The Girlfriend is a slippery, dual-perspective psychological thriller on Prime Video, adapted from Michelle Frances's 2017 bestselling novel. Robin Wright, who also directs several episodes and executive produces, stars as Laura, a successful gallery owner and fiercely protective mother whose comfortable life tilts off its axis when her adored son Daniel brings home a new girlfriend. Olivia Cooke plays Cherry, the ambitious young woman who may be a devoted partner or a calculating opportunist, depending entirely on whose version of events you believe.
The series' central formal trick is to refuse to take a side. As the relationship between the two women curdles from wary politeness into open psychological warfare, the show replays key events from each woman's point of view, subtly altering a glance, a line of dialogue, or a gesture so that the same scene reads as either menacing or perfectly innocent. The effect keeps the audience permanently off balance, unsure whether Laura is a mother rightly sensing danger or a snob poisoning her son's happiness, and whether Cherry is a victim or a predator.
Wright and Cooke are both excellent, circling each other with icy precision, and critics praised the series as a tense, morally ambiguous adult thriller elevated by its two committed leads. Stylish and coolly unnerving, The Girlfriend is streaming on Prime Video.
American reality shows seldom satisfy as much as the fabulous dishes produced on this program! That is they would if we could get our hands on them and actually taste them like the judges do. Contestants have challenges in each episode that test their culinary talents specifically in the art of making desserts. Gail Simmons is the host and judges include Johnny Luzzini, Hubert Keller, and Dannielle Kyrillos with two challenges per episode. One challenging test is called a Quickfire followed by the Elimination Challenge. Quickfire being as the title implies, a quick test of the contestant's fundamental and basic skills in the kitchen. Elimination round is difficult and each chef must show how adaptable and creative they can be with a list of needs and use of specific ingredients. As with many other reality style shows, one contestant is eliminated at the end of each week, until there are only two remaining and the heat is not only in the kitchen but almost comes through the screen to us, the viewing audience. The loser is announced during the "Judges Table" at the end of each episode. Challenging these "experts in their own field" is a fun way to find out who can take the pressure and stand the heat until the finale at the end of the season. The winner receives $100,000 and the prestigious title of Top Chef in the world of Pastry Desserts.
Carrie Wells has what is considered a gift. A medical condition called hyperthymesia which is rare and not always welcome for those who have it. It involves total recall and the ability to remember every thing. She was a detective with the NYPD and now is called back into service to help solve some difficult cases involving murder. Homicide detective Al Burns is played by Dylan Walsh (Brooklyn South, Everwood) and he is Wells former partner as well as love interest which complicates things for the two of them. An interesting side note to this is that creative consultant Marilu Henner herself possesses the condition, hyperthymesia and she also plays a smaller role in Unforgettable being Wells aunt who suffers from Alzheimer's disease in its early stages. Henner starred in Taxi and Evening Shade. Unforgettable was originally titled The Rememberer which is the title of a short story by J. Robert Lennon. Starring Poppy Montgomery (Without A Trace, True Blue) as Carrie Wells who is also trying to find who and how her sister was murdered this hour long crime drama will make for interesting watching.
Broken romance puts Jessica Day into a tailspin and she finds herself without a place to live until she decides to move in with three male friends. She learns a lot while staying with the "boys" and it mostly involves learning about herself, life, and even love. The guys learn a lot as well when this unlikely group settle in together. Jess appreciates the help from her new roommates including "Coach", a personal trainer played by Damon Wayans, Jr.(The Other Guys, Happy Endings), "Nick" a wiseass bartender who is played by Jake M. Johnson (Curb Your Enthusiasm, FlashForward), and "Schmidt" who is a dedicated womanizer and played by Max Greenfield (Undercovers, No Ordinary Family). Jess Day herself is played by Zooey Deschanel (Yes Man, 500 Days of Summer). Damon Wayans, Jr. will be replaced after the first episode due to his returning to Happy Endings which was thought to be cancelled but made a come back. So we will then see Winston (played by Lamorne Morris from Second City fame) as the lease holder that Coach was subletting from. New Girl recently was voted one of the "Most Exciting New Series" at Critic Choice TV Awards. This is decided based on a group of journalists who watch pilots for some of the new programs scheduled for television.
Stars Hank Azaria, Kathryn Hahn, Natasha Leggero, and Al Madrigal apparently are having fun with the US version of a British hit titled Free Agents. The PR firm of CMA is the scene for much of the frivolity and even though the employees are there to assist their clientele it seems as if they can barely handle their own personal interests let alone be of assistance to any customers. Sitcoms that deal with workplace romance and banter have been popular for a long time (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, News Radio, Scrubs, Mad Men, The Office). There may be little in the way of plot line but plenty of humor, particularly of the dark and borderline mean variety. But the cast handles it all and even succeed in making the audience like them, well most of them. Sleazy and kinky yet charismatic boss Stephen (Anthony Head of Merlin and Buffy The Vampire Slayer) makes each day difficult for his staff. In the first episode we find two of the workers have committed the "cardinal" sin of employees sleeping together. Alex, played by Hank Azaria (does several voices on The Simpsons) and Helen (Kathryn Hahn of Crossing Jordan) get wasted and spend time in bed together, waking the next morning with more than just a hangover. At work other employees drill them for details and Alex nearly becomes a stalker trying to convince Helen to let him move in.
