Primetime DVD Review: “Ben 10 vs. The Universe: The Movie”

DVD Review!

Ben 10 vs. The Universe: The Movie DVD cover

“Ben 10 vs. The Universe: The Movie” Review by Suzanne 10/20/20

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

“Ben 10” is a long-running animated TV series. There have been 5 different TV series and 5 movies. This is the latest film. Ben is a kid who acquires a wristwatch known as the Omnitrix. It uses alien dna to transform him into different creatures with armor, powers etc. He uses it to fight villains and defend his family.  It’s not just an action show, though. Ben learns many things, with the help of his uncle, grandfather and cousin – it’s educational and family-oriented; it’s won many awards.

In the movie, Ben goes to space to thwart a meteor and ends up being taken by aliens. He has a few adventures. Meanwhile, an evil alien is trying to take over the earth.  Ben is bored and impatient at the beginning of the movie, but he gets more adventure than he bargained for and learns a few things along the way.

While it’s definitely a kid’s show, it has a lot of humor in it. Adults might enjoy that – especially those who like cartoons. Of course, there are also many “Ben 10” action figures and other toys that tie in with the show and movie.

This would make a great gift for any child. Also, you don’t have to have seen any of the previous shows or movies to know what’s going on. It’s pretty easy to pick up and start watching.  The DVD doesn’t have a lot of features. It shows some of the scenes before they were colored and finished, and it it has some static artwork.

MORE INFORMATION:

Cartoon Network’s “Ben 10” Goes on His Most Out-of-this-World Adventure Yet in
Blasting Off on Digital October 11, 2020
Own the DVD October 27, 2020
BURBANK, CA (August 27, 2020) Ben Tennyson is back on the alien-fighting scene, and expanding to take on the universe as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases Ben 10 vs. The Universe: The Movie globally on Digital October 11 and on DVD October 27, 2020. Follow the alien-transforming kid hero with all-new powers and settings on this intergalactic adventure, filled with action-packed bonus content including Animatics, exclusive to the DVD. Ben 10 vs. The Universe: The Movie carries a suggested retail price of $14.99 for Digital, $19.99 for the DVD ($24.99 in Canada), and is rated TV-Y7. Ben 10 vs. The Universe: The Movie has an order due date of September 22, 2020.
The action-packed movie, which will air globally first on Cartoon Network, will focus around a blast from Ben’s past returning to do double the damage on Team Tennyson and planet Earth itself, forcing Ben to go interstellar to save the day. Meanwhile, Gwen and Grandpa Max team up to help protect the world in Ben’s absence. But when our boy hero is confused for the villain in space, Ben must figure out a way to get back to Earth to help save it!
“After 15 successful years, the Ben 10 franchise continues to thrive around the world,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, WBHE Senior Vice President, Originals, Animation & Family Marketing.  “From its Emmy Award-winning series to its robust toy line from Bandai, merchandise in all forms have all combined to generate more than $4.5 billion in global retail sales to date. We know that fans and newcomers alike will want to own this latest installment in the franchise’s home entertainment catalog to add to their Ben 10 collections.”
Ben 10is produced by Cartoon Network Studios and created, and executive produced by Man of Action Entertainment (Big Hero 6, Generator Rex), with John Fang (Mixels, Generator Rex) as executive producer.
DIGITAL
Ben 10 vs. The Universe: The Movie will be available to own on October 11, 2020. Digital allows consumers to instantly stream and download to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices. Digital is available from various retailers including iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu, PlayStation, Xbox and others.
MARKETING SUPPORT
The release of Ben 10 vs The Universe: The Movie will be supported by a robust national publicity campaign; estimated to generate millions of impressions.
DVD BONUS FEATURES
·        Animatics
BASICS
Digital Release Date: October 11, 2020
DVD Release Date: October 27, 2020
Order Due Date: September 22, 2020
Presented in 16×9 widescreen format
Total Runtime: Approx. 69 minutes
Enhanced Content: Approx. 10 min
1 DVD-9s
Audio – English (5.1)
Subtitles – English SDH
Rated: TV-Y7
Digital Price: $14.99 SRP
DVD Price: $19.98 SRP ($24.99 in Canada)
UPC #: 883929723577
Catalog # 100778092
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 Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics (GKYAC)
Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics (GKYAC) brings together Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang and Turner Classic Movies (TCM), as well as Cartoon Network Studios and Warner Bros. Animation. Among the iconic franchises, series and characters under the GKYAC banner are Looney Tunes, DC’s animated Super Heroes, Rick and Morty, Craig of the Creek, the classic Hanna-Barbera library, Tom and Jerry, Scooby-Doo, Warner Bros.’ unrivalled film library, and many more.
GKYAC’s mission is to be the premiere global provider of kids, family, young adults, and classics content and brands. The group’s programming supplies unique and compelling content for HBO MAX, WarnerMedia’s direct-to-consumer platform. Uniting these award-winning networks and innovative brands helps maximize opportunities and growth potential, both as standalone businesses and as content generators, to drive and support its franchises, cross-studio initiatives as well as ratings.
Warner Bros. GKYAC’s content is currently distributed in 192 countries around the world and the division’s networks are in 500 million homes, delivered through more than 65 channels in 31 languages.
About Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a division of WarnerMedia and the #1 global animated series network, offering the best in original content for kids and families with such hits as Ben 10, Craig of the Creek, Steven Universe, The Amazing World of Gumball, The Powerpuff Girls, and We Bare Bears. Seen in 187 countries, over 450 million homes and in 33 languages, Cartoon Network inspires the next generation of creators and innovators by engaging its audience at the intersection of creativity and technology. Its award-winning pro-social initiatives, Stop Bullying: Speak Up and CN Buddy Network are acknowledged and often used resources for kids and adults looking for tools that can assist in dealing with the ongoing issue of bullying.
WarnerMedia is a leading media and entertainment company that creates and distributes premium and popular content from a diverse array of talented storytellers and journalists to global audiences through its consumer brands including: HBO, HBO Now, HBO Max, Warner Bros., TNT, TBS, truTV, CNN, DC, New Line, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies and others. Warner Media is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T).
About Cartoon Network Studios
Established in 2000, Cartoon Network Studios (CNS) is a global animation and interactive studio recognized for its innovative approaches to IP development and world-building. Fostering a creator-driven environment, CNS is home to hundreds of visual artists who have been a part of the studio’s many critically acclaimed and groundbreaking animated series including Adventure Time, Ben 10,Craig of the Creek, Steven Universe, The Powerpuff Girls, and Victor and Valentino. CNS has also produced notable Adult Swim hits such as Primal, Samurai Jack, and Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law. CNS has been honored with multiple awards and accolades including: Emmy, Peabody, GLAAD and Annie Awards. Internationally, the studio also garnered the BAFTA, Italy’s prestigious Pulcinella Award and Annecy Festival’s Cristal Award. Currently, CNS houses a VR lab, and produces an array of interactive formats and products for youth and young adult audiences around the world. As part of its ongoing efforts to discover unique and promising voices everywhere, the studio has a robust global Artist Program and has numerous partnerships, including Exceptional Minds, Black Women Animate and California Institute of the Arts.

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.

Ben with Phil and his cousin Gwen

Primetime TV Review: “Supermarket Sweep”

TV Review!

“Supermarket Sweep” Review by Eva 10/20/2020

If you have been reading my tv show reviews for a while, then you know I enjoy game shows. One of my favorite game shows in the past was Supermarket Sweep because I always wanted to be able to put any groceries I wanted in my cart without having to worry about the price. Leslie Jones (of SNL fame) is the executive producer and host of the new show.

The show is very simple to play. There are three teams of two who play three rounds of trivia, where they test their knowledge of food and grocery brands. The contestants add seconds to their sweep time for every question they answer correctly. Once the trivia rounds are over, the team that has the most minutes goes first to go around the market, with the goal of putting the most expensive items in their cart in order to win the game. The best part of the show is when all three teams are running around the market, putting groceries in their cart and picking up inflatables and other items to earn bonus points. The team who has the most money in groceries and bonuses wins the game and has a chance to run another sweep where they could win one hundred thousand dollars.

I really enjoyed Leslie Jones as the host because she said in one episode that she was a fan of the former version of the show that was on Lifetime. Because she is a fan of the show, she is truly rooting for the contestants to win. Jones gets excited when the contestants win, and she roots for them when they are running the sweeps. If you enjoy game shows like I do, you will enjoy this one. It really is fun to watch. I really think this will be a great addition to the ABC fun and games block of game shows.

I give this show a 5 out of 5 stars

MORE INFORMATION:

ABC’s Game Show Lineup Gets Supersized – Leslie Jones to Host Revival of Classic TV Game Show ‘Supermarket Sweep’
ABC’S GAME SHOW LINEUP GETS SUPERSIZED

LESLIE JONES TO HOST REVIVAL OF CLASSIC TV GAME SHOW
‘SUPERMARKET SWEEP’

ABC is bringing back the classic TV game show “Supermarket Sweep,” hosted and executive produced by Emmy® Award-nominated comedienne and actress Leslie Jones. Produced by Fremantle, the fast-paced and energetic series follows three teams of two as they battle it out using their grocery shopping skills and knowledge of merchandise to win big cash prizes. The original format aired on ABC from 1965-1967 and went on to become a global sensation. It was adapted in 13 international territories and, most recently, relaunched in the UK. Production on the 10-episode order is set to begin this spring. An airdate will be announced at a later date.

“I’ve always dreamed of being on ‘Supermarket Sweep,’” said Leslie Jones. “Seriously, I tried out for the show years ago; and after getting turned away, I knew I’d have to take matters into my own hands. Being able to bring the iconic game show back to life on ABC is my ultimate redemption story!”

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.

Back to the Main Reviews Page

Interview with Eli Henry

TV Interview!

Eli Henry on "Connecting..." on NBC.

Interview with Eli Henry of “Connecting…” on NBC by Suzanne 10/8/20

This was a really interesting interview. I watched the first 3 episodes of the show last night. What was very exciting was the way they’re filming this show remotely, over the iPhone. It makes it a fairly unique show.

Suzanne: Tell us how you got the role of Rufus.

Ely:   Sure. Well, it came at a point in lockdown when I’d pretty much sacrificed myself to doing nothing. I’d accepted the fact that it was going to be a while before any work came up. Occasionally, there’d be some auditions for, you know, things shot traditionally on a set with everybody, and it kind of felt like fan fiction to me. I was kind of like, “Yeah, okay, sure, you’re gonna make this?”

Then, when I got this audition, it was cool, because they said [what] the plan was, how they’re planning on shooting it, and they wanted the audition to be unique and [to] make it your own. You know, usually it’s just in front of a blank wall with someone reading off to you, but this time, they encouraged you to do it where you would shoot it in your home. So, I am lucky enough to have this bizarre, detached garage office in my home, and it’s covered in wood paneling, and it looks like a conspiracy bunker. So, I went in there; I brought as much vitamin C cold medicine, all the masks. I had a face shield and just kind of put it all over the frame. It was nice to be able to have a place to vent all of my COVID frustrations, and, yeah, I’m glad that everyone at NBC agreed.

Suzanne:   Great. So, when did the filming take place?

Ely:   Well, we’re shooting episode eight. Actually, we’re finishing it tonight and tomorrow, but we started very quickly after I got hired, and we’ve been going for a while, I guess, a couple months now.

You know, [it] was a very, very quick turnaround audition. I got tested, maybe a week later, and I was hired the next day, and the day I was hired, they said, “Okay, tomorrow, you’re gonna do the workplace safety meeting on Zoom in the morning.” Then, it was like we hit the ground running. From that point on, it was non stop deliveries of props and equipment and all this stuff to me. It was like Santa Claus when he starts getting all the packages nonstop. It was just like that. It’s kind of amazing that we’ve reached the end of these first eight episodes now, because of how busy I’ve been.

Suzanne:   So there’s eight episodes total?

Ely:   So far; fingers crossed for more, but that’s where we’re at.

Suzanne:   I’m a little confused. Was the show filmed virtually? I mean, in your home, or do they have a set for you to go to?

Ely:   It was completely in our homes.

Suzanne:   Wow.

Ely:   We all have gotten a crash course in technology. We filmed the show entirely on iPhone 11. So, the only people that I have ever seen in a work context from the show, are PAs would come at the end of the day and pick up my phone and drop off a new one. So, I have one phone on my desk, which I use as the camera, and another phone I use to control that phone. And then I’m on zoom on my computer with the cast and crew.

And that’s how we do it. I have a mic I plug into the phone; I have a mic I wear, and at the end of the day, we sanitize the phone, sanitize the sound card and give it to the PA, and it’s the whole process.

Suzanne:   Wow, that’s amazing. So, they should be paying you to be a cameraman too, right?

Ely:   You know, the decision of how much to pay me is above my pay grade.

Suzanne:   It seems like they should at least put you in the union for like camera, sound, makeup, all the stuff you’re doing.

Ely:   I mean, I am very sure, but at the same time, I don’t need to be paying those union fees.

Suzanne:   Well, yeah. Well, if they paid you the same for all those.

Ely:   You know what? I think I’d like to hire you to be rep.

Suzanne:   Right. I feel bad though. I feel bad for the people who normally do those things, I hope they’re able to do something.

Ely:   They’re actually still involved, because these are complex things that we are required to do, and they’re in unusual circumstances. We have an entire crew on Zoom who is there to walk us through everything. So, when they’re setting up cameras, setting up lights, we have our incredible crew, camera department, saying, you know, to change this, do that move there, makeup and hair on there, too. I’ll get a text saying, “Powder your forehead; fix your hair,” that kind of stuff. So, everyone’s still there.

Suzanne:   Oh, that’s good.

Ely:   It’s funny, because it’s a whole group of people who I’m sure would much rather be doing it themselves too. I’m not good at these things.

Suzanne:   Well, they had to get, I guess, smart people on both sides to be able to [do it]. You had to learn a lot of stuff, and then they had to learn a lot of stuff and convey it to you. That’s amazing.

Ely:   For sure. It’s incredible as to how different it is; you know, we’re on episode eight now from episode one. The setup time used to take a long time there was a whole thing, but then we’ve developed our own language of just memorizing settings and doing all these things. I’m sure everyone on the cast is now so much smarter or so much more technologically proficient than we were right before all of this.

Suzanne:   Right. Well, it makes sense; you have shortcuts now.

Ely:   Exactly.

Suzanne:   You and your cast mates really seem like you’ve been good friends a long time. Did you do any type of pre tape bonding to make that happen?

Ely:   You know, we didn’t, really, before we got started. I think the minute we got hired, Parvesh [Cheena] started a Whatsapp group chat for us and gave us a place to all communicate, and we reached out to each other on social media, found out who of us have mutual friends, people in common.

I think it was just kind of an interesting thing, where I remember I was saying when we first started, I had resigned myself to not meeting anybody new for months. I’m very much an extrovert. I very much like to socialize. So, I was kind of accepting of the fact that I wasn’t going to meet anybody. So, then we all got this chance to get to know a whole new group of people, and I think we all just jumped at it. It’s such a loving, wonderful group, and based on the nature of the show and how different it is and, well, how new it is, I think we were all perfectly willing to just dive in headfirst. We check in with each other often; the group text is is chaotic and frequent. We’ve had Zoom hangs outside of recording to just chat and catch up, and there have been a couple socially distanced gatherings outdoors. I’ve gone over to Jill [Knox] and Keith [Powell]’s place; they’ve got a huge backyard. I went over with my girlfriend; we sat far away, but that was even, you know, a month after we started.

So, it is kind of amazing to see that we actually made this chemistry without having spent much time together.

Suzanne:   Yeah, good. I’m glad you guys were able to get together and be friends in real life.

Ely:   Yeah, for sure.

Suzanne:   Had you met any of the cast or crew previously?

Ely:   No, I had not. I mean, I think I’d auditioned for something Martin [Gero] had created, a show called La Complex. I’d auditioned for that when I was living in Canada. Brendan Gall, Martin Gero, and I are all Canadian. So, he remembered me from that, but that was maybe ten years ago. Then, I’ve had mutual friends with some of the other cast and friends with one of the writers, Carl Tart, who is going to be on the show later.

So, it was one of those things where when we had that first Zoom workplace meeting, and, you know, the whole crew’s on Zoom. I remember just looking through trying to figure out who everyone was, seeing my friend Carl and sending him a message on Instagram and just trying to pick out who might be in the cast. It was very interesting, kind of Where’s Waldo situation.

Suzanne:   When you do the Zoom thing, it has to be on the phone, right? You can’t have like a big computer screen.

Ely:   I have a desktop computer, so my setup is different. Every one of the actors has a bit of a different setup, and I’m fortunate that I’m always in this bunker, so my angle is basically the same. So, I can have my tripod in front of my big desktop computer, and I have the zoom on there, so that makes it easier in terms of seeing the actors. When we actually do the scenes, we’re doing it straight to the to the lens of the camera, but we do one rehearsal before we actually record, where we just look at the computer screen, so we know what each other is doing. Because otherwise, we’re just kind of winging it.

Suzanne:   Yeah, that’s a lot of people to try to see on a little phone, or even a big phone.

Ely:   It can certainly be overwhelming.

Suzanne:   Aside from the obvious things, what was the biggest challenge you faced during filming?

Ely:   I think the technology was a challenge in its own sense of, of course, we could have expected that these things are not designed to be doing what we’re doing with them, but we’ve all found a way. I think it’s certainly a challenge to know what to do with yourself with all this going on.

I think beyond the actual show and filming the show, it’s an incredible experience and an incredible thing to be on an NBC sitcom. It’s definitely the dream for an actor to wind up in this situation, yet at the same time, we’re still on lockdown. We’re still in our homes; we’re still not going out. Things are still closed; there’s still a pandemic. There’s still a social justice movement going on. So, it’s definitely bizarre and challenging to accept that this is happening at the same time as, you know, I finish shooting and then I’m still in my house.

I drove to go see the billboard that we had on the Sunset Strip, but then back to my house. I got the premiere tonight, but I’m still in my house. iI’s hard to wrap your mind around, I think.

Suzanne:   Right. Well, at least you have a good commute, though.

Ely:   Yes, my commutes great. Fortunately, I’m very rarely late.

Suzanne:   And no more LA traffic, so that’s good.

Ely:   Yes, exactly.

Suzanne:   What was the best thing about playing this character?

Ely:   You know, I think that, for me, playing Rufus has been a lot of fun, because we’re not entirely dissimilar. I’m not as crazy as he is. I’m not as out there, but I certainly take this virus a little bit more seriously than a lot of people I know. So, getting some of the pandemic aggression out in a funny way was very nice for me.

I think it’s also nice, because he genuinely cares about his friends. I think there are people that can be angry, and certainly I spoke about it with Brendan and Martin about not making him too grading and angry, but he’s somebody who genuinely cares. When he gets mad, it’s because he’s worried about his friend, and that was nice.

Suzanne:   Actually, that’s one of the things I like about this show is the people seem very real, and you know, your character could have gone too far. You don’t want to be one of those sitcoms, where you’re like, “Oh, I hate that person. Why are they using that person so much?”

Ely:   Right, exactly.

Suzanne:  

That drives me away from sitcoms, sometimes.

What do you think audiences will like most about the show?

Ely:   I’m hoping that audiences enjoy seeing people who are going through what they have gone through and are still going through. From my perspective, I think we’re seeing a lot of people in the country and in the world wanting this to be done. They want the virus, the pandemic, to be over, and they want to kind of think of it as out of sight out of mind. But I know that there’re so so many more of us who are still taking it seriously, still being careful, so we can take care of our friends and our neighbors and our family and, you know, keeping people from getting sick and doing what we can to protect everyone else. I think it’ll be really nice for them to see people doing that, too and still having a good time being together and still being connected. I think that that’s gonna be wonderful. But also, the people that don’t do that stuff, they can laugh at us for whatever reason they deem necessary. Something for everyone.

Suzanne:   That’s right.

And what had you been doing to pass the time, as it were, during the pandemic before this?

Ely:   Well, before I got the show, I definitely went through all the phases. I think we all did. I was baking. I really got to a point where I was really nailing this Julia Child sandwich bread, a white sandwich bread recipe, and I got that down – a lot of butter. That was good; I was doing that.

My girlfriend and I were doing a lot of movie marathons. Early on the pandemic, we watched all the Harry Potter movies, watched a lot of TV, but, interestingly enough, it took until yesterday to do our first puzzle. We bought 1000 piece puzzle we just started. I don’t know how it took us this long, well, at least what I didn’t know until we started. Then, I was like, “Right, hat’s why we didn’t do this.” We had missing pieces or dropped the puzzle on the ground; it’s a whole thing. But it’s been it’s gonna be a challenge, and that’s my next project, is getting this puzzle built.

Suzanne:   Wow. I have a friend who likes puzzles, and she was having trouble finding puzzles at the beginning of this. I think, eventually, they were more available.

…It’s like the toilet paper. You couldn’t get it for a while, because people were hoarding it, but then now you can get it.

Ely:   Exactly. I live near a small independent board game and comic book shop. I went there to get the puzzle, and the guy that runs place was like, “You know, I wouldn’t say we’re recession proof, but certainly for this, whenever when everyone’s stuck at home and they need entertainment, we’re in a good spot. I can imagine that everyone was selling out of puzzles.

Suzanne:   Right, and probably the comic books too.

Ely:   Yeah, exactly.

Suzanne:   So, do you have any other projects coming up, or that you’ve been working towards, or were working towards, before the pandemic?

Ely:   Nothing that I can really speak to right now. There’s always stuff kind of up in the air, and I think with the pandemic, it put a lot of a pause on a lot of things, and I think we’re just kind of waiting it out.

But I write stuff, and I think that the best stuff I was doing before the pandemic, that I’d like to do more of eventually, is a friend of mine runs a home alone film challenge that he started at the beginning of all this, where you’d have one weekend to write, direct, edit, and star in a movie by yourself at home. So, in a way, it prepared me very well for this, because we use the same app that we’re using to shoot the show on. So, I made a few little films, and it got my creative juices flowing in a really nice way. So, hopefully more stuff like that in the future.

Here is the audio version of it.

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

MORE INFO:

BIO

Ely Henry plays Rufus on the new NBC comedy “Connecting…”

Henry, who has been a professional actor since 2003, started his career in Toronto working on films such as “Cheaper by the Dozen 2” and “Mean Girls,” as well as TV shows and specials, including “Skins” and “I, Martin Short, Goes Home.”

