Long Story Short is a Netflix adult animated comedy-drama created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg, his first new animated series since the acclaimed BoJack Horseman. Trading Hollywood satire for something more intimate, the show is a warm, melancholy, and very funny portrait of a single family told across the sweep of its members' entire lives.
The series follows the Schwooper family, jumping freely and non-chronologically through the decades, from childhood and adolescence to marriage, parenthood, and old age, so that a character might be a squabbling kid in one scene and a weary adult in the next. This restless time-hopping structure lets the show explore how families carry their history with them, how old wounds and inside jokes echo across generations, and how small moments accumulate into a life. Its voice cast includes Abbi Jacobson, Ben Feldman, Lisa Edelstein, Paul Reiser, and Nicole Byer.
Rooted in Bob-Waksberg's own Jewish American upbringing, Long Story Short earned strong reviews for balancing sharp comedy with genuine emotional depth, the same alchemy that made his previous work resonate. It is streaming on Netflix.
From 1927 until 1991 Pan American Airlines was the largest international air transporter in the U.S. When the financial collapse came in 1991 it was only one of many major airlines to either cease business or be sold to another. The stewardess' role was always to accommodate passengers and insure they had a safe and enjoyable flight. Today they are called flight attendants and many are males but back in 1963, the setting for TV series Pan Am, becoming a stewardess with a major airlines was considered the dream job for many young women! In this one hour dramatic program we follow the lives of several "stews" and see how complicated some lives can be even while living the American Dream. When new hire Laura Cameron's photograph graces the cover of LIFE Magazine's latest issue it brings the occupation of stewardess into the spotlight and makes Cameron an instant celebrity even though she's only finished her training three weeks ago. Cameron is played by Margot Robbie (I.C.U., City Homicide), Maggie Ryan is under suspension for not wearing her girdle to work and is played by Christina Ricci (Saving Grace, Grey's Anatomy), and experienced stewardess Kate Cameron (Laura Cameron's older sister) has been approached by a CIA type with a special request, is played by Kelli Garner (Going The Distance, My Generation).
Ben Epstein and his partner Cam Calderon are struggling to Make it in America and learning the hard way how tough that can be, especially in the fashion industry. As they go about striving to make a name for their selves it becomes obvious they have a whole lot to learn. The pair of twenty somethings get help from a friend, Domingo who is well connected and also from Rene, a cousin of Cam's. Rene has aspirations of selling an energy drink that is called Rasta-Monsta but takes time to assist cousin Cam and his friend. Both Ben and Cam have big dreams and high hopes but the competition out there is brutal and unforgiving. How can they scramble their way from obscurity to become "known" in the fashion industry? Ben Epstein is played by Bryan Greenberg (Friends With Benefits, The Good Guys), Victor Rasuk (ER, Life is Hot in Cracktown) plays the part of Cam Calderon, and Luis Guzman (Boogie Nights, Traffic) is Rene Calderon the cousin of Cam's who tries to make his own name under the bright lights of the big city. This TV show is fun and fast paced!
What is an athletic coach who has lost much of his life's treasures to do? He is divorced and financially strapped, and living in suburban Detroit, Michigan. When his childhood home (in which he still resides) burns down he has little to keep him motivated until a friend helps create a successful business. The business is about making money and the way he determines best to do that is by exploiting his own "sex organ". Having been endowed with a unusually large penis, Ray Drecker puts it to good use by becoming a male prostitute, not exactly the choice of many men but he sees it as a way to make piles of cash, quickly. There are so many ways this can go wrong, especially with children of his own to consider! But the Happiness Consultants is determined to become a legitimate business of sorts and they go about learning the tools of the trade (so to speak). Ray Drecker is played by Thomas Jane (The Mist, The Punisher), partner Tanya Skagle is played by Jane Adams (In Plain Sight, Restless), and Ann Heche (Six Days Seven Nights, Donnie Brasco) is Ray's ex-wife Jessica Haxon. A popular HBO television series.
A roast is defined as a public means of giving out insults, tributes, or even telling outlandish stories (be they true or outright lies) while keeping it fun and entertaining for all. There is a roast-master and the "roastee" is often a celebrity of some sort, and participants include friends, co-workers, fans, and family, many of whom also participate in putting the "roastee" on the hot seat. Among the "roastees" are Pamela Anderson, Denis Leary, William Shatner, David Hasselhoff, Donald Trump, Joan Rivers, and Charlie Sheen. Each of the participants have to have a thick skin and a broad sense of humor because some of the comments bestowed on them can be rather colorful and even downright mean spirited, yet all meant to be in fun. The 90 minute programs may have certain requests that some topics be left out of the final airing including William Shatner's request that the fact his late wife drown in their pool as well as Pamela Anderson asking that her bout with Hepatitis C be kept from the show. Charlie Sheen also requested jokes referencing his mother not be aired. Others have made no such requests, leaving themselves wide open for a happy roasting!
Whitney Cummings portrays a girl who is a close comparison to her self in real life and lets her comedic side run in this new sitcom. Whitney has a boy friend with whom she lives and they have decided not to marry, at least for now. So for three years they have enjoyed each other's company but without commitments. Now Whitney decides her romantic relationship needs help and with the help of her closest friends she attempts to fan the romantic flames and heat up her relationship with Alex Green (played by Chris D'Elia from Live at Gotham, Showtime program Live Nude Comedy). Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle, Raising the Bar) plays Whitney's mother Patti Morris. Whitney only proves that some relationships are best off running their course and without the interference of friends and relatives. There is plenty of humor that is mostly at the expense of true love and when Whitney finds out about Alex and his philandering ways she doubts if the three year romance will survive.