Big D (Dallas, Texas) is the scene and living La Vida Loca is where it's at for a group of young socially upscale singles who party hard, love fast, and take life easy. The Dallas Metro area is the background for hot young singles who get involved with a bit of drama as well as comedy in each episode. From one night stands to broken hearts we witness it all and maybe even learn a bit about how not to act if we want to survive the singles scene. Those who love the nightlife and crave the excitement of night clubs and hot parties will most likely enjoy this reality series. A widely diverse group of young adults, who find their lives intersecting from time to time, are entering relationships and break up at the drop of a hat and then move on to someone else. There are a few who are serious about finding someone who will give them stability and a permanent relationship, but just where to find them? And it is actually fun to watch (and perhaps place bets) on who will find the one who's just right for them.
Whether you approve or not, Playboy is a brand name that implies class and high quality along with nudity and debauchery. Quite a combination considering it all began with a magazine that was banned from many store racks or had to be wrapped in brown paper. The Clubs spread across the country and the cream of society could often be seen in attendance. What was it about the man Hugh Hefner and his concept that created so much controversy? Why did some women feel degraded while others loved all of the attention they got? Being a "former Playboy Playmate" remains a social coup that those who claim it are most definitely proud to claim! Now to the series running on the NBC network. It was first to be called "Bunny Tales" but was changed to The Playboy Club and Hefner himself reviews each script and gives his approval even though he is reportedly keeping a "hands-off" approach to any revisions. And the much younger Hugh Hefner character on the series will only be seen from behind. Producers include Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo so this should be a quality production with top acting and good writers. Cast includes Amber Heard, Eddie Cibrian, and Naturi Naughton.
Lisa Kudrow has been a busy gal since she was part of the ensemble cast of Friends! She now produces as well as stars in a new concept in sitcom on Showtime Television titled Web Therapy. Kudrow is Dr. Fiona Wallice, a therapist who contrives a new therapy form in which she spends three minutes on a web cast with patients who were formerly treated to those long and overly "talky" 50 minute sessions where nothing really happened. Her idea is to abbreviate those unproductive bouts down, thus leaving out most of the irrelevant chit chat. Kip Wallice, Fiona's husband, is played by Victor Garber (Ugly Betty, Nurse Jackie) shows up occasionally and her mother Putsy Hodge is well played by Lily Tomlin (stand up comedienne "Ernestine"). Apparently her newly devised condensed version of has some therapeutic value as she works with various patients who have guest starring roles in each episode. Names like Meryl Streep, Phylicia Rashad, Courtney Cox, and Jane Lynch fill in the 30 minute situation comedy and the results are hilarious and especially innovative due mostly to the level of talent involved. Well worth catching if you have Showtime.
The CBS lineup on Monday nights is HOT! Putting on a new television sit-com can be an "iffy" prospect and many have failed due to the competition involved. But 2 Broke Girls seems to have all the right stuff! It has talent and chemistry and it has timing. Timing involves where it premieres which is right after Two and a Half Men (now starring Aston Kutcher instead of the controversial Charlie Sheen), then moving into its regular slot an hour earlier following How I Met Your Mother. The chemistry involves a stellar cast and great writing, making 2 Broke Girls a refreshing alternative to comedy on our TVs. The talent comes in the form of some new refreshing faces like Kat Dennings (The Forty Year Old Virgin, Charlie Bartlett) as Max Black, the gal from a working class, perpetually poor family. She knows her way around however, and hopes to fulfill her dreams. Beth Behrs (Serial Buddies, Size Zero Heroes) is the wealthy Caroline who learns her family is broke due to her father being caught using a Ponzi scheme and faces the prospect of going away to prison. She is "book smart" while Max is the one who has "street smarts". Together they might succeed. Life as a waitress is stressful and they must deal with the cook who likes to sexually harass them and a boss who more resembles a Kung Fu competitor than a Brooklyn diner owner. From the folks who brought us Sex in the City how can it go wrong?
Rachel Zoe is the real thing! She is a stylist who knows the fashion industry and this docudrama reality series goes behind the scenes with Rachel and her assistants of style, Brad Goreski and Taylor Jacobson as they dash about the globe finding fashionable new trends. This season Zoe is pregnant and even though that does not slow her down a bit she and her husband Rodger find they must make some alterations to their lives, particularly their living quarters. Rodger is out searching for a bigger house now that the family is growing. Undeterred by his quest, Rachel is on a search of her own and launches a new fashion line. Elle Magazine does a photo shoot on both Rachel and Rodger then take off searching for a additional stylist to replace one that left (last season). A new addition to the team Zoe is found in Ashley Avignone. Look for lots of guest appearances by the likes of Naomi Campbell, Liv Tyler, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, Kate Hudson, and Anne Hathaway. It's a great opportunity to see how the fashion industry works in today's economy.
What makes championship basketball players keep motivated to do their best each season? It just might be the women behind them that stroke their egos and take good care of their men while keeping the home fires burning. Even the players who are not married seem to have some sort of romantic entanglement to keep them constantly in an emotional turmoil. Watch for the action to be even more intense at home than it is on the courts. Women fight, even to the point of getting physical! They compete in various ways, always striving to one-up the competition and that's just the basketball wives, not the players themselves. Among the women of basketball are: Jackie Christie is married to Doug Christie (LA Clippers). This romantic duo celebrate their wedding every anniversary. Gloria Govan and Matt Barnes (LA Lakers) are engaged and first met when Gloria was only 12 years old. Imani Showalter was engaged to Stephen Jackson (Golden State Warriors) and a mother of three children with Jackson. Kimsha Artest, partner and wife to Ron Artest (LA Lakers) came from New York City and thinks she's a bit better than the rest of the wives. Let the amusing antics of the Basketball Wives of LA keep you entertained weekly.