First episode impressions: ‘Grimm’ (TV review)
Just like a musician doesn’t have to pay for the rights to record a song written before 1922, I assume a similar law holds true for “Grimm” (8 p.m. Central Fridays on NBC) and its use of […]
First episode impressions: ‘Beavis and Butt-head’ Season 8 (TV review)
“Beavis and Butt-head” (9 p.m. Central Thursdays on MTV) jumped right into its eighth-season premiere on Thursday with Butt-head’s trademark “Uhhhhh-huh-huh” and Beavis’ iconic “Heh-heh-yeah-yeah-heh.” Fourteen years after the show’s original run ended, MTV skipped over […]
‘Paranormal Activity 3’ has the found-footage genre down to a science (Movie review)
Many horror franchises get lazy with each new entry, falling back on what worked in previous installments rather than getting innovative. I’m happy to say that the “Paranormal Activity” franchise is an exception. Although it […]
The new fall shows — not too shabby so far (TV commentary)
I’ve done “first episode impressions” of the noteworthy new shows this season, and many TV critics have done the same. We do this because it’s fun and quick-hitting more so than because it’s an accurate […]
First episode impressions: ‘The Walking Dead’ Season 2 (TV review)
I’m not sure if having a slow pace is a requirement for AMC shows, or if AMC seeks out these kinds of shows for its lineup, but it’s definitely become the network’s trademark. Sometimes it […]
All 22 episodes of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Season 2 (1997-98), ranked
TV review: “Buffy” transitions from good to great to elite over the course of its classic second season.
‘50/50’ shows both sides of the cancer coin (Movie review)
I wasn’t surprised to learn that Adam, Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character in “50/50,” is based on screenwriter Will Reiser. Adam has cancer, but he’s not an emotional train wreck — that would be the people around him.
First episode impressions: ‘American Horror Story’ (TV review)
In the premiere episode of “American Horror Story” (9 p.m. Central Wednesdays on FX), psychiatrist Ben Harmon (Dylan McDermott) tells his patient, Tate (Evan Peters from “Invasion”) that he’s not crazy, he’s creative.
In ‘Fate of the Jedi: Ascension,’ Vestara emerges as one of the best ‘Star Wars’ Expanded Universe characters (Book review)
If the “Fate of the Jedi” series wasn’t your cup of tea up to this point, it still isn’t; much of the plotting involves political scheming and transfers of power. I don’t totally blame “Star […]
First episode impressions: ‘Fringe’ Season 4 (TV review)
Most shows are naturally constrained by their narrative — sort of like a choose-your-own-adventure book where every choice is locked in once it happens. But at the staff meetings for “Fringe” (8 p.m. Central Fridays on Fox), […]