With gorgeous surroundings and picture perfect weather all around them, the competitors of the latest season find Survivor: South Pacific still a rough go for most of the contestants. Sixteen are now castaways which are then split up into two separate tribes. The Upolu and the Savaii go back to Samoa (a previous site for Survivor) and are joined up by Benjamin Wade "Coach" and Oscar Lusth better known as "Ozzy". Coach and Ozzy then each draw an egg that contains either blue or red paint to determine which tribe they will join up with. Now the challenges (and rewards) will be handed out and let the best man, or woman, win the competition! Coach and his tribe members, which include Brandon, Albert, Rick, and Sophie must locate an immunity doll which is hidden somewhere. Christine finds herself with a target on her back and drops out of the competition for the elusive immunity doll. Ozzy finds the hidden doll and the back stabbing continues as Christine followed by Semhar are voted out of the games. As with each year's challenges they try to outdo the last season and viewers are amazed that anyone can survive!
The popular reality series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills began its second season with a rush to re-edit some of the scenes already shot after the August 15, 2011 suicide of Russell, the husband of Taylor Armstrong. Taylor had previously accused her husband of physically abusing her and she since became an advocate for domestic violence victims and works with the Los Angeles based 1736 Family Crisis Center. Taylor Armstrong has been recently quoted as saying "I have finally found my voice, and now not afraid to use it". In a quote from season one of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, she sounded a bit selfish when she said "It may look like I have it all, but I want more!" Her husband, Russell, was a venture capitalist and they were both heavily involved in philanthropy. Other returning members include Lisa Vanderpump, married to Ken Todd for the past 29 years and is now turned 50 years old (making her oldest housewife on the program). Owners of 26 restaurants, Lisa and Ken have both appeared on other TV programs such as Baywatch Nights and Silk Stalkings. Born and raised in Albuquerque Adrienne Maloof-Nassif was the daughter of a Coors distributor and later married cosmetic surgeon Dr. Paul Nassif, now residing in Beverly Hills, California. Kim Richards and her sister Kyle Richards are aunts of Paris and Nicky Hilton through their sister Kathy and have had some experience in acting. They are both married and residing in Beverly Hills.
Hart of Dixie is considered a comedy drama but it offers much more with the lovely young Rachel Bilson who got to be known (and loved) on the television series The OC back in 2003 as the perky teenage Summer Roberts. She moved on to play in the popular Chuck and How I Met Your Mother for television plus big screen roles in Jumper and The Last Kiss. Hart of Dixie portrays life in the small sleepy southern town that Zoe Hart winds up in after completing all her requirements to become a doctor. She plans on becoming a cardio thoracic surgeon just like her father but wanted that career to be in the big city of New York. She is offered an opportunity to move down to the Gulf Coast town of Bluebell, Alabama and help out with a Dr. Harley Wilkes practice but upon arrival finds her mentor has passed away but, in his will, leaves her one half of his practice. Dr. Brick Breeland is the only other doc in the small community and appears to be jealous of the young MD moving in and being given such a great opportunity. Zoe must find who is for her and who is not and also find how resilient she actually is.
When single dad George Altman finds condoms in his 16 year old daughter Tessa's dresser drawer he flips out! Not wanting her to turn into a "bad girl" he up and moves them to a suburban neighborhood away from the big city (New York). This leads the smart alecky teenager to conclude they must now live in the perfect town, one where the Stepford Wives reside. The mothers and housewives all appear to have implants in various places and wear the same designer clothing. When the ladies discover that Tessa's father is single they go right to work welcoming him to their neighborhood with pot roasts and plenty of other offerings. Well written and filled with some interesting comparisons to "real life" in many towns, Suburgatory has a biting comedy that is a fun and welcome addition to evening TV fare. Starring Jane Levy (Shameless) as Tessa Altman, Jeremy Sisto (Law & Order) plays the dad George Altman, right across the street neighbors Dallas and Dalia Royce are played by Cheryl Hines from Brothers & Sisters (Dallas) and Carly Chaikin (The Last Song) is Dalia, daughter of Dallas who quickly becomes enemies with Tessa.
The much loved Disney Channel series, Sonny With A Chance returns in full force minus the title character, Sonny (who was played by Demi Lovato). Seen in each episode of So Random! will be a series of perhaps five to six comedy sketches that include musical performances with guest stars and the "show within a show" style Disney is so famous for. Cast members include Tiffany Thornton (Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place) as Tawni Hart, Sterling Sandmann Knight (17 Again, Starstruck) as Chad Dylan Cooper, Nico Harris is played by Brandon Mychal Smith (Phil of the Future, Starstruck), and Nico's best friend Grady Mitchell (played by Douglas Brochu from iCarly, Pair of Kings). The familiar cast work well together and are friends on and off screen. Demi Lovato who played Sonny left the show for health reasons, confirming in April of 2011 that she would not be returning to the show or the newly formed So Random! With an improve flair So Random! attempts to give the young cast reason (excuses) to act up, be silly, and dress up in a preposterous manner. But it happens to work out very well! Check out the juvenile styled "Wheel of Fortune" version with kid celebrities including Willow Smith (daughter of Will Smith), Taylor Swift, and YouTube whiz kid Fred Figglehorn.