All's Fair is a glossy Hulu legal drama from the prolific Ryan Murphy, the creator behind American Horror Story, Glee, and Feud, built around an all-female divorce law firm in New York City. Co-created by Murphy with Jon Robin Baitz and Joe Baken, the series is a splashy, soap-operatic ensemble piece and one of the most heavily marketed television launches of the year, anchored by a cast of Hollywood heavyweights.
Kim Kardashian stars as Allura Grant, a powerhouse divorce attorney who breaks away from a male-dominated firm to launch her own practice alongside a team of formidable women. Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash-Betts, and Teyana Taylor play her partners, with Sarah Paulson as a fierce rival and Glenn Close among the ensemble, as the firm takes on high-net-worth clients, explosive settlements, and the personal betrayals that blur the line between business and vengeance. The show trades in designer wardrobes, palatial interiors, and the melodramatic power struggles that are Murphy's signature.
The series became a genuine cultural talking point on arrival: it drew scathing reviews from critics, who made it one of the most negatively reviewed shows of the year, even as it pulled enormous viewership numbers for Hulu and quickly earned a second-season renewal. Marking Kim Kardashian's first major scripted leading role, All's Fair is streaming on Hulu.
With the plethora of "reality" programming seen everywhere today it is refreshing to see a show like The L Word which deals with a group of people involved with being lesbian, transgender, or who are bisexual. All the ongoing stress and controversy that must be dealt with on a daily basis plays out in and around West Hollywood, in sunny Los Angeles, California. Some powerful writing is provided by Guinevere Turner (American Psycho) and Rose Troche (Six Feet Under) and others. Starring in the L Word are some well known names such as Jennifer Beals (as Betty Porter), Pam Grier (as Kate Porter), and Laurel Holloman (as Tina Kennard). The coded language for lesbian has long been "the L Word" but today simply calling oneself a lesbian is more preferred and common for these women have "come out" proudly. This controversial show deals with same sex marriage and the desire to have a baby. Alcohol and drugs effect lives and ongoing relationships are often threatened by affairs and sexual transgender issues.
If you watched "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" before you watched "The Sopranos," you would get the uneasy sensation art was imitating life just a little too closely. They are two versions of the same story: Wiseguys attempt to balance the strange demands of life in the suburbs with the everyday business of running a criminal empire. The problem with posing as a respectable businessman is that you sometimes must actually be respectable. It's almost funny in a painfully awkward sort of way, but nothing good could come from laughing out loud. "Ayy, fahget abowt it," Tony Soprano and his New Jersey mobsters would say. Are you genuinely surprised to discover that prom dresses and cement overcoats do not easily reconcile? Are you genuinely surprised to learn "The Sopranos" is cable television's greatest financial success? "The Sopranos," in fact, was the foundation of a major cultural phenomenon and marketing franchise, which supported books, videogames, soundtrack CDs, and more than a few critical blogs. Of course, the producers and cast had to hijack a semi-trailer to cart home all of their Emmys and Golden Globes.
An American crime drama, The Killing is based on a Danish television program titled Forbrydelsen which means The Crime. American writers say they used the original as a "blue print" but gave it a distinctly Americanized flair with characters that will be more appealing to the viewing audience. The setting for The Killing is Seattle, Washington and the show revolves around police investigators and their daily work load. Each episode will center on one day of an investigation into the homicide of a small girl and follows along with the investigating officers as they track down clues and work to solve the case before the trail runs cold. A dark show, The Killing is brutally honest in many respects regarding the why's and how's of a murder. The police deal with brutality and mayhem but never get used to it entirely. Cast members include Mireille Enos as detective Sarah Linden, Billy Campbell as politician running for Mayor of Seattle Darren Richmond, Michelle Forbes portrays Mitch Larsen (mother of the murdered girl Rosie), Brent Sexton as Stan Larsen (father of Rosie), and Joel Kinnaman who plays the part of Stephen Holder, Sarah Linden's partner and fellow detective
Based on the Italian fifteenth century Borgia dynasty, the made for the Showtime network series titled The Borgias follows Rodrigo Borgia (Jeremy Irons) rise to power and the Papacy. Called the original crime family, the Borgias amassed great wealth, influence, and power as family patriarch Rodrigo committed nearly every sin imaginable as he gained power and vast wealth. Such successors as The Godfather (Mario Puzo) and The Prince (Niccolò Machiavelli) were inspired by the original "bad family" the Borgias and made for entertaining viewing. But the originals were greedy evil people who had no morals. It is at the height of the Renaissance period that we find the Borgia family intriguing to watch and perhaps learn from. Besides Jeremy Irons there are many fine actors in the cast including Francois Arnaud as Cesare Borgia, Holliday Grainger as Lucrezia Borgia, David Oakes as Juan Borgia, and Derek Jacobi portraying Cardinal Orsini. Look for this entertaining television series and see the original "Godfathers of crime".
