DVD Review of “NCIS: New Orleans: The Complete Series”

Posted on August 25, 2021September 10, 2023 by TvMegasite Admin

TV Review!

“NCIS: New Orleans: The Complete Series” Review by Suzanne 8/25/21

It’s a shame that this show only had 7 seasons. I don’t know why the NCIS audiences never really warmed to it. Perhaps it’s just that three NCIS shows at once is too much. Then again, they did start NCIS: Hawaii this year. I don’t know why they put the various NCIS shows on different nights, rather than making one programming block night the way they do with FBI, and the way NBC does with the Chicago One shows. I think part of the reason they canceled the show is that they’re trying to make their shows more diverse, and it doesn’t look so good to have the three NCIS shows, all headed by old white guys. The sinking ratings certainly didn’t help.

Whatever the reason, it ended, and it makes me sad. I do love Scott Bakula in every show he does (even though we’re both getting older, and he’s not as cute as he used to be). It’s sad that they had to shoot their last season during the pandemic and only had 16 episodes. I loved the rest of the cast, too. Three of them I knew from other shows, so they really probably a lot of experience to their characters. The writing for the show was always top-notch, and the city of New Orleans was like another character on the show. The whole show had a different tone because of being set in New Orleans. It’s a shame they lost one of their major characters, Chris (Lucas Black), but at least the series did have a happy ending this year.

I’m so grateful to have this complete set of the series, so I can rewatch it all at once (or binge as the kids say). It’s great to see all of the various actors that came and went during the season. I hope that we see Scott Bakula again in something else good really soon.

There are a ton of special features, but most of them are the same ones we saw in the previous seasonal sets (aside from some new audio commentary). The set is really for people who don’t have all the other DVDs. I don’t think they’ll be coming out with a Blu-ray version, so you might as well buy this one. It would make a great gift, too.

Read Our Review of NCIS: New Orleans: The Final Season”

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NCIS: NEW ORLEANS: THE FINAL SEASON & THE COMPLETE SERIES
Street Date: August 31, 2021
Format: DVD
Description: NCIS: NEW ORLEANS is a drama about the local field office that investigates criminal cases involving military personnel in The Big Easy, a city known for its music, entertainment and decadence. Leading the team is Special Agent Dwayne Pride, a.k.a. “King,” a native of New Orleans who is driven by his need to do what is right. Working with Pride is tough and acerbic Special Agent Tammy Gregorio, a former FBI Agent who was sent to New Orleans to investigate NCIS and upon completion joined Pride’s team, Forensic Agent Sebastian Lund, a brilliant scientist who left the lab and, after much training, became an agent, Special Agent Hannah Khoury, a seasoned agent who specializes in international counter-intelligence and has spent most of her career on overseas assignments; and Quentin Carter, a former Marine with a wry sense of humor and an independent streak, who makes it a point never to stay in one place long enough to get too comfortable. Supporting them is coroner Dr. Loretta Wade, who is as eccentric as she is smart, and Investigative Computer Specialist Patton Plame, an animated and talented hacker. Helping Pride is Rita Devereaux, who after a successful career as an attorney with the Department of Justice, returns to her hometown of New Orleans to pursue a relationship with him. This colorful city that harbors a dark side is a magnet for service personnel on leave, and when overindulgence is followed by trouble, Pride’s team is at its best.

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cast of NCIS: New Orleans

DVD Review of “NCIS: New Orleans: The Final Season”

Posted on August 25, 2021September 10, 2023 by TvMegasite Admin

TV Review!

“NCIS: New Orleans: The Final Season” Review by Suzanne 8/25/21

It’s a shame that this show only had 7 seasons. I’m really going to miss it. I think that they tried so hard to emulate the feel of New Orleans that they made it too different from the other two NCIS series. It didn’t the fast-pace and high-energy that the others had. It was more laid back.

Whatever the reason, this was the last season, and it makes me sad. It’s really a shame that they had to shoot their last season during the pandemic and only had 16 episodes. I love star Scott Bakula (Pride) and the rest of the cast, too. It’s a shame they lost one of their major characters, Chris (Lucas Black), last year – but at least the series did have a happy ending this year.

Like most of the shows on TV today, each of the characters have their own issues to work through, so they spent this season working on those. I hope that we get to see some of these actors show up occasionally on the other NCIS series. The DVD set is a good one, with three special features: “Season 7: Pride and Joy,” “The Best of Times” and “The Perfect Pair.” I’m looking forward to watching the complete series set, which should have more special features. This DVD should make a great gift for anyone.

