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.
As is typical on American reality TV shows the competition is strong and celebrities find they are pretty average when it comes to competing, especially skating on ice! Ice skating is one of those sports that should be learned while young so the falling down isn't quite so painful. Stars on this show included Sean Young (Haunted Echoes, Harvest Moon) who was first to be eliminated, Bethenny Frankel (The Apprentice: Martha Stewart), Vince Neil (rock group Mötley Crüe), actor and rapper Brandon Mychal Smith, Jonny Moseley (Olympic Gold medal skier), and Rebecca Budig (Batman Forever) who was the winner. Each celebrity was paired with a professional skater who gave their celeb pointers and guided them to perform on the ice. Judges awarded points as well as the viewing audience so the combined scores determined who was the most successful pair each week. Vernon Kay hosted and judges were Dick Button, Johnny Weir, and Laurie Ann Gibson. Additionally they had a "color commentary" each episode by Tanith Belbin who is a retired Ice Dancer.
When Scott McCall is bitten by a werewolf while he wanders in the woods, he tries to keep it his secret from all but his closest friend Stiles (Dylan O'Brien from High Road). Stiles willingly helps his pal Scott when he must go through changes and become a werewolf at night. Scott is played by Tyler Posey (Brothers & Sister, Lincoln Heights) and must undergo the changes even though he fights it. He is somewhat of a social outcast and having such an enormous secret other life, it is even more difficult to fit in at his northern California Beacon Hills High School. As Scott first notices how powerful he has become and how each of his senses has become heightened, he finds his shape shifting strangely intriguing. He loves the game of lacrosse and now plays like a pro thanks to his newly found gift of power. And romance is coming his way since he now has more self confidence and has found a girlfriend in Allison Argent (Crystal Reed from Skyline).
Haven't we all wondered if we had perhaps been switched at birth when we disagreed with our parents? Now how about if it turns out that the hospital actually did switch babies, purely by accident? And the families don't find out until the children are teenagers. Bay Kennish (played by Vanessa Marano from Without a Trace and the Gilmore Girls) has a high school project that includes learning about blood types and she inadvertently finds out her parents blood types do no match hers, showing she absolutely cannot be related to either of them. The family has their DNA tested and confirms the results Bay has come up with in school. Finding that the hospital made a huge error by mixing up the babies, they find the other child and discover how different her life is. Lea Thompson (Back to the Future Trilogy) is Bay's stay at home mom Kathryn and her father, John is played by D.W. Moffett (Friday Night Lights). Bay's new found sister is Daphne (Katie Leclerc from Veronica Mars) who unfortunately suffered deafness due to a case of meningitis as a young child. Daphne, her mother, and grandmother have a hard life and soon the Kennishes invite them to live in their guest house. Deaf actress Marlee Matlin also stars as friend of Daphne's mom, Regina.
Audrina Cathleen Patridge has become a reality TV show star, highlighting an exciting career that began when she moved to Los Angeles and went to work as a receptionist for Quixote Studios back in 2005. Her swift rise to fame was helped along the way by roles in movies like Sorority Row and Into the Blue: The Reef. She became a hit on the MTV television program The Hills and appeared in more episodes of that reality show than anyone else. She is yet another former contestant on "Dancing With The Stars" and scored high marks until elimination after the sixth week. Now we get the opportunity to know Audrina a bit through her reality show on MTV. Her two sisters and mother are also sexy and deserving of plenty of the onscreen exposure this type of reality program usually generates so who will care about any plot or story line, just watch for plenty of bikini clad girls who've drawn the golden ticket to fame and fortune.
Dante Di Loreto and Ryan Murphy are the executive producers for the exciting new Glee Project that is a spin off (of sorts) from the popular Glee) and the casting director from Glee (Robert Ulrich) has moved over to The Glee Project as well. Each week there will be new challenges with the necessary eliminations to follow. Each cast member has their own part of a particular song the need to learn and then perform it before a mystery guest as the judge. When the part is done well enough they move on and perform for the guest star on a one on one basis in a music video which they will also create themselves. With help from professionals like Nikki Anders vocal producer and Zach Woodlee, a choreographer the contestants have to learn their parts to the best of their ability and perform in a professional manner. Callbacks will cull the group down, with the bottom three being offered a second chance to be safe. One of those bottom three will be eliminated and final callbacks will determine who moves on and who must leave. A list is posted and that is where finalists read of their fate.
