books that have been around a long time. Dreamworks is behind the series, and they always have top-notch shows.

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Handy and inventive pup Tag chases adventure with her best pal, Scooch, solving problems and helping the citizens of Pawston along the way.

NETFLIX TO LAUNCH DIVERSE SLATE OF ORIGINAL PRESCHOOL SERIES FROM AWARD-WINNING KIDS PROGRAMMING CREATORS

Hollywood, Calif. – July 22, 2019 – In a commitment to deliver high quality, age-appropriate content for kids ages 2-6 everywhere, Netflix today announced seven original preschool series from some of the industry’s most respected and prolific creators. Netflix’s preschool slate is produced by creators from all over the world, designed for diverse audiences, and inclusive of a wide range of genres and formats – from educational to nonverbal comedies, and with many options in between.

“With high-quality, age-appropriate programming for kids at every age and stage, we want to help young people find and connect with the stories and characters they love on Netflix,” said Melissa Cobb, vice president of original animation at Netflix. “We are also here to empower parents to find the shows that are just right for their families during whatever time they feel is appropriate to enjoy entertainment.”

The Netflix Kids experience gives adults the ability to prevent access to certain content on their account by setting age restrictions and requiring PIN controls.

The seven new Netflix Original Preschool titles include:

DreamWorks Dragons Rescue Riders (2019) is a CG animated comedy adventure series that opens a brand new chapter in DreamWorks Animation’s Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning How to Train Your Dragon franchise. The all-new series is about twins, Dak and Leyla, who because they were raised by dragons, share a unique ability to communicate with them. The brother and sister lead a team of five young dragons that spend their days rescuing other dragons, and helping the people in their adopted town of Huttsgalor.

Executive Producers: Emmy Award winner Jack Thomas (Dragons: Race to the Edge, The Fairly OddParents) as executive producer and Brian K. Roberts (VeggieTales in the House) as co-executive producer.

Director: TJ Sullivan (Barnyard, Beware the Batman)

Hello Ninja (2019) For Wesley and his best friend Georgie, every day is an adventure. When Wesley puts his hands together, bows to his reflection and says the words, “Hello, Ninja” his surroundings instantly transform into an enchanting Ninja world. From Atomic Cartoons, a Thunderbird Company, this CG animated series is based on the picture book of the same name from author N.D. Wilson.

Executive Producer: N.D. Wilson

EP/showrunner: Mark Palmer (Treehouse Detectives, Kim Possible)

Story Editor: Susan Kim (Wonder Pets, Handy Manny)

Director: Michael Dowding (Slugterra, Reboot)

StarBeam (2020) Zoey is excited to tackle second grade, but when danger beckons, she sneaks away and – with her signature call out “It’s time to shine!” – transforms into StarBeam, the speediest, most powerful and most enthusiastic superhero to ever sip from a juicebox. StarBeam is a CG animated series produced by Kickstart Entertainment.

Executive Producers: Jason Netter (Preacher), Loris Kramer Lunsford. (Johnny Test), and Heather Puttock (Ready Jet Go!)

Head Writer: Noelle Wright (Doc McStuffins, Super Monsters)

DreamWorks Go, Dog. Go! (2020) is a CG animated series produced by DreamWorks Animation and DHX Media, based on the beloved, classic children’s book by P. D. Eastman, published by Random House Children’s Books. Every dog wants to go! Go fast, go far, go to a big dog party in a tree. The series follows young pup Tag Barker and her adventures in Pawston, a colorful community of dogs on the go.

Showrunner / Executive Producer: Adam Peltzman (Odd Squad, Wallykazam)

What-To-Doodles (2020) A team of adventurous and lovable young creatures play, grow, laugh, learn, and sing together in this CG animated series that teaches young viewers “what to do” in everyday social experiences and firsts. Created by Art Spigel and Hannah Kole, the series is produced by creative production company 7ate9 Entertainment.

Story Editor: Doug Wood (Molly of Denali, Bob the Builder)

Izzy Bee’s Koala World (2020) 11-year old Izzy Bee, known affectionately as the Koala Whisperer, lives on Australia’s Magnetic Island where she rescues and rehabilitates koalas with her veterinarian Mom, Ali and her dad, Tim. This non-fiction series is produced in partnership with The Dodo and Nomadica Films.

Executive Producers: Jared McGillard (Dodo Heroes, Last Alaskans), Izzie Lerer (Founder/Chief Creative Officer The Dodo, Dodo Heroes), Suzanne Kolb (Dodo Heroes, The Swim), Elizabeth Keyishian (Sesame Street, Paw Patrol, Astroblast)

Producers: David Glauber (Snug’s House, Toca Boca: Toca TV), John Collin (Dodo Heroes)

Emily’s Wonder Lab (2020) Discover what makes STEAM fun with these visual demonstrations that will blow your mind! Acclaimed science communicator Emily Calandrelli takes kids through lively experiments and entertaining activities in this new live-action series created and produced by Bunim Murray Productions (The Real World, Crystal Maze, Keeping up with the Kardashians).

Executive Producer & Host: Emily Calandrelli (Xploration Outer Space, Bill Nye Saves the World)

Executive Producers: Gil Goldschein, Maria Peppin, Trish Gold

The new slate joins the already robust Netflix original preschool offering for kids aged 2-6, which includes beloved shows such as Ask The StoryBots, Chip and Potato, Mighty Little Bheem, Motown Magic, Super Monsters, True and the Rainbow Kingdom, Word Party, and YooHoo to the Rescue. Other previously announced Netflix preschool originals that are soon to launch include DreamWorks Archibald’s Next Big Thing, Go! Go! Cory Carson, and Chico Bon Bon.

About Netflix

Netflix is the world’s leading internet entertainment service with over 151 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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"Go Dog Go" on Netflix

Primetime TV Review of “Deer Squad”

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TV Review!

"Deer Squad" on Nick

“Deer Squad” on Nickelodeon Review by Suzanne 2/5/21

This is a typical children’s show. The characters are deer, but they live in a town like people. They have super powers that remind me a little bit of Power Rangers. Since it’s a show for young kids, they teach many lessons in the show. In the first episode, the rich human “bad guy” wants to stay in bed all day, so he makes giant sunglasses that block the sun. The Deer Squad have to find a way to get rid of the sunglasses, since their powers come from the sun. They learn the lesson that even though the sun might be annoying some times (such as when it gets in your eyes), it’s important for life.

The Deer Squad protect the animals in Central Forest and the people who live in Platinum City. This seems a lot to ask for deer, but they do have super powers. I’m sure young children will enjoy it.

MORE INFORMATION:

DEER SQUAD GOES GLOBAL ON NICKELODEON CHANNELS

First Chinese-Originated Nickelodeon International and VIS KIDS collaboration with iQIYI to premiere on Nickelodeon in the U.S. on Jan. 25 

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NEW YORK—JAN. 13, 2021—Nickelodeon will premiere CG-animated series Deer Squad in the U.S. following a successful run overseas. The result of a partnership between iQIYI, an innovative market-leading online entertainment service in China, Nickelodeon International and VIS KIDS, a division of ViacomCBS International Studios, Deer Squad will premiere on Nickelodeon in the U.S. on Jan. 25, at 9 a.m. (ET/PT) in the preschool block. The series will continue to air regularly weekdays at 9 a.m. (ET/PT).

The adventure-rescue show follows four, lovable, enthusiastic and heroic deer friends—Kai, Lola, Bobbi and Rammy—who protect the animals of Central Forest and the humans who inhabit Platinum City, a futuristic metropolis surrounding their woodland home. When there’s trouble, the Deer summon their special Planet Powers of Water (Kai), Wood (Lola), Earth (Bobbi) and Sun (Rammy) to solve problems.

“We first partnered with iQIYI on the series with a worldwide audience in mind. We’re incredibly proud to see this original preschool series become the first Nickelodeon International global Chinese-originated collaborative project, as we further our commitment to developing kids-first content from around the world,” said Nina Hahn, Head of VIS KIDS and Senior Vice President of International Production & Development for Nickelodeon International.

