CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.
HollywoodChicago.com Television
DVD, TV Review: TNT’s ‘Leverage’ Delivers Entertainment Despite Flaws
Submitted by BrianTT on July 15, 2009 - 2:31pmCHICAGO – In a world where corporate bailouts and scumbags like Bernie Madoff dominate the news, it would seem like TNT’s “Leverage” would be a natural choice for a summer diversion.
TV Review: New TNT Cop Drama ‘Dark Blue’ Has Potential For Explosion
Submitted by Ebeth on July 15, 2009 - 1:56amCHICAGO – TNT on Tuesday launched executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s no-holes-barred cop drama, “Dark Blue”. Like Bruckheimer’s successful predecessors in its genre (“C.S.I: Miami”, “C.S.I. New York”, “Cold Case”, and “Without a Trace”), “Dark Blue” provides captivating crime scenarios, an easy-on-the-eyes cast (including Dylan McDermott of “The Practice”), and just enough suspense to keep engaged.
DVD Review: Fifth Season of HBO’s ‘Entourage’ Entertains, But Shows Age
Submitted by BrianTT on July 13, 2009 - 4:34pmCHICAGO – How does a show about the “next big thing” in Hollywood age? Do we really want to see the boys of “Entourage” grow up?
TV Review: HBO’s ‘Hung’ With Thomas Jane is Surprisingly Limp
Submitted by BrianTT on June 26, 2009 - 7:00amCHICAGO – Pardon the obvious metaphors, but when you name a show “Hung” and feature a motivational speech about the lead character finding “his tool,” it’s damn-near impossible not to fall into the same pattern.
If We Had an Emmy Ballot: The Best TV of 2008 to 2009
Submitted by BrianTT on June 23, 2009 - 4:57pmCHICAGO – Ballots for the 61st Annual Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Emmy nominations are due on Friday, June 26th, 2009, and we’re here to offer some advice for all of you Emmy voters still holding a ballot in your hands and trying to make those tough TV decisions.
TV Review: TNT’s Overly Earnest ‘HawthoRNe’ Won’t Cure Summer TV Blues
Submitted by BrianTT on June 16, 2009 - 7:00amCHICAGO – TNT’s medical drama “HawthoRNe” would have felt overly generic in any month of the year, but debuting in the same one as Showtime’s far darker, subtler and more entertaining “Nurse Jackie” does the show no favors at all. Jada Pinkett Smith executive-produces and stars in a well-intentioned program with a good pedigree (John Masius of “St. Elsewhere” is one of the producers) but one that feels like a relic of a bygone era of more manipulative television.
TV Review: ‘True Blood’ Returns For a Bloody Good Summer
Submitted by BrianTT on June 13, 2009 - 5:03pmCHICAGO – Forget the buzz about “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” There are 12 hours of vampire love before that even hits theaters. HBO’s spectacular “True Blood” returns this weekend with a great second season premiere filled with the gore, sex, humor, and thrills that fans of the show have come to expect. It’s going to be a hot summer in Bon Temps.
Blu-Ray Review: Kiefer Sutherland, ‘24’ Continue to Set the Bar
Submitted by BrianTT on June 12, 2009 - 1:08pmCHICAGO – The standard DVD season sets for “24” have long been setting the bar for what TV on DVD “should be”. Winning awards for their technical transfers and detailed, copious special features, the producers of “24“‘s home releases took it a step further this year by changing the game yet again with the Blu-Ray release of “24: Season Seven”.
DVD Review: Great Final Season of ‘Reaper’ Gets Lackluster Release
Submitted by BrianTT on June 11, 2009 - 3:10pmCHICAGO – Part of me is happy about the trend of TV being released quickly on DVD after a season ends, but what about when it turns out to be the last? Should seasons be rushed to store shelves or should time and respect be given for a show canceled far-too-soon? “Reaper: Season Two” is a bittersweet release, a set that’s barely even focused on the sophomore season of this excellent show much less the fact that it’s not coming back.
DVD Review: Groundbreaking TV Pioneer Featured in ‘The Norman Lear Collection’
Submitted by BrianTT on June 11, 2009 - 12:04pmCHICAGO – Sony’s “The Norman Lear Collection” is a gorgeous collectible DVD box set that will make an amazing gift for parents this upcoming Father’s Day. With 19 discs, hours of spectacular television, and never-before-seen special features, how can one complain about “The Norman Lear Collection”? Well, what if you already own 17 of the 19 discs?
