Luke Cage on Netflix

It is finally here - the new Luke Cage series on Netflix.  Starting tonight, you can see one of the few black superheroes to grace television.  You may remember him from the first season of Jennifer Jones, but now he continues on with his own show (as Jessica Jones and Daredevil are somewhere in the background).  

At a time of turbulence in the real world, this bullet-proof black man is a novelty with a hopeful story.  A review by Decider says it is the story we need today:

Luke Cage is full of characters who say enough is enough. They decide to walk tall in the shadows and to stand up to the specters of the past. Luke Cage isn’t just a show about a black superhero — it’s a show about the superhero hidden in all of us. We can all be Luke Cage if we all just stand up for what’s right.

Amen.

SyFy: Aftermath and Channel Zero

As if the debate this week was not scary enough, don't forget to watch SyFy's new show this week called Aftermath about the end of the world.  I am not sure it offers anything new in a time of stories about world-destroying power failures (Revolution), zombies (Walking Dead), vampires (The Strain), aliens (Colony), and demons (Dominion), but I suppose another version cannot hurt.

Here is the story:

When the world as they know it starts coming to an end, the Copeland family must face terrifying supernatural creatures and unprecedented disasters, including massive storms, earthquakes, meteor impacts, plague and the rapid decline of civilization. Will they be able to make it through - and figure out how to stop it?

And that's not all. SyFy's Channel Zero will also keep you awake.  Here is the summary of this new show starting October 11th:

Candle Cove centers on one man’s obsessive recollections of a mysterious children’s television program from the 1980s, and his ever-growing suspicions about the role it might have played in a series of nightmarish and deadly events from his childhood.

Maybe things could be worse than another debate. 

The Choice on PBS

I plan to watch tonight's debate on PBS and then tune into the Tuesday night's (Sept. 27) two-hour special on PBS's Frontline called The Choice.  I hope to learn even more about the two candidates.  Here is the rundown from PBS:

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are two of the most polarizing presidential candidates in modern history.

What has shaped them? How would they lead, if elected president? And why do they want to take on one of the most difficult jobs imaginable?

On Sept. 27, FRONTLINE’s acclaimed election-year series The Choice returns with a two-hour, dual biography that goes beyond the headlines Trump and Clinton have generated to tell the inside story of who they really are.

Drawing on dozens of interviews with those who know the candidates best — friends and family, advisors and adversaries — as well as authors, journalists, and political insiders, The Choice 2016 will offer trustworthy journalism, big-picture context, and powerful new insights at a moment when voters are being bombarded with conflicting partisan stories about each candidate.

It’s one of the most anticipated programs of the election season — and starting today, you can take a sneak peek in FRONTLINE’s just-released, four-minute trailer.

As the trailer indicates, The Choice 2016 will investigate formative moments in the lives of Clinton and Trump, from their childhoods, to their school experiences, to their tumultuous careers in the public eye. It’s the latest project from veteran FRONTLINE filmmaker Michael Kirk and his team, and it comes at a critical moment in American politics.

The bitter divide in this country makes it incredibly hard for people to understand how others could support the candidate on the opposite side,” says Kirk. “After watching The Choice 2016, no matter where your allegiance lies, you’ll come away with a new and richer understanding of who the opposing candidates are, and how and why he or she has reached this point.”

Given the stakes in the election before us, with growing foreign menaces and internal discord, we all need to take a breath and learn more about the candidates.

Update: And I am not remaining neutral here. This recent ad for the Clinton campaign clearly shows us what we are dealing with. 

Poldark on PBS

Don't forget that PBS's second season of Poldark premieres this evening.  Even with all the other premieres, this is one you will not want miss given the way the series ended last season. It seems18th century Cornwall was a pretty harsh place to live, particularly if you are an outspoken "gentleman" who has little need for traditional roles.

Tonight's episode will be two hours long tonight to get things kicked off.  This is how PBS describes the tonight's episode: "As Ross prepares to go to trial, his rival George Warleggan plans to ruin him once and for all. Can Ross’ friends and family save him, or is this his final run-in with the law?"  That damn banker George Warleggan!  Have bankers ever been heroes?

By the way, next Sunday, October 2nd, you can also watch Poldark Revealed, which goes behind-the-scenes in Cornwall, England. 

Super News for Superstore

Last Thursday you had a chance to watch the second season premiere of NBC's Superstore, one of the better workplace shows since The Office ended, and now you get to watch an even longer second season. That's right, NBC has approved a total of 22 episodes this season. That is certainly a boost for this light-hearted series about the everyday turmoil of selling light bulbs and lawn furniture

Jennifer Salke, President, NBC Entertainment, seemed quite happy in this quote from Variety:

We’re very proud of ‘Superstore’ and we were so happy to see fantastic viewing levels with the preview during the Olympics (last month) as well as last night’s ratings in its new Thursday anchor time period.

If you missed last month's episode during the Olympic Games you should really check it out.

New Shows: Vampires, Devils, and Lawyers (Same Thing, Really)

First let me start with the shows returning tomorrow night (Sept. 23). Our favorite sheriff from Longmire returns for fifth season on Netflix. The third season of Transparent is also available on Amazon, though the second season almost wore me out. 

So how about new shows, you ask? I have three new ones - two related to horror and one that's a do-over from years ago.  

--Van Helsing, SyFy: Yes, more vampires for you as Teen Wolf and Vampire Diaries finish up their last season.  This is what you can expect:

Van Helsing is set in the near future, where vampires have risen and taken control.  Vanessa Van Helsing is humanity's last hope, as her unique blood composition gives her the ability to turn vampires human. With this secret weapon, Vanessa becomes a prime target for the vampires. Van Helsing comes from the producers of Fargo and Hell on Wheels. 

