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.
Comedy seems to be the winning factor on late night television and among the best to be found since Carson is the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon program. The program even originates from the same NBC studio that The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was broadcast since 1982 until that show moved to California. Fallon offers a broad sense of humor that connects with his large audience including shows and skits like Pros and Cons, Wheel of Carpet Samples, Let Us Play with Your Look, Cell Phone Shootout, Hot Dog in a Hole, or Remix and Clips. In between the hilarious sketches guests come and go, often becoming part of the action or the brunt of some rather low brow activities. All is played for fun and audiences eat it up and often even get to join in on the fun. Among the celebrity guests have been Van Morrison, Robert De Niro, and Justin Timberlake. The previous host of Late Night, Conan O'Brien has appeared on Fallon's reincarnation of the show that keeps on giving to late night fans.
It has become THE place to be seen and one of the most exciting shows on late-late night television today. Jimmy Kimmel left "The Man Show" back in January of 2003 to host his own talk show on late night TV and has since acquired a large following which includes an audience filled with eager to learn about celebrity lives folks as well as show biz big names that seem to be more than happy to divulge their inner most secrets. Kimmel began his career on Comedy Central where his quirky sense of humor made him popular working with Ben Stein. This led Jimmy to The Man Show where his popularity grew. Now with his own late night talk show he pretty much rules the roost (so to speak) as far as late night viewer are concerned. His latest ritual seems to be hosting the most recent loser from "Dancing With The Stars" on Tuesday nights. He then burns their shoes symbolically. There's a long running joke going with the talented actor Matt Damon where he invites him on but then, at the last minute, states he's run out of time on the show. Damon plots ways to get even with Kimmel and audiences are left to wonder if it's a joke or not.
It is the year 2149 and all life on Earth is about to end! That is the premise of a new science fiction show developed for television with the title of Terra Nova. It seems that, in efforts to save our planet and all human beings inhabiting it scientists must develop a travel portal which allows earthlings to travel some 85 million years backwards in time. This means we must go back to prehistoric times on our planet and find there are large groups of carnivorous and huge dinosaurs roaming about hoping to make us their next meal. Jim Shannon and his wife Elisabeth along with their three children Maddy, Zoe, and Josh are among the 10th "pilgrimage" of settlers who travel to Terra Nova which as become the first human colony set up on the other side of that temporal doorway. And then they discover their neighbors happen to be those nasty dinosaurs. Jason O'Mara (Life on Mars, Marlowe) stars as Jim Shannon and his trauma surgeon wife Elisabeth is portrayed by Shelley Conn (Marchlands, Trial and Retribution). They and their three children are part of a group of new pioneers on planet Earth.
Former Daily Show with Jon Stewart correspondent Stephen Colbert is a political humorist and that means he has a license to poke fun at politicians and just about anybody else that gets in his creative path. It's a stretch but Stephen Colbert plays fictional anchorman Stephen Colbert, or in other words, he portrays himself in a spoof and political pundit filled show that has earned a slew of award nominations. If it's a serious news event you can bet it will show up on the Colbert Report, often with a unique twist. Some stories don't need to be embellished upon because they play out humorous no matter what and that's life. Some times the show has cultural influence as in the case of a bridge being named after Colbert by the Hungarian Ambassador, who presented Colbert with a declaration certificate when a vote declared him the winner. As it turned out Hungary does not name their bridges after living people so it never happened but he did win the vote. It just goes to prove how powerful having a television show with your own name on it can be in the U.S.
When the powers that be at NBC yanked the Tonight Show out from under long time host Jay Leno on May 29, 2009 it was considered to be a huge mistake and that fact soon became evident to everyone involved, particularly his loyal viewing audience. Conan O'Brien is talented and deserves his own show but there is no one quite like Leno except for perhaps Johnny Carson. Carson made the Tonight Show a national institution of late night television. Carson also wanted David Letterman to succeed him as host, even though he had called on Leno to guest host multiple times over the years. But when it came time to pass the gauntlet it went to stand up comedian Jay Leno. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno was reincarnated on March 1, 2010 and as they say, the rest is history. With a home base in Burbank, California the Tonight Show has access to virtually all of the showbiz elite as well as entertainment's movers and shakers so viewers can be assured of seeing their favorite stars and keeping up with most all the latest gossip and newsworthy events as they happen. Leno himself, through his opening dialogue will refresh our memory and keep us informed regarding what was said by or about the likes of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, or even Donald Trump. And who could ask for more?
