Lord of the Flies is the first-ever television adaptation of William Golding's landmark 1954 novel, written by Jack Thorne and directed by Marc Munden. A co-production that aired first on the BBC before reaching Netflix, it brings fresh scale and psychological depth to a story that has haunted readers for generations.
After a plane crash strands a group of British schoolboys on a remote Pacific island in the early 1950s, the boys attempt to govern themselves. Ralph (Winston Sawyers) tries to hold the group together with the counsel of the clever, bullied Piggy (David McKenna), but the charismatic, power-hungry Jack (Lox Pratt) foments a rebellion that fractures their fragile society into fear, tribalism, and violence. The production cast a large ensemble of young newcomers, many making their professional debuts.
Released in 2026, the four-part series earned wide critical acclaim for its stunning direction and its unflinching portrait of how quickly civilization can unravel. Filmed on Malaysia's Langkawi archipelago, it stands as a definitive screen version of Golding's parable. It is streaming on Netflix.
Crime drama on American television doesn't get any better than The Closer. Starring the beautiful Kyra Sedgwick (Mrs. Kevin Bacon) she leads as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson of the Georgia PD that has found herself transplanted to Los Angeles, California to take over as lead officer on their Priority Murder Squad (now called the Major Crimes Division). Starring an ensemble cast that includes J.K. Simmons (Law & Order, OZ) as Will Pope the Assistant Chief of Operations with the LAPD, Corey Reynolds (Private Practice, CSI: Miami) as David Gabriel Sergeant of Detectives at LAPD, and Robert Gossett (ER, Bones) who plays Commander Russell Taylor of Robbery and Homicide for the LAPD. Kyra Sedgwick herself has top rated credentials herself with roles in Secondhand Lions, Lover Boy, and Phenomenon. Each episode revolves around a different story line and includes murder and other serious crimes that occur in the Los Angeles area. Deputy Chief Johnson's role is to solve crimes and not let them become "cold cases". Her track record is excellent and she and her team get the job done in an hour each episode.
A fictional British Royal finds he is in succession for the throne after his father King James III has died. The twenty four year old Richard IV who is played by Rupert Evans (Paradise Heights, Emma) finds himself being resented by his older sister, the Princess Eleanor (played by Sophie Winkleman from Red Dwarf, Love Live Long) because she has evidently been passed over in favor of her brother and she desperately wants that throne for herself. Princess Eleanor and Major Simon Brooks, played by David Harewood (Blood Diamond) who is her private secretary have devised a way to plot together in an attempt to discredit now King Richard and bad family blood may be shed before she gets her way. Richard's own secretary, Abigail Thomas (Zoe Telford) has plans on writing a "tell all" book about the goings on in the Royal Palace. Politics and corruption within the royalty of Britain is always interesting viewing and The Palace brings plenty of interesting half truths and while a dramatization it still provides some insight into how royalty live their lives.
Yet another reality show for television? Now that's seems to be getting to be a pretty old concept until you figure in the producer of this hot television industry based program who just happens to be Kim Kardashian herself! The show is centered around Hollywood and the ins and outs of getting on the A list or being invited to red carpet events. It's all about knowing who to befriend and who to simply ignore. The Spin Crowd is paparazzi at its low down dirtiest and often that's what it takes to make it in tinsel town. Ms Kardashian herself has been sometimes victim and often target of much hype and deception brought her way by those who make their living off "celebrityism" and even though she is behind the cameras for this show, she knows who to ask for help when it comes to getting that head shot seen by the important people in Hollywood. The Spin Crowd shows the viewers how difficult it is to get ahead in the celebrity industry, and talent often has little to do with winning.
Virginia Madsen is Cheryl West, a loyal wife and mother who happens to be married to a career criminal called Wolf West (actor David James Elliott). This puts a crimp in their social life and their four kids futures may even be in jeopardy if they can't spring dad from prison soon. A New Zealand television series titled Outrageous Fortune is the origin for this fun and fast moving American TV comedy drama. Cheryl West has four children, a set of twins named Cal and Logan plus two younger daughters Heather and Hope. They have each participated in some "shady behavior" until Wolf land in prison for a five year sentence. Mom, Cheryl, decides they must all become honest citizens in spite of good old dad's interference from inside jail. What will that do to their image? Virginia Madsen (as Cheryl West) has been in Sideways & The Astronaut Farmer is sister to actor Michael Madsen. David James Elliott starred in Jag for 10 years before joining CSI: NY in 2010 and in between he played Wolfgang "Wolf" West. The children were played by Patrick Flueger (playing both twin boys), Leven Rambin as Heather West, and Vanessa Marano as Hope West.
