The Mandalorian is a Star Wars series created by Jon Favreau for Disney+, set five years after the events of Return of the Jedi. It follows Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), a solitary bounty hunter of the Mandalorian creed, and Grogu, the Force-sensitive foundling in his care.
Season 3 premiered on March 1, 2023. Having been declared apostate for removing his helmet, Din sets out for the ruined surface of Mandalore seeking redemption in the Living Waters of the Great Forge. His journey draws in Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) and turns toward the larger project of reuniting the scattered Mandalorian clans and reclaiming their homeworld from Imperial remnant forces under Moff Gideon.
The season expanded the show's scope considerably, weaving in threads from The Book of Boba Fett and setting up the broader Mando-verse. Reception was more mixed than for the first two seasons, with praise for its production design, Pascal and Sackhoff's performances, and Ludwig Göransson's score, alongside criticism of its more diffuse structure.
Enlightened brings the very talented Laura Dern to television as Amy Jellicoe, an executive who has found her job and her life to be too much to bear. When she suffers from a breakdown which just happens to be a very public embarrassing situation for her, she finds she must attempt to put her life back together by going through rehabilitation. Watch for Diane Ladd who plays Amy's mother, Helen Jellicoe (she is Dern's real life mother). Amy spends three months in Hawaii where she undergoes therapy to help with her problems, then returns home to face reality and the group of co-workers she embarrassed herself by breaking down in front of, living with her mother who is never short on unwelcome advice, and a lazy ex-husband (Luke Wilson) who enjoys his "recreational" drugs too much. Laura Dern is known for her roles in Jurassic Park, Rambling Rose, & Wild At Heart. Actress Diane Ladd has starred in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Primary Colors, & Wild At Heart. She and actor Bruce Dern are Laura's parents. Luke Wilson has been seen in 3:10 To Yuma, Blades of Glory, & Death at a Funeral; and he is brother of Owen Wilson.
Officer Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) works for the CIA and as an operative strives to keep this country safe from another attack such as the one occurring in September 11, 2001. Her latest assignment involves finding a Marine Corp member, Sergeant Nicholas Brody. He was captured in 2003 and considered to be missing in action, but was later found to be held by Al-Qaeda until recently. There is danger that he was "turned" by the enemy and now may pose tremendous risk to our nations security. When Officer Mathison is put on probation due to conducting some unauthorized operations while in Iraq, she finds herself reassigned to Langley, VA and a CIA counter terrorism center. In other words, a desk job. While in Iraq Mathison learned of a prisoner from America there who had become corrupt. Now the CIA superiors of Mathison consider the prisoner Brody to be somewhat of a hero. Claire Danes (My So-Called Life, Temple Grandin) is Officer Carrie Mathison who is employed by the CIA in counter intelligence. Nicholas Brody is played by Damian Lewis (The Forsyte Saga, Band of Brothers), rescued after eight years as a POW. The CIA Division Chief of the Middle East and Carrie Mathison's mentor and former boss is Saul Berenson played by Mandy Patinkin (Chicago Hope, Dead Like Me). Cast is tremendous and story is fresh, up to date, and somewhat disturbing.
If you like television that deals with fads from the movies, television, toys, and especially pop culture you might love Robot Chicken. It is full of comedy sketches and parodies that include using animated toys, claymation, and pose-able action figures. It blatantly steals from such film icons as Star Wars. Parodies TV stars like Bob Saget and his America's Funniest Home Videos, and even Public Service Announcements for prostate cancer provided by Optimus Prime, a Transformer character. How do you not laugh at all this madness and mayhem? Voice roles on Robot Chicken are obviously in high demand because there is a long list of celebrity guests who have provided their voiceovers for various characters on the show over the years of its run. Listen for Wayne Brady, Dean Cain, Dr. Drew, Phyllis Diller, Nick & Gene Simmons, Conan O'Brien, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Robert Culp, Billy Dee Williams, "Weird Al" Yankovic, and Burt Reynolds among many others who have become part of the weirdness of this extremely popular television show. Robot Chicken is a mad romp filled with funny skits and top quality comedy writing!
Dubbed a combination of mystery, crime drama, and American fantasy show, Grimm comes to home (not so small) screens on Friday evenings filled with dark twists and turns including some familiar fairy tale characters from the legendary Grimm's Fairy Tales we all grew up listening to or reading. There are familiar "bad guys" such as the Big Bad Wolf and many new ones that can be equally frightening if only to the younger set. Nick Burkhardt (played by David Giuntoli from Nip/Tuck, Veronica Mars) is a descendant from the Grimm line of hunters who is a homicide detective by day and fights supernatural forces on the side. Russell Hornsby (Lincoln Heights, Meet the Parents) is Hank Griffin, Burkhardt's homicide partner, and Juliette Silverton, who is Burkhardt's girlfriend is played by Bitsie Tulloch (Lakeview Terrace, Ring Tone). Eddie Monroe previously was considered to be a Big Bad Wolf but now works with Nick Burkhardt. He is played by Silas Weir Mitchell from Dexter and Monk. Don't confuse Grimm with another show that recently premiered, Once Upon A Time. Grimm will be much darker and have more of an adult theme. Through Burkhardt's eyes we see normal people turn into monsters and no one is safe anymore!