The fact that some time travel is involved in the show, Being Erica, makes it necessary to employ at least one other actress to play the part of Erica Strange. She is sometimes seen as a twelve year old girl and that would be difficult for actress Erin Karpluk to accomplish. Erica is thirty two, Jewish, and still single. Although well educated she appears to be an underachiever who is in therapy and has been for years. Erica's therapist, Dr. Tom Wexlar (portrayed by Michael Riley) works with her though often irritating her with mixed quotations that don't really help her. Erica's friends include Julianne (played by Reagan Pasternak) editor at the publishing company where Erica is most currently employed. The two eventually form a publishing company as co-owners and partners. Forth grade teacher and best friend, Ethan Wakefield, (played by Tyron Leitso) have been close since college. When he moves next door to Erica they become more than just best friends, resulting in his divorce, and complicating the friendship. Gary Strange (John Boylan) is Erica's father, now a rabbi, but formerly a marijuana using hippie. Mom Barbara (Kathleen Laskey) who adds depth and a serious note to the program when she develops breast cancer.
Albuquerque, New Mexico is the evidently a popular place for those who have had need to join the witness protection program (WITSEC) provided for those who have helped the U.S. Government convict criminals. Those who are brought to justice vow revenge and will often go to great lengths to "get even" . Although this is just an entertaining dramatic television show, it is based on actual occurrences. Mary Shannon (played by Mary McCormack from Law & Order: Criminal Intent and West Wing) is a member of the U.S. Marshals and along with her partner Marshal Marshall Mann (Fredrick Weller also from Law & Order: Criminal Intent) work with newly installed witnesses. Many of the newly secreted participants don't want to leave their former lifestyle but the alternative may be fatal. Each episode we find the Marshals must deal with a wide assortment of problems both on the job and in their private lives. Mary has an interesting family that includes a wacky mother Jinx Shannon (Lesley Ann Warren of Desperate Housewives, Will & Grace) and outlandish younger sister Brandi, played by Nichole Hiltz (Bones, Smallville) both of whom live with Mary as they sort out their own complicated lives.
The lives of Camelot, Guinevere, and King Arthur has been a popular subject for story telling for a long time now and it may be time for a reality check. The true story of Camelot and the lives and times affected by swords, magic, sex, betrayal, and the absolute monarchy of the times is played out on Starz television's Camelot. This time the story is told from a youthful perspective as Jamie Campbell Bower is a young and intrepid Arthur who is on his way to the throne. King Arthur himself is a complicated and complex character who came from humble beginnings to reach the seat of power. His lady Guinevere is the one bright and shining light in his life and the challenges faced by the man who would be King of England include moral issues, deception, and wars that never seem to end. The concept has long been put to film or play with many varying opinions on what kind of man Arthur actually was. The cast of characters, including Lancelot, Lady Guinevere, and Morgan, his overly ambitious half-sister make for intriguing viewing and this time around it seems more true to the facts than previous ventures.
The premise of Battlestar Galactica has become an entire franchise due to the popularity of the concept. Beginning back in 1978, Glen A. Larson created an ongoing joy for sci fi lovers with his original Battlestar Galactica series that aired on TV screens everywhere. Spawning many sequels over the years, including Caprica and the latest series which began its run in 2004, humans now live on a group of distant planets called the Twelve Colonies. Wars have gone on for decades on these planets against the Cylons, a group of cybernatics who plan to wipe out the human race altogether. Cylons offer a haven of peace and security but their intentions turn out to be false and deadly. Colonial starships carry the humans away but when attacked by the Cylons, find they are not able to compete. Commander Adama (played by Edward James Olmos of Miami Vice, Stand and Deliver fame) is the leader who takes the fugitive fleet of human survivors on a hunt for the mysterious 13th colony better known as planet Earth. Fun and often exciting drama with some great special effects and a gigantic and great looking spaceship called the Battlestar Galactica.
Even though the television series Haven does not exactly read like a Stephen King novel, it is loosely based on one of his recent works called the Colorado Kid. Filmed in Nova Scotia Canada, Haven is well written with a science fiction based plot. An FBI agent, Audrey Parker portrayed by Emily Rose (Brothers & Sisters, Jericho) arrives in the sea side town of Haven, Maine working what begins as a routine case but soon develops into something more supernatural. Seems people disappear for unknown reasons. Additionally she finds her long dead mother, whom she never met, may be involved. Also starring Lucas Bryant (Dollhouse, Queer as Folk) as local cop, Nathan Wuornos, who teams up with Parker to solve some of the strange goings on in Haven. He's got problems of his own with what he calls his "idiopathic Neuropathy" which is a condition that keeps him from literally feeling anything. Eric Balfour (Hawaii, The O.C.) plays Duke Crocker, a local who seems a jack of all trades and has plenty to hide. Chief of Police in Haven is Garland Wuornos (played by Nicholas Campbell (from Diamond's, The Hitchhiker) is Nathan's father and tries to convince Audrey Parker to stay on in Haven and solve the supernatural "troubles" the residents encounter.