Read Our Review of “NCIS: New Orleans: The Complete Series”

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cast of NCIS: New Orleans

DVD Review of “NCIS: Los Angeles: Season 12”

Posted on August 20, 2021September 10, 2023 by TvMegasite Admin

TV Review!

“NCIS: Los Angeles: Season 12” Review by Suzanne 8/20/21

This was always my least favorite of the NCIS franchise. I think it’s because they seem to spend a lot more time traveling to desert countries and fighting terrorists than the other shows. I also think they have a lot more action or violence, and there is a lot more macho military bravado going on with the characters.The trouble with shows that have so much violence or action-oriented stories is that they always feel they have to keep topping themselves each season, which can get ridiculous after awhile. Stopping a nuclear threat is one example from this season where it really veered into the unbelievable.

Other than that, it has the same interesting stories and characters as most dramas on CBS. I remember when this show started, so it’s shocking to see that it’s been on for twelve years already. I hope they can keep going with the show for a few more years. I love the way the team works together, especially G and Sam, and Deeks and Kensi. Hetty came back to the show, too.

The DVD should make a great gift for anyone who likes lots of action. It includes audio commentary (provided by Daniela Rush (Kensi), a feature about Rush directing an episode, deleted scenes and a feature about Season 12 “Greater by the Dozen.” They’re very fun to watch.

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NCIS: LOS ANGELES: THE TWELFTH SEASON
Street Date: August 24, 2021
Format: DVD
Description: NCIS: LOS ANGELES is a drama about the high-stakes world of a division of NCIS that is charged with apprehending dangerous and elusive criminals, who pose a threat to the nation’s security. By assuming false identities and utilizing the most advanced technology, this team of highly trained agents goes deep undercover, putting their lives on the line in the field to bring down their targets. Special Agent “G” Callen is a chameleon who transforms himself into whomever he needs to be to infiltrate the criminal underworld. His partner is Special Agent Sam Hanna, a former U.S. Navy SEAL who has seen action in both Afghanistan and Iraq. The team includes the all-knowing Henrietta “Hetty” Lange, who handles the politics of the job and is tasked with providing everything from micro-surveillance cameras to cars for the team; Special Agent Kensi Blye, the exceptionally bright daughter of a slain Marine who lives for the adrenaline rush that comes with undercover work; Marty Deeks, a seasoned LAPD undercover detective who was recruited to the team by Hetty; tech operator Eric Beale, who has mastered every gadget and computer in the Ops Center; intelligence analyst Nell Jones, who won the team’s respect with her spot-on assessments and her shrewd insights; Fatima Namazi, a Middle East specialist and a razor-sharp cryptologist; and former FBI Agent Devin Rountree, whose unique upbringing, discipline and athletic ability are a welcome addition to the team. Armed with the latest in high-tech gear and sent regularly into life-threatening situations, this tight-knit unit relies on each other to do what is necessary to protect national interests.

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DVD Review of “S.W.A.T. Season 4”

Posted on August 20, 2021September 10, 2023 by TvMegasite Admin

TV Review!

“S.W.A.T. Season 4” Review by Suzanne 8/20/21

This show always has a lot of great action, led by series star Shemar Moore (Hondo). Honestly, I just love him…I’ve been a fan ever since he was on “The Young and the Restless.” I even got to meet him once and get my picture taken with him at a charity event. He’s always outstanding on his shows, including “Criminal Minds” and now this one. What’s amazing is that when he first started, he was not a great actor. However, he was not only gorgeous, but he just had that certain something that makes great TV stars. Also, he clearly worked hard on his acting skills because now he’s as good as anyone else. From all accounts, he’s a really great guy, too. He does a great job of keeping in contact with his fans on social media.

This season, they added a new character: the global pandemic. They chose to use the real-life drama to make drama for their show, and it worked. Many shows just ignored it or only dealt with it briefly. It was brave of them to do it. They also dealt with other real world issues, such as white supremacy, protesters, sex trafficking and the public’s current attitudes towards the police as well as personal issues each of the team members were going through.

This is one of the few reboot/remake shows that CBS has done that is even better than the original series. The reason is obviously Shemar Moore. This DVD set would make a great gift of anyone. It lacks special features. It only has a blooper reel and one behind-the-scenes feature: Special Tactics: Tanker Takedown.

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Buy this DVD!