Since moving to Los Angeles in 2012, he has had recurring roles on “Suburgatory” and “Twisted,” and guest-starring roles on “The Middle,” “Good Luck Charlie” and “Superstore.”

Henry had leading roles in the superhero comedy film “Zeroes” and the indie drama “Some Freaks,” from executive producer Neil LaBute. He also had a leading role in the animated film “Smallfoot” with LeBron James, Channing Tatum, Gina Rodriguez and Danny DeVito.

Henry also had a recurring role on Showtime’s “Roadies,” created by Oscar winner Cameron Crowe and executive produced by J.J. Abrams.

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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poster for "Connecting..." on NBC

Interview with Hamza Haq

TV Interview!

Hanza Haq of "Transplant" (photo from Fabrice Gaetan/Sphere Media/NBC)

Interview with Hamza Haq of “Transplant” on NBC by Suzanne 10/9/20

It was great to speak with Hamza, who’s a smart, thoughtful guy, clearly on the rise. I’m enjoying watching his work on this show.  If you haven’t watched “Transplant,” yet, you’re really missing out.

Suzanne:   So, tell us how the audition for your show went. I know it was a while ago now.

Hamza:  Well, I had a pre-existing relationship with both CTV, the network, and Joe, the showrunner, on two different shows. So, when they decided to partner up together, I was kind of the unofficial front runner…[But then] they wanted a Syrian for the role. So, they told me, you know, “We all wanted you to play it, but we’re really going to make a concerted effort to try to find a Syrian within Canada to really tell the story.”

As much as I didn’t like losing a part, if there was Pakistani character that I didn’t even get to read for, I would have been quite upset. So, I just accepted that that was the way that it was gonna be.

Then they did their due diligence, and they searched for actors of Syrian decent across Canada for several months, and I was just fortunate that they couldn’t find him.

I’m sure…just given the nature of the opportunity certain people get and what they hear about it, you know, I ended up getting the part, and I’ve been doing my best to do justice to it ever since.

Suzanne:   Great.

(crosstalk)

Have you started shooting season two yet?

Hamza:  We have not. We have not. We were slated for August, and here we are in cozy old October, still waiting. You know, frustration aside, everybody’s very happy to make sure that we provide a safe environment for everybody to work and all that jazz, cope with precautions, etc, etc.

Suzanne:   Yeah, I hope they start on that soon, because, the the daytime soaps here in the US have already started all back. They just do it very safely. I don’t know the details, but I guess they test everyone regularly, and everyone wears masks, and whatever else they do. Some of the other shows, I think some of the primetime shows, have started, but you never know, right?

Hamza:  Absolutely not.

Suzanne:   Did you do any research for the role before you started filming it?

Hamza:  Oh, of course, I mean, as far as the medical stuff is concerned, we’re all very happy that we had – first things first, the writers did all their research to make sure that everything was medically accurate. Then all of us on the cast, we went to boot camp to try to, you know, choreograph all the things that we have to do in trauma situations and surgeries and all of those things. So, that was taken care of.

As far as character is concerned, I was given several documentaries and readings and novels to sort of get into the mindset and really understand better the the conflict that happened and is currently happening in Syria still ten years after the fact, you know, since [then], and just trying to understand and have conversations with people who went through it or something similar. We had a wide range of consultants who lived this exact experience, who were able to be very generous with their time and their experiences. So, all that money [went] to bringing this to life.

Suzanne:   Great. And what about your accent? What are you basing that on?

Hamza:  So, I had a couple of dialect coaches to help get the accent right. Then there was some fine tuning based on the region that he [is from]. You know, he’s from Aleppo, so we tried to get that regional accent but also tried to use a little bit of the fact that he may have gone to school in more of an upper scale, maybe British, educational system, that kind of thing. So, there’re a couple subtleties here that aren’t completely, you know, Syrian Syrian, but it’s sort of an amalgamation of his life experiences. So, I worked with about three or four people tirelessly, and three of them were actually Syrian refugees. So, I was very happy to have that experience – fortunate, rather.

Suzanne:   Wow. So, it’s very authentic, in a lot of ways, this show.

Hamza:  We’re doing our best, I think. With such an important story, I think everybody is just going to try to do their best to do justice to the story and the experiences of the people who went through it. So, I think authenticity was definitely the goal, and I certainly hope we hit it in a lot of areas. And there’s a lot of areas yet to go, and, hopefully, we’ll hit those in seasons two, three, etc.

Suzanne:   I saw a video of you, and you had tattoos on your hands. Do they have to cover those up with makeup when you do the show?

Hamza:  No…it was just Henna.

Suzanne:   Oh, temporary?

Hamza:  I had a little red carpet affair in Berlin, and I like to flex my own culture and get a little South Asian Henna done before the ceremony or whatever. So, yeah, that was fun, but it it faded within four or five days.

Suzanne:   Okay, so it was temporary. So, were you surprised when the show got picked up for TV in the US?

Hamza:  I’m cocky, but no. It’s a very good show; the goal was to try to get as many eyes on it as possible. It’s a very universal story. So, we heard, “Hey, they have enough faith in the show that they’re gonna take this to American audiences,” and everything like that. So, I will say I was very happy when it happened, but surprised, no. It was like, “Well yes.” The fact that it happened, you know, we’re all very fortunate. We’re very blessed with the getting such tremendous feedback from American audiences. Also, it’s very nice.

Suzanne:   Oh, good. So, you’ve gotten a lot of fan reaction?

Hamza:  Yeah, I mean, I’m not on Twitter, which is where a lot of those things happen, so, I hear about a lot of these things, which is really great. The numbers don’t lie, either, you know, the team will [be] like, “We held 4 million or $3 million,” or however many it was. That’s just great. So, I would imagine that if people are maintaining it, there’s x amount of million people watching it every day, I would imagine that it’s generally positive, that those who are watching it are enjoying it. So, I’m happy about that.

Suzanne:   Well, I see you on Instagram. Is that not you? Or somebody posting for you?

Hamza:  No, Instagram is me; Instagram is me, but I try not to get too big headed. So, I don’t read all the comments. It’s really easy for me to get big headed, and I love the attention, and I love all that stuff. But I try my best not to lean too far into it. I’m grateful. I’m grateful, yes, everybody commenting on my eyelashes. I appreciate it. Yes, they are real. Yes, I’m sorry that a lot of people have to spend a lot of money getting these eyelashes, but, sorry, I got them from my dad.

Suzanne:   So, how are you and Bashir different besides the obvious, like not being Syrian.

Hamza:  Bashir has a tremendous amount of confidence in who he is as a person. His ability to stay steadfast in decision making outside of his work is something that I very much look up to; I’m very easily influenced by other people. I’m quite insecure about a lot of things, and Bashir has this very, you know, fortified sense of self and a sense of identity, which is something that I’m working towards.

Where we’re similar, is our brashness and our arrogance when it comes to the jobs that we do. I [lose] the insecurity as soon as I’m on set. I feel like I know what I’m doing, and I feel like I can tell a story. And sometimes, I would say, not to the degree that Bashir is, I can rub people the wrong way in terms of, you know, like me arguing with the director or the writer that this is the way that it should be done and everything like that. I don’t think it gets to a point where I’m ever yelling or going behind someone’s back being sneaky about anything, but when it comes to work, I think we’re both similarly confident in what we do.

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Suzanne:   The only problems he seems to have, is the whole PTSD and not wanting to get help for it and maybe a little too much pride that some people have, you know, not wanting to get help, not admitting that he has problems.

Hamza:  Yeah, that’s a predominantly male issue, I think. I think a lot of guys can relate to that. That wasn’t too far of a stretch for me either, like, “No, I got it. It’s fine.”

Suzanne:   What can you tell us about working with Sirena, who plays your little sister?

Hamza:  Oh, those are easiest scenes. I feel so connected to her and protective of her. You know, a young actress comes on to set, and you just want to make sure that she’s doing okay, and it was very easy. I see her as my little sister, and I want her to succeed, and I want her to be safe. I want her to have fun and learn and all of those things. So, you know, the dialogue just lent itself to this very immediate connection that the two of us already had. So, it was beautiful. Like, it’s not difficult to want to provide, you know, to want to make the world a better place for Amira, or Sirena as well.

Suzanne:   Yeah, the scenes with her, you can tell that you like her, and she’s adorable. So, I can’t imagine even now.

Hamza:  Yeah, she’s really cool. Easily she’s gonna be the biggest star out of this. Right now I’ll go on record saying she’s going to be the biggest star out of all of us, mark my words.

Suzanne:   Do you have any funny stories about filming the show?

Hamza:  I have several. I just don’t know what I’m allowed to say.

Did you know John Hannah was in The Mummy? He hates that I keep bringing that up, but I would say that on the first day that we all met, I was so excited when I heard that he was going to be a part of the show. And I thought we waited a whole 30 seconds before we yelled that at him. I was like, “I’ve seen that movie like one hundred times. It’s my favorite movie,” and stuff like that. I think the more I say it, the more it grinds his gears a bit, but I’m never gonna stop doing it.

Suzanne:   Oh, that’s funny.

Hamza:  Yeah, I mean, the whole thing was really fun. Like, you know, we would all get together after work, like often party together. You know, we went rock climbing with Jim Watson, and we did Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with Ayisha Issa, you know what I mean? You know, anytime we wanted a good restaurant to go to (unintelligible) incredible, you know, recommendation, and she could get those reservations too. So, it was just everybody brought their own thing to it. And we just loved each other from go.

Suzanne:   Oh, that’s cool. That’s great. Yeah, it’s it’s a great cast. I enjoy it. I liked him; he was in so many great TV shows. And Tori Higginson, she was wonderful in Stargate Atlantis. I don’t know if you ever saw that show.

Hamza:  Yeah, I worked with her on the show in Canada as well, called This Life. That’s where I worked with Joseph Kay before. So, it was really nice when she joined the team as well.

Suzanne:   Oh, cool. That’s nice. Yeah, it’s always nice to see people you know, already. Is there anything else that you’d like to tell your fans?

Hamza:  Keep on watching. I’m grateful that people are learning so much about Muslim culture and Arab culture and, you know, go up there and vote. Register to vote and make your voices heard.

Suzanne:   Well, thank you. And I really enjoyed the show. I’ve been watching it. NBC let me have all the episodes, but I like to watch them on the TV. So, I enjoy it. And I’ve been telling everybody to watch it. So, good luck, and I hope – and you said you already have a second season right? You just haven’t filmed it yet.

Hamza:  Yeah, we’ve been picked up, and we’re we’re in limbo, like much of the world. But, hopefully, as soon as we get we get the go ahead, we’ll be all like tremendously happy to continue telling the story.

Here is the audio version of it.

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

MORE INFO:

Bashir “Bash” Hamed

 

“Transplant”

Hamza Haq stars as Bashir “Bash” Hamed, the new ER doctor who fled his native Syria and must overcome numerous obstacles to resume his career in the high-stakes world of emergency medicine, in NBC’s drama “Transplant.”

Raised in Ottawa, Haq is the youngest of four siblings born in Saudi Arabia to Pakistani parents and has called Canada home for almost 20 years.

His television credits include the CTV miniseries “Indian Detective,” opposite William Shatner, Russell Peters and Anupam Kher; the CBC Gem crime-drama miniseries “The 410”; and the CBC drama “This Life,” which garnered critical acclaim and earned him a 2018 Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Guest Performance.

He has had recurring roles on the Cinemax series “Jett,” starring Carla Gugino; “Quantico,” opposite Priyanka Chopra; and “The Art of More,” co-starring Dennis Quaid and Kate Bosworth. Other notable credits include “Designated Survivor,” “The Bold Type,” “Being Human,” “Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays” and “Best Laid Plans.” Haq also served as host of the TVOKids program “Look Kool.”

On the big screen, he’s held supporting roles in “Bon Cop Bad Cop 2,” with Colm Feore; “The Death and Life of John F. Donovan,” directed by Xavier Dolan; Darren Aronofsky’s “Mother!”; “Run this Town,” opposite Mena Massoud and Nina Dobrev; and most recently, “My Salinger Year,” starring Margaret Qualley and Sigourney Weaver.

In 2017, he was named one of Canada’s Rising Stars by the Hollywood Reporter. Haq holds a Bachelor of Arts in film studies with a minor in law from Carleton University.

August 2020

“TRANSPLANT”

Premiere: Sept. 1, 2020

When Dr. Bashir Hamed (Hamza Haq, “Quantico”), a charismatic Syrian doctor with battle-tested skills in emergency medicine, flees his war-torn homeland, he and younger sister Amira (Sirena Gulamgaus) become refugees, struggling to forge a new life in Canada. But if Bash ever wants to be a doctor again, he must redo his medical training from the ground up and obtaining a coveted residency position is nearly impossible.

When a horrific truck crash nearly kills a senior doctor right in front of him, Bash saves the doctor’s life and earns a residency in the biggest Emergency Department of the best hospital in Toronto.

Yet for all Bash’s experience, it’s a tough road. Bash’s training is different, his life experience are unique to him and he’s not an exact match for his new colleagues, who include Dr. Magalie “Mags” LeBlanc (Laurence Leboeuf, “The Disappearance”), a ferociously analytical second-year resident who pushes herself relentlessly; Dr. June Curtis (Ayisha Issa, “Polar”), a reserved, ambitious surgical resident whose loyalty doesn’t come easily; and Dr. Theo Hunter (Jim Watson, “Mary Kills People”), a pediatric Emergency Fellow whose small-town upbringing is cracking wide open as life at the hospital changes his worldview.

The team works tirelessly to save lives and win the approval of the legendary head of the Emergency Department, Dr. Jed Bishop (John Hannah, “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”), all the while managed by sharp-eyed, acerbic Dr. Wendy Atwater (Linda E. Smith, “19-2”) and supported by longtime head nurse, the deadpan, confident Claire Malone (Torri Higginson, “This Life”).

Through it all, Bash tries to meet the demand of his new country and new job, while trying to pay the bills, raise his little sister and carve out a new life for them both in this unfamiliar land. It’s a journey that’s universal to people everywhere. Bash aims high and is determined to succeed, and those around are quick to see that his passion and hopefulness are contagious. But will his newfound life reject him, or will this “transplant” take?

A major success story as CTV’s the most-watched Canadian series in total viewers this broadcast year, “Transplant” will showcase its bold and powerful storytelling to a brand-new audience.

Joseph Kay, Jocelyn Deschênes, Bruno Dubé, Randy Lennox, Virginia Rankin, Jeremy Spry and Tara Woodbury serve as executive producers.

“Transplant” is produced by Sphere Media in association with CTV and NBCUniversal International Studios, a division of NBCUniversal Content Studios.

August 2020

Please visit the official show site at: https://www.nbc.com/transplant.

For the latest “Transplant” news, videos, and photos, please like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram:
https://www.facebook.com/NBCTransplant/
https://twitter.com/NBCTransplant  #Transplant
https://www.instagram.com/nbctransplant/

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Hanza Haq of "Transplant" (photo from Fabrice Gaetan/Sphere Media/NBC) TRANSPLANT -- "Trigger Warning" Episode 106 -- Pictured: (l-r) Hamza Haq as Dr. Bashir "Bash" Hamed, Jihn Hannah as Dr.Jed Bishop -- (Photo by: Yan Turcotte/Sphere Media/CTV/NBC)

Interview with Miguel Chavez

TV Interview!

Miguel Chavez of "A.P. Bio" on Peacock

Interview with Miguel Chavez of “A.P. Bio” on Peacock by Suzanne 10/6/20

This was a fun interview. Miguel interviewed me first before I interviewed him! He seems very nice and we had a great time.

Suzanne:   So, take us back to the beginning to when you auditioned for your role of Eduardo on AP Bio. How did that go?

Miguel:   Yes. So, the audition process was very typical to how an actor goes out for a role. My agent, my manager, emailed me the the audition notification. I got the sides for – if you really I don’t know what sides are, sides are the material that you’re given to prepare for the audition. And I went into Wendy O’Brien casting. Wendy O’Brien is the casting director; she’s a very, very lovely woman. And when I auditioned for the show, my first thought looking, researching the show was, “Oh, I can see myself in the role of this show.”So, for better or for worse, I could see myself being with a bunch of dorks. And what ended up happening, was I auditioned, and I felt like I did good. I felt like I understood the humor that they were going for, and I let it go. You know, you’ve auditioned so many times, you just have to let it go. So, that’s what I did. Like a day later, two days later, I get the message from my reps that I am strongly pinned for the roll, which means that I’m like the number one pick. On the Thursday of the week of my audition – I auditioned on a Tuesday – Thursday of that week, I find out that I got the part. And I was excited, nervous. It’s just a really bizarre feeling when you get a job finally. And then Friday, I go to my first table read with the whole cast and crew as member of the show.

Suzanne:   That’s cool. And you came in during the second season, right?

Miguel:   Yes, I did. I came in during the second season of AP Bio. I was a little nervous, because the cast knew each other, but you know what? They were really kind.

Suzanne:   So, did it kind of feel like going to a new school?

Miguel:   Yeah, actually. That’s a great question. It really felt like going to a new school. You want to be liked; you want to be respected. You want to keep your job, but fortunately, I’ve had enough life happen to me where I could keep things in perspective. And what mattered to me most was serving the story, serving my crew, and just being professional on set.

Suzanne:   Great. So, they made you feel welcome.

Miguel:   They did, and Barbara Stoll, our producer, works very hard to create a very safe environment on set.

Suzanne:   Oh, good, good. And I see that you’re from Rancho Cucamonga. I used to live in Riverside for a while.

Miguel:   You did? No you didn’t.

Suzanne:   No I did for about eight years. We went to a Quakes game in Rancho Cucamonga once.

Miguel:   That’s amazing.

Suzanne:   Is that where you grew up?

Miguel:   Yes, that is where I grew up. As a matter of fact, I’m staying in Rancho right now during this quarantine.

Suzanne:   Okay, that’s cool. Did you go to Quakes games when you’re growing up?

Miguel:   You know what, maybe I went to one, but my family was never much of a baseball family. So, we didn’t go to a Quakes – I should go though. I would like to before I leave Rancho,  just to experience more of my local hometown stuff.

Suzanne:   Right. Well, when when we were in Riverside, they had – I can’t remember the name. Oh, first we had the Red Wave, and then it was the Riverside Pilots. So, we would sometimes go to their other games, like Lake Arrowhead and all that. It was right down the street from us. So, it was something to do.

Suzanne:   So, you’re living in Rancho Cucamonga right now because of the pandemic, or do you have another place?

Miguel:   That is correct. Yeah. You know what, being in LA was was the plan, but this pandemic happened. So, I just moved back in with my folks during this pandemic.

Suzanne:   Yeah, might as well. Right?

Miguel:   Might as well. A lot of people are doing it. I mean, you know, pandemics happen.

Suzanne:   So, how is Eduardo different from you?

Miguel:   Eduardo, I like to think, well, Eduardo dresses way differently from me. He dresses like he’s a grandpa, you know, with corduroy pants, like a button down dress shirt and a sweater vest. So, that’s how he dresses.His sense of style isn’t really there. So, I like to think mine is slightly better than his. We’re both really similar. He’s just like an extreme version of me, like he’s super awkward. I’m not super awkward, but I can be awkward. He’s super nervous around girls. I can get nervous, but not as much as Eduardo. But we’re both very kind people, and we both have our friend’s back.

Suzanne:   Cool. And have you heard yet whether there’s gonna be a season four?

Miguel:   You know what, I am just a mere actor on the show. I have not heard yet. I’ve heard the reviews for season three are really great, and our show does show numbers in regards to streaming views. However, I haven’t heard anything.

Suzanne:   Okay. I read quite a few reviews, and they were pretty much all positive. The ones that I read.

Miguel:   Yeah, there were really positive reviews.

Suzanne:   If someone hasn’t watched all of season three yet, which episode would you tell them to watch that features Eduardo the most?

Miguel:   That’s a great question. The episode that I would recommend people watch the most is an episode where my character and my best friend – because all my episodes, pretty much the thing about me in the show, it’s more of me and my best friend doing things, and my duo, best friend is Victor (Jacob Houston) in the show, and getting into shenanigans is our issue. So, I would recommend what people watch, is “Get Hoppy.” That’s a really fun episode from season three.

Suzanne:   Okay. I just watched the first two before your call, and I was grimacing when you had the throwing star stuck in your leg. I was like,”Ooh.”

Miguel:   Oh, that’s funny. So many things happen on set you forget about them, but yeah, pretty much our props guy, David Hect, he runs props on my show, and he’s a wonderful man. He just strapped a belt to my leg, and he attached a shooting star to it, or whatever it’s called. And that’s how they did it.

Suzanne:   I was very glad when she pulled it out that it didn’t have blood gushing out. But that would be a very different show.

Miguel:   That’s that’s like off brand, like HBO, and we’re not actually that way.

Suzanne:   That’s right. And do you have any other projects that you were working on either before or after the pandemic started?

Miguel:   I’m just writing. Right now I have my writing partner. Michael Goldenberg and I are just writing a workplace comedy about tour guides at a studio. I used to be a tour guide at Paramount Pictures, so we know that world pretty well.

Suzanne:   Paramount, I haven’t been to that one. I grew up when Universal was the big one that everybody went to. Before it had all the rides and everything, it was just a studio tour. Then I think I went to Warner Brothers, because we were near there or somebody wanted to go. I’ll have to check Paramount out. Do they still have a tour?

Miguel:   Yeah, I think you’d really like it. It’s a really lovely tour, and the tour guides are a bunch of sweethearts, and you get a really good experience. It really gives you the classical field of Hollywood, Hollywood what it used to be.

Suzanne:   Well, they say, ‘Write what you know,” so sounds like you’re doing that.

Miguel:   Yeah, so I know a lot about that life.

Suzanne:   What do you think that you want to get involved in, in the future? As far as acting, directing, writing, what else?

Miguel:   You know, there’s so many things I want to do, and this is a very crazy industry I’m in. What I try to tell myself, is just to let my career blossom in front of me and just be pleasantly surprised by the roles I get. And now I just try to do that. I mean, I would love to play I don’t know, the detective in this or that, but I mean, there’s just so much that’s out of my control that I just have to have a sense of surrender when I go out for roles. Fortunately, I get to play roles that are different from me and that surprise me. I didn’t think I’d get cast as Eduardo, but in retrospect, I should know my work, and he’s been a lot of fun to play.

