‘Mars’ Finale, Acorn Draws ‘Blood,’ ABC’s ‘Year in Memoriam’
A critical checklist of notable Monday TV:
Mars (9/8c, National Geographic): In the season finale, the Lukrum crew goes too far in reckless exploitation of Mars for corporate profit, with results endangering both colonies. Back in the present on Earth, NASA’s Operation Icebridge is studying Arctic sea ice to heighten awareness of the dangers of global warming. For those who’ll listen.
Blood (streaming on Acorn TV): Imagine if Eugene O’Neill had written an Irish murder mystery, it might feel something like this grim six-part Irish tragedy. The seeming accidental death of her physically impaired mother brings estranged daughter Cat Hogan (Carolina Main) back home for an uneasy reunion with her siblings and her dad, Jim (Adrian Dunbar), a popular local doctor. Defying her brother and sister at every turn, Cat begins poking holes in Jim’s story about the circumstances of their mom’s death, and Jim’s reactions goad her to question whether he may have murdered her. The truth sets no one free in this dark drama, where a little knowledge turns out to be a dangerous thing.
The Year in Memoriam 2018 (10/9c, ABC): Robin Roberts and Jimmy Kimmel co-host a look back at many of the beloved entertainers and world figures who left us this year. Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin is remembered by Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Kelly Clarkson and Smokey Robinson, while Burt Reynolds is saluted by John Schneider, Marilu Henner and ex-wife Loni Anderson. The Bushes (Barbara and President George H.W.), Sen. John McCain and Stephen Hawking are among other notables paid tribute.
Inside Monday TV: Some sobering documentaries to consider: HBO’s Bleed Out (8/7c) is an investigation into the state of the American health-care system, focusing on the third leading cause of death: medical error… Dan Rather is executive producer of the Starz documentary Fail State (9/8c), an exposé on the political policy decisions that led to the rise of predatory for-profit colleges, often leaving students with useless degrees and crushing debt… PBS’s Independent Lens presents Man on Fire (10/9c, check local listings at pbs.org), which looks at the effect on the community of Grand Saline, Texas, when 79-year-old white Methodist minister Charles Moore set himself on fire in 2014, explaining his public suicide as a protest against the town’s (and nation’s) virulent racism.
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I'll probably watch the CBS comedies while I finish writing Christmas cards. And while the shows are still on the air, lol. Other than that, it's just reruns for me. (Sundance is airing Miracle on 34th Street. Also, why the "Santa Clause" movies are considered worthy of airing on AMC (American Movie Classics) is a bit of a puzzler.)
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Classics is very broad term. Technically why should American Movie Classics even air shows? Perhaps they should change their name like so many other cable channels.
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Do you remember what they started as? They only showed real classic films (probably no newer than the 1950s) with no commercials, and they were involved in film restoration often showing the newly restored versions of films which were nearly lost for good.
They even had their own monthly magazine which not only had articles about old films but articles about old theaters around the country which had been restored.
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Yes, I do recall. Turner Classic Movies has since overtaken that end of the business.
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Miracle on 34th Street was available via AMC Free On Demand this weekend. And probably still is until after New Years.
Such a wholesome movie and worth watching again and again.
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Actually, I remember during the '80s when they showed some movies made during the '70s like The Turning Point, Julia, and Breaking Away. All those were produced by 20th Century-Fox, which AMC at the time showed a lot of.
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Well, I guess as long as they don't go as near to present day as Will Ferrell's Elf (which I saw recently when it was at a theatre and was pleasantly surprised how it had no profanity or anything really objectionable though it still had some weird humor like Ferrell's eating spaghetti with syrup...)
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I didn't remember specific films, but you're probably right. I guess there were a few newer quality films. For some reason, The Graduate sticks in my mind.
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Because Turner owns the rights to so many films and is stingy about sharing them.
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Try giving Comcast a call and telling them you are about to cancel Comcast and go all streaming if they don't upgrade your package so you can get TCM. Or see if they have any special holiday promotions.
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You're right. Sort of like how A&E has strayed WAAAAY beyond anything "art-y" and the least bit "entertaining." haha Plus, both Discovery and History Channels have p!mped themselves out and cheapened themselves by some of the programming they air.
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I'm not a Will Ferrell fan in general, and so pretty much avoid all movies he's in. Same with Jim Carrey. But I'm glad to know that Elf is actually family-friendly. I find that a bit surprising.
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All because of ratings. Meanwhile cable ratings are mostly horrible these days.
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None of my shows are on tonight! I don't remember it ever being this bad! I'll probably take a peek at the America's Got Talent special and nothing else.
Chester Zoo, a zoo in northwest England featured in the show The Secret Life of the Zoo, says insects, frogs, fish and small birds perished in a fire that broke out in an enclosure devoted to exotic tropical habitats this weekend. They managed to save all of the mammals which included orangutans and macaques.
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That's so sad! I hadn't heard that about the fire at the zoo. :'(
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