SONY Pictures Home Entertainment

THREE FAN-FAVORITE SERIES ARRIVE ON DISC AHEAD OF THEIR FALL PREMIERES

THE GOOD DOCTOR SEASON 3
AVAILABLE ON DVD AUGUST 4

THE BLACKLIST SEASON 7
AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY™ AND DVD AUGUST 11

S.W.A.T. SEASON 3
AVAILABLE ON DVD AUGUST 18

S.W.A.T. SEASON 3

SYNOPSIS
Torn between loyalty to where he was raised and allegiance to his brothers in blue, former Marine Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson (Shemar Moore) has everything it takes to be an excellent leader and bridge the divide between his two worlds. With Hondo leading the charge, his team of dedicated men and women bravely put themselves at risk to protect their community and save lives.

DVD BONUS FEATURES

Deleted Scenes
Blooper Reel

CREDITS
Executive Producers: Shawn Ryan, Aaron Rahsaan Thomas, Neal H. Moritz, Andrew Dettmann, Justin Lin, Marney Hochman, Pavun Shetty, Billy Gierhart, Craig Gore, Alison Cross, Michael Jones-Morales, Paul Bernard
Cast: Shemar Moore, Alex Russell, Lina Esco, Kenny Johnson, David Lim, Patrick St. Esprit, Amy Farrington, and Jay Harrington
Developed by: Aaron Rahsaan Thomas and Shawn Ryan
Based on the series “S.W.A.T.” Created by Robert Hamner, Developed by Rick Husky

SPECS
Approximately 886 minutes
DVD: 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen | Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Twitter: @SonyPicsHomeEnt
Instagram: @sonypictureshomeentertainment
Facebook: Facebook.com/sonypictureshomeentertainmentofficial

ABOUT SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. SPE’s Motion Picture Group production organizations include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, and Sony Pictures Classics. For additional information, visit http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html.

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S.W.A.T. Season 4 cast pic

DVD Review of “NCIS: The Eighteenth Season”

Posted on August 15, 2021September 10, 2023 by TvMegasite Admin

TV Review!

“NCIS: The Eighteenth Season” Review by Suzanne 8/15/21

Somehow, this show keeps going on and on. This is the last season where Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) leads the pack. He’s retiring and will only be seen occasionally in the Nineteenth season. Gary Cole takes over the NCIS team. The interesting thing is that Harmon is only 5 years older than Cole.

The show’s cast has gone through many changes. I believe Sean Murray (Tim) is now the only remaining regular character on the show (since it started in 2003; however, he didn’t join the show until episode 7). He came in as a very junior member of the team, so that seems really strange. I don’t think NCIS will last very long without Gibbs. The ratings have been going down steadily this season. Maybe they’ll let them get to Season 20 and stop. That would be nice.

I think the show is still plenty enjoyable because they have new regular characters and new cases. As long as you enjoy the show, does it really matter if Gibbs is till around? Gary Cole is an excellent actor and a good replacement. I think it’s hard for fans to lose Ducky and Gibbs (both retiring). The show is really still feeling the loss of Tony, Ziva and Abby.

Back to season 18. They packed a lot of great action and story into this season. There are only 16 episodes, due to COVID. There are quite a few deaths of minor characters, and another regular cast member leaves. The show always has many mysteries, twists, shootings, fighting, explosions and more. Check it out!

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NCIS: The Eighteenth Season

Street Date: August 17

Format: DVD

Description: Originally conceived as a spinoff of the American legal drama JAG, NCIS has evolved into a major television franchise spread across three different series. Following a fictional team of special agents known as the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the show combines elements of police procedural dramas with military drama to create incredibly engaging episodes. Voted American’s favorite television show in 2011, NCIS routinely premieres to over 15 million viewers each season.

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NCIS cast on CBS

DVD Review of “Blue Bloods: The Eleventh Season”

Posted on August 14, 2021September 10, 2023 by TvMegasite Admin

TV Review!

“Blue Bloods: The Eleventh Season” Review by Suzanne 8/14/21

This is always a good family soap opera. It’s also a cop show, but that’s incidental, in a way. The family in this show really could work anywhere. What makes the show interesting is how they relate to one another in their working-class, New York City way. Tom Selleck is the alpha male in his pack, but he’s also a loving father and grandfather.

Even after eleven seasons, they don’t seem to run out of ideas for stories. In part, that’s because the cast is so large. There’s always more to tell about the Reagan clan. They introduced a new family member this year: Joe Hill, son of the late Joe Reagan.

It’s no surprise that the show’s demographics are older and more conservative. However, the show does not shy away from discussing today’s issues, particularly those that involve the police. This season they argue about police brutality.

The DVD has deleted scenes and two features: “The Story of the Reagans: Season 11” and “Shades of Blue.” It would make a great gift for anyone who is fond of the police or Tom Selleck (especially those over 60).