“Deer Squad is a major breakthrough for iQIYI’s development of original children’s animation, creatively supervised by Nickelodeon International. We appreciate Nickelodeon’s international broadcasting strategy on the show, and it is great news that we have achieved No.1 in viewership in many regions. We hope that there will be more Chinese original animations to go international,” said Yang Xiaoxuan, Vice President of iQIYI and Head of Original Animation and Investment.

Nickelodeon International aired Deer Squad across Asia in August 2020, including iQIYI’s platform in China, and premiered in Australia, New Zealand and the UK later in the year. It was the #1 show in the Philippines amongst kids 2-141, ranked Nick Jr. as the #1 STV channel in Australia among kids 0-4 during Deer Squad premieres2 and averaged +148% in the UK compared to the timeslot benchmark3. The series is scheduled to air in Europe and Africa in March 2021.

Deer Squad is currently in production for a second season.  The show marks the first time for Nickelodeon Asia to partner on a Chinese original from its conception phase.

About Nickelodeon International

Nickelodeon, now in its 41st year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. Nickelodeon is one of the most globally recognized and widely distributed multimedia entertainment brands for kids and family, available in nearly 400 million households across 170+ countries and territories, via more than 80+ locally programmed channels and branded blocks. Outside of the United States, Nickelodeon is part of ViacomCBS Networks International, a division of ViacomCBS Inc. (Nasdaq: VIACA, VIAC). For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of ViacomCBS Inc.

About ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS)

Introduced in 2018, ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS) is a division of ViacomCBS Networks International that produces content for ViacomCBS brands and platforms, including Paramount+, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, Channel 5, Network 10, Telefe and Porta Dos Fundos, as well as for third parties. In 2020, VIS Kids launched to further the expansion of the studio’s global kids content pipeline. The content that VIS produces covers all genres, from preschool to young adult and across live action and animation, as well as soap operas, dramas, short and long-form comedy formats and feature film productions. VIS global sales include original productions, co-productions, formats sold for local adaptations, and sale of ready-made content.

About iQIYI

iQIYI, Inc. is an innovative market-leading online entertainment service in China. Its corporate DNA combines creative talent with technology, fostering an environment for continuous innovation and the production of blockbuster content. iQIYI’s platform features highly popular original content, as well as a comprehensive library of other professionally-produced content, partner-generated content and user generated content. The Company distinguishes itself in the online entertainment industry by its leading technology platform powered by advanced AI, big data analytics and other core proprietary technologies. iQIYI attracts a massive user base with tremendous user engagement, and has developed a diversified monetization model including membership services, online advertising services, content distribution, live broadcasting, online games, IP licensing, online literature and e-commerce.

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"Deer Squad" on Nick

Primetime TV Review of “Bridge and Tunnel”

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TV Review!

"Bridge and Tunnel" cast

“Bridge and Tunnel” on Epix Review by Suzanne 2/5/21

This show is about some friends in their 20’s who’ve graduated from college and have gotten together where they grew up, on Long Island.  The acting is fine. I found the story to be pretty boring. There are a lot of characters, and they don’t make us care about any of them, so it’s hard to tell them apart at times.

Even though the show is set in the 80’s, most of the music they play is from the 70’s…not even 1979, but earlier. Now, sure, if you grew up in the 70’s, you would still want to listen to your own music from college and high school, but you’d also probably still be listening to the current music.  Don’t get me wrong — I love 70’s music. I enjoyed that part of watching the show. I’m sure that it would have a great soundtrack. I just wondered why there wasn’t more music from the time the show is actually set in.

I only watched the first episode, so perhaps they do use more music from 1980 later on. I wasn’t interested enough in the show to keep watching, though.  There are so many wonderful shows out there…there’s no time for me to watch something I already don’t like, to see if it gets better.

Also, it seemed like the actors might have been paid extra every time they used the F word. Seriously.

MORE INFORMATION:

Bridge and Tunnel

Premiered January 24, 2021 on EPIX

Written, directed and produced by Edward Burns (Saving Private Ryan, Public Morals), this dramedy series set in 1980 revolves around a group of recent college grads setting out to pursue their dreams in Manhattan while still clinging to the familiarity of their working-class Long Island home town. Production is currently underway in New York.

The series features a stellar ensemble cast including Sam Vartholomeos (Star Trek: Discovery), Caitlin Stasey (Reign, Please Like Me), Gigi Zumbado (9-1-1, Criminal Minds, Scream), JanLuis Castellanos (13 Reasons Why, Marvel’s Runways), Brian Muller (The Deuce, Madame Secretary, The Good Wife), Isabella Farrell (The Good Fight), Barrett Wilbert Weed (Mean Girls on Broadway) and Erica Hernandez (Hollywood Fringe, Brittany Runs a Marathon). 

In addition to Burns, the series is also executive produced by Aaron Lubin (Something Borrowed, Public Morals) and Lori Keith Douglas (The Village, Friends from College).  This is the second series from EPIX Studios. Bridge and Tunnel will be internationally distributed by MGM.

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"Bridge and Tunnel" on Epix

Primetime TV Review of “Pixar Popcorn”

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TV Review!

"Pixar Popcorn" on Disney+

“Pixar Popcorn” on Disney+ Review by Suzanne 1/28/21

This is a cute little show that features Pixar characters you know from the movies doing fun things, such as exercising. The series is mostly wordless — probably because they’d have to pay the actors money if they were speaking.  There are only a few episodes, but they’re worth watching. Your kids will love them, too.

MORE INFORMATION:

The collection of 10 mini shorts features characters from Pixar favorites like “Toy Story,” “Finding Nemo,” “Cars” and “The Incredibles” in all-new, bite-size stories created by Pixar Animation Studios’ talented animators.

Grab a quick snack of Pixar! This collection of mini shorts stars your favorite characters in all-new, bite size stories. Created directly by Pixar animators as a quick pop of Pixar fun.

Trailer

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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.

"Pixar Popcorn" on Disney+

Interview with Jann Arden

Posted on by TvMegasite Admin

TV Interview!

Jann Arden, star of "Jann" on HULU

Interview with Jann Arden of “Jann” on Lifetime by Suzanne 2/2/21

This was fun! I haven’t done many Zoom interviews before. Jann is very professional and yet very charming and endearing.

Here is the video of our call!

Suzanne: Hi, how are you?

Jann: Good. How are you doing? Oh, that’s a nice background.

Suzanne: Thank you. I didn’t know if I had it on or not –

Jann: We’re in Hawaii!

Suzanne: I wish.

Jann: Yeah, you and me both.

Suzanne: Are you up in Canada?

Jann: I am. I’m in southern Alberta, just outside of Calgary.

Suzanne: So, it’s a bit cold and snowy up there?

Jann: Oh, my God. It’s minus twelve today.

Suzanne: Wow. Yeah, I can’t complain then. I’m sick of the cold, but we only get in the thirties and forties.

Jann: Where are you?

Suzanne: Southern Arkansas, near Louisiana.

Jann: Oh, nice. Oh, I love that part of the world. It’s pretty.

Suzanne: Not as pretty as the palm trees, but it’s pretty.

Jann: Aww, come on. We’ll get there. We’ll get there.

Suzanne: I actually lived in Hawaii for three years.

Jann: Okay, now you’re just bragging.

Suzanne: So, what gave you the idea to make a TV series based on your life?

Jann: Well, it’s very loosely based on my life. Yes, I’m a singer-songwriter, and the person in this show is a singer-songwriter, but that’s where the similarities completely end. It’s completely fictitious. My mother passed away years ago, and I actually have a mother in this show. I don’t have any sisters, but I have a sister in the show. I have a lot more dates; TV Jann has a lot more dates than I do. I’m just living alone here in the trees with my dog, but the TV version of me is out there dating and having fun, so that’s very exciting. I just got presented with an opportunity four or five years ago and worked with a friend of mine, Leah Gauthier, and we just sat at my kitchen table. We’re like, “Okay, what can we do here?” And we just spent a weekend laughing our butts off and kind of coming up with this concept of a woman trying to find relevance and sorting out of relationships and trying to see if she can get her career going and has a mother that has dementia, and we’ve just been really, really lucky to get the show made.