"Body of Proof" will bring at least one more strong female lead to network television, bringing the sum total to approximately two. Too bad they will compete head-to-head in the same time-slot; good thing we have DVRs. "We need to have more smart women characters on television," says Dana Delany as she prepares to play medical examiner Megan Hunt in ABC's new drama, "Body of Evidence." As plots unfold on the new show, Dr. Megan Hunt's brilliance never will become an issue"”if anything she sometimes is too smart for her own good; but her compassion and human kindness frequently will be in doubt. Dr. Hunt brings a few issues to the autopsy room: Five years ago, she lost everything in the wake of a serious car accident"”her marriage, custody of her daughter,; and, most importantly, her extremely successful practice as a neurosurgeon. Promos for "Body of Evidence" are slick, stylish, sexy, and sassy. Ms. Delany looks seductively into the camera, promising, "Don't believe everything you've heard. The truth is much worse." Adding even more spice and power, Jeri Ryan ends her peripatetic travels across the dial, settling down to play Dr. Kate Murphy, the medical examiner. Set for debut on March 29, 2011, "Body of Evidence" promises to become a Tuesday ten o'clock favourite.
Slackers serving Satan as his bounty hunters? At a bare minimum, "The Reaper" does offer conclusive proof that colluding with the devil is considerably more exciting than a job at the Work Bench, a fictional Seattle home improvement store. Imagine Sam Oliver's surprise when he learns on his twenty-first birthday his parents negotiated a long-ago deal with the captain of the underworld: Save daddy's life, and they will give Satan their first-born child. Of course, mom and dad used every form of contraception imaginable until Satan released their doctor from his gambling debts in exchange for Doc's telling mom and dad they could not conceive. Sam ensues. Satan himself shows-up at the big twenty-first gala to detail "The Reaper's" new job description. Sam, who once complained that college "made him sleepy," naturally balks at the devil's deal; but the devil is at least as persuasive with Sam as he was with Eve. Satan tells Sam, should he decline, his mother forfeits her soul. Sam grudgingly accepts new super-powers and goes to work hunting down wayward sinners who have contrived to escape Hell. Television drama ensues. "The Reaper" earned an extremely devoted"”albeit somewhat cultish"”following. A representative review explained the attraction: "This show is so refreshing - great premise, great characters, and they don't take themselves too seriously. The Devil is a hunk, and just couldn't be played better than Ray Wise."
A spin off to the popular 16 and Pregnant (also on MTV), Teen Mom 2 follows along on the challenges and rewards faced by four teenage moms that were last seen on season three of 16 and Pregnant. There are many problems facing those who are still practically children themselves who attempt to raise their own babies. Family, peer pressure, school, and romance are a enough to struggle with before adding on the burden and reward of child rearing. The show attempts to show it can be accomplished with help from all relationships involved. The parents can provide much needed guidance and they can get an emotional boost from friends and romantic involvements too. Following four young women who become pregnant during their senior year of school, Janelle, Chelsea, Leah, and Kailyn have different problems and solutions but they are each determined to keep and raise their babies themselves. Boyfriends and parents complicate issues but basically stand behind the life altering decisions made by the new mothers. This program is reality programming at it's finest as it depicts life in real time.