Buy This DVD!

Blue Bloods: The Eleventh Season

Street Date: August 17

Format: DVD

Description: Blue Bloods follows the Reagans, an Irish-American Catholic family in New York City with a history of work in law enforcement. Starring Tom Selleck as NYC Police Commissioner Frank Reagan, the cast also includes Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, Will Estes, and Len Cariou. Shot on location in New York City, the series has been praised for its performances, especially from Selleck, and has premiered to millions of viewers each season since it began in 2011.

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some of "Blue Bloods" cast

General Hospital Articles

Posted on July 20, 2021May 12, 2022 by TvMegasite Admin

Articles about the show

Sam and Spinelli on computer

5 Reasons why Sonny and Nina in Nixon Falls Is a Good Story By Suzanne 7/20/21

Interviews with GH Actors

Older GH Articles

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Peter August at his computer

GH Opinion Article 7/20/21

Posted on July 20, 2021September 10, 2023 by TvMegasite Admin

Lenny and Phyllis at the Tan-O on GH

Our Opinions

5 Reasons why Sonny and Nina in Nixon Falls Is a Good Story By Suzanne

I just started watching the show again after an absence of a few years. It’s not that I intentionally stopped watching…I just watch a lot of TV and fell behind. I was slowly, ever so slowly, catching up, but I’m still back in 2018. I’ve decided to try to watch the new ones so that I can edit our daily GH Transcripts and write some of the GH Updates while our regular writer Anthony catches up on past episodes. He’s behind, too. It’s so easy to fall behind in these busy times. The pandemic slowed some people down, but for those of us who worked at home (as well as essential workers and others), we never slowed down.

Even though I haven’t watched many episodes in the past 3 years, I do still regularly read the GH news and spoilers, and I read other fans’ posts about it on Twitter and Facebook, so I know what’s been going on.

I know that a lot of fans are not happy with the fact that Sonny has been stuck in a small town with amnesia, away from his friends and family (who think he’s dead). It’s not usually a good idea to stick one or two characters off on their own for too long because the fun of a soap is seeing everyone in the cast interact. I’m not saying I’m a huge fan of Nina and Sonny’s “romance,” but here are a few good reasons to have this story.

#1 It keeps Maurice Benard happy. He’s the star of the show, as we were reminded recently when the shows EP said it. He obviously wanted to do something different than playing the same mob boss every day. It’s good to keep him happy so he doesn’t decide to retire. I know that not everyone loves him, but he’s very popular, so I do believe the show would suffer without him. Even though they had to create a different town and set of characters, I give them props for doing a pretty good job of it. Lenny and Phyllis are very likable. Maybe Maurice just got tired of wearing suits every day….he might be enjoying wearing those blue collar shirts. 😉

#2 It was a good choice for the Cyrus storyline because getting Sonny out of the way created a lot of problems for the other people in Port Charles, and they had to band together to get rid of him.

#3 It’s forcing Jason and Carly together. Now, most of us don’t really want to see them in a romantic relationship at this point. It’s been too long since they were together (1996, to be exact). They’re great friends, and they shouldn’t screw that up. I believe the writers are only putting them together to create more conflict for Jason and Britt (not to mention, Jason and Sam) as well as making it worse for Sonny’s eventual return. Hopefully, Jason and Carly won’t actually sleep together. Thank goodness she’s too old to get pregnant, too. Well, never say never in Soap Land…

#4 Having one of the characters leave town, lose their memory, and then everyone thinks he’s dead… that’s a soap trope by now. In fact, Sonny did something similar years ago when he was stabbed and nursed back to health by Angel (who was really boring). Micky Horton on Days did it way back in 1973. Victor on Y&R has done it a few times. It happened to Tad on All My Children, too. Those story memories are just off the top of my head, so I’m sure there are many more examples.

#5 The eventual reveal will be great – when Sonny gets his memory back and finds out that Nina kept his existence a secret from his family. I’m sure Carly will have a few slaps to give, too. With a real mobster, Nina would be dead from that kind of thing, but Sonny rarely kills anyone, so most likely Nina will just be persona non grata for a while around Port Charles. It would be really great if Sonny just forgave her because he still loves her, but I’m not going to hold my breath. Will Jason and Carly be sleeping together by then? Maybe. There will be a long list of people just waiting to yell at Nina (or worse).