Suzanne: What did you have to do to learn how to write for TV, because you are a songwriter?

Jann: I can honestly say, I don’t do the actual writing for the show. I’m involved in all the storyboards. So, we get together here in my home, and I’m with the writers. We have five writers on the show, and everybody sleeps here. I stick them in bedrooms; I stick them on floor mattresses, and we do all the storyboards. So, I’m very happy to say that I’ve been involved in all of that, then those guys go away, and they do something called scripts. I don’t know how the hell they do it. So, thank God I’m not.

Suzanne: Were you familiar with the other actors before they auditioned for your show?

Jann: There are a few of them that I was familiar with. Zoie Palmer, who plays my sister, I’ve long admired her.

Suzanne: She’s great.

Jann: She was one of the stars of of Lost Girl; she was in Dark Matter. I happened to see her when I was working out one day in a movie called Sex After Kids. It was an indie film, and she was hilarious. I just got it in my mind. I’m like, “I want Zoie Palmer to play my sister.” I think she’s the perfect foil for me. She’s straight laced, and she’s uptight, and she just wants to do stuff right, and I just drive her crazy. And it’s really fun working with Zoie. Her husband, Dave, is a gentleman named Patrick Gilmore. I’ve known him for years. He’s in a show called Travelers. He’s done a lot of stuff. You might recognize him from other things.

Suzanne:
Yeah, the name is familiar.

Jann: Elena Juatco, who plays Cale, she was new to me. I didn’t know her until I saw the audition tape and was able to meet her in person, but the whole cast, I think everyone really steps into their characters, and they’re all so funny in their own right.

Suzanne: I see that two seasons aired in Canada. Will there be a season three, or do you know yet?

Jann: We’re just doing season three right now. So, I had my first COVID test yesterday, and I do all my wardrobe fitting on Wednesday. So, yeah, we’re full steam ahead. It’s all written. We’re ready to go, and it’s pretty damn great to have another opportunity to do this.

Suzanne: If it were up to you, how many seasons do you think you would like it to go?

Jann: I’d like to do eight

Suzanne: That’s a good number.

Jann: Why not? Letterkenny’s on its tenth season.

Suzanne: Oh, wow. How did it come about, that Hulu picked it up?

Jann: You know, I don’t know a lot about the business side of that. My producers, Andrew Barnsley and Ben Murray, are the two fellows that own a production company called Project 10. Andrew was one of the producers on Schitt’s Creek. So, I think Andrew had a relationship with some of these people and has been working really this past twelve months with Hulu to figure out when would be a good time to release it, and if it would be a good fit, but we’re very thrilled to be with Hulu. They’ve been amazing partners and have just been nothing but supportive and kind for us.

Suzanne: Yeah, I really love how all these services, and even now, some of the broadcast networks, keep bringing in Canadian and other shows outside the US. I love that. It’s great to see others.

Jann: I think it’s good for all of us. I mean, we love seeing all your shows, too.

Suzanne: I think, internationally, people see more American shows than we see international shows up until recently.

Jann: I think you’re right.

Suzanne: Of all your songs, do you have a favorite?

Jann: I do, and it’s a song called “Good Mother.” I wrote it about my mom years and years ago, but it was the single in the States. This would have been in the ‘90s, so it was a long time ago, but I get so many letters and so many direct messages about that song. It’s one of my long personal favorites. I mean, I love “Insensitive” as well, but a song called “Good Mother” is right up there.

Suzanne: I’ll have to listen to that. When I was listening to some of your songs on YouTube – I’m a few years older than you, and so I stopped listening to music mostly in the ‘80s more or less.

Jann: I get it.

Suzanne: But now I know. Which singers or groups inspired you most musically?

Jann: Oh my gosh, I had so many favorites growing up. I loved, loved, loved Shirley Bassey. You might not know who she is.

Suzanne: Oh, yeah.

Jann: “Diamonds Are Forever (sung)” – loved her. I love Tears for Fears. I love Janice Ian and Olivia Newton-John and Carly Simon and Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, James Taylor. I was really a singer-songwriter kid growing up. Then I started to like Kiss, because my older brother loved Kiss. So, I decided I liked Kiss, and then I started listening to his Nazareth record. And Boston – “More Than a Feeling (sung).” Bread, with David Gates; I listened to a lot of Bread. I mean, so much music. I don’t know if you remember the Columbia Record Club?

Suzanne: Oh, yeah.

Jann: Way back when – “For one cent, you can buy ten LP records,” and when you’re a kid, you’re begging your parents. “Please, it’s only one cent for ten records.” Well, then they ding you. Every month they send, you know, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, for God’s sakes, but that costs you $27.

Suzanne: Yeah, I was in that in high school, the Columbia Record Club.

Jann: Yeah, and it’s impossible to get out of! Anyway, I just listened to so much music, but yeah, there was a just a whack of girl singer/songwriters that I just adored so much. Natalie Cole, I just love Natalie Cole. And then of course, late ‘80s it started changing to, you know, Nirvana and Sinead O’Connor. I mean, I even loved Enya.

Suzanne: I like Enya. So, last question. Are you working on more songs for a future album?

Jann: I am. I’m right in the middle of just finishing up a record now. I actually just need to mix it. That’ll be my fifteenth record with Universal Records.

Suzanne: Wow.

Jann: I know, it’s nutty!

Interview Transcribed by Jamie of http://www.scifivision.com

Our Review of “Jann”

MORE INFO:

In Jann, Jann Arden plays a fictionalized, self-deprecating version of herself: a singer songwriter of a “certain age” in severe denial of the harsh reality that her former music career is slowly (okay, rapidly) fading away. But it’s not just Jann’s career that’s on life support – she’s newly single (don’t remind her), her sister may disown her, and her mother may be showing early signs of memory loss. Jann‘s personal life is in shambles and she’s convinced that the cure-all is to enlist a new manager to help rebrand her image. Filled with plenty of LOL moments, she embarks on a quest to return to greatness and go viral, but instead gets tangled in the pressures of her ‘real’ life. Jann is at the crossroads between who she was and who she wants to be. Can Jann stage a comeback, reclaim fame…and be there for the people who love her?

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Jann Arden, star of "Jann" on HULU

Primetime DVD Review: “Masterpiece: All Creatures Great And Small”

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DVD Review!

"Masterpiece: All Creatures Great And Small" DVD cover

“Masterpiece: All Creatures Great And Small – Season One” Review by Suzanne 2/1/21

I loved this series when it aired, so I was happy to get the DVD as well. I can’t wait for season 2!

The series is based on autobiographical books written by a British veterinarian, Alf Wright (who went by the pen name James Herriot), in the 1930’s. He started practicing in a rural area called Yorkshire Downs. They made a film of his books, and then a TV series in the late 70’s, which lasted, off and on, for a decade.  That was a successful series, and this is a version for modern audiences (yet still based on the books and set in the same world).

Nicholas Ralph plays the main character, a shy young vet (named James here), who goes to work for an odd fellow, a vet named Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West). Siegfried has a younger brother who’s also studying to be a vet. Callum Woodhouse plays the younger brother, Tristan, who seems more interested, at first, in chasing girls and drinking than in work. Anna Madeley plays Mrs. Hall, the housekeeper. She’s a mother figure to all of them, but there’s definitely some sexual tension between her and Siegfried. The late Diana Rigg plays an eccentric old rich lady with a fat dog. Her scenes are great.

James develops a huge crush on a woman named Helen (Rachel Shenton), who has a boyfriend that doesn’t seem worthy of her.  Most of the stories are about how James learns to be a good vet and prove himself to Siegfried and the local farmers, and then Tristan has to do the same thing (as well as redeem himself in his brother’s eyes). It’s a gentle but entertaining sort of story. It really seems to capture the pace of rural life well, and it gives us beautiful film of the English countryside as well.  This is definitely a show the whole family can watch.