Imagine Snow White and Prince Charming coming to life and warning about powerful curses as they deliver their ominous threats. When Snow White finds she is pregnant and the curse looming threatening her baby, she hides until the baby is born, then hides the baby away. The baby, Emma, is secreted away in a wardrobe which is actually the trunk of a magical tree. We next see Emma 28 years later as she returns to assist her parents and do battle with the evil Queen who places curses on her subjects. Emma Sway is a bounty hunter as well as a bail bondsman in Boston as she celebrates her 28th birthday alone, blowing out the single candle on a cupcake she made herself. A boy named Henry approaches and tells Emma he is her son whom she gave away at birth ten years ago. Emma agrees to take the boy to his home in Storybrooke, Maine but can't believe his stories of fairy tale characters coming to life there or that they have been exiled there due to the Queen's curses. Henry has a therapist, Jiminy Cricket and a teacher who is actually Snow White and the Mayor of Storybrooke is the real Evil Queen who has placed curses on almost everyone she comes into contact with. Henry and Emma work together to end the Queen's reign of terror in the world of fairy tale fantasy.
What can you do with a man who is powerful, in a power filled position such as mayor of a major U.S. city (Chicago), and apparently is losing his mental capacities? Maybe approach him carefully and make every attempt to keep his illness a secret from the public. Tom Kane has family, friends, and co-workers who are busy with their own lives and barely notice he has issues. Something is very wrong with Kane but only Dr. Ella Harris, his physician seems to know for sure. Kane has a neurological disorder that is degenerative which means he will only get worse as the disease progresses. Meantime he is trying to run a big expensive city, one that has engulfed lesser men with dirty politics and crooked dealings for decades. Stars Kelsey Grammar (Frasier, 30 Rock) stars as a Richard J. Daley style mayor in the Windy City. Kane's wife Meredith is played by Connie Nielsen (Law & Order: SVU). Kitty O'Neill is Kane's personal aide and played by Kathleen Robertson from 90210, CSI: Miami.
Thinking of the world of art and of New York City art galleries seldom brings to mind ideas of creating a reality based television show but we learn that even in that lofty world there can be plenty of politics, intrigue, and sleazy dealings going on. The artists involved in Work of Art must create art in some form or other and that may include the use of discarded old electric appliances to be formed into sculptures. The sculpture must in some way represent the artists personality or inner self. Contestants vary each week as to age and amount of artistic experience they have had. Simon de Pury, the host of an arts auction house will stop in to encourage the contestants and critique the work so far. Renowned artist Jon Kessler has appeared as guest judge and also gives some sage advice. How will models posing in the nude affect the show next? Will the contestants be distracted or will the judges themselves forget why they are there? This just might be the "shot in the arm" the program needs to liven up the series!
The Harmon family, including Ben, Vivien, and Violet move to a new town and find their house, a restored mansion, is apparently haunted. Dr. Benjamin Harmon (Dylan McDermott from The Practice) had an affair that may have been partly responsible for his wife having a miscarriage. Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights) is Vivien, Ben's ever faithful wife and their daughter Violet, who suffers with depression, is played by newcomer Taissa Farmiga. Moving to their new home to get away from the past may not be the easiest thing because of all the strange goings on that occur there. Ben, a therapist, had an affair with a student that shook the marriage, caused his wife to miscarry, and seriously upset his daughter. So why don't they just move from the scary house? What is going on in the basement? And what about the mural that seems to polarize the entire house? Is Ben being punished for his transgressions? Then why are his wife and daughter also being scared so badly? The neighbor Constance, played by Jessica Lange (Tootsie, Cape Fear) seems to be controlling the Harmon family in some weird way also. This show reminds one of Dark Shadows and even Night Stalker, really spooky and well written!
Back in 2006 word was that the popular Dr. Who character, Sarah Jane Smith was going to become a television series in Britain. Formerly a companion of the Doctor, Sarah Jane was first noticed withK-9, the robot dog. There was even a spin off to Dr. Who titled K-9 & Company but it never had much of a chance. Now the Sarah Jane Adventures has become a hit and she even brought along her K-9 companion for a few episodes. Elisabeth Sladen played Sarah Jane Smith until her death from cancer in April of 2011. She also appeared in Sidekick Stories and Dr. Who Greatest Moments. Also appearing on the program are Yasmin Paige playing Maria Jackson, Tommy Knight plays a boy called Luke, and a boy named Clyde Langer who is portrayed by Daniel Anthony. Kelsey Harper, played by Porsha Mayour is a friend of Maria's and Joseph Millson makes an appearance as Maria's father, Alan. Dr. Who fans have often voted Sarah Jane to be their most popular character and companion to the Doctor.
The sit-com opens up with three men, each in their own home, playing online video games and discussing their life goals. Sandwiched in between a new hit comedy starring Tim Allen "Last Man Standing" and the elimination night for "Dancing with the Stars", how can this new one lose? ABC has long had a strong line up on Tuesday evenings, particularly in the area of the situation comedy genre. Starring Dan Fogler (Mars Needs Moms, Take Me Home Tonight), playing Kenny Hayden who sees his ex-wife out with a much better looking man. Kenny's ex is played by Amanda Detmer (Necessary Roughness, The Vampire Diaries). She got fed up with being married to a child who could not, or would not grow up. Christopher Moynihan (House, M.D., Psyche) is Craig Griffith, the sensitive yet manly type who still carries a flame for his ex from the college years. And Will Keen is played by Mather Zickel from TV shows Dislocated and The Cape. Will's wife Theresa, ably played by Teri Polo (Medium, Monk) is gorgeous and makes Will constantly wonder why she married him. Satisfying comedy that perhaps needs some time to find its purpose.