The only thing I don’t like about this story is that Nina is the perpetual victim. She always makes the worst choices when it comes to love: Valentin, Franco, Jax and now a married mobster. Soap characters often have these problems, but hers seem to be worst than most. She was in a coma for 12 years because her evil mother put her there to steal her money, and she stole her baby, too. She can’t have more children, and the one she did have was dead by the time she learned about her.

It’s not only too sad to have her go through so many horrible love affairs, but it makes her look really dumb to keep making such poor decisions. This time it’s not just her romantic heart on the line, but she’ll probably also have a hard time getting permission to see grandson Wiley again, too. It’s great for Cynthia Watros because she’s outstanding in the role, but I just wish that Nina would have a nice, fun fling once in a while.

Most people hate change, but life – and daytime drama – is all about change. Fans want their favorite couples to stay together forever, and that’s just not what these shows are about. I can’t wait for the fireworks when Nina is found out!

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Sonny and Nina kiss on GH

Review of “Clarice”

Posted on February 15, 2021September 10, 2023 by TvMegasite Admin

TV Review!

"Clarice" on CBS

“Clarice” on CBS Review by Suzanne 2/15/21

This is a creepy show that is sometimes very slow, but not interminable. Clarice is the character from “Silence of the Lambs,” played by Jodie Foster in the 1991 movie. The show is a sequel to the movie, but with different actors and no Hannibal Lechter. Clarice (Rebecca Breeds) has PTSD from her ordeal with Hannibal and Buffalo Bill, so she’s dealing with a lot. She’s also in contact with Bill’s victim, Catherine Martin. If you’re like me, you haven’t seen this film in the past 30 years, so it may all seem hazy to you at first. Don’t worry because there are plenty of flashbacks and dialogue that help you out.

Although “Silence of the Lambs” was a horror movie, it was also a psychological thriller and crime drama. The TV series leans more toward the latter.

Catherine’s mother is the U.S. Attorney General, so she sets up a special VICAP task force with the FBI to hunt down serial killers, other murderers and sexual predators. The relationship between Clarice and the other FBI members is uneasy (at least at first). It’s very well-written and has a great group of actors, including Michael Cudlitz and Kal Penn.

You don’t want to miss this one if you like good TV drama.

MORE INFORMATION:

CBS GIVES SERIES COMMITMENT TO “CLARICE,” A NEW DRAMA DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FROM EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS ALEX KURTZMAN AND JENNY LUMET

CBS GIVES SERIES COMMITMENT TO “CLARICE,”

A NEW DRAMA DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

FROM EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS ALEX KURTZMAN AND JENNY LUMET

Drama Follows FBI Agent Clarice Starling

Following the Events of “The Silence of the Lambs”

CBS announced today it has given a series commitment to CLARICE, a new drama project written and executive produced by Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet. Secret Hideout’s Heather Kadin will also serve as an executive producer along with Aaron Baiers as co-executive producer. The project will be produced by MGM and CBS Television Studios in association with Secret Hideout.

It’s 1993, a year after the events of “The Silence of the Lambs.” CLARICE is a deep dive into the untold personal story of Clarice Starling as she returns to the field to pursue serial murderers and sexual predators while navigating the high stakes political world of Washington, D.C.

“After more than 20 years of silence, we’re privileged to give voice to one of America’s most enduring heroes – Clarice Starling,” said Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet. “Clarice’s bravery and complexity have always lit the way, even as her personal story remained in the dark. But hers is the very story we need today: her struggle, her resilience, her victory. Her time is now, and always.”

In addition to “The Silence of the Lambs” being a bestselling novel, the feature film earned five Academy Awards, including for Best Picture.

Writing partners Kurtzman and Lumet are currently the co-creators and co-showrunners of the CBS All Access series THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH.

Kurtzman and his production company, Secret Hideout, are at the helm of the growing “Star Trek” universe on CBS All Access, including the critically acclaimed and award-winning STAR TREK: DISCOVERY and the upcoming STAR TREK: PICARD, featuring Sir Patrick Stewart reprising his iconic role as Jean-Luc Picard. He is also an executive producer on HAWAII FIVE-0, on the Network. Heather Kadin serves as an executive producer on the “Star Trek” projects and is the president of television at Secret Hideout.

Lumet is the author of RACHEL GETTING MARRIED for which she received the New York Film Critics Circle Award, Toronto Film Critics Association Award, and Washington, D.C. Film Critics Association Award. She also received the NAACP Image Award. She is an executive producer on STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, and a consulting producer on STAR TREK: PICARD. She authored the Short Trek “Runaway” with Kurtzman.