Buy this DVD!

MORE INFORMATION:

THREE NEW DRAMAS FROM MASTERPIECE 
ON DVD & BLU-RAY THIS FEBRUARY 
FROM PBS DISTRIBUTION
Below is a listing of the upcoming DVD/Blu-Ray releases from PBS Distribution slated for February.Every purchase helps support public television for all.

  • MASTERPIECE: All Creatures Great and Small – 2/9/21

Genre: Drama
Run Time: 400 min. on 2 discs – DVD and Blu-Ray
SRP: $49.99 / $59.99 (Blu-Ray)

 

About PBS DISTRIBUTION
PBS Distribution is a leading distributor of public media content around the world, reaching audiences through multiple platforms and formats. The company operates five streaming channels —PBS MASTERPIECE, PBS KIDS, PBS LIVING, PBS DOCUMENTARIES, and PBS America (U.K.). Other services include transactional video-on-demand, subscription video-on-demand licensing, physical products on DVD and Blu-ray, theatrical releasing, educational, non-theatrical, inflight, and international program sales and co-productions.

PBS Distribution offers consumers and educators the highest quality factual, scripted, and children’s programming including films from Ken Burns, hit series from MASTERPIECE and foreign language dramas from Walter Presents, entertaining and educational PBS KIDS series, and award-winning documentaries from NOVA, FRONTLINE, AMERICAN MASTERS, NATURE, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, and many independent producers. For over 10 years, the company has extended the reach of programming beyond broadcast while generating revenue for the public television system, stations, and producers. 

Follow PBS Distribution on Facebook and Twitter.

“ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL,” STARRING THE LATE DAME DIANA RIGG, AND “MISS SCARLET & THE DUKE” STARRING KATE PHILLIPS AND STUART MARTIN AMONG PROGRAMS STREAMING ON THE
PBS MASTERPIECE PRIME VIDEO CHANNEL
THIS JANUARY

January 2021 Marks the 50th Anniversary of the Iconic PBS drama series MASTERPIECE, that Sparked America’s Infatuation with British Television
Arlington, VA – January 19, 2021 – This January, four new MASTERPIECE programs are streaming on the PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel including an all-new adaptation of “All Creatures Great and Small,” starring Dame Diana Rigg in one of her last appearances, the newest MASTERPIECE MYSTERY! installment “Miss Scarlet & the Duke,” “Elizabeth Is Missing” based on the acclaimed novel starring Oscar winning Glenda Jackson, and “The Long Song” based on the award-winning novel by Andrea Levy about the end of slavery in Jamaica.

The subscription rate for the PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel is $5.99/month with an Amazon Prime or Prime Video subscription. Every purchase helps support public television for all.

MASTERPIECE: All Creatures Great and Small
Premiere Date: January 10, 2021
Episodes: 7
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Based on the beloved autobiographical books by James Herriot, “All Creatures Great and Small” tells the exciting adventures of a veterinarian in 1930s Yorkshire. The series takes place in 1937, when James Herriot, fresh out of Glasgow Veterinary College, follows his dream to become a vet in the magnificent Yorkshire Dales, one of England’s most beloved and beautiful landscapes.

He soon discovers that treating the animals is as much about treating their owners, and the Dales’ farmers are a tough crowd to please. At Skeldale House, James gets to know his newly formed dysfunctional family: his chaotic and erratic boss Siegfried Farnon, his wayward brother Tristan and the shrewd Mrs. Hall, who is endlessly steering the ship. When local beauty Helen Alderson attracts James’s attention, he finds another, more enduring reason to stay in the Dales.

Exciting newcomer Nicholas Ralph will make his television debut as the iconic vet who became renowned for his inspiring humor, compassion and love of life. Samuel West (Mr. Selfridge, On Chesil Beach) plays Siegfried Farnon, the wonderfully eccentric veterinary surgeon and proprietor of Skeldale House, who reluctantly hires the recently qualified Herriot into his rural practice. Mrs. Hall, the resident housekeeper and matriarch of Skeldale House, is played by Anna Madeley (The Child in Time, Patrick Melrose). Siegfried’s errant and charismatic younger brother, Tristan, is played by Callum Woodhouse (The Durrells in Corfu). Rachel Shenton (Switched at Birth, White Gold) takes the role of Helen Alderson, an independent local farmer’s daughter who helps her father manage the family farm and care for her younger sister. Dame Diana Rigg (Victoria, Game of Thrones) plays Mrs. Pumphrey, the delightfully eccentric owner of the overly indulged Pekingese Tricki Woo, while Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter, Ripper Street) plays Hugh Hulton, a wealthy landowner and rival to James for Helen’s affections.

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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.

Masterpiece: All Creatures Great And Small cast

Primetime DVD Review: “Ken Burns: Here and There”

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DVD Review!

Ken Burns: Here and There DVD cover

“Ken Burns: Here and There” Review by Suzanne 1/31/21

I’ll admit that I’m not a big fan of documentaries, but I find this one particularly boring. It’s mostly just Ken and some other people talking about the town of Walpole, NH, where he’s lived since 1979. He goes on and on at length about how great living in a small town is and how important he feels it is. There are some mentions of his documentaries, too, of course, but the majority of the movie is not about that.

There isn’t very much about his family, aside from his talking about how much he loves his daughters. Seriously, it’s tedious. You’d have to be a Ken Burns groupie, or a fan of Walpole, to want to sit through this unbearable (and mercifully short) show. Perhaps they should have had Burns himself make the doc because his are not boring.

This is less than an hour long, and there are not features or specials. At least it does have an option for closed-captioning, unlike some PBS DVD’s.

Buy this DVD

MORE INFORMATION:

THREE NEW DRAMAS FROM MASTERPIECE 
ON DVD & BLU-RAY THIS FEBRUARY 
FROM PBS DISTRIBUTION
Below is a listing of the upcoming DVD/Blu-Ray releases from PBS Distribution slated for February.Every purchase helps support public television for all.

  • Ken Burns: Here and There – 2/2/21

Genre: Biography
Run Time: 57 min. on 1 disc – DVD
SRP: $24.99

KEN BURNS: HERE & THERE

Premieres on PBS Stations Beginning November 28

– New Documentary Reveals the Man Behind Acclaimed Documentary

Series Including The Vietnam War, Baseball,

The Roosevelts, The National Parks and the Upcoming Hemingway  –

Credit: Lisa Berg

KEN BURNS: HERE & THERE is a poetic and personal look inside the legendary filmmaker’s life and four-decade career. Footage of Burns at work and at home, interviews with close collaborators, and the profound observations of Burns himself provide illuminating insights into the man. KEN BURNS: HERE & THERE is part of special programming premiering on PBS stations beginning Saturday, November 28, 2020 (check local listings).

Burns reveals his life’s path, from struggling young filmmaker to award-winning director and producer of some of the most acclaimed historical documentaries ever made, including the Academy Award-nominated Brooklyn Bridge in 1981, The Civil War, Baseball, Jazz, The National Parks, Country Music and The Vietnam War.

The importance of belonging, community and a sense of place emerge as themes in his life. He reflects on his own geographic touchstones, from the Brooklyn Bridge to the tiny town of Walpole, New Hampshire, the safe harbor where he arrived in 1979 and has lived and worked in “splendid isolation” since. Residents and friends attest to the town’s influence on the filmmaker and vice versa.

“My films all focus on the importance of place in our lives,” said Ken Burns. “As Dante shows in his kind and generous film about our work, small-town New Hampshire is critical to who we are as filmmakers, even as our team has expanded to include editors and filmmakers in other parts of the country. I’ve been very fortunate to work and live in a town that has embraced our filmmaking as part of its fabric. I am so happy to have a chance to share this story and am hugely appreciative of the attention the film has brought to our art and town.”