Suzanne:   Good. And so what have you been doing to keep busy during the pandemic?

Miguel:   You know, a lot of exercise. Yeah, I built the gym in my garage and just a lot of exercise. I’ve never had so much structure, so just exercising every day and reading a lot of books.

Suzanne:   What are you reading right now?

Miguel:   Right now I’m reading The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. I’m rereading that book.

Suzanne:   Oh, rereading. Yeah, I [read] that a long time ago. I should reread that one of these days.

Miguel:   Yeah. What about you? Do you like to read?

Suzanne:   I do, but I haven’t had much time to read. I have a Kindle, and it’s got about a thousand books on it I haven’t read. I read a lot in the past, but yeah, I need to get back to it. Yeah, I read I read some magazines, mostly.

Miguel:   Which ones?

Suzanne:   Well, my site covers a lot of daytime as well as primetime, so I read Soap Opera Digest, Entertainment Weekly, Vanity Fair, and Good Housekeeping, which I got for like, ten bucks for a year.  They keep sending it to me, and I’m like, “Okay, it’s only ten bucks, whatever.” That’s how they get you.

Miguel:   Good Housekeeping, yeah I should read that one.

Suzanne:   Yeah, it’s mostly what they would call a women’s magazine. It’s like recipes and makeup and you know, stuff like that.

Miguel:   Yeah, that’s funny. Who knows, maybe I’ll get something out of it.

Suzanne:   You never know. Well go to the dentist or something. You’ll probably find a copy there.

Miguel:   That’s hilarious. Now that you mention it, I do recall seeing those there at those places.

Suzanne:   So, what talents do you have besides acting and writing?

Miguel:   You know what, before I started working as an actor, I was a stunt man. I went to stunt school for a year, just to do something with my life and learn new skills. So, I was doing stunt training, so I know how to fall and how to get my butt kicked in class, just that type of work. However, now, depending on the stunt, I’d probably have a stunt man do some of my stunts, that way I don’t get hurt on set.

Suzanne:   Right. They take a lot of risks.

Miguel:   Oh, yeah, your life is dangerous, like one time I was on set. I was a stunt man on this non-union film, and I fell on cement like fifteen times at least, ten to fifteen times. My body felt really fatigued the next day.

Suzanne:   Well, it’s good that you work out so much. So, even if you did do it, you might not hurt yourself so much.

Miguel:   Yeah. I mean, you spend a lot of your time in classes learning how to fall. It’s crazy; it’s absolutely crazy.

Suzanne:   Yeah. And is there anything else that you’d like to tell your fans about you or the show?

Miguel:   You know, it’s a show that is funny. It’s not really that dark, and it’s easy to watch with your friends and family. So if you want to find something to watch that will make you laugh and smile during these crazy times, watch AP Bio season three.

Suzanne:   All right, great. Thank you so much for the call. I really appreciate it.

Miguel:   Likewise, thank you so much for having me.

Suzanne:   All right. Talk to you later.

Miguel:   Bye.

Suzanne:   Bye.

Here is the audio version of it.

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

MORE INFO:

Making waves as one to watch in Peacock’s comedy series “A.P. Bio,” (now streaming it’s third season on NBCUniversal’s streaming service) we would love to arrange an interview with you and breakout star Miguel Chavez to discuss his hit comedy series. Miguel is also available to discuss working alongside Glenn Howerton (FX’s “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), and Jean Villepique (Netflix’s “BoJack Horseman”), his other current projects, as well as his career overall.
A.P. Bio centers around a Harvard philosophy professor, Jack Carson Griffin (Glenn Howerton) who loses out on his dream job to his rival Miles Leonard (Tom Bennett), he is forced to return to  Ohio and work as an advanced placement (A.P.) biology teacher at Whitlock High School. Jack makes it clear to his class that he will not be teaching any biology but later realizes that he has a room full of honor-roll students. Jack decides to use them for his own benefit and to get revenge on Miles. Eager to prove that he is still king of the castle, Principal Durbin (Patton Oswalt) struggles to keep Griffin under control. Miguel plays the role of ‘Eduardo,’ a shy, introverted student who’s best friends with the nerdy, Victor Kozlowski. Eduardo’s main focus is to obtain what every high school boy puts his main energy into, finding a girlfriend.
Miguel was born and raised in Southern California to a Mexican father and a half-Korean, half-Mexican mother. Miguel first discovered his love of the arts and acting at the young age 13 and began participating in community theater, as well as school paly productions and playing the saxophone in band. Continuing to grow and develop his love for the entertainment industry, he majored in filmmaking and graduated with a BA from Woodbury University in Burbank, CA. After graduation, Miguel enrolled in a stunt school, Stunts in Motion, where he trained under fight choreographer, certified stunt coordinator/performer, Jack Huang.
On his free time, Miguel is dedicated to his fitness regimen, working out 6 days a week, weightlifting and practicing Yoga. An avid reader, he enjoys books such the high fantasy novel Lord of the Rings and Thirsty: Thirst, a self-help book. He hopes to be a role model for the Latinx and Asian community and to continue the on-going conversation of how important representation, diversity and inclusivity is in Hollywood.

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Miguel Chavez of "A.P. Bio" on Peacock

Article: TV Shows Worthy of Bingeing on Disney+

TV Article!

Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian

Guest Post by Zeeshan Lalani 10/1/20

                            BINGE WATCHING WORTHY TV SHOWS ON DISNEY PLUS

This fall, Disney+ has plans to remedy its greatest weakness: the lack of binge-worthy live action series that audiences over age 12 will enjoy.

To be sure, the family-friendly streaming service has several series that work well in small doses: “Rogue Trip”, “Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian”, “Brain Games”, “Encore”, “Cosmos”, “Shop Class”, and “America’s Funniest Home Videos” come to mind. Disney+ also has dozens of bingeable animated shows, and laugh-track Disney Channel entries amuse some pre-teens.

However, competitors Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, and Peacock all have 20 to 40 or more must-see TV series that aren’t cartoons. Later this fall, Disney+ will add National Geographic’s big-budget limited series “The Right Stuff,” along with ABC’s “Dinosaurs,” (4 seasons) and, hopefully, a new Marvel Studios series or two. However, one of the problems one can face is not being able to watch Disney Plus from outside the U.S. because it is only available in specific countries.  For that, one would need a VPN for Disney Plus.

For now, here’s our list of 7 quality live action series with wide appeal…

1 The Mandalorian (Season 2 Coming in October)

This $100 million Western-style space opera has maintained Disney+ trends since its production, from director Jon Favreau (Iron Man) and executive producer Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars). Set after the collapse of the Monarchy and before the advent of the First World, The Mandalorian follows the tribulations of a solitary gunfighter in the far reaches of the cosmos who becomes The Child’s guardian (known to fans as “Baby Yoda”) far from the nascent Republic’s jurisdiction.

  1. Agent Carter (2 Seasons)

Peace has dealt a significant blow to Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) when she finds herself oppressed as the men return home from fighting abroad throughout World War II. Working for the clandestine S.S.R. (Strategic Scientific Reserve), a forerunner of S.H.I.E.L.D., Peggy needs to balance administrative duties and go on classified missions for Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper). In the aftermath of losing the love of her life, Captain America AKA Steve Rogers, she navigates life as a female secret agent. This series also shines a light on the conclusion of the film Avengers: Endgame, which is linked closely to the Captain America films.

  1. Once Upon A Time (7 Seasons)

“Once Upon a Time” shows a reality where the stories of fairy tales and every-day real life clash. In her life as a bail bondswoman, Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) is doing well when Henry (Jared S. Gilmore) unexpectedly turns up — the boy she gave up a decade ago. He claims she is the daughter of Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Prince Charming (Josh Dallas), who spirited her away before a spell could be cast by the Wicked Queen (Lana Parrilla), freezing the realm of fairytales in time and taking them to today’s Storybrooke, Maine. Something about the story intrigues Emma, so she humors the boy and decides to take him back to his family in Maine. Captain Hook, Belle, Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, and many more reimagined Disney characters appear in the show’s 7 seasons.  All 7 seasons arrive on September 18 for U.S. Disney+ subscribers.

  1. The Imagineering Story (Limited Series)

This 6-part series of documentaries explores Walt Disney Imagineering’s history, present, and future with the noted filmmaker Leslie Iwerks. Thanks to the Disney ties of her family — her grandfather was an early Disney animator and her father was a former Imagineer— Iwerks offers viewers an all-access pass to how Disney’s groundbreaking theme park attractions are made… including a few errors and low points that have taken place over the decades.

  1. Boy Meets World (7 Seasons)

“Boy Meets World” elevates the classic sitcom format of producers Michael Jacobs and April Kelly with writing and performances that deepen as the program progresses. It chronicles the ups and downs of Cory Matthews (Ben Savage), his best friend Shawn (Rider Strong), girlfriend Topanga (Danielle Fishel), brother Eric (Will Friedle), and the lessons they learn from their coach, George Feeney (William Daniels), one of the few ABC series on Disney+. In later seasons, the characters face more serious problems as they try to balance college with relationship troubles and serious issues like divorce and grief. For 3 seasons of Girl Meets World, also on Disney+, Disney Channel carried back some of the characters.

  1. Prop Culture (1 Season)

Prop Society goes behind the scenes of favorite films such as Mary Poppins, The Muppet Movie, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and The Narnia Chronicles: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in eight half-hour episodes. Host and prop curator Dan Lanigan recovers lost movie items, tours private collections and helps return parts to their former glory from the Walt Disney Archives. Lanigan has indicated plans for a second season, but Disney+ hasn’t revealed it yet. “To get a second season, you have to watch the first season! ” Lanigan said in March.

  1. Hostile Planet (Limited Series)

This six-part documentary series draws attention to the most remarkable stories of animals who have responded to the most inhuman genetic curveballs, which seem almost mystical. With Planet Earth and other high-end nature shows, and an immersive look at the wilds of nature, the cinematography and pace of this show is on par.

We spoke with many entertainment editors and critics, and they all mentioned the above listed series or shows as best. In fact, the editor from StreamingRant told us, “Hostile Planet is my personal favorite, and I consider it the best Nat Geo show on Disney+.”

These seven shows on Disney+ are worth watching, but you can only watch them from certain regions, due to geo-restrictions. However, VPNs can give you a way around those. VPNs are one way to bypass geo-restrictions and to watch some amazing content, great stories and perfect plots from some super amazing content creators and filmmakers. Please be careful, though, because some VPN use can get you into trouble.

Proofread and Edited by Suzanne

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Once Upon a Time cast

Primetime TV Review: “The Weakest Link”

TV Review!

“The Weakest Link” Review by Eva 10/2/2020

I was so excited when I heard The Weakest Link was coming back on television it was one of my favorite game shows when it first aired in 2001. The show is the American version of a British game show of the same name. In the 2001 version, British host Ann Robinson basically told contestants they were dumb and terrible losers using one-liner jokes while she looked deadly serious.

The latest version of the show is hosted by Jane Lynch who is a good game show host but she doesn’t do too well with the jokes that make fun of the contestants. In my opinion this is because the British are much better at this serious type of deadpan humor. The group of eight contestants answer six rounds of trivia questions and after each round of play, the contestants vote on who they think the weakest player is and that player known as the weakest link is eliminated. Once the six rounds of trivia questions have been played, two players go against each other and the player who answered the most questions in one minute wins all the money the team of eight contestants has put in the bank in the earlier rounds of play.

I give this show 5 out of 5 stars because I enjoy game shows that involve trivia and I think that if you enjoy trivia centered game shows where contestants win a lot of money you will enjoy this show.

MORE INFORMATION:

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – July 8, 2020 – NBC is bringing back hit British import and international game show phenomenon “Weakest Link”. Co-produced by BBC Studios’ Los Angeles production arm and Universal Television Alternative Studio. The network has greenlit 13 episodes of the rapid-fire quiz show with Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning host and actress Jane Lynch (“Hollywood Game Night,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) set to host and executive produce. “Weakest Link” will begin production later this year.

The new version of “Weakest Link” will deliver the fast-paced and quick-witted pillars of the original British format created by the BBC with a few modern twists. The hybrid game show sees contestants answer general knowledge questions to bank prize money across multiple rounds. At the end of each round, the contestants vote out who they perceive to be the “Weakest Link” remaining.

“I’ve been a longtime fan of this game-changing quiz show since it first debuted,” said Lynch. “Each time the phrase ‘You are the Weakest Link. Goodbye.’ passes my lips, it will be with great reverence and delight.”

“‘Weakest Link’ became an instant fan-favorite when it first aired on our network, and we are excited to bring a fresh, new take to the timeless format,” said Meredith Ahr. The President of Reality and Alternative Group of NBC Entertainment. “Jane Lynch has been a beloved staple in our NBC family for years, and her sharp wit and engaging personality will be the perfect match for this highly entertaining game show.”

For 20 years, “Weakest Link” has been the fastest and fiercest quiz show on television. The massively successful format distributed by BBC Studios has been produced in 44 territories around the globe. With over 1,500 episodes having aired in the UK alone.

The original run of “Weakest Link” on NBC launched on April 16, 2001 with 15.1 million viewers. Giving NBC its biggest audience in the timeslot with regular programming in nearly five years, since May 1996. For that season, “The Weakest Link” averaged nearly 13 million viewers to rank among television’s top 35 primetime broadcast series.

“Weakest Link” is produced by BBC Studios in association with Universal Television Alternative Studio. Ryan O’Dowd will serve as executive producer for BBC Studios. Stuart Krasnow, who executive produced the original NBC run. Will return in the same role and also serve as showrunner. Jane Lynch will also executive produce.

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.

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Interview with McKenzie Westmore

TV Interview!

McKenzie Westmore

Interview with McKenzie Westmore of the new sitcom”Y’All-R Family” on YouTube by Suzanne 9/23/20

This was an email interview, but I’ve interviewed McKenzie a few times before over the phone, in 2012 and 2017 when she was on “Face Off” on Syfy (see links below).  She’s always very nice.

1. Suzanne: So tell us about the makeup challenge…What is it, and how did you decide to start doing it on social media?

McKenzie: The makeup challenge is for artists of all levels to create a themed makeup each week and have the chance to win an amazing massage prize from Relaxacare, makeup swag and digitally meet and be critiqued by some of the biggest names in the makeup industry.

As we started the lockdown with Covid, my stylist Darshan Gress mentioned to me how someone from Top Chef was holding weekly contests. We both felt what a great idea to not only bring a piece of Face Off back to everyone, but more importantly, give a mental outlet to artists all over the world!

2. Suzanne: And Relaxacare is your sponsor for that? How did that come about?

McKenzie: I became friends with the owner sometime last year through social media. We became fast friends amd their products are top notch!! Even though not makeup-related, I thought, “What better prize to give to someone each week in the form of health and stress relief, especially during these times?”

3. Suzanne: I noticed that there’s also a petition with almost 30,000 signatures to bring “Face Off” back on Syfy. Is that still a possibility?

McKenzie: I guess anything is possible. I haven’t heard word of it coming back, but I do feel there is still a world and life for it to come back at some point.

4. Suzanne: Many fans know you from the soaps. Are you still auditioning for acting work in daytime or primetime?

McKenzie: I feel my fanbase is actually strongest from the soap world. I digitally audition once in a while for fun but have been busy with Westmore Beauty and QVC. If the right project comes along, I’ll definitely think about jumping back in the saddle. Especially if it’s back in the soap world.

5. Suzanne: I think it would be great if you joined “Days of Our Lives” as a new love interest for Rafe (Galen Gering), especially since his main love interest, Hope (Kristian Alfonso) just left the show. I miss Shuis!

McKenzie: I miss Shuis too! 🙂
I would love nothing more than to join Days! I’m so sad Kristian is gone!!

6. Suzanne: Do you think that there’s a stigma (as many have said) against daytime actors?

McKenzie: At one point, perhaps… but I don’t think so anymore. I think people have come to realize how difficult it is to do daytime. In prime time or movies, you’re doing a page a day. [For] daytime, I would memorize 25-50 pages a day, 8 episodes a week for 9 years straight!

7. Suzanne: You’re still doing a show on QVC, correct?

McKenzie: Yes, you can find me often on QVC with my cosmetic company Westmore Beauty. I usually post on my Instagram page as to when I’ll be on especially in my Stories.

8. Suzanne: What have you been doing to keep healthy and/or productive during the pandemic?

McKenzie: Personally, I take time to weight train an hour a day and either do HIIT training or long walks on my treadmill. I always make sure to do 10,000 steps or more a day. I drink a gallon of water daily. I get a massage in my Relaxacare chair daily, which has truly saved my sanity and back! That chair is worth every penny, especially during these times!

I do a lot of at-home skin care treatments, and I’m about to start another weekly show with Westmore Beauty, bringing fans into my home, as well as beauty tips and secrets with my dad.

9. Suzanne: What else are you working on?

McKenzie: I’ve written a few scripts that obviously have been put on hold. I have a few exciting things about to be announced! 😉

10. Suzanne: Do you have a particular charity that you’re passionate about?

McKenzie: I’m big on mental health awareness so This Is My Brave has become one. Because I battle Tourette Syndrome, their association is another I donate to. And my third is the California Wildlife Foundation to help rehabilitate stranded animals.

Suzanne: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions!

McKenzie: Thank you! Xo

Interview with McKenzie Westmore of “Face Off” on Syfy 2/23/17

Interview with McKenzie Westmore of “Face off” on Syfy 8/15/12

MORE INFO:

McKenzie is busy on social media with her makeup sites and makeup challenge. She appears in the new YouTube sitcom “Y’all R Family” (see trailer and site below).

Actress best known as Sheridan Crane Lopez Fitzgerald from the NBC soap opera, Passions (1999-2008)
Dr. Riley Sinclair in a recurring role on the ABC soap opera, All My Children (2008)
Host of SyFy Channel’s FaceOff (2011-2018)
Founder of Westmore Beauty Where McKenzie can be seen doing promos on QVC.
McKenzie is currently doing McKenzie’s Makeup Challenge on her Instagram page, which is sponsored by Relaxacare.

IMDB Bio

McKenzie’s main Instagram  Westmore Beauty on Instagram Makeup Challenge on Instagram

Twitter Facebook

Y’all R Family Site Trailer

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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McKenzie Westmore

Primetime TV Review: “Filthy Rich”

TV Review!

“Filthy Rich” Review by Eva 9/25/2020

Filthy Rich is a campy, silly, nighttime soap opera set in New Orleans that is centered around the Monreaux family. Eugene and Margaret Monreaux (Gerald McRaney and Kim Cattrall) are the head of a family that own a Christian television network. Eugene is presumed dead in a plane crash, and his wife Margaret discovers he has fathered three children who are now grown and are heirs to their father’s money. Filthy Rich, like many other shows have done in the past, ridicules Christians, in my opinion. They neglect to mention that Christians are people who are not perfect, but since they believe in God, they try their best to follow what the Bible teaches them. This show does show the sins of the Monreaux family, but I wish they would show them trying their best to follow what the Bible teaches them.

This show, in my opinion, perpetuates the myth that Christians are supposed to be perfect people, something that people who don’t believe in God think but is not true at all. Filthy Rich does do a good job of portraying some televangelists, but what makes me sad is that they make fun of the concept of prayer by using it as the way that the audience finds out what happened in the previous episode. I also did not like that they used scripture to insult each other when they don’t put them in context at all. If I were writing the show, I would respect the practice of prayer and reading the Bible so the audience could see that all people have faults because all humans do, but Christians try their best to live their lives like the Bible teaches them to do.

I do, however, have to give this show a 3 out of 5 stars for those who like to watch escapist television that only shows one side of its subject and not the other side of the coin.

MORE INFORMATION:

MEET THE MONREAUX FAMILY ON THE ALL-NEW SERIES PREMIERE OF “FILTHY RICH” MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, ON FOX

FILTHY RICH is a Southern Gothic family drama in which wealth, power and religion collide – with outrageously soapy results. When the patriarch of a mega-rich Southern family, famed for creating a wildly successful Christian television network, dies in a plane crash, his wife and family are stunned to learn that he fathered three illegitimate children, all of whom are written into his will, threatening their family name and fortune. With monumental twists and turns, FILTHY RICH presents a world in which everyone has an ulterior motive – and no one is going down without a fight. Meet the wildly eclectic characters in the all-new “Pilot” series premiere episode of FILTHY RICH airing Monday, Sept. 21 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (FIL-101) (TV-14 D, L, S, V)

Cast: Kim Cattrall as Margaret Monreaux, Gerald McRaney as Eugene Monreaux, Melia Kreiling as Ginger Sweet, Aubrey Dollar as Rose Monreaux, Corey Cott as Eric Monreaux, Benjamin Levy Aguilar as Antonio Rivera, Mark L. Young as Jason Conley, Olivia Macklin as Becky Monreaux, Steve Harris as Franklin Lee and Aaron Lazar as Reverend Paul Luke Thomas.

Guest Cast: Rachel York as Tina Sweet, Peter Porte as Trey Atkins, Aqueela Zoll as Rachel, Deneen Tyler as Norah Ellington, Michael Harrity as John Conley, Gretchen Koerner as Pat Conley, Annie Golden as Ellie and Cranston Johnson as Luke Taylor.

SOURCE:
FOX

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.

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Primetime TV Review: ” I Can See Your Voice”

TV Review!


“I Can See Your Voice Review by Eva 9/24/2020

I Can See Your Voice is a new singing competition that is unusual because a contestant wins $ 10,000.00 every time he eliminates a bad singer without ever hearing their voice.

I know what you’re thinking…how do they do this? Well, they do it through various lip sync battles, in which the good singers lip sync to their own voice while the bad singers lip sync to the voice of another person that can sing. The contestant can also look inside of one of the singers phones for clues.  If the person is a good singer but the singer’s voice is distorted, so the contestant never hears the singers voice. The contestant can also interview a singer and ask questions, but the singer’s voice is distorted so the contestant doesn’t hear their real voice. The contestant has help from Cheryl Hines, Adrianna Houghton and three different guest judges each episode.

In the first episode, the guests judges were Nick Lachey, Kelly Osborne and Arsenio Hall . The judges or detectives help the contestant eliminate the bad singers. One singer is eliminated each round, and when they are eliminated, the contestant and detectives get to hear their real singing voice. If the singer is bad the contestant gets $ 10,000.00 put in their bank. If the singer is good, the contestant doesn’t get any money. Once the game ends, host Ken Jeong gives the contestant the choice of keeping the money in their bank or risking all the money they earned to win $ 100,000.00 – If the singer that remains can sing well. If the contestant chooses to risk the money in their bank, and the last remaining singer is good, then they win $ 100,000.00.