CLARICE is a deep dive into the untold personal story of FBI Agent Clarice Starling as she returns to the field in 1993, one year after the events of “The Silence of the Lambs.” Brilliant and vulnerable, Clarice’s bravery gives her an inner light that draws monsters and madmen to her. However, her complex psychological makeup that comes from a challenging childhood empowers her to begin to find her voice while working in a man’s world, as well as escape the family secrets that have haunted her throughout her life.

PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION:
· Devyn A. Tyler as Ardelia Mapp
· Kal Penn as Emin Grigoriyan
· Lucca De Oliveira as Tomas Esquivel
· Marnee Carpenter as Catherine Martin
· Michael Cudlitz as Paul Krendler
· Nick Sandow as Murray Clarke
· Rebecca Breeds as Clarice Starling
CREW INFORMATION:
· Aaron Baiers as CO-EP
· Alex Kurtzman as CRTR/EP
· Elizabeth Klaviter as EP
· Heather Kadin as EP
· Jenny Lumet as CRTR/EP
· Maja Vrvilo as DIR (Pilot)
· Thomas Harris as BOOK

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cast of "Clarice" on CBS

Review of “The Equalizer”

Posted on February 8, 2021September 10, 2023 by TvMegasite Admin

TV Review!

Cast of "The Equalizer" on CBS

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

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

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

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

MORE INFORMATION:

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

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

ON AIR:

Sundays (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT)

ORIGINATION:

New Jersey

FORMAT:

Drama (Filmed in HD)

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

PRODUCED BY:

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

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:

Andrew W. Marlowe, Terri Edda Miller, Dana Owens (Queen Latifah), John Davis, John Fox, Debra Martin Chase, Shakim Compere and Joseph C. Wilson

CREATED BY:

Developed for television by Andrew Marlowe and Terri Miller, as based on the original series co-created by Richard Lindheim

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theequalizercbs

Instagram: @theequalizercbs

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

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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

B&B Short Recap Monday, August 3, 2020

Posted on August 4, 2020August 7, 2020 by TvMegasite Admin

Daytime Soap Opera Short Recaps

B&B logo

Recap written by Suzanne

Outside Sally’s room, Penny tells Flo that she’s not a bad person. Flo wonders if Penny is really as gullible as she pretends to be. However, Flo has some sympathy because she’s known people who can talk you into anything, even though it’s against your better judgment (like Reese). Flo goes in for a while to Sally’s room. Sally wants her to help talk Wyatt into forgiving her, but Flo says it’s his call. In Sally’s room, Sally begs Wyatt to forgive her. She says she’ll understand if he writes her off or puts her in jail. She keeps trying to explain why she did what she did, and how sorry she is. Wyatt says they won’t press charges, but he can’t be around her right now. He wants her to go off and find the talented, amazing woman that she used to be. He tells her goodbye in a very final way.

Brooke suggests to Ridge that he phone Taylor to let her know about Steffy’s accident. He agrees and adds that he’ll also let Thomas know. The doctor talks to Ridge about Steffy not wanting any more pain medication. Bill still feels very guilty. Liam tells him it’s not his fault. Steffy does, too, later on. Bill and Liam go to get coffee. Ridge and Liam chat with Steffy about Kelly, and also about how she needs to rest and get better. The doctor kicks everyone out so Steffy can rest. Dr. Finn asks Steffy how her pain is. She tries to be tough, saying it’s not that bad, but he can tell that she’s suffering. He suggests that she not try to be so tough. Later, he offers pain medication again, and she agrees, whimpering.

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Primetime TV Review: “Brave New World”

Posted on July 24, 2020April 20, 2021 by TvMegasite Admin

TV Review!

Brave New World on Peacock

“Brave New World” on Peacock Review by Suzanne 7/24/20

This is based on the classic novel. It’s been a very long time since I read it, but the series appears to be very different. It keeps some of the names of the characters, but otherwise, it’s been changed quite a lot. Both take place in the future, in London (called “New London” in the series), and they have the same type of dystopian society. However, the characters seem completely new, as is the plot. The names of the characters stay the same, and they still take the drug Soma, but that seems to be about it with the similarities.

In this series, set in a dystopian future, people are bred, not born, and they’re genetically modified to be different types of people in a caste society. People are labeled with A, B, C etc. A is the top type of person, an Alpha. They did mention that they’ve bred out emotions such as jealousy, yet how do you do that with a caste sytem? Also, they all have lots of sex with random partners.

The heroes of the show are Bernard (Harry Lloyd), Lenina (Jessica Brown Findlay) and John (Alden Ehrenreich). Demi Moore has a role as John’s alcoholic mother, Linda. Joseph Morgan (from “The Originals”) appears an Epsilon named CJack60.

