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Saturday, July 4, 2020

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65 results total, viewing 1 - 20

Fourth of July celebrations go on without crowds

By Kevin McDonough Showtime debuts "Outcry" (10 p.m. Sunday, TV-MA), a five-part true-crime docuseries rife with political reverberations and emotional hand grenades. A tale of police misconduct and prosecutorial overreach on one side and … more

7/3/20 02:00 AM

Netflix debuts updated version of 'Baby-Sitters Club'

By Kevin McDonough Netflix debuts "The Baby-Sitters Club," the third adaptation of the series of best-selling novels by Ann M. Martin published between 1986 and 2000. While set in the present day, "Club" really transpires in a rather timeless … more

7/3/20 02:00 AM

'Council of Dads' and other failures to launch

By Kevin McDonough Sometimes a series finale can feel like a mercy killing. Oliver's medical experience comes in handy on the series finale of "Council of Dads" (8 p.m. NBC, TV-PG). This three-hanky weepy was the latest (and hopefully, the last) … more

7/2/20 06:00 AM

Netflix revives vintage 'Unsolved Mysteries'

By Kevin McDonough We live in an era of creative churn. A staple of reality television before anyone even used the term, "Cops" recently got the heave-ho from Paramount. While some favorites are deep-sixed, others get a face-lift. Last week … more

7/1/20 06:00 AM

'Chechnya,' 'Blackfeet' tell of oppression, resistance

By Kevin McDonough Difficult to watch yet impossible to dismiss, the documentary "Welcome to Chechnya" (10 p.m., HBO, TV-MA) will stun viewers and leave them wondering just how the film was made. "Welcome" does not merely document and explore the … more

6/30/20 06:00 AM

Ferrell, McAdams star in 'The Story of Fire Saga'

By Kevin McDonough A victim of COVID-19 crisis twice over, the 2020 comedy "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga" was originally slated to be released in cinemas. And that release was scheduled to coincide with the 2020 Eurovision … more

6/26/20 06:00 AM

'Gone in the Dark': true-crime obsession, addiction

By Kevin McDonough A story within a story and then some, the new HBO docuseries "I'll Be Gone in the Dark" (10 p.m. Sunday, TV-MA) explores one amateur sleuth's search for the truth, and how that quest became an unhealthy and all-consuming … more

6/26/20 06:00 AM

Old is new again with 'Perry Mason,' 'Twilight Zone'

By Kevin McDonough TV continues to mine its usable past. It's interesting to note that in the same week that HBO launches its dark prequel to "Perry Mason," the streaming service CBS All Access begins the second season of director Jordan Peele's … more

6/25/20 06:00 AM

Netflix tests fine line between 'Crazy,' childish with strange cooking show

By Kevin McDonough Blending the pagan, the biblical and the ridiculous, Netflix's "Crazy Delicious" puts a colorful spin on the cooking competition series. For starters, there's the set. In every competition, three cooks are encouraged to … more

6/24/20 06:00 AM

Social distancing inspires experimentation

By Kevin McDonough If necessity is the mother of invention, can social distancing inspire "Celebrity Show-off" (10 p.m., TBS, TV-14)? Hosted by Mayim Bialik ("Blossom," "The Big Bang Theory"), this variety series invites boldfaced names to create … more

6/23/20 06:00 AM

HBO'S 'Perry Mason' is an impressive period piece

Remakes are terrible. Except when they're not. "Fargo" proved that. Add "Perry Mason" (9 p.m. Sunday, HBO, TV-MA) to the list of superlative do-overs. The original "Perry Mason" was a hugely popular vehicle for Raymond Burr, … more

By Kevin McDonough | 6/19/20 06:00 AM

'Sherman's Showcase' with John Legend is funny, sharp

by Kevin McDonough It's Juneteenth, time for "Sherman's Showcase: Black History Month Spectacular" (10 p.m., AMC, 11 p.m., IFC, TV-MA). This rapid-fire sketch showcase sends up black pop culture of the past century. Creator Bashir Salahuddin also … more

6/19/20 06:00 AM

The devil you know: 'Story of Roy Cohn' on HBO

By Kevin McDonough Devils are more interesting than angels. Great literature teaches us that. From "Paradise Lost" to "Bedazzled," characters driven by the seven deadly sins have long overshadowed those who play by the rules. The 2020 … more

6/18/20 06:00 AM

PBS embarks on 'Prehistoric Road Trip'

By Kevin McDonough As TV evolves, certain truisms emerge. Twenty years into the reality era, one certainty presents itself: The best way to star on a reality series is to have already appeared on a reality show. Streaming media has its own rules. … more

6/17/20 06:00 AM

'American Masters' profiles show biz icon Mae West

By Kevin McDonough Produced by Bette Midler, a new "American Masters" (8 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings) celebrates screen legend Mae West. A chorus of contemporary voices praises her as a rule-breaker and "sexual gangster," who used … more

6/16/20 06:00 AM

Why do some movies resonate and endure?

By Kevin McDonough Somebody called for comfort food. The schedule features three classic movies some have all but memorized. - A busy banker (David Tomlinson) and his suffragette wife (Glynis Johns) turn over their children, Jane (Karen … more

6/12/20 06:00 AM

'Beecham House' blends beefcake, history on PBS

By Kevin McDonough "Masterpiece: Beecham House" (10 p.m. Sunday, PBS, TV-PG, check local listings) offers an exotic variation on an "Upstairs Downstairs" drama - an imperial take on "Downton Abbey" set in India circa 1795, in the days before … more

6/12/20 06:00 AM

'Don't' is newest game show on ABC's schedule

By Kevin McDonough ABC adds a new title to its gameshow-heavy schedule. "Don't" (9 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) combines the manic statesmanship of "Wipe Out" with a little reverse psychology. Teams of family members earn prize money by resisting host Adam … more

6/11/20 06:00 AM

'Lenox Hill': Hospital drama on a human scale

By Kevin McDonough Cop shows, combat and hospitals: Those three subjects dominate television drama and always have. And for good reason. There's plenty of action, high stakes and time to explore character. Keep that in mind as you watch "Lenox … more

6/10/20 06:00 AM

Just for old times' sake on 'American Chopper'

By Kevin McDonough Discovery returns to a golden oldie with "American Chopper" (9 p.m., TV-14). Will viewers follow? After all these years, Paul Teutul Jr. and Sr. return to the site of their … more

6/9/20 06:00 AM

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