I like this show. The best part of it is finding out at the end of each round if the singers sing well or sings badly because you are rooting for the contestant to win the money. The show is also fun because you can’t help but sing along with the songs the singers are lip-syncing to, even if you’re like me and can’t sing well at all. I give this show a 5 out of 5 stars.

MORE INFORMATION:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 26th, 2020
FOX FAST-TRACKS ALL-NEW UNSCRIPTED SERIES “I CAN SEE YOUR VOICE,”
HOSTED BY KEN JEONG, TO JOIN TELEVISION’S #1 SHOW, “THE MASKED SINGER,”
FOR A CAN’T-MISS NIGHT OF MUSIC, GUESSING AND FAMILY FUN,
BEGINNING WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, ON FOX
Brand-New Music Challenge Series I CAN SEE YOUR VOICE Hosted and
Executive-Produced by THE MASKED SINGER Panelist Ken Jeong

Special Sneak Peek Episode of Emmy Award-Nominated THE MASKED SINGER to
Air Sunday, September 13

FOX has fast-tracked the all-new music guessing game unscripted series I CAN SEE YOUR VOICE, hosted and executive-produced by comedian, actor and THE MASKED SINGER panelist Ken Jeong. For a night of event television, the series will debut Wednesday, Sept. 23 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), following the Season Four premiere of television’s #1 show, THE MASKED SINGER (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), on FOX. Offering viewers a first look at the hit’s all-new season, a special Sneak Peek episode of THE MASKED SINGER will air Sunday, Sept. 13 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/5:00-6:00 PM PT live to all time zones), following the first NFL double-header of the season.

“Safely filming I CAN SEE YOUR VOICE this summer was a win in itself, but when we saw the pure magic of the show and felt the palpable suspense in the room before that first note hit, we knew we had to share it with audiences this season,” said Rob Wade, President, Alternative Entertainment & Specials, FOX Entertainment. “It’s no secret that viewers need a little fun and escape now and, as a companion to an all-new season of THE MASKED SINGER, this will be a fantastic night of family entertainment – and a fantastic night of Ken Jeong!”

Watch/share the all-new promo for THE MASKED SINGER: https://youtu.be/qsJO0RFf_Ig
Watch/share the all-new promo for I CAN SEE YOUR VOICE: https://youtu.be/roYRZdxaLzA

I CAN SEE YOUR VOICE features Emmy®-nominated actress Cheryl Hines and Daytime Emmy® Award-winning television host and vocalist Adrienne Bailon-Houghton, as they join Jeong, a rotating panel of celebrity detectives, comprised of comedians and pop culture experts, and a musical superstar to help one contestant tell the difference between good and bad singers, without ever hearing them sing a note. With $100,000 on the line, the contestant will attempt to weed out the bad “Secret Voices” from the good, based on a series of clues, interrogation, and lip synch challenges. In the end, the singer whom the contestant picks will reveal if they are good or bad in a duet performance with the musical superstar, resulting in an amazing musical collaboration or a totally hilarious train wreck.

Embarking on its fourth season, Emmy Award-nominated THE MASKED SINGER is the #1 show on television, drawing a massive audience of nearly 24 million viewers in its post-Super Bowl Season Three premiere. The singing competition series is hosted by Nick Cannon and features panelists Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke. The Season Four celebrity contestants combined have sold more than 281 million records worldwide, appeared in more than 5,475 episodes of television and 151 films, appeared in five Super Bowls, have four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and one Time 100 Most Influential persons.

I CAN SEE YOUR VOICE is produced by FOX Alternative Entertainment. James McKinlay, Craig Plestis and Ken Jeong serve as executive producers. The series is based on a South Korean format from CJ ENM.

THE MASKED SINGER is produced by FOX Alternative Entertainment. Craig Plestis, James Breen, Rosie Seitchik and Nick Cannon serve as executive producers. James Breen serves as showrunner. The series is based on the South Korean format created by Mun Hwa Broadcasting Corp.

FOX fall premieres of new and returning series are listed below in chronological order (all times are ET/PT):

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.

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Interview with Alan Silva

TV Interview!

Alan Silva performers on "America's Got Talent"

Interview with Alan Silva of “America’s Got Talent” on NBC by Suzanne 9/19/20

This was such a fun interview with Alan! He’s got a lot of personality and talent. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. I’m so excited to watch Tuesday’s show to see who wins…

Here is the audio version of it.

Suzanne: Hi, Alan. How are you?

Alan: Hi, I’m doing great. How are you?

Suzanne: Good. Good. You’ve been rehearsing?

Alan: Yes, I’ve been rehearsing and practicing and creating. It’s been kind of like a roller coaster right now.

Suzanne: Well, congratulations on advancing to the finale.

Alan: Thank you. Thank you very much. It’s really exciting.

Suzanne: Sure. Did you go out and celebrate?

Alan: No, we didn’t have much time to celebrate. I think we’re going to have to just maybe have a big celebration when everything is finished, for sure.

Suzanne: And you must have something pretty big planned for the finale?

Alan: Yeah. I mean, we have to step it up, for sure. And I’ve been trying to always be creative and come up with something exciting and something different. So, my plan is to do something different again. Hopefully I can impress everyone.

Suzanne: Yeah, I’m sure everybody’s looking forward to seeing what you have up your sleeve.

Alan: I think that’s what I what I see most of the time. People are like, “I can’t wait to watch what you’re going to come up with next for your next performance.” So, I think people have the expectation already to see something different. So, I’m excited.

Suzanne: Yeah. And among the other contestants, who do you think is your greatest competition?

Alan: Oh, my gosh, that’s a great question, because, for me, I think all of them are my greatest competition. I mean, we’re all different in different talents. Everybody’s so talented, but we’re all different. Now we have, for example, the Bellow Sisters. They are more in my field, which is the performance, acrobatic arts. They are competition for me. Then, we have the other people. They’re not categorized in that category, but we have the BAD Salsa; they’re great dancers, and so dynamic. Then, we have the singers. We have Roberta [Battaglia]; it’s so amazing to hear her sing, and she’s so young to have that voice and that talent. Then, we have Daneliya [Tuleshova], and we have Cristina Rae. You have so many people – Brandon Leake. You know, for me, literally all of them are a huge competition for me. But, you know, at the end of the day, I think [I am] my own big competition. I’m competing against myself and trying to be better than I was last time, basically.

Suzanne: So, now that you’ve been on the show for a while, what has surprised you the most?

Alan: Well, I did have some surprises with people that actually ended up going home who I didn’t think were going home. That was, I think, for me, one of the biggest surprises that I had in terms of results. At this point, I don’t think anything surprises me anymore, because everyone’s game at this point. Everyone made it to the finals, so I can’t really tell if there is one exact thing for me that is a big surprise.

Suzanne: Okay, and besides not falling or hitting those spikes, what was your biggest challenge so far?

Alan: Oh, my gosh, every time it’s been a big challenge, especially in the quarter finals when I had so much trouble with with the weather and being wet, trying not to slip and fall. That was really stressful at the moment. I think, for me, right now, one of the biggest challenges that I’m having, is that I injured my shoulder. So, to be able to deliver a great performance for the finals with an injured shoulder, that, for now, is my biggest challenge.

Suzanne: Wow, yeah. Do they have a doctor there? Do they have somebody who can help you out?

Alan: Yeah, I mean, we have everybody here that can help us out, but it’s just because of one of the movements that I did. Basically, I pulled my muscle, my shoulder, like the ligaments. So, there’s not really much that they can do for that, just try to rest, and it will heal itself, but that means if I rest, I’m not going to be prepared for the finals. So, I decided to push forward and keep going, trying to be as safe as possible.

Suzanne: Sure. Now what precautions have they taken to minimize everyone’s risk to the Coronavirus?

Alan: Oh my gosh, this is huge; the precautions they took are really big. They’re really serious about that. Yeah, we have to be wearing a mask all the time. We’re actually tested every other day for COVID. They want to make sure that everyone is safe, keeping the social distancing at all times, even when we have to be transported; it’s like 1% of the time in the car and things like that. So, they’re being [careful] with the food and everything. It’s sealed. They’re being super, super, super cautious about everything.

Suzanne: Good. You’re filming in LA, right?

Alan: I am in LA, yes. We even have to be quarantined; we’re not allowed to go anywhere.

Suzanne: Oh, wow.

Alan: Yeah, they’re trying to create this protective bubble.

Suzanne: That’s good though. Do they put you up in a hotel and provide all of your meals and that kind of thing?

Alan: Yeah, they take really good care of us. We are in a beautiful hotel, and we are not far from the studio, so it’s easy to go for practice and during shooting days and all of that. It’s beautiful. The way they do everything is really high level. We are treated like superstars.

Suzanne: You had a brother that competed in an earlier season. Were they put up in the same place, or was it different? I read that you had a brother or some relative that competed in an earlier season?

Alan: Oh, yes. It was my brother, who was Alfredo from the games. He competed on season eleven.

Suzanne: Did they put him up in the same place? Or do you know?

Alan: I don’t think it was the same place.

Publicist: I can answer that. It wasn’t the same place, because we were at the Dolby Theatre at the time, but now, due to COVID, we’ve moved the production to Universal Studios.

Alan: Exactly.

Suzanne: Oh, so it was a different hotel. I was just curious.

Publicist: Different parts of town. We’re in Universal Studios right now, and the Dolby Theater is in Hollywood.

Suzanne: Okay. And how many hours a day do you practice normally?

Alan: Well, for the last two days, I practiced from three until ten – three in the afternoon until ten at night.

Suzanne: Wow.

Alan: Yes. [laughs] It’s a lot of work. People sometimes don’t think that. I guess they think I just go out there and fly. [laughs]

Suzanne: And you live in Las Vegas, right?

Alan: Yes, I do. I live in Vegas.

Suzanne: So, you must be glad to get away from the temperatures there a little bit.

Alan: Right, because it’s so hot. It was like 118 before I left Vegas. I don’t know what the weather is like now, but it’s been pretty warm here too. I mean, it’s very similar, and I kind of like it; it’s like the summery [months].

Suzanne: That’s good. My sister lives in Vegas, and I think she said it was going to be around 100, so I guess it’s come down a little bit.

Alan: It’s so funny. You can literally just like fry an egg on your windshield.

Suzanne: [laughs] I know. Their air conditioning went out for a few days, and they live in apartments, so they were just dying.

Alan: That’s the worst, right? That happened to me before. [laughs]

Suzanne: So, are you are you still performing in Vegas? If people go to Vegas, can they see you perform there?

Alan: No, they cannot, because when the whole COVID situation [started], the shows closed, and none of us have the jobs now.

Suzanne: Oh, they haven’t reopened the shows at all?

Alan: No, so I don’t have a job to go to now. I don’t have to work, so it was just perfect timing for me to be on AGT and eventually earn a spot. And that would be a dream come true, if I can have my own show in Vegas. That would be amazing.

Suzanne: Wow. I had no idea. I knew they’d opened the casinos up. I didn’t know they hadn’t opened the shows up. That’s interesting.

So, I read that you want to act. Do you have an agent yet for that?

Alan: I don’t have an agent yet. I did a couple of things in the past, acting-wise. I don’t know if I can talk about it, but I did (unintelligible) in 2007. But I would like to go that route, because it’s something that I really love. I’ve always been passionate for acting; it’s just opportunities didn’t come up. So, hopefully people can see me in a different light and it will open up more doors and opportunities.

Suzanne: Yeah, sure. I mean, if you win this, surely you’ll get some connections from that.

Alan: Right.

Suzanne: So, last question, what would you like to say to your fans out there?

Alan: For my fans, I just would like to say, I really appreciate all of them. I’ve been receiving so many messages of love from them and support. I really, really appreciate it. They think sometimes that we don’t read the messages, but we do get to read them. Sometimes we cannot reply to everyone, and I apologize, because it’s a lot of people to reply to, but I just want to tell them that, if anything, I just want to be able to inspire them and to just bring hope for them, and that they know that they can reach for the stars, that the sky’s the limit, and they can pursue their dreams and goals. I just hope that they see me up here, getting to the finals; I just hope that they look at me and say, “Hey, if he did it, I can also do it.”

Suzanne: Alright, well, thank you. I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to me, especially on a Saturday.

Alan:
It’s okay. Thank you so much. I really appreciate you reaching out.

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

AMERICA'S GOT TALENT -- "Semi-Finals" Episode 1519 -- Pictured: (l-r) Terry Crews, Alan Silva -- (Photo by: Justin Lubin/NBC)

MORE INFO:

Alan’s Bio:  Alan J. Silva was born in Brazil. He comes from a long line of performers and is the sixth generation of circus performers in his family. He started performing at the age of 6. He trained in and performed many circus disciplines, including but not limited to Russian bar, clowning, tumbling and flying trapeze. It wasn’t until he was 16, though, that he found his true passion was aerial silks. Soon after mastering his craft, he traveled Brazil, performing as the first male artist to fly on aerial silks for circuses and festivals all over the country. Then in 2000, he had an opportunity to audition for his dream circus that only accepted the best of the best artists to be part of the company. However, it wouldn’t be for another two years that he’d be called to create a character and act for the show that would eventually open on the Las Vegas strip. Since 2003, Alan has called the USA home and is proud to have earned his citizenship in 2017. While working and living in Las Vegas, he met and married his wife, and they are now parents of two amazing young children that may follow in his foot steps

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Alan Silva performers on "America's Got Talent"

Alan Silva performs America's Got Talent - Season 15

Primetime DVD Review: We Bare Bears – The Movie

DVD Review!

We Bare Bears, The Movie DVD cover

 

“We Bare Bears: The Movie” Review by Suzanne 9/12/20

I had never seen or heard of this Cartoon Network series before. I have no idea if the movie is comparable or not, but it’s a fun movie that people of all ages can enjoy. Unlike many Cartoon Network shows, it doesn’t have violence, bad language, etc. It’s a cute show about some bears who are friends and hang out together as brothers. One is a grizzly, one is a panda, and one is a polar bear. It ran for four seasons until last year. I’m glad they were able to make this movie. I hope it’s successful and that they can make more. The series was based on a web series and the TV show is an international series.

The three bears, Grizz, Panda and Ice, are bears that try to live in San Francisco along with humans.  In this movie, we see how they first got together when they were very young bears.  When the bears rush through the city, knocking people and things over, they get humans angry at them. One of the things that the bears do is “stack,” i.e. stand on top of one another, which humans find to be strange.  An evil wild life control agent named Trout wants to separate them and them back to the wild (voiced by Marc Evan Jackson, who played the evil Shawn in “The Good Place”), so the bears go on the run. It’s a good story and has many characters, including their friend, Officer Murphy, the park ranger. You may also recognize the famous voices of Ellie Kemper, Jason Lee, and Patton Oswalt.

This would make a great present for anyone who enjoys animated shows (especially children). The DVD has a lot of great extras for those who are really into these characters. Check them out below!

MORE INFORMATION:

Cartoon Network’s Beloved Bears Stack Up for their First TV Movie with
Adventure Awaits on DVD September 8, 2020
BURBANK, CA (July 30, 2020) It all started with a bear stack, and now TV’s most hilarious and heartwarming bears star in their first TV movie! Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is bringing Cartoon Network’s hit series into your homes on September 8, 2020 with the release of We Bare Bears The Movie on DVD. The movie is an extension of the successful We Bare Bears series, created by two-time Annie Award-winner Daniel Chong, and executive produced by Cartoon Network Studios. Eric Edelstein (“Shameless,” “Clarence”), Bobby Moynihan (“Saturday Night Live,” Me Myself & I) and Demetri Martin (“Important Things with Demetri Martin”) return as the voice actors of the loveable bears; Grizz, Panda and Ice Bear along with recurring guest stars include Patton Oswalt (“King of Queens,” Ratatouille), Ellie Kemper (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “The Office”), Charlyne Yi (“House,” “Steven Universe”) and Jason Lee (Alvin & The Chipmucks, Mallrats).
Stacked with bonus features including commentary, the movie pitch, deleted scenes and more, We Bare Bears The Movie carries a suggested retail price of $19.99 for the DVD ($24.99 in Canada) and is rated TV-Y7. We Bare Bears The Movie is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.
In We Bare Bears The Movie, when the bears‘ love of food trucks and viral videos gets out of hand, it catches the attention of the menacing Agent Trout from the National Wildlife Control, who pledges to restore the “natural order” by separating them forever. Chased from their home, Grizz decides there’s only one thing they can do to find refuge – move to Canada! The Bears embark on an epic road trip filled with new friends, dangerous obstacles, and massive parties. But most importantly, the perilous journey will force the Bears to face how they first met and became brothers, in order to keep their family bond from splitting apart.
“Get ready for lovable bear hugs, internet culture references, and human life lessons we all need to learn in our technologically driven society,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, WBHE Senior Vice President, Originals, Animation & Family Marketing.  We are eager to bring home the laughter and antics of Cartoon Network’s first feature film for the series loyal fanbase and the whole family to enjoy.”
We Bare Bearspremiered in 2015 and since its debut, has earned numerous awards including a BAFTA Children’s Award, a Jury Award for Best TV Series at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and several Annie Awards. Fans around the world, most notably in the APAC region, have embraced the show for its portrayal of Asian pop culture.
DIGITAL
We Bare Bears The Movieis currently 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 iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu, PlayStation, Xbox and others. A Digital Code is also included in the U.S. with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs for redemption and cloud storage.
BONUS FEATURES
  • Commentary
  • Early Sketches
  • Movie Pitches
  • Animatics and Pencil Tests
  • Deleted Scenes
BASICS
Street Date: September 8, 2020
Presented in 16×9 widescreen format
Total Runtime: Approx. 72 minutes
Enhanced Content: Approx. 90 min
1 DVD-9s
Audio – English (5.1)
Subtitles – English SDH
Rated: TV-Y7
Price: $19.98 SRP ($24.99 in Canada)
UPC #: 883929705504 (#883929705504 in Canada)
Catalog # 100756891 (#883929705504 in Canada)
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 Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a division of WarnerMedia and the #1 global animated series network, offering the best in original content for kids and families with such hits as Ben 10, Craig of the Creek, Steven Universe, The Amazing World of Gumball, The Powerpuff Girls, and We Bare Bears. Seen in 187 countries, over 450 million homes and in 33 languages, Cartoon Network inspires the next generation of creators and innovators by engaging its audience at the intersection of creativity and technology. Its award-winning pro-social initiatives, Stop Bullying: Speak Up and CN Buddy Network are acknowledged and often used resources for kids and adults looking for tools that can assist in dealing with the ongoing issue of bullying. WarnerMedia is a leading media and entertainment company that creates and distributes premium and popular content from a diverse array of talented storytellers and journalists to global audiences through its consumer brands including: HBO, HBO Now, HBO Max, Warner Bros., TNT, TBS, truTV, CNN, DC, New Line, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies and others. Warner Media is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T).
About Cartoon Network Studios
Established in 2000, Cartoon Network Studios (CNS) is a global animation and interactive studio recognized for its innovative approaches to IP development and world-building. Fostering a creator-driven environment, CNS is home to hundreds of visual artists who have been a part of the studio’s many critically acclaimed and groundbreaking animated series including Adventure Time, Ben 10,Craig of the Creek, Steven Universe, The Powerpuff Girls, and Victor and Valentino. CNS has also produced notable Adult Swim hits such as Primal, Samurai Jack, and Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law. CNS has been honored with multiple awards and accolades including: Emmy, Peabody, GLAAD and Annie Awards. Internationally, the studio also garnered the BAFTA, Italy’s prestigious Pulcinella Award and Annecy Festival’s Cristal Award. Currently, CNS houses a VR lab, and produces an array of interactive formats and products for youth and young adult audiences around the world. As part of its ongoing efforts to discover unique and promising voices everywhere, the studio has a robust global Artist Program and has numerous partnerships, including Exceptional Minds, Black Women Animate and California Institute of the Arts.

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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.

"We Bare Bears: The Movie"

Primetime DVD Review: “Bull – Season 4”

DVD Review!

Bull: Season 4 DVD cover

“Bull: Season 4” Review by Suzanne 9/12/20

I don’t normally watch this show, but I love Michael Weatherly (who plays the title role). The rest of the cast is good, too. I think they’ve really improved it a lot since the first season, when I saw a few episodes and wasn’t thrilled with it. Sometimes it takes a while for a show to really build what it’s going to be.

A lot happens this season as Bull prepares for father hood with his ex-wife, Izzy (Yara Martinez) and has to make up with her brother, Benny (Freddy Rodriguez).  Benny is his main lawyer, and he can’t win trials without him. The two had a falling out in the previous season.

The writers keep the show exciting with many interesting cases, and there is also a lot of humor and fun dialogue between the characters (when the show is not being heavily dramatic).  Their cases vary between murder, wrongful death, fraud, assault, negligence and more. I like that this show focuses on the jury and voir dire. So few legal shows do.

Anyone who enjoys drama should like the show. Like most series this year, it was cut short due to COVID, so there are only 20 episodes instead of 22. That’s still a lot of great TV episodes to watch, but it means that the final episode was not meant to be the final episode. There is no cliffhanger or any kind of feeling that it’s the last episode of the season.

There are only two main features. They have audio commentary on two of the episodes, and a “behind the scenes” feature about the season. It’s done well, despite the fact that many of the actors were obviously being filmed via remote camera.

One thing I always appreciate about CBS videos is that they have the “Play All” choice, which makes it easier to go through all of the episodes. Also, they have the extras on the last DVD rather than making you have to go through all of the discs to find them.

MORE INFORMATION:

Coming to your home screen this September are two hit TV shows from CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment.

Action-packed crime drama Magnum P.I.: Season Two will be arriving on DVD this year on  September 1. Starring Jay Hernandez as Tom Magnum, an American hero and Navy SEAL returning from war who uses his military skills to become a private investigator in Oahu, Hawaii.

Dr. Jason Bull and his psychological tricks are back again when Bull: Season Four arrives on DVD on September 8. Starring Michael Weatherly, Dr. Bull uses his psychological skills and high-tech data to persuade the jury, witnesses, attorneys. His sharp-witted charm and tactics leaves clients uneasy, that is until they are proven not guilty and walk out the courtroom free.

