Boots is a Netflix comedy-drama series created by Andy Parker, adapted from Greg Cope White's memoir The Pink Marine. Set in 1990, it follows a directionless young man who impulsively joins the United States Marine Corps alongside his best friend and must survive the brutal crucible of boot camp while carrying a secret about who he is. Executive produced by the legendary Norman Lear in one of his final projects, it balances raw military rigor with warmth and humor.
Miles Heizer stars as Cameron Cope, an aimless teenager with no obvious prospects who signs up largely on a whim and finds himself utterly unprepared for the punishing world of Marine training. Vera Farmiga plays his loving but overbearing mother, and Max Parker, Liam Oh, and Angus O'Brien fill out the ensemble of recruits and drill instructors who become Cameron's unlikely found family. The series mines both comedy and genuine drama from the pressure cooker of basic training and the secrets its recruits carry.
Critics responded enthusiastically, and the show earned a strong 92% Rotten Tomatoes score along with a top-ten streaming run, praised for its heart, its period specificity, and Heizer's grounded lead performance. Though Netflix ultimately did not renew it beyond its first season, Boots was widely embraced as a standout dramedy. It streams on Netflix.
If you are guessing that Love Bites is just another remake of the long lasting and ever popular show Friends just think again. This new show has plenty to offer in the way of relationships, lasting friendship, and the drama that sex brings into a relationship. Frannie and Annie are single women who are working out their individual issues with love, sex, dating, and learning how to deal with the opposite sex. They feel left behind because most of their friends have married and moved on. Jordana Ariel Spiro (My Boys, The Year of Getting to Know Us) is Frannie and Annie is played by Becki Newton (Ugly Betty, Charmed). Each new episode deals with a different angle on the dating scene. How best to handle the men in their lives without getting too committed or involved seems to be the question. These gals are smart enough not to fall for the common "lines" men throw out there. But perhaps they are too smart for their own good? They've been left behind, right? Three interconnecting story lines seem to merge each week, and they keep us guessing what's going to happen next.
Each year the competition gets stiffer and the rewards larger. That is America's Next Top Model we're talking about here! The popular show has really performed and provided some spectacular results thus far when it comes to beautiful people who just happen to be extremely talented in their field at the same time. With Cover Girl as the primary sponsor and a top prize of a $100,000 contract with the IMG Modeling in addition to gracing the covers of some special fashion magazine, the competition is expectedly strong each season. Tyra Banks, Nigel Barker, and Andre Leon Talley judge the dedicated competitors. Tyra Banks has long been a super model herself and knows the business inside out. Nigel Barker is a talented photographer whose specialty is helping top models to show their best side, so he knows what to look for in the next super star of modeling. And Andre Leon Talley is the editor at large for Vogue Magazine, the most respected of all fashion and modeling magazines. The America's Next Top Model program travels around the globe, with each season being held in yet another exotic spot. Men and women enter the fierce competition hoping for the career boost that will make them the next fashion star.
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.