The competition is hot as"¦ well as a hotplate! And as each new season commences we see more contestants vying for the coveted role of The Next Food Network Star. It truly can be a life altering prize that has "made" stars of the likes of Guy Fieri, Aaron McCargo, Jr., Adam Gertler, and Melissa d'Arabian among others. The Food Network competition is stiff and aspiring chefs from all over the US apply for the opportunity to compete for a show of their own on the popular network. Probably the biggest success story is found in Guy Fieri who has so much personality that he cannot be denied. He even hosts a game show on the NBC network now called Minute To Win It along with his popular Diner's, Drive-in's, and Dives plus Guy's Big Bite (both on the Food Network). Appearing as a contestant on Next Food Network Star is a golden opportunity for an aspiring chef who has a standout personality and those who enter are a widely diverse group that may consist of food bloggers, sous chefs, dietitians, personal or executive chefs, and even the occasional attorney who have dreamt of one day being a famous chef.
Mob Wives is called a "documentary soap opera" with good reason. It is a story about people who don't exist because there is no such thing as the Mob or Cosa Nostra or Mafia! But there are those living among us who know better. The housewives, parents, and children of mob and criminal related individuals are shadowy figures who live in the background of their powerful husbands and fathers until the bad guys get caught and must spend time behind bars. Then these formerly quiet and reserves ladies capably take matters in their own hands and go about their lives. The four Mob Wives include a group of friends who support each other while their men are away and it's no easy task to attempt to maintain a lifestyle they've become used to when the main bread winner of the family is away incarcerated. James Molinaro, who is President of the Borough of Staten Island in New York has declared the show is a disgrace because it portrays not only Italian Americans but also Staten Island itself as being lowlife and detrimental.
Another American reality based show on the TV? Well why not as they are all cash cows for the networks that produce them. This time around we can observe the ultra wealthy Paris Hilton as she goes about her "normal" every day affairs. Co-starring with Paris is Brooke Mueller former wife of Charlie Sheen (and mother to their twin boys Bob and Max). The concept here is somewhat based on how difficult it can be to be famous. Constantly hounded by the paparazzi who follow her every movement, Paris Hilton must find ways to avoid them when ever possible. Paris Hilton has been successful in her primary role in life; that being as a wealthy socialite who does not need to do anything unless she wants to. Her reality show has been compared with "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" as being light yet intriguing fluff that some find amusing. The TV program takes us along as Paris and Brooke travel to Las Vegas, Spain, or Cabo for some drama and or romance.
Those familiar with Law & Order will appreciate the concept of approaching legal cases from more than one perspective. In The Whole Truth we see each case from both the prosecution and the defense angles so have an opportunity to decide whether a defendant is guilty or innocent judging by the evidence presented to us and to a judge and jury. One memorable episode includes the addition of Judd Hirsch (Taxi) to the cast as a beloved judge who has been charged in a murder. Seems he approved a wiretap on a dangerous drug lord before it turned into a far larger problem involving federal charges. Rob Morrow (Numb3rs, Northern Exposure) portrays Jimmy Brogan is the prosecuting attorney for the state of New York (actually the filming was done in Los Angeles, California) and Maura Tierney (ER) is Kathryn Peale a strong advocate of personal and legal rights for her clients. The two attorneys are on opposite sides of the courtroom in each episode and we must decide who we think has the upper edge or who puts on the best case for their clients, then we see the results in the finale.
Called an American documentary, the TV program is hosted by comedians/magicians Penn & Teller, best known for their show in Las Vegas. Not quite a program about politics and almost akin to the exploitation of paranormal events and pseudoscientific ideas, the "BS" show has captured a large audience since first airing in 2003. The application of some critical thought into various misconceptions, in other words "critical thinking" added into the concept of "BS" which is all around us constantly, attempts to clarify some of the confusion. Such subject matter as animal rights, environmentalism, gun control, organic food, and even the war on drugs are explored and debunked by (self proclaimed) experts on a wide variety of subjects in each episode. Penn & Teller: Bullshit is popular around the globe and viewed in Ireland, New Zealand, Mexico, Denmark, Iceland, Columbia, Canada, Brazil, and Australian each week. The hosts bring up subjects not merely to "expose the truth" but show some to be misleading, overemphasized, or even unnecessary interruptions in life.