Behind-the-scenes video gives an inside look at the filmmaker’s process and attention to detail, from sound mixing to scoring sessions with musicians like Yo-Yo Ma to recording the voices of Edward Hermann, Josh Lucas, Paul Giamatti, the late Eli Wallach and others as they bring characters to life. Writer Duncan Dayton speaks movingly of their decades-long relationship as partners and friends.

Burns believes that film has the power to inspire people to action. He relates the impact of a New York Times story about an Idaho family who came to the city and walked the Brooklyn Bridge because “they’d seen a documentary on public television” about it. And the joy he felt when the U.S. Secretary of the Interior called to report that attendance had increased by 15 million visitors after The National Parks aired. “That was more than a third of our audience,” says Burns, “who got up off their duffs and went out and did something.”

KEN BURNS: HERE & THERE is a Hooligan Film Productions & Phantazma Pictures film in association with Rhode Island PBS. The film is directed and produced by Dante Bellini, Jr. The director of cinematography and editor is Eric Latek. Original music score and sound by Mauro Colangelo. Lighting and additional cinematography by David Zapatka.

PBS special programming invites viewers to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; hear diverse viewpoints; and take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. Viewer contributions are an important source of funding, making PBS programs possible. PBS and public television stations offer all Americans from every walk of life the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content.

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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.

Ken Burns: Here and There

Primetime TV Review of “The Sister”

Posted on by TvMegasite Admin

TV Review!

"The Sister" on HULU

“The Sister” on HULU Review by Suzanne 1/25/21

This is a really good mystery/suspense/thriller. It grabs you from the beginning of the first episode and doesn’t let go.  Russell Tovey plays Nathan, who seems like a regular guy. He’s harboring a big secret, though.  Someone from his past, Bob (Bertie Carvel), appears, threatening his normal life.  Nathan gets more and more spun out of control as things happen.  This would be a good enough show, especially with these actors and the wonderful writing. However, it’s also a ghost story.

In the first episode, we learn that a woman died that Nathan had a crush on, and he and Bob had something to do with it.  In the meantime, Bob, who’s an expert on the supernatural, gives Nathan evidence that the woman is a ghost and haunting them. Nathan doesn’t want to believe it. Not only that, but he’s now married to the woman’s sister.

This is very well done. You should watch it. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

MORE INFORMATION:

How far would you go to keep a secret? One rainy evening, Nathan is surprised by an unwelcome face from the past. Nathan has never been able to forget the worst night of his life: a party that led to the sudden, shocking death of a young woman. Only he and Bob, an eccentric old acquaintance, know what really happened… and they’ve resolved to keep it that way. But years later, Bob appears at Nathan’s door with terrifying news that threatens to tear Nathan’s world apart. Because Nathan has his own secrets now. Secrets that could destroy everything he has desperately fought to build for himself and his family.

The four-part series is written by Neil Cross and is inspired by the novel Burial, also written by Neil Cross (Luther, Hard Sun, Mama). Executive Producers are Euston Films Managing Director Kate Harwood (Dublin Murders, Hard Sun, Baghdad Central), alongside Executive Producer for Euston Films, Noemi Spanos (Dublin Murders), and Neil Cross. The series is directed by Niall MacCormick (The Victim, The Durrells, Doctor Thorne) and produced by Jonathan Curling (Tin Star, Baghdad Central). The Sister is a Euston Films (a Fremantle company) production for ITV and is distributed internationally by Fremantle. The series was commissioned for ITV by Head of Drama, Polly Hill.

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"The Sister" on HULU

Primetime TV Review of “Losing Alice”

Posted on by TvMegasite Admin

TV Review!

"Losing Alice" on AppleTV+

“Losing Alice” on Apple TV+ Review by Suzanne 1/24/21

This is a very strange Israeli show. After viewing the first episode, I’m still not sure what’s really going on. That may be on purpose. They want to keep you guessing. I find it very hard to follow. In this psychological thriller, Alice (Ayelet Zure) is an older female film director/writer who has writer’s block and is feeling insecure. She meets a strange young woman, Sophie (Lihi Kornowski) on a train who seems to worship her. The young woman acts very odd and somewhat sexual. The older woman is clearly affected by her. She finds out that Sophie had submitted a script to her husband, David, and he liked it. Later, Alice goes home and has some unsettling encounters with her neighbors, who are remodeling their home.  She also talks to her husband about Sophie and reads Sophie’s script. She finds the script to be amazing.  We see part of the “movie” in the script, but I don’t know if it’s real or not.

If you love thrillers and aren’t bothered by movies that are very unusual and don’t follow a regular plot, then you’ll probably love this one. I don’t like to have to work this hard when I watch TV. I like to sit back, relax, and be entertained. Skip this one if you’re like me.

MORE INFORMATION:

“Losing Alice” is a thrilling cinematic journey that uses flashbacks and flash-forwards in a satisfyingly complex narrative that takes the viewer through the conscious and subconscious of its protagonist’s mind. The series follows Alice (played by Ayelet Zurer), a 48-year-old female film director, who feels irrelevant since raising her family. After a brief encounter on the train, she becomes obsessed with a 24-year-old screenwriter femme fatale, Sophie (played by Lihi Kornowski), and eventually surrenders her moral integrity in order to achieve power, relevance and success. Through the prism of this female Faust, the series explores issues such as jealousy, guilt, fear of aging, and the complex relationships women have among themselves and each other. But above all, “Losing Alice” is a love letter for the still-too-rare female director.

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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.

"Losing Alice" on AppleTV+

Primetime TV Review of “Daughter From Another Mother”

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TV Review!

"Daughter From Another Mother" on

“Daughter From Another Mother” on Netflix Review by Suzanne 1/28/21

This is a fun dramedy from Mexico. Two mothers have babies on the same day.  One is a young student, a single mom (Mariana), and the other is an older, middle-aged well-to-do mom with 3 other kids and a husband (Ana).  Mariana had planned on a home birth, but things didn’t go as planned, so her mother rushes her to the hospital. Both women happen to meet and take an instant dislike of each other.  Later on, a new nurse accidentally switches the babies when she takes off their ID bracelets and then puts them back in the wrong order.

There are a lot of characters, which include Mariana’s mother, her girlfriend, and her ex-boyfriend; Ana’s children, husband, personal assistant, chauffeur and others she works with.  They all get involved in these family problems (and two are having an extra-marital affair).  When the hospital finds out that the babies were switched, they insist that each mother give the other’s baby back. However, both moms have bonded with the other baby, so it’s heartbreaking. They come up with an easy solution: Mariana moves in with Ana’s family.

I enjoyed this first episode, and if I had time, I would watch the rest of it. Maybe I will someday.

MORE INFORMATION:

VISIT THE OFFICIAL WEB SITE

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
completed airing its first season on 1/20/21; has yet to be renewed for a second season.

DESCRIPTION:
(from Netflix’s web site, January 2021) After realizing their babies were exchanged at birth, two women develop a plan to adjust to their new lives: creating a single —and peculiar— family.

PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION:
· Ludwika Paleta
· Martín Altomaro
· Paulina Goto

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"Daughter From Another Mother" on

Primetime TV Review of “Fate: The Winx Saga”

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TV Review!

<h3><strong>TV Review!</strong></h3> <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><!-- TVMEGBODY --><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-1056557952271337" data-ad-slot="8801203268" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins><script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script> photo <strong>"show" on network Review by <a href="https://tvmeg.com/index.php/2020/06/13/biosuzanne/">Suzanne</a> 1/28/21</strong> Review MORE INFORMATION: INFO Proofread and Edited by <a href="https://tvmeg.com/index.php/2020/06/20/biobrenda/">Brenda</a> <a href="https://tvmeg.com/index.php/primetime/reviews/">Back to the Main Reviews Page</a> <i>The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers.</i> <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><!-- TVMEGBODY --><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-1056557952271337" data-ad-slot="8801203268" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins><script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script> Photo

“Fate: The Winx Saga” on Netflix Review by Suzanne 1/30/21

This series is based on a hit 2004 Italian-American animated series called “Winx Club” that also ran on Nickelodeon. The basic idea is similar to Harry Potter: a young person that wasn’t raised with magic goes to a boarding school for magical kids, where they learn to hone their powers.  They even make a joke about Harry Potter in the first episode. There are two types of teen students at Alfea, the magical boarding school in the Otherworld (a world parallel to ours): The women are fairies, with magical powers based on the elements such as fire, water, mind etc. Their emotions are linked to their powers. The men are specialists, which appear to be humans training to defend the Otherworld.

