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.
Gloria Sheppard (Ally Walker from Profiler, Sons of Anarchy) is a detective with the LAPD who has recently become a single mother to two young boys. As with several other female cop type roles currently running on television, Gloria is overloaded between her job and home life, and the men in her life are basically incompetent. She stays up late sewing costumes for her sons then is up bright and early doing her detective thing. Detective Sheppard currently lives with her younger brother, Davey (played by Chris Payne Gilbert from Dexter, Burn Notice) but he's not much help due to being a recovering drug addict and she doesn't trust him with anything more than minor tasks. Sheppard solves some spectacular cases with the assistance of her partner, detective Michelle Dulcett (Tisha Campbell-Martin from Everybody Hates Chris, All of Us). Reminiscent of (although not nearly as tough and outspoken) other TV characters like Brenda Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) on The Closer, Body of Proof's Dr. Megan Hunt (Dana Delaney), and In Plain Sight's Mary Shannon (Mary McCormack) we see Detective Gloria Sheppard as a woman determined to do it all, with or without male companionship. And she does it well.
If you are lucky enough to reside in one of the cities that experience the rush of adrenalin that happens when the foodie race with huge trucks rolls through you may want to get out of the way for them! Each city that finds the competitive show stopping off to serve up some savory foods gets to experience how frantic and frenetic the competition actually is. The teams must come up with a menu, then shop for what they will make, then serve it out and hope they can make some profit when it's all through. The truck that earns the least in cash is the one to be eliminated that week. Season one had an extra challenge provided by stopping off at a Truck stop at each city and season two finds a Speed Bump of some sort that creates unexpected circumstances (like running out of propane or needing to relocate after setting up for their day's business). Tyler Florence (Food Network star of How to Boil Water and Food 911) is host and each food truck team has their own unique theme for the food they serve. It's fast and fun viewing!
For many years now Karaoke night has been hugely popular in local pubs and bars around the globe. Local talent (and some not so talented) only need to get up the nerve and climb on stage then perform. Sing along with popular music no matter if that tune is matched or not and just have fun for fun's sake! That's what Karaoke is all about and why it is proving to be a huge hit on televisions across the USA currently. The host of Karaoke USA is Joey Fatone, a very charismatic guy seen previously in films like My Big Fat Greek Wedding and ABC TV's Dancing With the Stars. Judges include Carnie Wilson (singing group Wilson Phillips), Joe Levy (chief editor of Maxim Magazine), and Brian Scott (restaurateur, songwriter, singer, and himself a champion Karaoke singer). And the stars of the show, some really talented singers who just want to be heard and appreciated, which they now are. This show is every bit as entertaining as spending the evening in a smoky bar and the acoustics may even be better on your TV at home.
Christina Hawthorne is the Chief Nursing Officer at a hospital in Richmond, Virginia who is a constant advocate for her staff as well as her patients, even when it may threaten her job. When the hospital (Richmond Trinity) closes its doors the staff moves on to James River Hospital, where the working atmosphere seems brighter. Hawthorne finds she also faces extra stress due to her changing relationship with Chief of Surgery Dr. Tom Wakefield (Michael Vartan from Alias, Monster-In-Law). Seems he wants a commitment from her but she may not be ready. Nurse Hawthorne is ably played by Jada Pinkett Smith (A Different World, The Nutty Professor) who also is executive producer of the show. Pinkett had sworn off doing any more television but found this one a perfect fit and an interesting challenge. Also starring in Hawthorne are David Julian Hirsh (Lovebites, CSI: NY) as Ray Stein, RN and also Suleka Mathew from Men in Trees, The West Wing as Nurse Bobbie Jackson who is Chief Nursing Officer at James River Hospital, and Christina Moore (90210, Burn Notice) portrays Nurse Candy Sullivan.
The Surgeon, one of a series of books written by Tess Gerritsen supplied the backstory for the hot new series on TNT named Rizzoli & Isles (after the two main characters in the book). Angie Harman (Baywatch Nights, Law & Order) is a homicide detective in Boston. She finds her life in danger in the first episode when a former medical student attempts to kill her as he has several other voluptuous women. The chief Medical examiner for the state of Massachusetts is Dr. Maura Isles, played by Sasha Alexander (NCIS, Dawson's Creek). Isles is a no nonsense woman dedicated to doing her job well and due to her profession those who know her tend to call her "Queen of the Dead". Rizzoli & Isles develop a good teamwork attitude and solve crimes each week but the one that haunts them both involves Charles Hoyt, a man who was expelled from med school for fondling the female corpses. Rizzoli has scars on her hands from a time when Hoyt stabbed them with scalpels, pinning her to the floor. Hoyt's role is a recurring one so watch for more of that vile character played well by Michael Massee, an actor who plays villains particularly well.