Although Bernard is an Alpha, he’s dissatisfied with his life and what he sees going on with their society (which appears to be close to cracking at the seams). Lenina works at a hatchery (where they program babies), and Bernard is her boss. She, too, is dissatisfied. Bernard is ordered to go on holiday, so he takes Lenina with him. They visit “The Savage Lands,” which appears to be the only vacation spot (some Utopia)New . It’s in The United States, which apparently didn’t join the World Society. Everyone there is poor and looks/acts like trash (and is treated as such by the people from London). They put on regular shows for the vacationers where they show old-fashioned concepts like “monogamy.”

The show is a bit heavy-handed at times while they show how everyone is being brain-washed from birth. If soma works so well, why would they need a vacation spot at all? If it doesn’t work so well, then why are only these two dissatisfied? And how would going to “The Savage Lands” to watch a couple of lame plays be a worthwhile vacation, anyway? Hopefully, those type of questions will be explained in future episodes.

The original novel tackled subjects such as racism, sexism, and more. In this show, those things seem to no longer be an issue. Instead, the Alphas and Betas seem to look down on everyone else.

I know it sounds as if I didn’t like the series, but I do. I plan to watch more. I just wish it started a little better. The acting is very good. As scifi, I enjoy it.

MORE INFORMATION:

Based on Aldous Huxley’s groundbreaking novel, the Peacock Original Brave New World imagines a utopian society that has achieved peace and stability through the prohibition of monogamy, privacy, money, family, and history itself. As citizens of New London, Bernard Marx (Harry Lloyd, “Game of Thrones,” “The Theory of Everything”) and Lenina Crowne (Jessica Brown Findlay, “Winter’s Tale,” “Downton Abbey”) embark on a vacation to the Savage Lands, where they become embroiled in a harrowing and violent rebellion. Bernard and Lenina are rescued by John the Savage (Alden Ehrenreich, “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” “Hail, Caesar!”), who escapes with them back to New London. John’s arrival in the New World soon threatens to disrupt its utopian harmony, leaving Bernard and Lenina to grapple with the repercussions.

Brave New World is produced by UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Amblin Television. David Wiener (“Homecoming,” “The Killing”) executive produces the series and serves as showrunner. Darryl Frank (“The Americans”) and Justin Falvey (“The Americans”), co-presidents of Amblin Television, also serve as executive producers. Owen Harris (“Black Mirror: San Junipero,” “Black Mirror: Striking Vipers”), who directs the first two episodes, and Grant Morrison (“Happy!”) also executive produce. Brian Taylor executive produces on the pilot episode.

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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Brave New World on Peacock

B&B Article 5/6/19

Posted on May 6, 2019June 26, 2020 by TvMegasite Admin

Bold and Beautiful cast at Christmas

Our Opinions

My Letter to the Powers That Be By Suzanne

Here’s an email I sent to CBS. Please send your own and let them know how you feel! You can go to cbs.com and scroll to the bottom, click on “feedback” to get to their form. They do read all emails and letters.

I’ve been watching the show off and on since the 90’s. I stopped watching after Brooke “accidentally” slept with Oliver (that was incredibly idiotic) but started again with the transgender story, which was really good. I’m close to stopping again because the show is so boring most of the time. First of all, the baby-switching story was terrible. No one wants to see that. It was sad and now just boring. Reese was great, but then you ruined him with that story. Flo, too. I like that actress, but the character will be hard to redeem. I really can’t stand the actress who plays her mother, either. I’m fine with Liam and Steffy getting back together, but this is not the way to do it. I hate that Sally and Wyatt are having problems. I hope that you don’t break them up the way you did Wyatt and Katie, and Katie and Thorne. Those were stupid breakups, too quick and made no sense. Same with Ridge and Caroline, and Donna and Justin, in the past. Thanks for listening!

PS I forgot two things. The new Thomas is terrible — I hate the way he’s now evil and scheming. Yes, evil. It doesn’t matter that he’s in love, or that he wants a mother for his child. It’s evil to intentionally break up a married couple, especially after what they’ve gone through. Thomas was never that bad in the past, so it makes no sense.

Second, I forgot to mention, we want more ROMANCE and love, not just constant tragedy and heartbreak. What happened to the sweeping romantic gestures that Ridge used to do for Brooke? That’s the kind of thing we want. Oh, and how about a wedding for Charlie and Pam, too? Fans love weddings. We like seeing everyone in their best clothes and seeing how much love the couple has for each other, etc. Do more of that sort of thing. That’s why we love soaps!