The star of the show is Bloom (Abigail Cowen), an American girl who grew up in our world, not knowing what she was or that magic existed.  She finds out that she was a Changeling, a fairy baby switched with a human one.  She left her human parents because she had accidentally burned down their house and injured her mother one day, after getting angry. She meets the other magical teens as she moves to Otherworld.

It’s a good fantasy show, with a lot of action and teen angst.  If you like shows such as “Legacies,” then you should enjoy this.

MORE INFORMATION:

NETFLIX TO ADAPT “WINX CLUB” INTO A LIVE ACTION YOUNG ADULT SERIES

March 14, 2018 – Netflix is bringing the popular Italian animated franchise Winx Club to its members around the world in a new, live action young adult series. For the first time the popular six fairies will turn into real teenagers learning to hone their powers while living together in a magic boarding school.

Winx Club was created and produced in Italy in 2004 by Iginio Straffi, founder and CEO of Rainbow Group. After its launch, It has become one of the most successful animated series in Europe and one of the first Italian series to be sold in the US.

In 2016, Netflix globally and exclusively released two seasons of World of Winx, a spinoff from the successful Winx Club, which has been popular with audiences around the world.

Erik Barmack, VP of International Originals at Netflix, says: “Winx is a global phenomenon and through this exciting series we are thrilled to reinforce our relationship with Rainbow and to develop the next chapter of Winx. The famous fairies will grow up with their audience and will explore complex themes as real-life teenage super heroines in a live action show”.

Iginio Straffi – Winx Club’s author, Founder and CEO of Rainbow Group, says: “We are very pleased that our successful collaboration with Netflix continues with ever more ambitious projects. Netflix’s young adult series have touched a chord with audiences around the world and we are looking forward to seeing the Winx fairies in this new exciting live action adaptation.”

About Netflix

Netflix is the world’s leading internet entertainment service with over 117 million members in over 190 countries enjoying more than 140 million hours of TV shows and movies per day, including original series, documentaries and feature films. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on nearly any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.

About Rainbow

The Rainbow Group was founded in 1995 by Iginio Straffi, current President and Chief Executive Officer, and gained a worldwide reputation thanks to the extraordinary success of the Winx Club fairies brand. The group operates in the children and teenager entertainment industry, ranking among the main international companies for the development of content – both animated and live action – for TV and cinema productions, as well as for the creation, development and licensing of content and the production of animated content for third parties, integrated by the group with the acquisition of Canadian studios Bardel Entertainment in 2015.With the acquisition of Iven Group in 2017, the Rainbow Group has also broadened its offer of TV and movie products dedicated to adults and families, with the TV formats and film library owned by Colorado Film Production S.r.l., (one of Iven Group’s companies) that has been active on the market for more than 30 years. In over 20 years of experience, the group has created and developed a variety of properties and can count on a product portfolio aired in over 100 countries through different broadcasting platforms; in the consumer products industry, has led to the company being 11th on the yearly Global Licensor List worldwide – and 1st in Europe – with more than 500 licensees worldwide on a global scale.

Abigail Cowen Has Joined the Cast of “Fate: The Winx Saga” – Adapted from the Popular Italian Franchise
Brian Young will showrun the YA-series set at a magical boarding school where five friends try to navigate their powers, romance, and deadly monsters.

DESCRIPTION:
Determined to master their enchanting powers, a group of teens navigate rivalry, romance and supernatural studies at Alfea, a magical boarding school.

PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION:
· Abigail Cowen as Bloom
· Alex Macqueen
· Danny Griffin as Sky
· Eliot Salt as Terra
· Elisha Applebaum as Musa
· Eva Birthistle
· Eve Best
· Freddie Thorp as Riven
· Hannah van der Westhuysen as Stella
· Jacob Dudman as Sam
· Josh Cowdery
· Precious Mustapha as Aisha
· Robert James-Collier
· Sadie Soverall as Beatrix
· Theo Graham as Dane
CREW INFORMATION:
· Brian Young as CRTR/EP
· Iginio Straffi as EP
· Jon Finn as PROD
· Lisa James Larsson as DIR

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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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.

TV Review! <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><!-- TVMEGBODY --><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-1056557952271337" data-ad-slot="8801203268" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins><script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script> photo "show" on network Review by Suzanne 1/28/21 Review MORE INFORMATION: INFO Proofread and Edited by Brenda Back to the Main Reviews Page The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers. <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><!-- TVMEGBODY --><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-1056557952271337" data-ad-slot="8801203268" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins><script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script> Photo

Primetime DVD Review: “Doom Patrol: The Complete Second Season”

Posted on by TvMegasite Admin

DVD Review!

Doom Patrol: The Complete Second Season [Blu-ray] DVD cover

“Doom Patrol: The Complete Second Season [Blu-ray] ” Review by Suzanne 1/23/21

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this post. The opinions I share are my own.

I love this series. I grew up reading the “Doom Patrol” comic books. I love superhero shows, and the actors do a fabulous job. I’m very glad to have this on DVD because I never seem to have the time to watch it otherwise. The second season is just as good as the first, in my opinion. The characters, having vanguished the villain Mr. Nobody in season 1, now have plenty to do in season 2 as they battle their own inner demons as well as the real-life bad guys.  They do a wonderful job of bringing the comic book to life.

Season 2 ended on a cliffhanger because of the pandemic (there was supposed to be one more episode); there are 9 episodes total.  The show was renewed for season 3 and has already started filming. Hopefully, it will return later this year. It airs now on HBO Max, since DC Universe no longer shows TV shows.

Any comic book fan should love this series.  It’s great drama, tragedy, action and quite a bit of humor as well.

The special features include “Doom Patrol: The Magic of Makeup” and “Doom Patrol Season 2: Come Visit Georgia PSA.”  The first feature is very cool and shows how some of the makeup gets done for the show. The second feature is really boring, but it’s short. I wish they had more extras.

MORE INFORMATION:

