Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
Spanning decades of television, the DVD’s highlight is “Johnny Staccato.” Starring John Cassavetes in the title role, the episode (ca. 1959) stands up surprisingly well in modern times. Cassavetes is so suave and cool that no one would doubt his ability to play a jazz musician who happens to solve crimes at night.
An independent film from Britain, “On a Clear Day” tells the story of a man trying to come to terms with his past by setting a goal for the future: to swim across the English Channel. Frank (Peter Mullan) is a stoic man who tells his young grandson, “Things aren’t meant to be fixed nowadays.”
“Bring It On: All or Nothing” is the idealized version of what happens when a rich girl from an elite California school is forced to transfer to an urban setting for her senior year of high school.
When the ABC sitcom aired during the 1994-1995 TV season, it did well enough to place in the Top 5 for the fourth consecutive year. And aside from some pop culture giveaways (Jill’s clothes; Randy’s use of a floppy disc to backup his computer), the warmth and humor exuded in this 25-episode, 3-disc set hold up remarkably well.
Equal parts JAG and C.S.I., NCIS does a formidable job of blending relevant military headlines with quirky characters who are tenaciously determined to solve a crime–even if it means having to sleep in the morgue to get a few minutes of shut eye. Created by Donald P. Bellisario (JAG, Quantum Leap), NCIS actually began as a two-part episode of JAG in 2003. Later that year, the drama made its full-season debut on CBS.
The Indonesian island of Bali is steeped in history and ritual. Every day, the Balinese leave canang sari (or offerings of flowers, money and food) at temples, on shrines or even outside their own homes in the hopes that good fortune will smile upon their families. Despite the bombings last year in Kuta and Kimbaran, Bali is not a paradise lost.
The difference between right and wrong isn’t easily distinguishable on EZ Streets, a compelling and sophisticated crime drama that lasted just one season on CBS. As a former cop tells his son, “You can only be betrayed by the people you trust.” Ken Olin stars as Detective Cameron Quinn. After his partner is gunned down with $10,000 missing, both of them are pegged as dirty cops.
After eight seasons on air–some very good, the later years not so much–“Will & Grace” bids farewell tonight. Unlike its characters, which have gotten increasingly squawky over time, the show is getting a relatively subdued send-off that doesn’t match the manic frenzy surrounding the “Friends” finale two years earlier.
If it seems odd for a reality series to air on a golf channel, consider that since its January 1995 launch, the Golf Channel has provided round-the-clock coverage of all things golf. But there are only so many tournaments they can repeat, and even the most ardent fans tire of interviews with Michelle Wie and Tiger Woods.
It looks like the “NCIS” producers are ready to get rid of another character on tonight’s season finale. Last year, a sniper picked off Agent Caitlin Todd (Sasha Alexander). Promos for tonight’s episode promise that another series regular will be leaving the show.