So does that make this a reality show or a TV sitcom with a personal touch? Louis C.K. is well known in comedy circles as an award winning comedian, writer, and producer and that's what he does on his own self titled show, Louie. The show has been named on numerous top ten television show lists for 2010 and garnered Louis C.K. a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series on the Primetime Emmy Awards. Somewhat loosely based on Louis C.K.'s real life as standup comedian, Louie plays father to two girls and has occasional girl friends (referred to as playdate friends) like Pamela who keep life interesting for the world weary Louie. Look for some stand up comedy skits as well as conversations between Louie and his therapist. Not one to be bashful when it comes to treating sensitive material gingerly Louie covers a wide variety of subjects including Catholic guilt, sexual orientation, sex, depression, as well as divorce (which he is very familiar with). A comedian's life is never boring or without complications.
When Captain Jack Harkness came from Doctor Who and the 51st century he was a happy man. But circumstances such as the deaths of friends, his grandson, and a lover, Ianto Jones made him realize that life is short, and precious! John Barrowman (Desperate Housewives, Tonight's The Night) plays Harkness who's character jumped from the Doctor Who series over to Torchwood, and is joined by a talented cast plus interesting guest stars each episode. Harkness loves Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles from These Foolish Things, Doctor Who) even though she still lives with and has feelings for her husband, Rhys Williams (Kai Owen from Being Human, A Chorus of Disapproval). C. Thomas Howell, Wayne Knight, and Ernie Hudson have each participated with guest appearances on Torchwood: Miracle Day. When Rex Matheson (Mekhi Phifer from ER and Lie To Me) joins up as a CIA operative the plot thickens and the challenges become huge. Someone who faces lethal injection just will not die, and the rest of the world lives on as well. Jack Harkness himself is considered immortal since leaving the Torchwood Institute. What is there about that place that makes men immortal?
There are five Alphas who are dedicated to investigating and solving crimes, most of which have been perpetrated by other Alphas. The good Alphas work for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, a branch of the Defense Department of the U.S. The basic good guys vs bad guys premise is made more interesting with the characters involved: Dr. Lee Rosen (played by David Strathairn from The Bourne Ultimatum, We Are Marshall), who studies other Alphas in order to stop their destructive tendencies. Gary Bell (played by Ryan Cartwright from TV's Mad Men & Bones) is autistic yet has certain abilities like processing info faster than any computer. Cameron Hicks (Warren Christie from Ties That Bind Us, Malibu Shark Attack) has the power of hyperkinesis which means his brain moves quickly, processing movements so he uses his eyesight to predict trajectory. Malik Yoba (Defying Gravity, That's So Raven) is Bill Harken, FBI agent with superhuman powers. Rachel Pirzad, formerly with the CIA as a linguist, finds she has abilities to heighten each of her five senses to detect things even by their chemical compound. Rachel is played by Azita Ghanizada (Castle, Friends With Benefits). Laura Mennell (Flight 93, Watchmen) plays Nina Theroux, young woman with the ability to mentally "push" or encourage people around her into doing whatever she wishes.
It's one thing to be a member of a large traditional "cop" family but when one joins up with the Internal Affairs division of their Chicago Police Department things can become a bit unstable. Rachael Carpani (seen on TV's The Glades & True Blue) is Abby Kowalski, who moved over to IAD when a job offer to move upward in the department came about. She has designs on eventually becoming a detective. Her father is Don Kowalski (Treat Williams from 127 Hours, A Little Bit of Heaven) a sergeant with CPD who absolutely hates the idea of his little girl joining the IAD. Kathy Baker (Last Chance Harvey, Boston Public) is Sheila Kowalski, wife of Don and mother to Abby, Richie, Steve, and Donnie Kowalski. Abby Kowalski and her family squabble over the fact she has joined the IAD, seeing her as a spy and turncoat. This makes family gatherings difficult and the usual football games become a battlefield in their yard. But Abby is a dedicated police officer and still chooses to solve crimes whenever possible. This show is fast paced and has some good writing to keep it moving each week.
YouTube sensation Affion Crockett has plenty to offer in the way of comedy and uses a lot of ideas "borrowed" from Saturday Night Live as well as In Living Color to make the laughs flow. Impersonations of such notables as Dave Chappelle, Tiger Woods, and even President Barack Obama are considered spot on and they come to us weekly as the sketch comedy format that brings the laughs on quick and frequent. Guests like Damon Wayans, Jr., Russell Simmons, and Samuel L Jackson provide additional ammo to the shows format and the laughs just keep on coming! Crockett got his first notice through the media now popularly used known as YouTube and with plenty of exposure on there he now presents his brand of humor to us on television. With Jamie Foxx as producer and help from Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz along with Kim and Eric Tannenbaum from Two and a Half Men there may be no stopping In the Flow with Affion Crockett now.