Now’s the Time to Get a Grip of Your Inner Demons!
DOOM PATROL:
THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON
Contains All Action-Packed Episodes from the Second Season of the Hit DC UNIVERSE Original Series, Plus Two Featurettes!
Come Face-To-Face with Your Secrets with the Release of the Hit Series on Blu-ray™ & DVD on January 26, 2021
BURBANK, CA (October 21, 2020) – Get ready to embrace the strange. DC’s favorite misfit heroes are back to save the world once again with the release of Doom Patrol: The Complete Second Season on Blu-ray and DVD on January 26, 2021 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Strap yourself in for an exhilarating ride with all 9 episodes from the second season of the original DC series, plus enjoy the captivating extra features including two behind-the-scenes featurettes. Doom Patrol: The Complete Second Seasonis priced to own at $29.98 SRP for the DVD ($39.99 in Canada) and $39.99 SRP for the Blu-ray ($44.98 in Canada), which includes a Digital Copy (U.S. only). Both sets have an order due date of December 22, 2020.
DC’s strangest group of Super Heroes are back again to save the world – that is if they can find a way to grow up…both figuratively and literally. Following the defeat of Mr. Nobody, the DOOM PATROL now find themselves mini-sized and stranded on Cliff’s toy race car track. Here they begin to deal with their feelings of betrayal with Niles Caulder aka The Chief, while confronting their own personal baggage. As each Super Hero faces the challenge of moving beyond trauma and failure, they must come together to protect the newest family member, Niles’ daughter, whose powers remain a mysterious but real threat to bringing on the end of the world.
With Blu-ray’s unsurpassed picture and sound, Doom Patrol: The Complete Second Season will be released in 1080p Full HD Video with DTS-HD Master Audio for English 5.1. The 2-disc Blu-ray will feature a high-definition Blu-ray and a Digital Copy of all 9 episodes from season two (available in the U.S.).
Doom Patrol stars Diane Guerrero (“Orange is the New Black”), April Bowlby (“Two and a Half Men”), and Joivan Wade (“Doctor Who”), with Matt Bomer (Magic Mike), and Brendan Fraser (The Mummy), and a special appearance by Timothy Dalton (License to Kill). Based on the characters from DC, Doom Patrol is produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (“The Flash,” “Supergirl,” “Riverdale,” “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow)”, Jeremy Carver (“Supernatural,” “Frequency”), Geoff Johns (Aquaman, Wonder Woman), Chris Dingess (Agent Carter, Eastwick) and Sarah Schechter (“The Flash,” “Supergirl,” “Blindspot,” “Black Lightning”). Doom Patrolhas been renewed for a third season exclusively on HBO Max.
SPECIAL FEATURES
  • The Transformers: Doom Patrol’s Make-up FX
  • Doom Patrol – Come Visit Georgia PSA
9 ONE-HOUR EPISODES
  1. Fun Size Patrol
  2. Tyme Patrol
  3. Pain Patrol
  4. Sex Patrol
  5. Finger Patrol
  6. Space Patrol
  7. Dumb Patrol
  8. Dad Patrol
  9. Wax Patrol
BASICS
Street Date: January 26, 2021
BD and DVD Presented in 16×9 widescreen format
Running Time: Feature: Approx 405 min
Enhanced Content: Approx 11 min
DVD
Price: $29.98 SRP
3-Discs (3 DVD-9s)
Audio – English (5.1)
Subtitles – English SDH
US & Canada
UPC# 883929725298
Catalog# 1000780601
BLU-RAY
Price: $39.99 SRP
2-Discs (2 BD-50s)
Audio – DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 – English
BD Subtitles – English SDH
US
UPC# 883929727759
Catalog# 1000781748
Canada
UPC# 883929725304
Catalog# 1000780602
About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment’s home video, digital distribution and interactive entertainment businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees.
About DC
DC is one of the largest English-language publishers of comics and graphic novels in the world and home to some of the most iconic and recognizable characters ever created. As a creative unit of WarnerMedia, DC is charged with strategically integrating its stories and characters across film, television, consumer products, home entertainment, interactive games, and the DC Universe digital subscription service. For more information, visit dccomics.com and dcuniverse.com.

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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

Doom Patrol Season 2 cast

Primetime DVD Review: “Snowpiercer: The Complete First Season”

Posted on by TvMegasite Admin

DVD Review!

Snowpiercer: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray] DVD cover

“Snowpiercer: The Complete First Season (BD + Digital) [Blu-ray]” Review by Suzanne 1/23/21

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this post. The opinions I share are my own.

In case you didn’t know, this is the TV version of the 2013 movie “Snowpiercer” starring Chris Evans (which was adapted from a book). It takes place in the future, after mankind, in trying to fix climate change, froze the earth. The rich people got together and built a massive train just for them and their families. However, many regular people forced their way on board with them before the train started up.  Now the people at the back of the train (the Tailies) are poor and starving, while the rich people live in the rest of the train, sectioned off from the rest.  The Tailies want to rebel and overtake the rest of the train, but the rich people try to keep the ecological balance of their part of the train and enforce their privacy with a security force.  They occasionally bring Tailies into the front part to work as maintenance, security and other menial tasks.

I never saw the original “Snowpiercer” movie, so I can’t compare the TNT series to that. I was reluctant to watch either because I had read what they were about, and I’m not a big fan of post-apocalyptic or dystopian movies/shows. They’re usually lacking in hope; everything is dark, dirty and depressing.  I love scifi, but I was raised on “Star Trek,” where everything is clean and hopeful.

However, they sent me the DVD to review, so I had to watch it. It’s not bad.  Things are bad for humanity in this show, but they’re not hopeless. There is a lot of violence, but they do have some nice moments to balance it a bit. It is a very intense show that keeps you watching.

It’s compelling drama as long as you ignore how ridiculous parts of it are. I don’t know about the movie, but it seems to me that without the Tailies, the rich people wouldn’t have anyone to do the manual labor (unless they already had brought on their favorite nannies and other staff). How do you build a track or train that long, and what happens if part of the tracks deteriorate or freeze over? What happens if other things go wrong mechanically on the train. I’m sure that in real life, they have maintenance crews to fix things. It doesn’t make a lot of sense as to why they would build a train to just go around and around on the ice planet, especially when they could have built a city instead, or a spaceship. Why a moving train at all? No one appears to have guns, so either they were outlawed or the rich people didn’t think they would need them, I guess. If they weren’t expecting people to jump on the train, then how do the security guards have all these fancy uniforms?

The show’s two main stars are Daveed Diggs of “Hamilton” fame (Andre Layton) and movie star Jennifer Connelly (Melanie Cavill).  You’ll no doubt recognize other familiar faces in the show, such as Mike O’Malley (“Glee,” “Yes, Dear”), Alison Wright (“Castle Rock”) or Sheila Vand (“Undone”).  Sean Bean joins the show in the 2nd season. Lyaton is the show’s hero from the Tail. He’s brought up to the front of the train to solve a murder because he was a former police detective in Detroit.  He’s forced to help the rich people, even though he doesn’t want to.  Connelly is the heroine (of sorts) who helps run the train and keep the status quo.  She and Diggs have a lot of chemistry.

The movie is, of course, about class warfare. It’s made even clearer by the fact that the rich people are all white or Asian, and the tailies tend to have more black people.  The tailies live in the dark, with no windows, and no creature comforts (I gather they’re back with the luggage? I wonder what happened to all the rich people’s luggage?). Everything looks dirty and raggedy.  The front part of the train is very clean, white and beautiful. They seem to have everything one could want. The show is set 7 years after the train started, and I believe the movie was set later than that. I supposed that makes it a prequel.

There are only 10 episodes, so there are only two disks. There are many bonus features, including an Overview of the show; a segment called Class Warfare; a behind-the-scenes interview with the two main stars; a feature about the train itself; and a segment called “Behind the Curtain: Art of the Frozen World” which focuses the Hollywood magic they use to make the cold parts of the show.  It’s a good show to binge-watch, along with the extras.

