‘Goldbergs’ Goes Indiana Jones, ‘Hap and Leonard,’ Hulu’s ‘Hard Sun,’ a ‘Chicago’ Crossover
A selective critical checklist of notable Wednesday TV:
The Goldbergs (8/7c, ABC): In a very personal episode reflecting series creator Adam F. Goldberg’s childhood dreams of becoming the next Steven Spielberg, this season’s movie homage takes on Spielberg’s Indiana Jones franchise, when young Adam (Sean Giambrone) decides to make his own Indiana Jones movie and soon learns the limits of his ambitions. In a parallel storyline, brother Barry (Troy Gentile) embarks on his own heroic quest, to discover the best cheesesteak hoagie.
Hap and Leonard: The Two-Bear Mambo (SundanceTV, 10/9c): This rambunctious series derived from Joe R. Lansdale’s entertaining novels brings back one of my favorite buddy teams: East Texas good-ol’-boy Hap Collins (James Purefoy) and gay Vietnam vet Leonard Pine (Michael Kenneth Williams). They’re once again neck-deep in violent regional intrigue as they go in search of Leonard’s lawyer, Florida Grange (Tiffany Mack), in a Klan-infested town. Co-stars this season include Louis Gossett Jr., Corbin Bernsen, Andrew Dick Clay and musician Curtis Harding.
Hard Sun (streaming on Hulu): This six-part BBC coproduction from Luther’s Neil Cross introduces a new thriller genre: Apocalypse Noir. The mayhem begins when London detectives Charlie Hicks (Jim Sturgess) and Elaine Renko (Agyness Deyn) happen across a flash drive predicting an “extinction event” code-named Hard Sun. Though discredited by the government, shady MI5 agents are desperate to take control of the flash drive, while news of the world ending triggers a wave of terrifying mad murderers. Deyn is a true discovery, evoking an elfin Annette Bening by way of The Avengers’ kickass Emma Peel. If anyone can save the world, she can.
Chicago PD (10/9c, NBC): In its 100th episode, the Chicago Fire spinoff begins yet another crossover two-parter, concluding on Thursday’s episode of Fire. The Intelligence unit needs the help of Firehouse 51 as they investigate a series of bombings targeting members of the media.
Inside Wednesday TV: Madam Secretary, which is finally returning from a two-month hiatus this Sunday on CBS, begins a syndicated run on WE TV, with a nine-hour binge beginning at 7 pm/6c. (In future weeks, it will air on Wednesdays with day-long marathons starting at 10 am/9c.) … Seems awfully early in the game, but CBS’s Survivor (8/7c) shakes things up with a tribe swap. … The CW takes a break from superhero angst with the cloyingly cutesy new dramedy Life Sentence (9/8c), starring Pretty Little Liars’ Lucy Hale as perky Stella, who for years thought she was dying, but then is miraculously cured. Her joy soon fades when she realizes her family and husband weren’t exactly being truthful about their supposedly otherwise perfect lives. … Ovation salutes what is now an international musical sensation in Hamilton: One Shot to Broadway (10/9c), a documentary about the creation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking hip-hop historical masterpiece.
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C
Watching the new X-Files episode, and re-watching some movies airing tonight: "Rolling Thunder" (Tommy Lee Jones and William Devane) at 8pm on the THIS movies channel; and the 2011 version of "The Thing" airing on the IFC channel at 7:30pm. (I viewed "The Hot Rock" last night. It was wonderful!)
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WHAT!!! NO "Worth Watching" mention of Channel Zero: Butcher's Block???
I'll DVR it because it has attributes of two of my Favorite Shows...
1. Like "American Horror Story"...each season is a COMPLETELY different storyline...
2. Like "Legion"...I usually have NO idea what's going on...but it's a QUITE interesting/enjoyable investment of "1 hour" of my life...
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I'm more surprised that there was no mention of more popular shows like ABC's Designated Survivor or FX's American Crime Story.
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I stopped watching Channel Zero a couple of episodes ago. I got about half way through it, and felt so bored I didn't want to go on.
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B
I'm not thrilled by this season either, relative to the last two (especially the last one). It continues to look great, and is certainly creepy, but I'm not sure about the story.
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C
I don't think he likes Designated Survivor very much. When he does mention it, he doesn't sound very enthused about it.
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G
I know it's not consistent or flawless in anyway. But I find it extremely enjoyable to watch. Not just because of Maggie Q , although she does look sexy when under pressure, which is like almost every scene she's in, lol.
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They've all been hard to follow. I barely stuck with the first one and only stuck with it because it didn't conflict with other shows at that time.
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I wonder if his kids are going to be in any more episodes. How long has it been since we've seen them?
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G
Those kids could vanish off the show and be sent to live at grandma. Any scene with or about them is sleep inducing. And for the most part his deceased wife wasn't a great character either. Best characters for me are the President and Hannah, and I like his team that are mostly in the White House scenes.
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C
ABC comedies then Designated Survivor for me. (It's nice to be able to leave the TV on one channel all evening for a change!) Versace (sorry Fred) and Riverdale later, and I'm still playing catch-up (ketchup?) with The Magicians.
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I will try and watch ABC all live tonight also . Will save the show named after Versace that really is about lots of other characters for another night. Truth is I am way more intrigued by every other character on the show. Whenever the show shifts to Versace , his sister and boyfriend/assistant I get bored. Surprised it wasn't mentioned here, I'm almost certain it was every week it aired.
Most excited for Designated Survivor! Have to watch how Hannah deals with her ex-boyfriend now revealed to be yet another turncoat. Loving this show! Lets hope ratings tick up a bit soon, its treading in dangerously low territory.
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Did you ask your mother if she ever watched Howdy Doody?
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G
She did in the 50s and I watched Mister Rogers, Sesame Street, Electric Company and Zoom (All PBS) in the 70s.
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I'd have to be really sick to not watch TV. I think my dying words will be, "Shut up! Jeopardy's on!" Hope you get better soon!
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