Dee, Dennis, Charlie, and Mac are four "twenty something" friends who run a local pub in Philadelphia. They find it a struggle to keep their bar open and always challenging to make ends meet. But humor keeps them going and often it's the darkest of humor that works best for these four friends. The show is extremely popular due mostly to great writing and a talented cast. The one liners and story lines are so off the wall they are not even something that writers for the Seinfeld series would have proposed to use. But in this particular premise"¦ it simply works beautifully! An Irish pub in the heart of Philly is the background for egocentric friendships among these four who are barely into adulthood, so each finds a way to get themselves into trouble. The one adult on the scene is Frank Reynolds, ably portrayed by Danny DeVito (Get Shorty, War of the Roses) and if you've ever watched him at work you can see how the four pub owners have problems with "the blind leading the blind". Hilariously funny and well written.
With broad international approval the late night talk show titled Chelsea Lately, starring Chelsea Handler, found its niche on televisions around the globe in recent years. Taped in Los Angeles, California, Chelsea Lately was developed around the concept of a comedy talk show dealing with current events including pop culture and show business in general. A round table with guests such as George Wallace, Loni Love, Brody Stevens, and John Caparulo deal with a wide assortment of subject matter, all related to show biz in some way, shape, or form. Chelsea has a "sidekick" in Heather McDonald who is also a comedian and best selling author. The two often travel on a private plane and Chelsea's tours always seem to be sell outs. Video clips, sketches, and live discussions make Chelsea Lately an ever entertaining and delightful bit of late night programming. When you can get celebrities to open up and talk about their industry while comparing notes on their craft it makes for good TV, especially in the late at night format which is looser and a bit more risque.
NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly features musical performers, interviews with well known celebrities, plus some topical documentary style programming, all within a half hour format. It has been delegated to super late night (actually early early morning viewing) and follows after a strong lineup which includes The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. This is Daly's 11th season of late night entertainment and some recent guests include Make Believe The Black Angels, Adam Blackstone, Adam Pally, and Ben Schwartz. While Leno and O'Brien have switched their time slots Carson Daly has been solidly in place and earning even more ratings points thanks to discourse between other late night hosts. The documentary segments take Daly out of the studio and on the road to places like Tom Green's home in the Hollywood Hills or on a motorcycle road trip along historic Route 66. Musically and documentary style is a visit to the famous Whiskey Bar and visit with Kings of Leon (Grammy award winning band).
Hollywood Arts is the location for Tori Vega (played by Victoria Justice) as she aspires to be a singer even as she gets herself into a continuous string of screwball or downright silly situations. Tori takes her sister Trina's place in a big showcase put on by the high school called Hollywood Arts because it's a performing arts school. Her talents will be showcased as she learns acting, singing, and even dancing on the stage. Star of the show Victoria Justice is known for her rolls in several recent Nickelodeon features including The Boy Who Cried Werewolf and Zoey 101. Leon Thomas III (Rising Stars, Freak the Freak Out) plays Andre Harris who is a musician singer and songwriter and also is Tori's best friend. Robbie Shapiro is played by Matt Bennett (Michael & Michael Have Issues, iCarly) who is plagued by his own shyness and awkward nerdy ways but is determined to become a master ventriloquist. He often uses that talent to express himself. The youthful cast demonstrates how difficult it can be to fulfill their dreams of becoming successful in whatever type of "the fine arts" they have chosen to follow.
The four "professional buyers" in this reality based program offer up plenty of laughs as well as some serious buyers envy when they find treasure troves of merchandise in repossessed storage lockers. Of course they also get "stung" a certain amount of the time because it's not a perfect world after all. Whether they bid on lockers containing an extremely valuable collection of comic books, old collectible cars, or junk jewelry it is just by chance that they luck out and find a treasure among the trash left behind by those who failed to pay their storage locker fees. The main buyers on this show, along with some intrepid newcomers to the bidding process, take their chances because they cannot enter the locker or open any boxes inside. Dan Dotson, real time auctioneer, offers up some intriguing lots each week and the "pro buyers" who follow him around include Darrell Sheets, Barry Weiss, Dave Hester, and Jarrod Schulz (the youngest collector). Each episode depicts the challenging world faced by collectors and also shows how so much of someone's life can be left behind in storage.
As a popular spin-off to the Bad Girls Club and Bad Girls Road Trip shows, we now find Love Games: Bad Girls Need Love Too to be a game show with a reality based, fun and sexy, fashionable dating game format. This time we see three truly lovely ladies vie for the "man of their dreams" as they work their way through 13 eligible and handsome young bachelors. Alumni of the Bad Girls Club are ready to face challenges which include group dates as they narrow down the list of competition. They temporarily reside in what is a former "Bad Girl" house and the competition is for "HBIC" each week. Described as outrageous, energetic, and flirty the girls are seeking true love while a television viewing audience has the opportunity to see who is successful and how they "get their man" . It's all for fun yet the competition can be stiff and the girls truly bad when they wish to be.