MORE INFORMATION:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The World Outside Is Frozen Solid. The World Inside Is Heating Up.
SNOWPIERCER:
THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON
All Aboard The World’s Most Elite Train On January 26, 2021
When the Blu-ray™ & DVD Become Available!
BURBANK, CA (October 20, 2020) Attention all passengers – the revolution is coming! Get ready for more secrets, plot twists, and reveals as Warner Bros Home Entertainment takes you on an epic journey with the release of “Snowpiercer: The Complete First Season” on Blu-ray and DVD on January 26, 2021. Strap yourself in for an exhilarating ride with all 10 episodes from the first season, plus enjoy the captivating extra features, behind-the-scenes interviews, featurettes, and more! “Snowpiercer: The Complete First Season” is priced to own at $24.98 SRP for the DVD and $29.98 SRP for the Blu-ray, which includes a Digital Copy. Both sets have an order due date of December 22, 2020. “Snowpiercer: The Complete First Season” is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.
Set more than seven years after the world has become a frozen wasteland, “Snowpiercer”centers on the remnants of humanity who inhabit a perpetually moving train, with 1001 cars, that circles the globe. Class warfare, social injustice and the politics of survival play out in this riveting television adaptation.
“In only its first season this insanely brilliant series, with incredible actors takes us through the ultimate journey of what could potentially be the aftermath of global warming,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, WBHE Senior Vice President, Originals, Animation & Family Marketing. “Get ready for the ride of a lifetime as you binge watch the entire first season on Digital, Blu-ray & DVD!”
Based on the critically acclaimed graphic novel series and the film from Academy Award® winner Bong Joon Ho (“Parasite”), the all-new series stars Academy Awardwinner Jennifer Connelly (“A Beautiful Mind”),  Grammy® and Tony Award® winner Daveed Diggs (“Hamilton,” “Black-ish”) Emmy® nominee Alison Wright (“The Americans”), Mickey Sumner (“Frances Ha,” “Battle of the Sexes”), Susan Park (“Ghostbusters”), Iddo Goldberg (“Peaky Blinders,” “The Zookeeper’s Wife”), Katie McGuinness (“Dirty Filthy Love”), Tony Award winner and Grammy nominee Lena Hall (“Hedwig and the Angry Inch”), Annalise Basso (“Bedtime Stories”), Sam Otto (“Jellyfish”), Roberto Urbina (“Narcos”), Sheila Vand (“Argo”) and Jaylin Fletcher (“Saturday Church”).
The series is executive produced by Graeme Manson, Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements, James Hawes, Matthew O’Connor, Ben Rosenblatt and Scott Derrickson, and the original film’s producers, including Bong Joon Ho, Miky Lee, Tae-sung Jeong, Park Chan-wook, Lee Tae-hun and Dooho Choi. The show is produced by Tomorrow Studios (a joint venture between Adelstein and ITV Studios), along with CJ Entertainment. ITV Studios handles international distribution.  Cable’s #1 new drama series, “Snowpiercer” season two will premiere Monday, January 25 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on TNT.
SPECIAL FEATURES
  • Overview
  • Class Warfare
  • Jennifer & Daveed – Behind The Scenes Interview
  • The Train
  • Behind the Curtain: Art of the Frozen World
10 ONE-HOUR EPISODES
  1. First, The Weather Changed
  2. Prepare to Brace
  3. Access is Power
  4. Without Their Power
  5. Justice Never Boarded
  6. Trouble Comes Sideways
  7. The Universe Is Different
  8. These Are His Revolutions
  9. The Train Demanded Blood
  10. 994 Cars Long
DIGITAL
The first season of Snowpiercer is also available to own on Digital. Digital allows consumers to instantly stream and download all episodes to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices. Digital is available from various retailers including Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu, PlayStation, Xbox and others. A Digital Copy is also included in the U.S. with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs for redemption and cloud storage.
BASICS
Street Date: January 26, 2021
Order Due Date: December 22, 2020
BD and DVD Presented in 16×9 widescreen format
Running Time: Feature: Approx 440 min
Enhanced Content: Approx 20 min
DVD
Price: $24.98 SRP
3-Discs (3 DVD-9s)
Audio – English (5.1)
Subtitles – English SDH
UPC# 883929723768
Catalog# 1000778531
BLU-RAY
Price: $29.98 SRP
2-Discs (2 BD-50s)
Audio – DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 – English
BD Subtitles – English SDH
UPC# 883929723775
Catalog# 1000778532
About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment’s home video, digital distribution and interactive entertainment businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees.
About TNT
TNT, a WarnerMedia brand, is watched by more people than any other cable network and known for big, lean-forward television that gives viewers the best seat in the house for electrifying stories, dynamic characters and thrilling events. TNT is home to some of television’s most popular original series including ”Snowpiercer,” ”The Alienist: The Angel of Darkness,” “Animal Kingdom” and ”Claws.” TNT is expanding its programming to include premium unscripted with the docuseries ”ShaqLife.” TNT also presents popular shows such as ”Bones” and ”Castle,” in addition to primetime specials and sports coverage, including the NBA and NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships and the professional wrestling league All Elite Wrestling (AEW), which has exploded onto the scene with “AEW Dynamite,” premiering as the night’s #1 wrestling show. Website: www.tntdrama.com

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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

Snowpiercer's Connelly and Diggs

Primetime TV Review of “Walker”

Posted on by TvMegasite Admin

TV Review!

Jared Padelecki stars in "Walker" on The CW

“Walker” on The CW Review by Suzanne 1/22/21

Jared Padalecki (Sam on “Supernatural”) stars as Cordell Walker, a Texas Ranger. This is a reboot of the old series, “Walker, Texas Ranger” starring Chuck Norris, but aside from the name, the main character’s former marine service, and the Texas locale, it has little in common with that series.  They probably should have stuck closer to that formula, since that was a popular show that ran for 8 years.

This one tries to be more modern and more of an ensemble show. Although Walker is definitely the star, other characters in the show include his daughter, his son, his parents, his old partner and his new partner. Also, we see his wife at the very beginning. It’s a lot of people to get to know (or care about) in a short period of time. Padalecki doesn’t look old enough to have two teenaged children.  He is, but he doesn’t look it. It’s thin frame and his baby face worked well for him on “The Gilmore Girls” and “Supernatural,” but he doesn’t quite look tough enough or old enough for this role (even though he’s pushing 40, believe it or not).

Walker returns after a long absence following his wife’s death and an undercover job.  He has to get to know his family again, and get back to his old job. He also wants to investigate his wife’s death, which he still has questions about.

The old show relied more on action. Chuck Norris wasn’t a very good actor, but he was a martial arts expert who had appeared in a movie with Bruce Li and done quite a few of his own action films. This new show lacks action. It’s more like a regular cop show. Just judging from the first episode, it seems like they can’t decide whether it’s going to be a cop show, a mystery, or a family drama.  Shows that try too hard to be more than one thing usually don’t do well. I’ll keep watching – mainly because I like Padalecki – to see if it gets better.

MORE INFORMATION:

WALKER

Thursday (8:00 – 9:00 p.m. ET) on The CWJared Padalecki and Mitch Pileggi in "Walker" on The CW

WALKER, a reimagining of the long-running series “Walker, Texas Ranger,” stars Jared Padalecki (“Supernatural”) as Cordell Walker, a widower and father with his own moral code, who returns home to Austin, Texas after being undercover for nearly a year, only to discover there’s harder work to be done at home. Walker will attempt to reconnect with his creative and thoughtful son, August (Kale Culley, “Me, Myself and I”) and his headstrong, somewhat rebellious teenaged daughter, Stella (Violet Brinson, “Sharp Objects”) and navigate changes with the rest of the family. His ADA brother, William “Liam” (Keegan Allen, “Pretty Little Liars”) returned home from New York and stepped in during Walker’s absence, making it all the more difficult for Walker to resume his place in the family. The perceptive matriarch of the Walker clan, Abeline (Molly Hagan, “Herman’s Head”) doesn’t hesitate to speak her mind to keep everyone in line and their traditional rancher father, Bonham (Mitch Pileggi, “The X-Files”) isn’t much for long winded, sentimental prattling, but voices his opinion when it counts most. At work, Walker’s former colleague, Larry James, is now his Ranger Captain, (Coby Bell, “The Game”) and both men need time to adjust to their new dynamic. Walker finds unexpected common ground with his new partner, Micki Ramirez (one of the first women in Texas Rangers’ history) played by Lindsey Morgan (“The 100”). She knows there’s a lot at stake for her in this new job and is quick to school Walker on curbing his maverick ways. Walker’s not Micki’s only distraction, as her relationship with an old friend, Trey (played by Jeff Pierre, “Once Upon a Time”) becomes more serious. The series closely follows Walker as he tries to balance all the new details in his old life while growing increasingly suspicious about the circumstances surrounding his wife’s (Genevieve Padalecki) death.

WALKER stars Jared Padalecki as Cordell Walker, Lindsey Morgan as Micki, Keegan Allen as Liam, Mitch Pileggi as Bohnam, Molly Hagan as Abeline, Violet Brinson as Robin, Kale Culley as Arlo, Coby Bell as Captain Larry James, and Jeff Pierre as Trey Barnett.

WALKER is written and executive produced by Anna Fricke (“Being Human,” “Valor”), and executive produced by Dan Lin and Lindsay Liberatore and Jared Padalecki. WALKER is from CBS Television Studios in association with Rideback.

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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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.

Lindsey Morgan, Coby Bell and Jared Padalecki in "Walker" on The CW.