Bull: Season Four
Street Date: September 8, 2020
Format: DVD
Description: BULL stars Michael Weatherly as Dr. Jason Bull in a drama inspired by the early career of Dr. Phil McGraw, the founder of one of the most prolific trial-consulting firms of all time. Brilliant, brash and charming, Dr. Bull is the ultimate puppet master as he combines psychology, human intuition and high-tech data to learn what makes jurors, attorneys, witnesses and the accused tick. His personal life proves harder to manage as he tries to live a healthier lifestyle following a heart attack and learns he is expecting a child with his ex-wife. Bull employs an enviable team of experts at Trial Analysis Corporation to shape successful narratives down to the very last detail. This includes his quick-witted former brother-in-law, Benny Colón, a lawyer who acts as defense attorney in the company’s mock trials; Marissa Morgan, a neurolinguistics expert from the Department of Homeland Security who monitors shifting jury reactions in real-time for Bull; former NYPD detective Danny James, the firm’s tough but relatable investigator; Taylor Rentzel, a working mother and former colleague of Marissa’s who is an expert in coding and computer hacking; and Chunk Palmer, a former all-American lineman and stylist-turned-law student who helps clients prepare their look and testimony for trial. In high-stakes trials, Bull’s combination of remarkable insight into human nature, three Ph.D.’s and a top-notch staff creates winning strategies that tip the scales of justice in his clients’ favor.

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.

Bull cast from season 4 - "The Ground Beneath Their Feet"--Bull returns to work after his heart attack with a new client for the firm to represent in civil court, an insurance company being sued by a dying mother for denying her a liver transplant, on the third season premiere of BULL, Monday, Sept. 24 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. .Pictured L-R: Geneva Carr as Marissa Morgan, Freddy Rodriguez as Benny Col--n, Michael Weatherly as Dr. Jason Bull, Jaime Lee Kirchner as Danny James, and Chris Jackson as Chunk Palmer Photo: Craig Blankenhorn/CBS ©2018 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Curb Your Enthusiasm Articles

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Interview with Lisa Arch (Cassie) 11/18/21

Review of Season 7 DVD 5/31/10.

Interview with Richard Kind (Cousin Andy) and others 10/20/16.

Interview with Vivica Fox and others 11/4/14.

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Primetime DVD Review: “Supergirl: The Complete Fifth Season”

DVD Review!

Supergirl: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray cover
“Supergirl: The Complete Fifth Season (Blu-ray)” Review by Suzanne 9/3/20

I grew up reading “Supergirl” comics, as well as all the male DC comics like Superman, Batman, Justice League, The Flash, et al. I enjoyed the 1980’s movie they did about Supergirl as well. When the series first started, I wasn’t sure if I would like it because I didn’t like all of the changes they made, particularly with regard to her origin story. However, the show quickly won me over with great stories and good acting.  It’s hard to believe that they’re about to enter their 6th season. They ended with 19 episodes this season, due to the pandemic.  Let’s hope they can film the next one and debut in the spring.

The only thing I don’t like about the show is that the characters change so often. I really miss Wynn (at least he did return this year for a few episodes), Jimmy and Mon-El.  The stories are still very good, though. Lena and Kara’s friendship breaking up this year was horrible, but they got back to a good place.  I’m still not sure yet if I like this new post-Crisis universe with Lex pretending to be a good guy. It takes some getting used to.  They do like to keep us – and their characters – on our toes.

This DVD (Blu-ray) doesn’t have a lot of features. DVD’s, too, were affected by the pandemic. They just have the usual deleted scenes and gag reel, plus “The Best of DC TV’s Comic-Con Panels San Diego 2019.”  I’m surprised they couldn’t cobble together some kind of season-specific feature.

This would make a great gift for any superhero fan or any fan of fantasy/scifi/drama. I can’t wait until the show returns!

MORE INFORMATION:

Immerse Yourself, For the Good of the Human Race!
SUPERGIRL:
THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON
Contains All 19 Exhilarating Episodes from Season Five,
Plus All-New Special Features!
Available on Blu-ray™ & DVD September 8, 2020
Blu-ray also includes a Limited-Edition Bonus Disc
with All Five Episodes of the DC Crossover Event
Crisis on Infinite Earths and 6 Crossover Bonus Features!
BURBANK, CA (May 20, 2020) – Adventure awaits as one of TV’s favorite DC Super Heroes flies into homes with the release of Supergirl: The Complete Fifth Season on Blu-ray and DVD on September 8, 2020 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Fans can purchase the sets which, in addition to all 19 super-powered episodes from season five, also contains The Best of DC TV’s Comic-Con Panels San Diego 2019, deleted scenes and a gag reel. A limited-edition bonus disc featuring all five DC Crossover Event Crisis on Infinite Earths episodes will be available exclusively for fans who purchase the Blu-ray. Supergirl: The Complete Fifth Season is priced to own at $39.99 SRP for the DVD ($44.98 in Canada) and $44.98 SRP for the Blu-ray ($49.99 in Canada), which includes a Digital Copy (U.S. only). Supergirl: The Complete Fifth Season is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.
In season five, Supergirl faces threats, both new and ancient. National City becomes enthralled with addictive virtual reality technologies created by CatCo’s charming-but-secretive new owner, Andrea Rojas. As Kara uses the power of the press to try to expose this danger, she must contend with challenges put up by rival reporter William Dey, renegade Martian Malefic J’onzz, a shadowy organization called Leviathan, and the shocking return of Lex Luthor who, in addition to his plot for world domination, seeks to claim the soul of Supergirl‘s best friend (and his sister) Lena. With humanity choosing to lose itself in technology, can Supergirl save the world yet again?
“After five strong seasons, Supergirl remains one of the most talked-about shows on the air,” said Rosemary Markson, WBHE Senior Vice President, Television Marketing. “The loyal fan base will enjoy the special features, in addition to the 19 gripping episodes from the fifth season following new challenges and new characters.”
With Blu-ray’s unsurpassed picture and sound, Supergirl: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray release will include 1080p Full HD Video with DTS-HD Master Audio for English 5.1. Featuring all 19 episodes from the fifth season in high definition, as well as a digital code of the season (available in the U.S. only).
Supergirl stars Melissa Benoist (Glee, Whiplash), Mehcad Brooks (About Last Night, Necessary Roughness), Chyler Leigh (Grey’s Anatomy), Katie McGrath (Jurassic World, Merlin), Jesse Rath (Defiance, No Tomorrow), Nicole Maines (Royal Pains), Azie Tesfai (Jane the Virgin), Andrea Brooks (Bates Motel), Julie Gonzalo (Dallas, Veronica Mars), Staz Nair (Game of Thrones) and David Harewood (Homeland). Based on the DC characters created by Jerry Sigel and Joe Shuster by special arrangement with the Jerry Siegel family, Supergirlis produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Robert Rovner and Jessica Queller.
SPECIAL FEATURES
  • The Best of DC TV’s Comic-Con Panels San Diego 2019
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Gag Reel
BLU-RAY BONUS DISC
  • All Five Epic Episodes of the DC Crossover Event Crisis on Infinite Earths from Supergirl, Batwoman, The Flash, Arrow and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow
  • Special Features:
  • Crisis Past and Present: Kevin Conroy Bat Legend
  • Crisis on Infinite Earths: The Architects Return                        
  • Crisis Past and Present – Superman vs. Superman                      
  • Characters in Crisis: Pariah
  • Crisis Management
  • Character in Crisis: The Anti-Monitor
19 ONE-HOUR EPISODES
  1. Event Horizon
  2. Stranger Beside Me
  3. Blurred Lines
  4. In Plain Sight
  5. Dangerous Liaisons
  6. Confidence Women
  7. Tremors
  8. The Wrath of Rama Khan
  9. Crisis on Infinite Earths: Hour One
  10. The Bottle Episode
  11. Back from the Future – Part One
  12. Back from the Future – Part Two
  13. It’s a Super Life
  14. The Bodyguard
  15. Reality Bytes
  16. Alex in Wonderland
  17. Deus Lex Machina
  18. The Missing Link
  19. Immortal Kombat
DIGITAL
The fifth season of Supergirlis also currently available to own on Digital. Digital allows consumers to instantly stream and download all episodes to watch anywhere, anytime on their favorite devices. Digital is available from various retailers including iTunes, Amazon Video, PlayStation, Vudu, Xbox and others. A Digital Copy is also included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs (available in the U.S.) for redemption and cloud storage.
BASICS
Street Date: September 8, 2020
BD and DVD Presented in 16×9 widescreen format
Running Time: Feature: Approx 817 min
Enhanced Content: Approx 60 min
DVD
Price: $39.99 SRP ($44.98 in Canada)
4 DVD-9s
Audio – English (5.1)
Subtitles – English SDH
BLU-RAY
Price: $44.98 SRP ($49.99 in Canada)
5-Discs (4 BD-50s +1 BD-50 BONUS DISC)
Audio – DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 – English
BD Subtitles – English SDH
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.
SUPERGIRL and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.

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.

Supergirl: The Complete Fifth Season DVD cover

Primetime DVD Review: “Magnum P.I.: Season Two”

DVD Review!

Magnum P.I.: Season Two DVD cover

“Magnum P.I.: Season Two” Review by Suzanne 8/30/20

You can’t compare this to the original series, so you shouldn’t try. Tom Selleck is just too hard to replace.  However, it’s a good, solid drama in its own right. The stories are compelling.  There aren’t many private eye shows around on TV, so it’s good to have one.  Also, now that “Hawaii Five-0” has been canceled, this is the only show set in Hawaii as well. Having lived there for 3 years, I enjoy watching this show to see glimpses of places I recognize.  It’s also great to see Tim Kang (Detective Gordon Katsumoto) again…I loved him on “The Mentalist.”

The DVD is fun to watch.  It has many good features, including “Better Together: The Story of Magnum, P.I. Season Two”, deleted scenes, the Hawaii Five-0 Crossover episode, gag reel and a fun video diary from actor Stephen Hill (T.C.).  This DVD would make a great gift for any drama fan.

MORE INFORMATION:

Coming to your home screen this September is a  hit TV show from CBS Home Entertainment.

Action-packed crime drama Magnum P.I.: Season Two will be arriving on DVD this year on  September 1. Starring Jay Hernandez as Tom Magnum, an American hero and Navy SEAL returning from war who uses his military skills to become a private investigator in Oahu, Hawaii.

Magnum P.I.: Season Two
Street Date: September 1, 2020
Format: DVD
Description: MAGNUM P.I. is a modern take on the classic series centering on Thomas Magnum, a former Navy SEAL who, upon returning home from Afghanistan, repurposes his military skills to become a private investigator. A charming rogue, an American hero and a die-hard Detroit Tigers fan, Magnum lives in a guest cottage on Robin’s Nest, the luxurious estate where he works as a security consultant to supplement his P.I. business. The “majordomo” of the property is Juliet Higgins, a beautiful and commanding disavowed MI:6 agent whose second job is to keep Magnum in line, with the help of her two Dobermans. When Magnum needs back-up on a job, he turns to his trusted buddies and fellow POW survivors, Theodore “TC” Calvin, a former Marine chopper pilot who runs Island Hoppers, a helicopter tour business, and Orville “Rick” Wright, a former Marine door-gunner-turned-impresario of Oahu’s coolest nightclub and the most connected man on the island. Suspicious of Magnum’s casual attitude and presence at his crime scenes, Detective Gordon Katsumoto finds that he and Magnum are more alike than either of them care to admit. One of Magnum’s biggest supporters is Teuila “Kumu” Tuileta, the unofficial “House Mom” and cultural curator of Robin’s Nest.With keys to a vintage Ferrari in one hand, aviator sunglasses in the other, and an Old Düsseldorf longneck chilling in the fridge, Thomas Magnum is back on the case!

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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.

Magnum, P.I. cast

Primetime DVD Review: “Blue Bloods: The Tenth Season”

DVD Review!

Blue Bloods: The Tenth Season DVD cover

“Blue Bloods: The Tenth Season” Review by Suzanne 8/15/20

This is such a reliable and solid show. It’s basically a police soap opera.  The focus is on the family: the Reagans, who stand by each other, even when they’re fighting. Even though this is their 10th season, they’re still going strong.  The stories are always intriguing.  The audience for this show skews older and more conservative, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good show that anyone can enjoy.

The best feature is one that celebrates the 200th episode.  There are also deleted scenes “Dinner with the Reagans,” which they have on every DVD. This year, they had to do the dinner remotely. It was very interesting to watch. I think any fan of police shows would enjoy this. Even though it’s a soap opera, you shouldn’t feel too lost if you start watching with this DVD.

MORE INFORMATION:

Blue Bloods: The Tenth Season

Street Date: August 18, 2020

Format: DVD

Description: Blue Bloods is a drama about a multi-generational family of cops dedicated to New York City law enforcement. Frank Reagan is the New York Police Commissioner, and heads both the police force and the Reagan brood. He runs his department as diplomatically as he runs his family, even when dealing with the politics that plagued his unapologetically bold father, Henry, during his stint as Chief. A source of pride and concern for Frank is his eldest son, Danny, a seasoned detective, family man and Iraq War vet who on occasion uses dubious tactics to solve cases with his partner, Detective Maria Baez. The Reagan women in the family include Erin, a New York Assistant D.A. who also serves as the legal compass for her siblings and father, as well as a single parent to her teenage daughter, Nicky. Jamie is the youngest Reagan, a Harvard Law graduate and the family’s “golden boy.” Unable to deny the family tradition, Jamie decided to give up a lucrative future in law and follow in the family footsteps as a cop. He’s found a friend and ally in Eddie, his female partner who keeps him on his toes, and has very different reasons than the Reagans for joining the police force. After several years of working together, Jamie and Eddie finally succumbed to their strong feelings for one another and tied the knot.

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.

Blue Bloods wedding

Primetime DVD Review: “The Flash: The Complete Sixth Season”

DVD Review!

The Flash: The Complete Sixth Season DVD cover

“The Flash: The Complete Sixth Season” Review by Suzanne 8/30/20

This is my favorite superhero show, and that’s saying a lot because there are many of them (and I watch them all). Every season has been fantastic. The characters and relationships are very well-defined.  They sometimes kill off characters and sometimes bring them back (just like most shows nowadays). This year we got a little less of Cisco and a little more of the other characters.

The season was cut a little short, by 3 episodes, thanks to the coronavirus. That makes sense because it didn’t really feel like a typical “Flash” ending at the end of the year. It will be great to see what happens in Season 7 (especially to Iris and Ralph). The show never disappoints with good acting, drama, action and occasional humor.

This is a pretty good DVD collection. There is a special noir version of one of the episodes, and commentary. There is the usual gag reel and deleted scenes, and last year’s San Diego Comic Con panel. It’s worth having if you’re a fan of the show.

MORE INFORMATION:

Catch Up (If You Can) With The Fastest Man Alive!
THE FLASH:
THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON
Contains All 19 Electrifying Episodes From The Sixth Season,
Plus A Never-Before-Seen
“Kiss Kiss Breach Breach – Noir” Episode With Commentary
Own the Blu-ray™ & DVD August 25, 2020
Blu-ray also includes a Limited-Edition Bonus Disc
with All Five Episodes of the DC Crossover Event
Crisis on Infinite Earths and 6 Crossover Bonus Features!
BURBANK, CA (May 19, 2020) –Just in time for the seventh season premiere of the highest-rated series on The CW, fans will be zooming into stores to pick up The Flash: The Complete Sixth Season as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases the Blu-ray and DVD on August 25, 2020. Averaging over 1.8 million viewers weekly*, viewers will be able to speed-watch all 19 gripping episodes from the #1 series on The CW, plus a never-before-seen “Kiss Kiss Breach Breach – Noir” episode with commentary by showrunner/ executive producer Eric Wallace. Other special features include: The Best of DC TV’s Comic-Con Panels San Diego 2019, deleted scenes and a gag reel. A limited-edition bonus disc featuring all five DC Crossover Event Crisis on Infinite Earths episodes will be available exclusively for fans who purchase the Blu-ray.  The Flash: The Complete Sixth Season is priced to own at $39.99 SRP for the DVD ($44.98 in Canada) and $44.98 SRP for the Blu-ray ($49.99 in Canada), which includes a Digital Copy (U.S. only). The Flash: The Complete Sixth Season is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.
*Source: Nielsen NTI, Most Current data 9/23/19 through 4/28/20
Last season, Team Flash spent the last year dealing with not one, but two Cicadas, the return of Eobard Thawne, aka Reverse Flash, and the surprise arrival from the future of Barry and Iris’ daughter, Nora West-Allen, aka XS. The stakes were higher than ever during the season five finale. In season six, Team Flash contends with not one, but two all-new villains – Bloodwork and Mirror Master!
“After six strong seasons, The Flash continues to score in ratings andranks as the top series for The CW,” said Rosemary Markson, WBHE Senior Vice President, Television Marketing. “This must own set is filled with in-depth bonus content that fans and DC fanboys will be eager to check out to add to their Blu-ray or DVD collections; including the all-new black and white version of the “Kiss Kiss Breach Breach – Noir” episode with commentary by showrunner/ executive producer Eric Wallace.”
With Blu-ray’s unsurpassed picture and sound, The Flash: The Complete Sixth Season Blu-ray release will include 1080p Full HD Video with DTS-HD Master Audio for English 5.1. Featuring all 19 episodes from the sixth season in high definition, as well as a digital code of the season (available in the U.S. only).
The Flash stars Grant Gustin (Arrow, Glee), Candice Patton (The Game), Danielle Panabaker (Sky High, Friday the 13th), Carlos Valdes (Arrow, Once), Hartley Sawyer (Caper, Glory Daze), Danielle Nicolet (Central Intelligence), and Efrat Dor (The Zookeeper’s Wife, Mayans M.C.), with Tom Cavanagh (Ed, The Following) and Jesse L. Martin (Law & Order). Based on the characters from DC, The Flashis produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (Arrow, Supergirl, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Riverdale), Eric Wallace (Teen Wolf, Z Nation,Eureka) and Sarah Schechter (Batwoman, Riverdale, Black Lightning, Supergirl).
SPECIAL FEATURES
  • “Kiss Kiss Breach Breach – Noir” (Special Episode)
  • “Kiss Kiss Breach Breach – Noir” Commentary by showrunner/executive producer Eric Wallace
  • The Best of DC TV’s Comic-Con Panels San Diego 2019
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Gag Reel
BLU-RAY BONUS DISC
  • All Five Epic Episodes of the DC Crossover Event Crisis on Infinite Earths from Supergirl, Batwoman, The Flash, Arrow and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow
  • Special Features:
  • Crisis Past and Present: Kevin Conroy Bat Legend
  • Crisis on Infinite Earths: The Architects Return                        
  • Crisis Past and Present – Superman vs. Superman                      
  • Characters in Crisis: Pariah
  • Crisis Management
  • Character in Crisis: The Anti-Monitor
19 ONE-HOUR EPISODES
  1. Into The Void
  2. A Flash of The Lightning
  3. Dead Man Running
  4.  There Will Be Blood
  5. Kiss Kiss Breach Breach
  6. License To Elongate
  7. The Last Temptation of Barry Allen, Part 1
  8. The Last Temptation of Barry Allen, Part 2
  9. Crisis on Infinite Earths: Hour Three
  10. Marathon
  11. Love is a Battlefield
  12. A Girl Named Sue
  13. Grodd Friended Me
  14. Death of the Speed Force
  15. The Exorcism of Nash Wells
  16. So Long and Goodnight
  17. Liberation
  18. Pay the Piper
  19. Success Is Assured
DIGITAL
The sixth season of The Flashis also currently available to own on Digital. Digital allows consumers to instantly stream and download all episodes to watch anywhere, anytime on their favorite devices. Digital is available from various retailers including iTunes, Amazon Video, PlayStation, Vudu, Xbox and others. A Digital Copy is also included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs (available in the U.S.) for redemption and cloud storage.
THE BASICS
Street Date: August 25, 2020
BD and DVD Presented in 16×9 widescreen format
Running Time: Feature: Approx. 836 min
Enhanced Content: Approx. 136 min
DVD
Price: $39.99 SRP ($44.98 in Canada)
4 DVD-9s
Audio – English (5.1)
Subtitles – English SDH
BLU-RAY
Price: $44.98 SRP ($49.99 in Canada)
5-Discs (4 BD-50s + 1 BD-50 BONUS DISC)
Audio – DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 – English
BD Subtitles – English SDH
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 subscription streaming service. For more information visit dccomics.com.
THE FLASH and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.

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 Flash: The Complete Sixth Season Blu-ray cover

Primetime DVD Review: “SEAL Team: Season Three”

DVD Review!

SEAL Team: Season Three DVD cover

“SEAL Team: Season Three” Review by Suzanne 8/30/20

I don’t watch this show regularly, but it’s a solid show with good performances and stories. I love David Boreanaz, who stars as Bravo, the team leader. He’s always great. I watched him in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” and “Bones,” but “SEAL Team” is just not my type of show. It’s a good action show with lots of drama and angst. It doesn’t have the humor and romance of “Bones,” and it’s not a fantasy or scifi show. I prefer Scifi and Fantasy shows.  There are so many shows to watch, and I can’t watch them all.

If you like good drama and action, you should enjoy this show. The show also stars “Mad Men”‘s Jessica Paré and “CSI: NY”‘s A.J. Buckley, among others.  The show reminds me a bit of “NCIS: Los Angeles” because of its military bent and what the SEAL team members go through.  This season, Bravo is divorced and trying to cope with the lives that have been lost in his team. From what I’ve read, the show is very popular with vets because it’s realistic and shows what military personnel go through.

I’m glad to get the DVD, so I can watch the show at my leisure.  Like most shows right now, it was cut short by a few episodes because of the coronavirus. There are quite a few special features on the DVD set. However, the menu is somewhat confusing, so it can be hard to find the special features if you’re not looking on every single disk, and every episode. I hate when they do that. They should put all of the features on one disk at the end, to make it easier.

MORE INFORMATION:

The action packed TV series SEAL Team: Season Three is coming to your home screen on DVD August 25 from CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment. Follow the story of Bravo Team, a United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group, on the challenges they face professionally and personally through their dangerous missions. 