Oh, and where is Maya? And why did she and Rick break up?

Thanks again.

Thorne and Katie's wedding on Bold and Beautiful

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B&B Article 4/2/19

Posted on April 2, 2019June 26, 2020 by TvMegasite Admin

Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, Jacob Young and Karla Mosley attend a photocall for the "The Bold and the Beautiful" TV series on June 15, 2015 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) Steffy, Rick and Maya

Our Opinions

B&B Needs To Be Fixed! By Suzanne

The show has had a long history of wonderful romantic couples and triangles. They’re at their best when they do sweeping romantic stories, location shoots and fashion shows, or when they do highly unusual, surprising stories that work well, such as Maya’s transgender story or the feud between Bill and Ridge.

Lately, the show has been in a real rut, and everything they write that’s new seems to be either horrible or boring. The actress who played Maya was on maternity leave, but she and Jacob Young (who played her husband, Rick) hadn’t been seen a long while before that. Once they married them off and they had a kid, the writers lost interest (which happens far too damn much – married couples don’t have to be boring!). They made such awesome choices to bring in her sister, Nicole, and her parents, but now Nicole, Zende, and Sasha are gone, and her parents are rarely seen. We never hear about anything having to do with the transgender story, and Jacob Young is gone. This is a huge mistake on their part. Young was an Emmy winner and has a huge fan following. He has great chemistry with everyone. I really miss his interaction with Ridge and Brooke. I would have loved to have seen his reactions to some of the stories that have transpired. I was hugely disappointed when we never got to see him yell at Ridge for his short romance with Quinn, or his machinations with the judge in Katie’s custody hearing.

B&B takes place in Los Angeles, in the fashion business, yet it’s rarely had any non-white characters, or any LGBTQ characters. They had addressed both issues with Maya and her family. Now they’re back to having no other LGBTQ characters (and since Maya is played by a woman, her transgender identity doesn’t even come up), and few African American characters.

One way that the show is very clumsy is when they bring in a bunch of teen or other young characters in the summer, which hardly ever work and are quickly written out again. They did that again this year with Emma, Xander and Zoe. First, the story focused on Emma, who was brought in as Justin’s niece. The character was very boring. They tried to force a romance with her and Xander, which also fell flat. They rarely used Justin with her at all, so having that connection made little sense. Bringing in Zoe gave the story a little more life, and eventually, they wrote out Emma. However, the Zoe-Xander romance, and their previous breakup, makes little sense. She was bad, but now she’s good….what??? And having her cat die seemed like it could lead to something interesting (maybe Emma was really a stalker and killed her cat?), but it didn’t. It was pointless.

Then they brought in Reese as Zoe’s father. Now, he has more charisma than all of those kids combined. He is funny and also can handle the drama. He had great chemistry with Taylor and seemed poised to maybe be too-good-to-be-true crazy town guy with her. However, they completely ruined his character by having him switch the babies and tell Hope that hers was dead. No soap fan is going to pull for him after that. Again, they quickly wrote him out. Perhaps he’ll return someday, but I doubt they will ever be able to redeem him after that. It was nice to see Taylor with a new man. They should revisit that soon. Say, how about pairing her with Justin? It would have been great to see her with the new Thorne (Ingo Rademacher), but now he’s gone, too.

Now we’re left with the big secret of Hope’s baby being alive, and more people know it every day. They brought in Flo, who is beautiful but really, really boring. She seems to have zero personality. She even makes Hope seem a little less vanilla. I don’t see any chemistry between her and anyone else. She’s a fine actress, but the writing is not supporting her.

The show seems stuck. Will they put Katie and Bill back together (and does anyone really care)? Will Hope leave Liam for Thomas? (I kind of hope so) It’s a shame they killed off Caroline because I loved her. She really was great, and her exit made no sense. We’ve seen a lot of Thomases over the years, but the new one seems the most bland. He’s an OK actor, but he’s not nearly as handsome as the last two. This is a soap, OK? Mostly women watch it. We want to see handsome men, and women we can relate to (or that can act really well). We don’t really care if the men can act, as long as they look pretty. They seem to forget this. Flo better not get in the way of Wyatt and Sally (bringing Sally back was one of the few things they got right lately). They should show Eric and Quinn a whole lot more. More Donna and Katie, more Pam and Charlie. If they bring in any more new characters, they should make sure they’re interesting, and introduce them very slowly. I want to see more LGBTQ characters, and more actors of color. It’s L.A., a very multi-cultural town… Bring in some Asians and Latinos. Get with the 21st century!