SEAL Team: Season Three

Street Date: August 25, 2020

Format: DVD

Description: SEAL Team is a military drama that follows the professional and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan, and execute the most dangerous, high-stakes missions our country can ask of them. Jason Hayes is the respected, intense leader of the Tier One team whose home life has suffered as a result of his extensive warrior’s existence. His team includes his trusted confidant, Ray Perry, the longest-tenured operator with whom Jason shares an ingrained shorthand; Sonny Quinn, an exceptional, loyal soldier with a checkered past who still combats self-destructive tendencies; and Clay Spenser, a young, multilingual, second-generation SEAL with insatiable drive and dedication. Vital to the team‘s success are troop commander Lt. Cdr. Eric Blackburn, who serves as a leader and confidant both on and off the battlefield; CIA analyst Mandy Ellis, who has sacrificed everything in her drive to root out evil and take down terrorists; and Ensign Lisa Davis, a no-nonsense, take-charge officer. Deployed on clandestine missions worldwide at a moment’s notice, and knowing the toll it takes on them and their families, this tight-knit SEAL team displays unwavering patriotism and fearless dedication even in the face of overwhelming odds.

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.

SEAL Team cast

Primetime DVD Review: “Gunsmoke Movie Collection”

DVD Review!

Gunsmoke Movie Collection DVD cover

“Gunsmoke Movie Collection” Review by Suzanne 8/30/20

If you enjoy the classic “Gunsmoke” TV series, then you’ll probably enjoy these movies as well.  Even though the cast is older, they still do a great job on these later movies. The stories are solid. It’s not my favorite show, but I’ve seen many of the episodes because my dad used to watch it.  It’s fun seeing Matt Dillon with long hair and acting like John Wayne in these films. Sadly, the actress who played Kitty (Amanda Blake), died after the first movie.  Michael Learned stepped in to play an old romance of Matt’s.

There are 5 total Gunsmoke movies, but this collection only has the first three. It doesn’t appear as if the last two movies have come out yet. I wish I knew why. At any rate, if you’re a fan of the show, you’ll enjoy these movies. They have twice the action of the Gunsmoke TV series.

I wish they had more features on the DVD set. It has none. This set was clearly done cheaply.

MORE INFORMATION:

The classic ‘Gunsmoke: The Complete Movie Collection’ featuring James Arness in his  Emmy®️ -nominated role as Marshall Matt is coming to DVD, featuring all three movie sequels: Return to Dodge, The Last Apache, and To The Last Man on August 25 from CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment.

Gunsmoke: The Complete Movie Collection

Street Date: August 25, 2020

Format: DVD

The Gunsmoke Complete Movie Collection will feature all three movie sequels, starting off with the Return to Dodge, where Will Mannon (Steve Forrest) is released from prison and looking for revenge on Marshal Matt Dillion and Miss Kitty (Amanda Blake) for putting him there. Following the second film, The Last Apache, Matt Dillon responds to a letter from “Mike” Yardner (Michael Learned), an old friend where they discover a ranch has been raided by Apaches and Mike’s daughter, Beth, is kidnapped by ‘Wolf’, a rogue Apache. The film follows Dillion as he begins his search and rescue for Beth. Lastly, To The Last Man, retired Marshal Matt Dillion finds trouble in regards to rustlers stealing his cattle. Dillion tracks down rustlers in Pleasant Valley, Arizona, where a land-grab war arises.

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.

Gunsmoke movie DVD covers

Primetime DVD Review: “G-LOC”

DVD Review!

G-LOC DVD cover

“G-LOC” Review by Suzanne 8/30/20

I really wanted to like this movie because it stars Stephen Moyer, who was so great in “True Blood” and “The GIfted.”  Also, I like scifi. However, the movie is a mess. If you like action, maybe you’ll like it, but it has a lot of slow, boring parts as well.  The name of the movie is based on what happens when you lose consciousness in space, due too much G-force.

The basic “universe” the movie is set in was interesting.  Earth is facing a new ice age in the future. A mysterious worm hole dubbed “The Gate” appears over the Earth, so humanity builds space ships to fly through it, to get to another world, Rhea.  Time is different on the other side, however. By the time the remaining humans decide to go through, the earliest human settlers of Rhea have decided not to take any more refugees. That part is interesting (and, of course, timely).  The hero, Bran (Moyer), is stranded in space on a dying ship, with just his A.I., Edison (who sounds a bit too much lik C-3PO).  They board another ship, but most of the crew is dead.

At this point, I was thinking, “How many times have we seen THIS scenario before?”  Answer: a lot, especially on “Doctor Who,” but also in many movies.  Then Bran (dumb name) meets a Rhean woman named Osha. Now, “Bran” is bad enough, but Osha? As in, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration?? No. Terrible names. Bran and Osha spend a lot of time trying to kill each other.  Throughout the movie, we can’t figure out if they’re going to have a romance or not.  The problem is, Moyer looks a lot older than her.  She seems closer to the age of his daughter.  In the end, though, they never become more than friends.  That question remains unanswered, and it’s not the only one.

One of the interesting parts of the movie is when Bran is thinking back to his family on Earth.  Unfortunately, that’s a pretty sad story.  John Rhys-Davies has a small part as his father-in-law.  The movie has a good ending, except we never get to see Rhea.  Most of the movie happens on a claustrophobic spaceship set.

I think this could have been a good movie in the hands of an experienced filmmaker.  Unfortunately, it moves too slowly and has a little too much going on at once.  It seems to be trying to be a dark, grim movie, but it has a facile ending that doesn’t match the tone of the rest of it.

MORE INFORMATION:

G-LOC Lionsgate PR

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

An epic sci-fi adventure set in a distant world, G-LOC premieres on DVD, Digital, and On Demand August 18 from Lionsgate. Fan favorites Stephen Moyer and Casper Van Dien star in this poignant, allegorical story set in a fantastic otherworld where humans are pitted against one another for survival. Also starring Tala Gouveia, Toby Osmond, and Shayne Ward, the G-LOC DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.98.

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

With Earth virtually destroyed, Bran Marshall flees to the Rhea, a planet hostile to Earthlings. Escaping onto a Rhean supply ship, he finds the crew slaughtered, with the only survivor a female warrior named Ohsha. As the two try to kill one another, the ship is damaged by meteorites. Bran (Moyer) and Ohsha must join forces to salvage the craft before it impacts the planet below — and the humans that live there. This gripping sci-fi epic stars Stephen Moyer, Casper Van Dien, and John Rhys-Davies.

DVD / DIGITAL SPECIAL FEATURES

  • “Making Of” Featurette

CAST

Stephen Moyer                       TV’s “Fortunate Son,” TV’s “The Gifted,” TV’s “The Bastard Executioner,” and TV’s “True Blood”

Tala Gouveia                          Cold Feet, Before We Grow Old, TV’s “Scream Street”

Toby Osmond                         TV’s “Game Of Thrones”, Summerland, Black Ops

Shayne Ward                          TV’s Coronation Street, You Are Beautiful, Black Ops

with Casper Van Dien             Alita: Battle Angel, TV’s “All American,” Starship Troopers, Sleepy Hollow

and John Rhys-Davies           The Lord of the Rings franchise, Indiana Jones franchise, TV’s “Once Upon a Time”

Trailer: https://youtu.be/8hG6oX5BNaw

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Year of Production: 2020

Title Copyright: Program Content and Package Artwork © 2019 Goldfinch Science Fiction Limited. All Rights Reserved. Package Design and Summary © 2020 Lions Gate Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Type: Home Entertainment Premiere

Rating: PG-13 for violence and some strong language.

Genre: Sci-fi, Action, Fantasy

Closed-Captioned: No

Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish Subtitles

Feature Run Time: 93 Minutes

DVD Format: 16×9 (1.78:1) Presentation

DVD Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio

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.

G-LOC poster

Interview with Crystal Hunt

TV Interview!

Crystal Hunt

Interview with Crystal Hunt of “Mood Swings” on PureFlix by Suzanne 8/14/20

It was great to speak with Crystal!  She’s a lot of fun. I used to watch her on “Guiding Light” and “One Life to Live”  She’s good at playing the villain, but she’s very sweet and down-to-earth in real life.

Here is the audio version of it.  Here’s the transcript!

Suzanne: So, when did you create the series? And when was it filmed?

Crystal: We shot it the year right before Christmas, year before last, and I created it when Donna Mills and Vanessa Marcil and I did that show “Queens Of Drama.” We were given a challenge. So, I create a treatment for a series that we think should be on the air. And so, my name is chosen, but Donna loved the concept of doing a female ensemble comedy and always loved “The Golden Girls,” and, you know, her favorite’s “I Love Lucy” like me. She loves Lucy a lot. So, we have a very similar sense of the style of comedy we like. And I just didn’t let her down. I was like, “Oh my God, I can’t believe we’re actually doing this.” She’s like, “You realize how big of a deal this is.” And she’s like, “There’s nobody in our industry that says they’re actually gonna do something and they actually follow through.” I’m like, “Well, I’m from Florida. I think it’s different.”

Suzanne: So had you done any writing before this?

Crystal: I had never, but I didn’t really have much of a choice once I saw what the budget was, and also timeframe before production needed to start by. And I didn’t realize just how many – because I’m not a writer, I didn’t realize just how – okay, I take it back. I did take poetry writing and things like that. I’ve always enjoyed that growing up. I’d just never formally written. So, I never really knew about writers rooms and all these different components and all these other people that add to the mix that actually makes up each episode. So, I realized really quickly, that yeah, this is too much work for anyone person in the time frame we need it. So, I happen to be friends with one of the writers of “The Golden Girls,” and I said, “Listen, I know that you [don’t want?] to do this for a long time, but it’s happening, but here’s the deal. It has to be done in this amount of time.” He’s like, “Okay, so possible.” I’m like, “Yeah, and here’s what it is. You’ll have me and one of my friends and we will -“ She has written some things. I was like, “So, she has a little bit of experience.” I said, “And I’m watching Judd Apatow Masterclass first.” I said, “So, while I finish up wrapping up the shooting the season on this other show.” I was like, “I will be watching a masterclass, so I know I can at least have an idea that I can make notes” I’m like, “And then lets beat board the whole thing out, and then let us create some female heavy content, and then you can run with it.” He’s like, “Okay, this sounds nuts but I think that it might actually be doable if you guys can do that.” He’s like, “That’s the key, like that’s where the writer room comes in, is you get to get ideas from a bunch of different heads, and a lot of different visions and takes on everything and that’s kind of what makes comedy so great.” So, it was a lesson and also opened up the doors to a lot of work right at the tail end of wrapping up season two of our show.

Suzanne: Wow. So, so, so it was difficult, but you figured out how to get help and get it all together.

Crystal: 100%. Tons of notes, tons of calls for questions and whatnot, but we got down to a really good rhythm. Some episodes, that will seem the most daunting to do, because they seem like they had the most content, turned out to be some of the easiest, and the ones that we thought were going to be the easiest, we’re like, “What? I don’t know, what do you mean?

Suzanne: So I know you’d worked for Pure Flix before, did that make it easier to sell it to them?

Crystal: Oh, it had already been sold. They had actually asked when I was actually negotiating my deal for season two. [Unintelligible] asked, “What happened to that show you pitched on, ‘Queens of Drama’?” “I mean, I do plan to do it at some point, but I just haven’t gotten around it yet.” He’s like, “Can you give me a rough pitch?” And I’m like, “Well, I haven’t even looked at the treatment in years, but yes.

Crystal: Like twenty minutes later, he’s like, “Let’s do like eight or ten episodes. Let’s just figure out like, what the beat board is and let’s do it. Like the episode, like what’s the season’s going to comprise of, and let’s do it.” So, just a treatment

Suzanne: Great. And so, did you first meet and work with Donna Mills with the “Queens of Drama,” or her did you know her from before?

Crystal: No, we actually have friends in common. One of the first executive researchers to ever hire her was a gentleman named John Conboy. He [unintelligible] “Santa Barbara” and “Capitol.” And he actually gave her one of my first jobs. He hired me for my first job on “The Guiding Light.”

Suzanne: Oh, good.

Crystal: Yeah, so, we had a lot of paths that crossed, but yes, we didn’t formally meet until “Queens of Drama.” And we’ve been like, yeah, there might be an age difference, but she and I, like you couldn’t find too closer pals. I love her pieces. She’s like family, as is her husband and daughter. They just didn’t realize they were gonna gain family from Florida, but they did…Joan Collins is a good friend of hers and Joan worked on “Guiding Light” with me. There’re just a lot of crossovers in our industry that you really don’t think of until that happens and you’re like, “Oh, oh, that’s where we know each other.” There’re so many times the things like that happen and it’s like, “Okay, now I’m not surprised anymore. Just go with it.”

Suzanne: Yeah, I read about that all the time. You’ll hear about somebody being cast and they’ll be like, “Oh, I know so and so, because we used to meet each other in the same auditions, or we took an acting class or something like that. And you’re like, “Oh, okay.”

Crystal: That happens a lot. Where like you used to, you know, do some sort of like workshop whatever with an actor and you run into them again, and then there’s like some sort of crossover.

Suzanne: Yeah. And I guess you see that a lot on Twitter too. Some actor that you know from one thing and then you’ll be talking to another actor, and you’re like, I wonder how they know each other? It’s always something like that.

Crystal: So true. And it does; it happens a lot. That’s because there’s not that many, especially in New York, there weren’t that many really reputable coaches that did workshops and whatnot. So, you had to have at least some credits on your belt to even get in there. So, if you were part of it, chances are you’re gonna see people that you’ve seen either on auditions or have worked with. [dog is barking]

Suzanne: Is that your dog?

Crystal: No, it is not. It’s my mother’s unruly dog. He is right next to me, barking next to me. I’m like, “What is she barking at?” We’re here in Florida for my mom’s birthday. So yeah, her dogs, though I love them to pieces. I got them for her, so obviously, I think they’re beautiful and I love them, but holy moly. They bark at everything

Suzanne: Yeah, that’s we always try to get dog that doesn’t bark if we can help it.

Crystal: Mine does not. I am very proud to say that.

Crystal: I’m answering a text; I have to get to an appointment that my mom’s at. Sorry I was asking on my dad’s [unintelligible] because they were walking in. My mom’s like – I told her, I’m like, “I have an interview to do on my drive over there.” Like I didn’t realize the time it was, because I was like, “I know I’ll be getting a call at that time. So I’ll head over there.

Crystal: I told him too, I was like…I surprised my mom got like this whole like, UV filtration system in their house and stuff like that, because she’s a cancer survivor…and really good it gets all the crap out of the water and stuff but also doesn’t have that water. So, I don’t know if you have long hair, but it doesn’t have that water softener feel that makes you feel like you can’t ever get your shampoo out of your hair. Because we hate it but also don’t want to have her breathing in carcinogens like they clean water with. So, I do that and the guy didn’t know what he was doing exactly, and it flooded a quarter of my parents’ house.

Suzanne: Oh, no.

Crystal: Yeah, this all happened in the last 48 hours, so it’s been fun.

Suzanne: You’ve been having a week.

Crystal: Yeah, exactly. I was like, “Friday might be a little hectic, but don’t worry. Even if I’m talking on the road, I’ll be talking.

Suzanne: Well, that’s good that you can multitask.

Crystal: [unintelligible] disaster.

Suzanne: Did you know any of the other people in your cast? You have a great cast for the show. Did you know any of them before they were cast?

Crystal: Oh, 100%, yeah. Well, obviously, Donna wrote the role for, and then Dyan Cannon she called me, and I was just like, that was beyond a pinch yourself moment. I mean, her her manager called a couple times, and I was explaining that the character that would be great for her would be be – She wanted to roll of Wanda, but I said I’ve written that for Donna, but the roll of her sister would be fabulous for her. She’s wild and crazy and a blast. But she wasn’t set to come until season two. Well, a couple of calls later, I get a call from Diane pitching me to have her come in a little bit in season one and then full time in season two. And I’m sorry yeah, it was a week before production, but you can’t get a call like that and not make it happen.

Suzanne: Right. Right. Wow. That’s great. Yeah, she’s wonderful.

Crystal: And I couldn’t have met a more unbelievable human being. She’s just incredible. Such an angel.

Suzanne: And what about Robin Riker? Did you know her before?

Crystal: Robin Riker, I actually know her through “The Golden Girls” writer; he wrote for her on “Mash.” It was so much crossover. It was crazy. And then several of my former cast mates from other soaps that are on there too, like the guy who plays my ex husband, Scott Bailey. We worked together since I was seventeen on “Guiding Light.” And a lot of people, because ultimately, I mean, Joan Collins has come out and said, “You know, soap opera stars are about the hardest working people in the business.” Because the thing is, there is no other workload like it. Like it’s the only thing that you see five days a week, every week that [unintelligible] training, and so it’s less of a series in the way that when people watch series, they watch ten, twelve episodes of something, and then they have to wait for another season to come out. Whereas it develops a totally different relationship with your fan base. Because it’s no longer like, “Oh my god!” It’s not that; it’s legitimately like they’ll come up to you and give you a piece of their mind and tell you, you know, “You need to stop giving this person a hard time,” and blah, blah, blah, bla, blah and are totally 100% in it, but like there is no like, “Hi, nice to meet you.” It’s like,”Why don’t you leave your your stepmother alone and give her a break.” And because it creates such a real family type relationship, that people forget that they don’t actually know you as a person, and also that you’re portraying a character. So, the separation is a little off, but there’s never a dull moment, I can tell you that.

Suzanne: So did you get more people coming up to you when you were playing Lizzie or when you’re playing Stacy?

Crystal: Oh, that’s a good question. I think just as much but just different, because I was so young when I was playing Lizzy. I had a lot of people like concerned, like there are a lot people waiting outside the studio tracks, like trying to introduce me to Christianity, even though if they ever looked up anything that I had said set about myself – I grew up Pentecostal Church of God and went to a bad Baptist school. So like, there’s really not much you can tell me that I haven’t heard ad nauseum, because I had to learn absolutely every single subject every kid learns in school, only the subject and how it relates to the Bible. But like they truly are concerned that I came from like a very sweet sort of nurturing side, whereas with Stacey, I think they are like, “She’s old enough to know better!” And they would give me an earful. It’s funny; it’s just different fans, because the fans – I feel like it sounds crazy, but the fans for CBS, it’s like they’re just 100% away from ABC fans. They’re just totally different types of people and demographics. It’s so weird. You would never ever think that a network would change, you know, what your fan base is going to be. Like, for instance, like “Guiding Light,” I would say, it’s definitely more of a legacy show. Like there was a lot one people that watched it, because it was like passed down to them like it was like an heirloom or something. Whereas I’d say ABC, it was the first time I actually had a lot of young fans.

Suzanne: That makes sense.

Crystal: Because there was such a broad demographic for ABC shows. ,So it was just it was it was crazy to see, because you don’t really know it until you experience it.

Suzanne: Right. Well, I watched you a little bit on “Guiding Light” and when you were on “One Life to Live,” and I liked you. You did a good job on both, but I didn’t like Stacy, because I liked Gigi and Rex together

Crystal: Yeah, nobody likes breaking up of the couples.

Suzanne: No, no, exactly…Do you still do you still know Ron? Didn’t Ron Carlivati write your character?

Crystal: My character, yes he did. He wrote my character for “GH.” No, not “GH,” for “One Life to Live.” He is at “GH” now. Yeah, he wrote my character for “One Life.” He’s such a sweetheart.

Suzanne: Yeah I thought I had read that he wrote all that, because I was like, well okay hope he does better now….Like I said you did a great job, you know, I just didn’t like Stacy. You know, it’s hard to like somebody who was so awful all the time.

Crystal: I hear you.

Suzanne: So I was wondering why – I’m sure you get a lot of flack from fans for that.

Crystal: Oh, for sure, but yeah, but that’s the one thing is I think that it probably helps that I already had covered some ground in daytime, because then there are at least enough people out there that knew that Crystal isn’t like that.

Crystal: So, I think that it saved me a little bit. I think a lot of people are trying to figure out how much of Lizzie was really me and how much of it was just the character. And because they didn’t know me from anything, because I was in the middle of my senior year of high school when I got cast. So, I think that since it established that I was not alone and doing all these crazy things, that I must not be so bad. There wasn’t like terrible hate mail. I like that. There has been, but not really as much for Stacey anymore, just because they like them together, you know, and they get used to that. And I completely understand it, but every show has to have that person.

Suzanne: Well, it probably helped you too, if you weren’t just thrown in as that being your first first character. You might have had a lot of trouble with how people treated you.

Crystal: I’m not gonna lie. I have pretty thick skin. I have a huge family that all think that they are like practical jokers and standup comics. I think there’s 99.99% sarcasm in our family. And they’re always pulling pranks on you and all that stuff. So, I feel like they’re so full of crap anyway, all the time that I just have gotten such thick skin to everything that I’m always ready to have a great response, to where I feel like I was already seasoned to handle anything at that point.

Suzanne: They prepared you for life.

Crystal: Oh, yes. No, it’s a good thing. I recommend it. Huge families are fabulous.

Suzanne: What else can you tell us about the series? It comes out in October, right?

Crystal: it came out the end of last October.

Suzanne: Okay.

Crystal: You know, like right before the whole world went on pause.

Suzanne: Crazy.

Crystal: Back when you could go to the movie theater.

Suzanne: Well, it’s a good thing it’s not a movie then.

Crystal: It’s funny though. It’s funny, because I there were so many films I did want to see. And I’m like, what’s gonna happen? Like they gotta put it on streaming somehow, but I guess they have to make a deal. And next thing you know, all these deals are being made with the shows and films that I wanted to see at the theater. They’re now streaming on streaming services. It’s so weird. It’s so weird.

Suzanne: It is weird, because all of a sudden, the definition of a movie has completely changed, hasn’t it?

Crystal: Yeah, I mean, it’s strange though. I mean, I know this has been going on for a long time now, but it still feels like if I were to wake up tomorrow, and this is all just some wacky dream, I wouldn’t be surprised. Like, it just feels so surreal. You know what I mean?

Suzanne: Yeah, I know exactly what you mean.

Crystal: it’s just too many things and too much negativity all at once. It’s just you hate seeing like, you know, this is all because of COVID and it’s messing with people brain chemicals, keeping them like the you know, sheltered up in their homes all the time and all that stuff. I mean, it’s not healthy, and then all the stuff that’s been happening in the media, the police forces and different things. It’s just like, really? Like right now? Like come on.

Suzanne: And then you’ve got what was it? Murder hornets. I don’t know what else, so many things. And then we’ve got an election coming up, so everything’s all amped up anyway in the news.

Crystal: Yeah, it’s true. It’s too much, and I refuse to watch the news. I’m not that person. If I flip on the news, it’s really hard to give me any kind of like, remote anxiety about something, but I just don’t understand. Like, it just puts you in a bad mood.

Suzanne: Yeah, it’s depressing.

Crystal: It takes you from a good mood to just being like, “blah,” so quick.

Suzanne: I know, even on a good year, it’s depressing. And this is not a good year.

Crystal: I feel like you watch it for five minutes and know what they’re gonna talk about for the next few hours. It’s like it’s cyclical. Everybody kind of rehashes certain things.

Crystal: But like, my mother loves my watching the news, and she was actually quarantined with me in LA, because she just had spine surgery. And I’m like, “Listen, Lady, I’m making some hard rules here. You can watch ten minutes a day, and if there’s something big happening, that there is some special thing that night, that there’s like some sort of thing that you feel like you need to get updated on, then we’ll see.” But it already is awful that we were in the hospital for as long as we were and then now we’re going to be trapped in this condo for as long as we are going to be and we don’t know when we are going to be let out, but then to actually have some depressing material to watch. No, thank you.

Suzanne: Yeah, that’s an older person thing, I think, watching the new over and over and over.

Crystal: It is; it really is. I’m like, if it’s important I’m sure I’ll get some sort of like, alert on my phone or something.

Suzanne: Yeah, my mother-in-law lived with us for five years, and all she watched was the news and reruns of “Law & Order.” That was is.

Crystal: Oh my God. That was my mother’s favorite. She loves that. What’s the one that Mariska Hargitay’s on?

Suzanne: Oh, “SVU.” Yeah.

Crystal: She loves that. [imitating] “Oh, I just love her, and she looks just like her mother.”

Suzanne: Yes, that’s true. She does.

Suzanne: “Just like her mother.”

Suzanne: And it’s funny, because there seems to be like, no matter what time of day you turn on the TV, there’s a “Law & Order” playing somewhere.

Crystal: It’s so true. There’re so many of them. I don’t know how they keep up with all those. Same with “CSI.” It’s like, what time is in?

Suzanne: The original “CSI” was in Vegas, and then they had one New York and one in Miami.

Crystal: Hold on “CSI” in Vegas was before New York?

Suzanne: Oh, yeah.

Crystal: See, I never knew that.

Suzanne: Yep.

Crystal: Unreal.

Suzanne: If you have any TV questions, you can always ask me. I know these things.

Crystal: I love it. I knew nothing about current television until the pandemic, because I then binged watched the first time every bit of content I think that’s probably out there.

Suzanne: There’s a lot.

Crystal: I’m a huge documentary fan, so I definitely hit those pretty hard.

Suzanne: Oh, that’s good. Yeah, there’s a lot of those. They have a lot more of those I think now too. It seems like it anyway.

Crystal: They do, and I feel like I’m seeing a lot more of those still like being made too, because I think they might fall under, well, non-union I imagine, so they probably don’t have as many laws that they have to abide by.

Suzanne: Yeah. Is that your phone?

Crystal: No, that was just the car let me know that I’m close to the curb.

Suzanne: Okay, so –

Crystal: It’s nice when the car talks to you, you know?

Suzanne: Well, you know, we’re not too far off from the whole talking car thing.

Crystal: I know right? There’re actually cars out there there, or are going to be cars out there, I think there already are, that drive themselves. That scares the crap out of me. Like there’re already enough bad drivers on the road. We don’t need any driverless cars.

Suzanne: Well, I like the idea, actually. I don’t I don’t like to drive, so it’s great for me.

Crystal: I love the idea, if it was like “The Jetsons.” I always say, that’s like the ultimate car-

Suzanne: Wait, wait, wait, wait. You want a car that drives itself, but in the air?

Crystal: Yeah! See, that’s just it. I love the concept. The problem is that I just feel like nothing ever works the way it’s projected to, so that’s my only fear, is that as a realist, it sounds fabulous, but let’s be honest, what’s the safety rating on this?

Suzanne: I think most people probably wait until they’ve been out for a while, and we all know exactly how safe they are, hopefully.

Crystal: Yes, I hope so. I do hope so.

Suzanne: I’m just giving you a hard time, I hope you know,

Crystal: Yeah. I will wait until I see how they fare, because I know there were a lot of different little things kind of like that that they were testing out, like Uber Eats and Postmates and things like that, like robotic things, and they didn’t work out so hot. So, it’s a great idea, but if it works seamlessly, if it’s flawless and great.

Suzanne: Right. Well, probably most accidents are caused by people, so, you know, if the cars are working okay and the people are not getting in the way then –

Crystal: That’s true, and as long as there is that then they’re won’t be any people falling asleep at the wheel, so that’s good.

Suzanne: Yeah, exactly, or are getting drunk or whatever.

Crystal: Very true. Uber will go out of business.

Suzanne: Yeah. So anything else you can tell us about the series for people who haven’t watched it yet?

Crystal: It is my personal modern take/twist on “The Golden Girls,” me coming from a huge, huge family of diverse ranges of ages, because all of the people in our family have kids in their early 20s and do it again their 40s, so there’re a lot of big age gaps. So, the one thing I wanted to do differently with my spin, because I know how interesting it makes things, is have someone from each decade. Because there is something that you don’t even need to write when you have women of every decade dealing with all different levels of estrogen and lack thereof, having to cohabitate and dealing with their randomly different issues. You know, it’s already fun. There’s already gonna be something entertaining there.

Suzanne: And you said you’re working on the second season now?

Crystal: No, I’m actually waiting for anybody to get back to the office to even hear anything. I know our ratings are the top show, so that’s good. But nobody’s at the office. So, it’s kind of hard.

Suzanne: Okay, but you you wrote the second season already?

Crystal: I have a list, yeah. Bob and I [unintelligible] started sorry, actually making notes of stuff as we were shooting of stuff that we want for episodes for the second season. So yes, we have a rough outline of it.

Suzanne: Cool. And do you think that the first season will be out on DVD?

Crystal: That’s a good question. I haven’t really given it much thought, because, I mean, we can sell it as a DVD, we just haven’t really gone into that, because the people who buy, it’s a different type of distribution. So, the people who would buy to do that aren’t in their offices to even have those calls yet. So, it kind of makes it hard in that way. But it is definitely a possibility. It’s just a bridge that hasn’t been crossed yet, because it is a different kind of distribution all together.

Suzanne: Yeah, I think it would work. I mean, I haven’t seen it, but I think it sounds like it would work for DVD, because you have people of all ages, and those of us who watch DVDs are older, so it would work.

Crystal: Yeah, absolutely, of course. If Netflix works, then a DVD would work. Yeah, exactly. Ultimately, it’s handy, so you have them all there readily available.

Suzanne: Right, and not everybody – there’re so many streaming services and you know, you can’t you can’t buy them all.

Crystal: You are not kidding. That is so true.

Suzanne: Well, anyway, I appreciate you calling me, and I enjoyed it. Like I said, I used to watch you all the time on the soap, so I do feel like I know you. See, like those other fans.

Crystal: Thank you, I appreciate it.

Suzanne: But you’re nicer than, you know, either of your other characters.

Crystal: Thank you. I hope so. Otherwise, I think I’d be creating some crazy publicity if I was. If I was anything like them, I can assure you, I’d probably be emulating it.

Suzanne: That’s right. All right. Well, thanks very much, and I look forward to check it out the show.

Crystal: Me too. Same here. I’d love to hear what you think.

Suzanne: Thank you.

Crystal: Thank you.

Suzanne: Bye bye.

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

MORE INFO:Crystal Hunt

Emmy-nominated actress Crystal Hunt, who first captured America’s attention at age 17 when she was cast as the troubled teenager ‘Lizzie Spaulding’ on the iconic CBS daytime series “Guiding Light.” Now Crystal is the writer, creator, producer and star of the new TV series “Mood Swings” that gives a modern spin on “Golden Girls.” The comedy airs on streaming service Pure Flix and follows four generations of women thrown together by circumstance to live under one roof and survive in Los Angeles. It is directed by Emmy nominated comedy director Sean Lambert (“The Larry Sanders Show,” “Freaks and Greeks”) and features Crystal’s fellow soap stars Donna Mills (“General Hospital”) and Robin Riker (“The Bold and the Beautiful”), and Oscar-nominated actress Dyan Cannon.

Mood Swings castDisillusioned with the pace of Hollywood and feeling there was a need for a great female ensemble comedy such as “Golden Girls,” “I Love Lucy,” and “Designing Women” which she grew up watching, Crystal took her career into her own hands to embrace the legacy of these female driven shows, while adding her own modern twist. Crystal Hunt is the creative and comedic force behind the series which follows ‘Farrah’ (Crystal Hunt) who after being recently divorced deals with an enormous mortgage on a Malibu mansion and so takes on roommates to earn money to support herself and her eight-year-old son ‘Ryder.’

Crystal’s new roommates include ‘Coco’ (Robin Riker), a disgruntled working woman, ‘Dani’ (BAD MOMS’ Christina DeRosa), a Canadian-Italian “culinary wizard” and aspiring actress, and ‘Emilia’ (“Ballers'” Sophia Gasca), a Dominican entrepreneur trying to secure U.S. citizenship. Jason Earles (Disney’s “Hannah Montana”) stars as ‘Farah’s’ live-in, slacker handyman.

After being spotted by an agent at the Actors Workshop in New York as a teenager, Crystal was quickly offered a role on “Guiding Light” that would last four years and earn the teenage actress an Emmy nomination. Coinciding with her rigorous television schedule, Hunt got her break into motion pictures, appearing opposite Zac Efron in the feel-good family movie THE DERBY STALLION.

Crystal returned to her television roots in 2009 when she was cast as the devious stripper ‘Stacy Morasco’ on the ABC daytime series “One Life To Live”, where she would stay for three years. She also starred on the docuseries “Queens of Drama” that followed a powerful cast of former daytime and primetime stars as they work in front of and behind the cameras to create, develop, pitch and produce a new steamy, serialized, primetime drama.

Enjoy Crystal’s remarkable behind the scenes Hollywood journey from developing the concept, writing the scripts, selling the series, casting and so much more.

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

Back to the Primetime Articles and Interviews Page

Crystal Hunt in the soaps

Interview with Rico Torres

TV Interview!

actor Rico Torres

Interview with Rico Torres of “Ballers” on HBO and “Penny Dreadful: City of Angels” on Showtime by Suzanne 8/3/20

This was a fun interview. Rico has a lot of energy and enthusiasm, and we got along very well. I think he’ll have big success in the future. If he doesn’t, it sure won’t be for lack of trying.

Here is the audio version of it.

Suzanne: I’m sorry to hear that you were bullied in high school. I was bullied in elementary and junior high, so I know how you feel.

Rico: Yeah, it was junior high; it was middle school and high school. I mean, that is the toughest time for any kid. You think the world is going to end. You think it’s literally – like, yeah, it’s insane. Because now after, you know, you graduated, none of that matters. None of that matters, right? I went through this entire journey and I never, never told anybody. You know, I never told my parents; I never told my brothers. I remember coming home one day actually, I think this was like in eighth or ninth grade, my black eye, my face was just tore up. And I told my parents, you know, I ran into a door. I remember that so vividly. And I actually got beat up. And yeah, I mean, you know, my middle and high school, I was bullied, because I had asthma, because I had anorexia. And what made matters worse, was, I guess, I was born – I hate saying this, because I hate being cocky and stuff, but I’m not I’m not ugly. You know?

So, I guess a lot of girls were attracted to me, and that just made matters worse, because a lot of guys would get mad, so mad, because I had all these different things. You already know. One thing led to another, and it was just so awful. And for so many years, I fell into such a like depressive, anxious – it was for years years, and I kind of I guess I played video games to get my mind off of things. And I tell the story all the time. I remember only eating like one or two (meal tickets?) a day. And I guess I wasn’t even aware that I even had anorexia, because I was getting bullied. You know what I mean? (Unintelligible), my dad was never home, this and that, this thing will kill somebody. It’s going to make somebody commit suicide.

But it wasn’t until, you know, one day I remember, I literally just stared at myself in the mirror for like an hour. And I literally said – because after, you know, countless meetings with the doctor and I was like, “Yo, problem, man,” and I never took any of the medications, and then my mom would try to feed me more, but I said “no,” and I just simply wasn’t aware of it. When I’d stare at myself in the mirror, and I said, “Yo, problem,” that’s when everything changed. I’m like, I’ve been bullied, I keep denying the help from my parents, the doctors. That was the solution to everything, admitting to myself that I have a problem. And after that, I mean, then I reached out for help. I’m was like, “Mom, please send me anything,” whatever. And then my brother I get from the time I was working out, I’m like, “Please show me anything. I can’t I can’t keep this up.” And then one thing led to another, and then I gained confidence from working out, from eating, and the rest is history. I broke out of that. I broke out of that.

Suzanne: Yeah, that’s tough. And I think boys can be bullied a lot worse than girls. I mean, girls can be bullied for sure, and girls are mean and catty and all that, but the physical stuff i think is more of a boys thing. You know, it’s much worse.

Rico: Agreed. It’s horrible.

Suzanne: Yeah, I lucked out, because I went from sort of a ghetto school in middle school, or junior high, they called it back there, to a nice – I was in a foster home, so I got into a nice foster home in a really nice area where the kids didn’t do stuff like that. So, I was lucky. I was still a total geek, and they probably talked about me behind my back, but nobody punched me or beat me up or anything, but I know how you feel, up to a certain extent, obviously. But you turned your life around. That’s good that you were able to do that. It was good that you were able to turn your life around like that.

Rico: Oh, yeah. Oh, man, to be honest with you, as we’re talking about all this, and as I, you know, sit here and think about everything that’s happened in my life, I don’t regret anything. I sit here and I’m smiling; I’m telling you I’m not even lying, because all that really shaped me to who I am today. I mean, I don’t know if you read it, but I went to school, I went to college for pre med. I was following this doctor route kind of like for years and years and years. And I crossed off all these items off the checklist, you know, like (unintelligible), medical missions trips, shadowing doctors, this and that, and I mean, next thing you know, I don’t know, like senior year of college, I just know I broke out again, just continuously breaking out of like this paradigm that we’re all raised to believe in. And because, for years, I followed that, and then I guess I got into modeling, because I’m like, I can make money off of this; everybody always told me.

I got into that, you know, and one thing led to another. A modeling agent, I guess, who was also part talent agent, got me an audition. I’m like, “What is that?” And I went to it, and I did awful. But then I guess I got a callback and I’m like, “What is that?” I’m like, I’ve got take this seriously. They gave me the numbers. They’re like, “If you get this, this is a lead role for a feature film. If you get this, you know, you get $900 a day for 15 days,” and I’m like, “That’s $15,000 in two weeks? That’s crazy.” Yeah.

So, then I actually tried really hard. I got into the room with two producers. And, I mean, long story short, I didn’t get it, but, I mean, for the Cruises (?) to literally say, “I love your style,” that’s crazy. And they kind of opened my eyes to the whole new world. And I’m like, medicine, I don’t even like it. I was going with traditional medicine, and I’m into holistics. I hate the whole traditional medicine, because the pharmaceutical industry is killing the entire world. I mean, the US, because that’s the most profitable industry in the US. So, I mean, I was just following, I don’t know, it’s crazy. I don’t know how to explain it.

Suzanne: No, it makes sense. It totally makes sense now, how you went from being wanting to be a doctor to be an actor. At first, I thought, how did that happen? But no, the way you explained it makes perfect sense. You didn’t really have your heart in the doctor thing, and then you started the modeling, and then that led to the acting, and now that makes a lot of sense.

Rico: And then the app thing led to just like, entrepreneurial ventures. And then next thing, you know, my book is being published September 1st, because I actually love writing. Who would have thought? Like if I’d never broke out of that, you know, pre med just doctor doctor doctor doctor, I’d have never found out what I actually truly like to do and what I’m actually truly talented talented in. Oh, that’s crazy.

Suzanne: Well, I didn’t know that you can write. What was the book that you wrote?

Rico: Oh yeah, it’s about “Know your norms.” So, basically, I mean, it just talks about social norms. It talks about it from from the moment you’re born, to the moment you kind of die. So, it’s like all that in between, and it starts from the very beginning. I incorporate some of my personal life experiences in there, because I believe that storytelling changes the world. So, I incorporate some of my own stories, you know, the anorexia – I was I was born into the color blue, because I’m a boy. Like, girls are born to the color pink. Girls are given toys; boys are given guns and cars. You know what I mean? Since are born, we are being tricked. And it’s that paradigm that I’m talking about. We’re being tricked into just following these rules made by society. And that’s why like 1% of the world are quote, unquote, aware of all of this and like 99% aren’t, and they simply just follow that entire, you know, playbook that’s given them for their entire life, and they don’t realize or find out about, you know, anything else in the world. So, I mean, I’m so excited about this book that I made. It truly came from the heart. I love it. I was like, this is crazy. Hopefully, it opens up so many other people’s eyes and minds like it did to me. I mean, I just try to make people aware.

Suzanne: Can we buy that on Amazon? Is it on there?

Rico: Absolutely. We publish a lot of places. Because this is my first book. I’m so publishing everywhere. Hopefully, you know, my second or third book, which I’m actually already working on my second book, hopefully, you know, when my second or third book, I actually, you know, get a literary agent and the traditional publishing and etc, etc. I’m used to the whole game. So, I was looking at it like, oh –

Suzanne: Well, it sounds it sounds really good. You know, I agree with what you’re saying, because, obviously, we all know, to a certain extent, that the whole thing about school is not just there to inform you, it’s there to mold you to be a good citizen. And your parents try to do the same thing. But one thing I’ve always thought is that people don’t plan their lives they do like you said, whatever their parents tell them, the schools tell them, and we’re all told, you must get a good job. You must go to college, you must get married, you must have kids, all that stuff, and few people question it. And then, if something terrible happens, like a divorce, they’re completely thrown, because they never considered it. And we put all this thought and money into the wedding, but nobody really talks about the marriage or whether you should have kids and all that stuff. So yeah, I totally see what you’re saying. I’ve always thought that.

Rico: And then like exactly what you’re saying, then if you go even more in depth, it’s literally just years and years and years of your life just wasted, just trying to follow your parents’ expectations or society’s expectations. And then you’re trapped, and then you become unhappy and it’s like no, do what you love, and that’s it.

Suzanne: And it causes things like anorexia, with society always telling us we have to be skinny to be beautiful.

Rico: Oh, yeah. There’s so many. Oh, and I feel so strongly about mental health, especially because of social media. I hate it. Oh, man. Oh, man, living here in LA. I’ve only lived here like, a little under two years. I’ve already been exposed to all of the type of people that are just crazy about their image. And I’m like, “What are you doing.” And then what they do when they post all this other stuff on Instagram and whatnot, they’re just, you know, the average person or the average Joe, the normal person who really doesn’t get exposed to all this you know, in LA or Hollywood, Atlanta (?) or whatnot. They see that and then they believe that to be true; they believe that that’s what you need to be successful. They believe that you need to look a certain way. And they just use square[screw?] everybodys lined up, man.

Suzanne: Right. That’s true. Yeah, my sister-in-law and her husband are from LA and they lived there a while, and it was all about you have to you have to put up – and she wasn’t even an actress for very long. But you have to put on this show for people you have to always look perfect, and you have to be seen, and I was like, “What?” I thought it was crazy. So, I know what you’re saying. And then everybody there is just pressured to do that, and, you know, it’s crazy.

Rico: Yeah, and while I’m still, you know, honestly, why I’m still here and why I’m still, you know, striving to do all these things in TV and film, and I guess, in the realm of Hollywood is because well, first of all, I needed a break. Somebody in your family has to break out. Somebody has to break out of that, you know, generational norm because, you know, you need to build that generational wealth and my entire family’s core, and core as in financially and core, you know, inside…I was going to say, it’s kind of like how Tupac’s dead – you know who Tupac is, right? Tupac Shakur. Yeah, I don’t know, I just love his message. I love everything that he’s ever – aside from that whole gang stuff, gang related stuff, I don’t approve of that. But like, I love hearing people’s misfortunes, but to have Tupac, and how he broke out of that, and how he’s so intellectual and he just wanted to inspire and spark someone’s brain to kind of do exactly, not exactly the same, but, you get what I’m saying right? I can’t explain it right.

Suzanne: Yeah. No, it’s all right; I understand. So, were you in drama at all in high school or you didn’t do anything like that?

Rico: Absolutely not. That’s why I love it, there is no there are no rules. I’m not big. I’m not an A-List or anything like that, but in under two years, I’ve already been, you know, featured in some of these big productions. I may not have had a leading role or anything like that, but I still landed something in these huge productions. And I’m still getting massive auditions, getting all this recognition and stuff. I’ve never taken an acting class in my life. So, like people go through all this schooling and stuff, and all I mean, there are no rules. You set your own rules.

Suzanne: Well, I wasn’t thinking so much training. It’s just it’s a lot of fun in high school. I did drama in high school.

Rico: Yeah, I’ve heard I’ve heard Yeah, yeah, I missed out on that. I’ve heard it’s a lot of fun.

Suzanne: It is a lot of fun.

Rico: Like the improv side of stuff, yeah, I would have loved to do all that.

Suzanne: So, you’ve never done any stage plays or anything like that, just TV and movies?

Rico: Yep.

Suzanne: Oh, cool. Well, you might one day, right? You might do a play or something.

Rico: Anything is possible; I might do everything. Absolutely. I’m actually taking vocal classes. So, I’m bilingual; I’m Colombian, and I really like Latin music. So, I’m trying to get into that.

Suzanne: Cool.

Rico: Not into the industry; I hate the industry. Well, like you said, for fun.

Suzanne: For fun, yeah, right. And, you know, since you’re smart and you like to write, you might, who knows, you might write a play one day or a screenplay.

Rico: Oh, I already wrote one.

Suzanne: Oh, good. I figured, right?

Rico:  I wrote a screenplay for a trilogy. I don’t know how to get that to distribution. I don’t know how to get that to the right eyes. I don’t know anything. I’m kind of like learning as I go. But yeah, it was amazing. I would love to see that actually come to fruition. Kind of like “Rocky,” kind of like Sylvester Stallone, how he wrote “Rocky,” that’s kind of like what I’m trying to do with my screenplay.

Suzanne: Cool. So what would you say is your biggest role so far?

Rico: I would say the one from “Ballers,” but I just –

Suzanne:  Sorry, is that a tough question?

Rico: Yeah, it is, because it was such a small role. So it’s like, ah, it sucks.

Suzanne: That’s all right. That’s okay. That’s fine. That’s an honest answer.

Rico: I mean, I‘ve only been at this for a year and a half. I want a lot more than just, you know, two or three scenes.

Suzanne: Yeah, well, you just gotta give it time. You’ll you’ll get there. It’s good that you’re proud of what you’ve done so far. That’s good. I think a lot of people fail because of lack of confidence, so that’s good.

Rico: Yeah, exactly. I’m not afraid to take on you know, under five roles. I’m not even afraid to be an extra. I did that, you know, all first coming out here. I did extra, extra, extra, extra extra. A lot of people don’t care about that, but like, no, I mean, Tiffani Haddish was an extra. I mean, Sylvester Stallone was an extra. I mean, they did a lot of extra stuff.

Suzanne: Yeah, that’s how they get started.

The IMDb says that you’re in a film called “LA Rush.” Do you know when when that’ll come out?

Rico: Who knows. I did that in the very beginning. It’s already been like a year and a half, two years. I don’t know why that’s still in production.

Suzanne: Well, maybe the pandemic affected it.

Rico: This Covid, man, it takes me so many of my projects that I’m hopefully going to be in.

Suzanne: Yeah, we’re all in the same boat on that, I think, especially people who have projects going in Hollywood.

Do you have anything else that you were working on before the pandemic hit, like shows or auditions or whatever?

Rico:  Oh, a bunch of them. I had like, three or four and then like a bunch of auditions and stuff, but everything is just being delayed. I mean, series, pilots, like this and that. I don’t know if they don’t even want me anymore. It’s crazy. I don’t know. I don’t know anything. I understand; I understand.

Suzanne: Ask your agent about the soap operas, because they’re all going back in production now. They’re they started before any of the other shows.

Rico: Soap Operas?

Suzanne: Yeah, daytime soaps.

Rico: My agent sucks. I don’t ever go out for anything in Spanish. I’m kidding. I’m learning; I’m going. I’ve been through, in a matter of a year and a half, I’ve been through like three managers, three agents, this and that. And it’s like, and it’s not because of me. It’s not because of me because, you know, I’m just trying to get work. I’m like, “Hey, you know, anything that you need, let me know. I’ll go on five auditions every single day. Let’s go.” You know what I mean?

Some of them don’t get back to me. And I’m like, come on. Like, really? I’m just trying to work. I’m trying to make you money.

Suzanne: Yeah. I don’t know how some people get their jobs.

Rico: So, I mean, yeah, I’m just taking it slow. You know, something will come up. I mean, with that, with commercials, with modeling, I have so many things, so many routes, so many seeds planted. It’s like, one of them’s going to blow up, you know?

Suzanne: So, what have you been working on for the past four months besides writing? Anything else? I’m sure you must.

Rico: Yeah, I love to write. I have a couple businesses. I’m developing an app, but that’s going to take some time.

I’m in the process of creating actually a men’s cosmetics line. Again, that’s going to take several months so, what else? Yeah, I’d have to look at all my stuff, but a lot of stuff. I mean, everything is especially like, pending, like how can I even talk about it.

Suzanne: What we’ve been doing just to relax or have fun?

Rico: I just work every day. No, I go to the gym every day, take my mind off of things. I meditate, you know, 30 minutes before I go to sleep and 30 minutes after I wake up, to keep my mind sane from all this stuff, especially because I came out here alone. I left everybody and everything over there in Florida. So, I’ve been at this alone, and sometimes it gets to me, and then especially when you’re single. I just feel like everybody here has the worst intentions possible, and it kind of messes with you mentally. I keep myself sane by working out, and – oOh sorry go ahead.

Suzanne: I was just going to say, you got therapy before to help you with the depression, anxiety and anorexia, did they also teach you how to eat right and all that kind of thing?

Rico: I did not follow. I’ve always had a problem of following directions in order. I don’t know why, I mean, I don’t want to some stubborn, but I just learned things on my own. I mean, asked for help, but on my own terms. I don’t know. It’s so weird. It’s so weird, do I sound bad saying all this?

Suzanne: No, no, no. You have your opinions and you have confidence. That’s good.

Rico: Yeah. So, I mean, for example, like, you know, like doctors were telling me this. I mean, it’s because I’ve been diagnosed incorrectly. And then I hear stories of other people being diagnosed incorrectly and given wrong medications, and this, this, and that, and how corrupt everything and everyone is. And it’s like, oh my God, so, I do my own research. But the doctor tells me I have this, this, and that, and then I started doing my own research. I started looking at peer reviewed articles, I start looking at studies, I [would] actually go get the exams, expensive exams, to make sure if what they’re saying is true, and more than likely, it’s not. I mean, I’ve been through – I was (unintelligible) accident, you know, in 2015, and I had to have jaw surgery. Yeah, my whole mouth split open. He was just, I mean, I don’t even know how my life today. But yeah, I actually had jaw surgery. And my surgeon, I mean, he did a great job. You know, he put it back together, but he put it back together incorrectly. What else can go wrong? Right?

I mean, I just find this out what, three, four years later, and I have not stopped looking at myself in the mirror, you know, every single day, every single morning I look at myself and I see the bottom jaw is just all crooked. And I mean, yeah, I’m a confident human being, but it’s like, I look at that every day, you know, and then I have problems with my nose, and it’s because of that. So, I mean, I have to go to a doctor, like many, many, many doctors, and try to figure out what the heck is wrong with me. You know, if it’s neurological or if there’s a nerve damage. And what about my jaw? You know, because it’s diameters off, and how do I correct that with all surgery, because surgery will just ruin you even more. Sorry, I’m ranting.

Suzanne: No, no, it’s fine.

Rico: I don’t even know what the point of me saying that was.

Suzanne: Well, you know, you made me forget now what I asked you, but that’s okay.

Do you have any advice for kids who are bullied or for kids who want to become actors?

Rico: So for the bully ones, you got to ask for help. I mean, if you’re being bullied, my advice would be to actually just sit down. I feel like people, kids, get away from your parents for a little bit, or your friends or whatever, just be alone for a little bit and actually just think about stuff, just think about what you’re doing, who you are, what’s happening around you, the bullying and all that. Because people are always with somebody, always with parents, so there’s always an opinion. There’s always a “I’m so scared to tell them I’m being bullied or whatnot.” But when you go by yourself – I’ve been by myself a lot. That’s how I’m aware of so many things. When you’re by yourself you think; you get into your thoughts a lot. The problem with that is you can’t be by yourself for too long, because that’s when you go crazy, right? That’s when somebody who’s not, you know, strong willed, strong minded, they’ll fall into a very bad, very bad state of mind. But take a week or two weeks or whatever, and actually just be by yourself. Go to the library by yourself and just think about what’s going on, and then and then admit it. You know, a lot of people don’t admit it. That’s the problem with America. You know, a lot of parents. They say to their kids, “You’re not fat; you’re big boned.” No, you’re fat. I’m sorry. I like the tough love. No, it’s true. Because that kid, their entire childhood is going to just go through their life thinking they’re just big boned. Right? And if they admit to themselves that they’re fat or overweight, that they’re obese, then you can do something about it, the first step in anything and any solution is admitting. Become aware that there’s a problem. Make or work towards finding a solution. But, yeah, to that I say, take some time to be alone, away from everybody and everything in all of society’s pressures and restrictions, and this, this, and that.

And then for the acting thing, I would never recommend a child to do this. It’s crazy. And I say that, because at least my children aren’t going to do it. I mean, at least until they’re 18, then they can do whatever they want. You know what I mean? Because, I mean, there’s a bunch of child actors that become – yeah. And the reason for that, I believe at least, is because they don’t go through, you know, a normal life. So, at like 12 or 14 or whatever, when they instantly become famous, when they instantly get access to all this money, they can get whatever they want. When they instantly get all this fame, you’re in the public eye. You can’t do anything, you know what I mean? You can’t do anything, and then like you’re out; you’re just trying to play basketball, right? And you know, you have all these pop rocks in here, whatnot. And you’re like, I can’t even have fun. So, you don’t even get the opportunity to live your life.

Suzanne: Yeah, I think it really depends on the parents they have, how normal they are, and also, the kid itself, you know, how they view what they’re doing? Yeah. Because I know some actors, they started age five, and then they go on to have a successful career, and they’re normal, but they probably had normal parents. I mean, by normal, you know, the parents supported them and let them make the decision about whether they wanted to do it and that kind of stuff. But the ones who have stage moms or whatever, it’s not so good.

Rico: Yeah, and that’s the thing though. If you’re a successful actor, celebrity, whatever, you have kids.

I mean, honestly, it all falls on the parents, because if you think we’re all right, and it’s kind of like what we were saying earlier, teach them. Teach them that a lot of the things in Hollywood are just fake. Teach them that a lot of that stuff does not matter. It’s meaningless. It’s just, a way of creating art, but then a lot of the things that follow that are just a lot of fakeness and this, this and that. And then, you know, if you teach them a certain way, and the reality, then you kind of teach them the normality and the enjoyment of life, of the little things. And teach them it’s about nature and trees and this isn’t that. I mean, I know that’s kind of like weird I even just – like, what are you talking about? But it will all make sense for the kid.

Suzanne: Yeah, they have to have a normal childhood, whether they’re acting or not.

Rico: Exactly. But, I mean, yeah, if somebody wanted to follow the acting route or whatever at whatever age, my advice is to not listen to anybody. Because I’ve only been at this a year and a half, or two years, and before my career even started – you know how I told you I was with like three managers, or three agents or whatever, how many times each and every single one of them have told me, “I’m going to end your career before it even starts. You don’t know how small the town is. You’re never going to get a job ever again.” I’m like, “Okay, wow, thanks for being so nice. I hope you have a better day.” I mean, no wonder. If you have a weak mind, you’re going to get destroyed in this industry. You’re going to get eaten alive. It’s crazy how all these people threaten you.

Suzanne: That’s sad. Well, I’m glad you were able to get past that and rise above those people.

Rico: Yeah, I’m still getting through it. There’re still millions of rejections and millions of people trying to threaten me. Whatever.

Suzanne: Yeah, no I understand. well I hope I hope that you can get into some – the I know a lot of the auditions now are through self tapes. So, hopefully you can do some of that. That would be good, instead of having to wait for the pandemic to be over.

Rico: Yeah, yep.

Suzanne: Yeah, well, I think the whole industry is waiting to see – whether they know it or not, they’re waiting to see what happens with the daytime soaps, because they’re the first ones to start back, and they’re utilizing all these different ways, between camera tricks, ways to be safe, and all those different things. So, if they can do it, then the rest of, you know, TV and movies can follow, hopefully.

Rico: Yeah. I’m so excited to get back to work. It’s so much fun creating art.

Suzanne: Well, I really appreciate you talking to me.

Rico: Oh, absolutely. I appreciate you talking to me.

Suzanne: And thanks for checking out my website. And we’re moving our site to TVMEG.COM, and we’ve already moved a lot over there. So, check it out. That’s where your interview will be.

Rico: Oh, cool, yeah, absolutely.

Suzanne: Great. Thank you.

Rico: Thank you so much. Have a great day.

Suzanne: You, too. Bye.

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

MORE INFO:

actor Rico TorresYoung Hollywood’s newest Latin-American heartthrob Rico Torres, recognized for his latest roles on actor Rico TorresShowtime’s “Penny Dreadful: City of Angels” and HBO’s “Ballers,” in addition to countless international fashion campaigns. From a shy teen diagnosed with anorexia to becoming a hotly-tipped face to watch in Hollywood, Rico hopes to share his remarkable story to inspire other young people to reach for their dreams.

The Columbian actor was born in Florida after his parents immigrated to America while his mother was still pregnant with him. He graduated pre-med from Columbia University, but instead of attending medical school he sacrificed and risked everything to follow his dreams and moved to Los Angeles from Tampa with only $500 in his pocket to pursue Hollywood greatness. After only a year and a half of putting in sweat and tears in L.A., Rico is available to share his remarkable story of chasing and fulfilling his American dream.

When Rico isn’t in front of the camera, he enjoys staying fit and eating healthy. However, at a young age Rico suffered from anorexia. This caused him to be severely bullied as a teenager which led to anxiety and depression. Rico’s parents also divorced while he was in high school, and he lived with his mother who was working two full-time entry jobs to make ends meet. Rico then took on the of working and taking care of his family. All his past experiences (good or bad) have caused him to have a very special outlook on life and he takes nothing for granted. Rico sees them as beautiful and inspiring moments in his life that have shaped him into who he is today.

With over 100k followers on Instagram along with soon to be announced acting projects on the horizon, we would love to arrange an interview with you and Rico to discuss his meteoric Hollywood rise, fitness & nutrition tips, and inspiring story to teens and young people everywhere.

actor Rico Torres

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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actor Rico Torres

Primetime DVD Review: “The Good Doctor – Season Three”

DVD Review!

The Good Doctor - Season Three DVD cover

“The Good Doctor – Season Three DVD cover” Review by Suzanne 8/10/20

I enjoyed watching all the episodes of this DVD. I don’t watch the show regularly, so I haven’t seen the first two years.  It was easy to watch, even though I missed all of those episodes.  It’s basically like any hospital show you’ve seen before, such as Grey’s  Anatomy, ER, Chicago Hope, Chicago Med, et al.  From what I’ve read, they’re very accurate with the medical scenes.  It’s mostly a soap opera with medical stories…a little bit like “General Hospital” used to be, before they brought in spies and mobsters.  If you buy the foremost conceit of the show, which is that a high-functioning autistic person (Freddie Highmore, who plays Shaun) could become a surgeon, and you don’t think the main character is irritating, then you’ll probably enjoy the show.

The show was developed by David Shore (“House” – another medical show), based upon a Korean series.  The stories are very good, and the acting is fabulous. Sure, some of the things that happen might be a little cliché.  For instance, every single medical show I’ve ever watched has a scene where some person is trapped under or beneath something, and they seem fine, but then the doctor discovers that if that thing holding them down is lifted, they’ll bleed out and die.  That happened in the two-part finale of this season.  The ending of the season, and that two-parter, was also pretty predictable.  Another story, about a main character dying, did surprise me, though.

In general, it’s very entertaining. Just don’t expect the stories to astound or shock you too much.  It’s worth watching, especially if you like hospital dramas, and it has some great actors, and some very attractive people. It’s not the best show on TV, though. It’s a good ensemble show.  Even though Highmore is the star, he has a large cast of talented actors to support him, including Hill Harper, Richard Schiff, Nicholas Gonzalez, Antonia Thomas, Christina Chang, Paige Spara, Fiona Gubelmann, Jasika Nicole and Will Yun Lee. They have some great guest-stars, too.

The DVD only has two features: a gag reel, and some deleted scenes. That’s pretty disappointing. Perhaps we can blame the scarce features on the Coronavirus.  The series wasn’t cut short for that, though. It has 20 episodes – 2 more than it had the first two seasons. It always ends in March. I was very grateful that they had great closed-captioning and that they had the “Play All Episodes” choice. Some DVD’s don’t do that, which I find annoying.  I hope that next time, they can come up with some better extras for the DVD set.

MORE INFORMATION:

THE GOOD DOCTOR SEASON 3

SYNOPSIS
Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore), a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, continues to use his extraordinary medical gifts at St. Bonaventure Hospital’s surgical unit. As his friendships deepen, Shaun works harder than he ever has before as he starts dating while navigating his environment and relationships to prove to his colleagues that his talents as a surgeon will save lives.

DVD BONUS FEATURES

  • Deleted Scenes
  • Blooper Reel

CREDITS
Executive Producers: David Shore, Daniel Dae Kim, Erin Gunn, Sebastian Lee, David Kim, Mike Listo, Thomas L. Moran, Liz Friedman, David Hoselton
Cast: Freddie Highmore, Nicholas Gonzalez, Antonia Thomas, Fiona Gubelmann, Will Yun Lee, Christina Chang, Paige Spara, Jasika Nicole, with Hill Harper, and Richard Schiff
Developed by: David Shore
Based on the Korean Broadcasting System television series by Jaebeom Park

SPECS
Approximately 859 minutes
DVD: 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen | Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital

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 Good Doctor cast Season 3

Primetime DVD Review: “Batwoman – The Complete First Season on Blu-ray”

DVD Review!


Batwoman - The Complete First Season Blu-ray cover

“Batwoman – The Complete First Season” Review by Suzanne 5/20/20

This is a great comic book show, and a good entry into the “Arrowverse” (or whatever they’re calling the superhero shows on The CW now). I’ve enjoyed watching every episode each week. They do a great job with balancing the action and the character development, with a little bit of humor. At first, I tried to compare it with “Gotham,” but it’s a very different show. However, it does have certain qualities that are similar to that show.  It can be very twisted, bizarre and wacky at times (particularly the villains).

The season ending with some shockers – especially the reveal of Bruce Wayne’s lookalike. After the season ended, it was revealed that star Ruby Rose would not be returning as Kate Kane. This is a terrible disappointment because she did such a great job in the role.  She will definitely be missed. I hope that the person that replaces her as Batwoman (not as Kate Kane) will be just as good. I have to wonder how this will affect the rest of the show, which was built around Kate’s father, sister, enemies, girlfriends, etc.

The DVD is just as good as the series. I’m  reviewing the Blu-ray here.  There is a lack of extras, however. Perhaps that’s because of the pandemic? I don’t know. The only features are “The Best of DC TV’s Comic-Con Panels San Diego 2019” and deleted scenes. That sure isn’t enough. I hope that future versions (perhaps the complete set) will have a lot more than that.

MORE INFORMATION:

The CW’s #1 New Show
BATWOMAN:
THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON
Contains All 20 Exhilarating Episodes from the First Season,
Plus All-New Special Features!
Available on Blu-ray™ & DVD August 18, 2020
Blu-ray includes a Limited-Edition Bonus Disc
with All Five Episodes of the DC Crossover Event
Crisis on Infinite Earths and 6 Crossover Bonus Features!
BURBANK, CA (April 30, 2020) – The future of Gotham is in her hands with the release of Batwoman: The Complete First Season on Blu-ray and DVD on August 18, 2020 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Strap yourself in for an exhilarating ride with all 20 episodes from the first season, plus The Best of DC TV’s Comic-Con Panels San Diego 2019, deleted scenes and a gag reel. A limited-edition bonus disc featuring all five DC Crossover Event Crisis on Infinite Earths episodes will be available exclusively for fans who purchase the Blu-ray. Batwoman: The Complete First Season is priced to own at $39.99 SRP for the DVD ($44.98 in Canada) and $44.98 SRP for the Blu-ray ($49.99 in Canada), which includes a Digital Copy (U.S. only). Batwoman: The Complete First Season is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.
Kate Kane never planned to be Gotham’s new vigilante. After Batman disappeared, Gotham was in despair… until she returned. Armed with a passion for justice and a flair for speaking her mind, she soars through the shadowed streets of Gotham as Batwoman. But don’t call her a hero yet. In a city desperate for a savior, she must first overcome her own demons before becoming Gotham’s symbol of hope.
“In only its first season on the air, Batwomanquickly established itself as the #1 new show on The CW given its legendary superhero following, stellar casting, and action-packed drama,” said Rosemary Markson, WBHE Senior Vice President, Television Marketing. “With 2.1 million people tuning in weekly, the devoted fan base for this phenomenal series will love the extra content on the discs, while newcomers can catch up on the hit series just in time for Season 2.”
With Blu-ray’s unsurpassed picture and sound, Batwoman: The Complete First Season Blu-ray release will include 1080p Full HD Video with DTS-HD Master Audio for English 5.1. Featuring all 20 episodes from the first season in high definition, as well as a digital code of the season (available in the U.S. only).
Batwoman stars Ruby Rose (Orange Is the New Black, John Wick: Chapter 2), Rachel Skarsten (Birds of Prey, Reign), Meagan Tandy (unREAL, Teen Wolf), Nicole Kang (You), Camrus Johnson (The Sun Is Also A Star), Elizabeth Anweis (NCIS: Los Angeles, 9-1-1), and Dougray Scott (Departure, Snatch). Based on the characters created for DC by Bob Kane with Bill Finger, Batwomanis produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television with executive producers Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl), Caroline Dries (The Vampire Diaries, Smallville), Geoff Johns (Stargirl, The Flash, Titans) and Sarah Schechter (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl).
BLU-RAY & DVD FEATURES*
  • On The Set
  • The Best of DC TV’s Comic-Con Panels San Diego2019
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Gag Reel
*Special Features are subject to change.
20 ONE-HOUR EPISODES
  1. Pilot
  2. The Rabbit Hole
  3. Down, Down, Down
  4. Who Are You?
  5. Mine Is a Long and a Sad Tale
  6. I’ll Be Judge, I’ll Be Jury
  7. Tell Me the Truth
  8. A Mad Tea-Party
  9. Crisis on Infinite Earths: Hour Two
  10. How Queer Everything is Today!
  11. An Un-Birthday Present
  12. Take Your Choice
  13. Drink Me
  14. Grinning From Ear to Ear
  15. Off With Her Head
  16. Through the Looking Glass
  17. A Narrow Escape
  18. If You Believe In Me, I’ll Believe In You
  19. A Secret Kept From All the Rest
  20. O, Mouse!
DIGITAL
Batwoman: The Complete First Season is currently 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 iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu, PlayStation, Xbox and others. A Digital Code is also included in the U.S. with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs for redemption and cloud storage.
THE BASICS
Street Date: August 18, 2020
Order Due Date: July 14, 2020
BD and DVD Presented in 16×9 widescreen format
Running Time: Feature: Approx. 880 min
Enhanced Content: Approx. 57 min
DVD
Price: $39.99 SRP ($44.98 in Canada)
5 DVD-9s
Audio – English (5.1)
Subtitles – English SDH
BLU-RAY
Price: $44.98 SRP ($49.99 in Canada)
5-Discs (4 BD-50s + 1 BD-50 BONUS DISC)
Audio – DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 – English
BD Subtitles – English SDH
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 subscription streaming service. For more information visit dccomics.com.
BATWOMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.

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.
Batwoman - The Complete First Season DVD cover