--The Exorcist, Fox: We already had The Omen television series, so why not try this one as well?  Read on if you are interested:

Directed by Rupert Wyatt (“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”), THE EXORCIST is a propulsive psychological thriller following two very different priests tackling one family’s case of horrifying demonic possession. FATHER TOMAS ORTEGA (Alfonso Herrera, “Sense8,” “The Chosen”) is the new face of the Catholic Church: progressive, ambitious and compassionate. He runs a small, but loyal, parish in the suburbs of Chicago. He has no idea that his quiet life is about to change forever. Deep in the slums of Mexico City, another priest has found himself locked in a life-and-death struggle with evil. FATHER MARCUS KEANE (Ben Daniels, “Flesh and Bone,” “House of Cards”) is a modern-day Templar Knight, an orphan raised since childhood by the Vatican to wage war against its enemies. Father Marcus is everything Father Tomas is not: relentless, abrasive and utterly consumed by his mission – and he constantly butts heads with his adversary within the church, FATHER BENNETT (Kurt Egyiawan, “Beasts of No Nation”).

Caught in the middle of the two priests is the RANCE family, who are members of Tomas’ parish. On the surface, they’re a normal, American family, but all is not as it seems in this household. The patriarch, HENRY RANCE (Alan Ruck, “Spin City,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”), is recovering from a traumatic injury. Eldest daughter KATHERINE (Brianne Howey, SCREAM QUEENS) has become a recluse who refuses to leave her room. Her younger sister, CASEY (Hannah Kasulka, “The Fosters”), thinks she’s hearing strange noises coming from inside the walls. And mother ANGELA (Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Geena Davis, “Commander in Chief,” “Thelma & Louise”) believes there is something in the house, a demonic presence, growing stronger by the day. Desperate, she begs Father Tomas for help, unwittingly setting the naïve young priest on a collision course with Father Marcus. Separately, each faces an insurmountable task, but together they become the Rances’ only hope against an evil force that has been mobilizing for centuries.

--MacGyver, CBS:  I was never a great fan of the earlier series, but this remake looks fun.  I may try it out.  Here is more:

MacGyver, a reimagining of the classic series, is an action-adventure drama about 20-something Angus “Mac” MacGyver, who creates a clandestine organization within the U.S. government where he uses his extraordinary talent for unconventional problem solving and vast scientific knowledge to save lives. Joining his team on high-risk missions around the globe is maverick former CIA agent Jack Dalton and Patricia Thornton, ex-field agent turned director of operations and Riley Davis, an unpredictable computer hacker with a chip on her shoulder. At home, MacGyver is entertained by his ambitious roommate, Wilt Bozer. Under the aegis of the Department of External Services, MacGyver takes on the responsibility of saving the world, armed to the teeth with resourcefulness and little more than bubble gum and a paper clip.

It's Easy on Netflix

Today Netflix premieres its new series Easy, which it calls an

...eclectic, star-studded anthology follows diverse Chicagoans fumbling through the modern maze of love, sex, technology and culture.

The new series includes Orlando Bloom, Marc Maron, and other stars, indicating Netflix continues to find the funds and friends it needs to produce whatever it wants. 

Not that stars by themselves can save a story. For instance, The Guardian was not impressed with Bloom's performance, stating

Easy is a small series about small stories told quietly, and having Legolas acting smug front and centre feels unnecessarily distracting. That said, though, every single episode contains moments of undeniable charm, even one where you have to watch Orlando Bloom crawl over naked bodies for what feels like an eternity.

Luckily, Easy has eight episodes and eight different stories, so you are sure to find something you like.

DC Disaster and a Cop Duo Repeat

In this time of political uncertainty what we really need is a show that literally blows up the Washington, DC establishment and gives us a do-over. Well, maybe not, but ABC has other ideas. In tonight's Designated Survivor (see trailer) you get to see Kiefer Sutherland try a different role from super-hero Jack Bauer. Now he is bookish Tom Kirkland with a lot on his plate. Here is the scoop:

Kiefer Sutherland stars as Tom Kirkman, a lower-level cabinet member who is suddenly appointed President of the United States after a catastrophic attack on the US Capitol during the State of the Union. Kirkman will struggle to keep the country and his family from falling apart, while navigating the highly-volatile political arena and leading the search to find who is responsible for the attack.

I ignored the show 24 years ago since we had enough headlines about real torture without seeking it out in a fictional series. That said, I may tune into this new show and see what it has to say (while still watching the true comedy/farce called our presidential election).  

If you need more, you can watch Lethal Weapon on Fox (see trailer).  This looks like a rerun of the successful movies and not unlike much of current television, so I will pass on this one. But just in case you are interested, here are a few more details (or maybe more than a few):

Combining action and drama with ride-or-die friendship and humor, LETHAL WEAPON reimagines the hit movie franchise, as it follows classic cop duo Riggs and Murtaugh, who work a crime-ridden beat in modern-day Los Angeles. 

Grief-stricken after the loss of his young wife and unborn child, ex-Navy SEAL-turned-detective MARTIN RIGGS (Clayne Crawford, “Rectify”) moves to California to “start over” at the LAPD. He’s paired up with ROGER MURTAUGH (Emmy Award nominee Damon Wayans, “My Wife and Kids,” “In Living Color”), who’s just coming back to the job after a near-fatal heart attack. Riggs’ penchant for diving headfirst into the line of fire immediately clashes with Murtaugh’s prudent, by-the-book technique.

When CAPTAIN BROOKS AVERY (Kevin Rahm, “Mad Men”) assigns them their first case together, Riggs drags Murtaugh into a high-speed chase culminating inside the Long Beach Grand Prix and a seaport shootout with drug dealers – and despite his protests, the older cop feels more alive than he has in years. Meanwhile, Riggs gets a glimpse of why Murtaugh is so determined to get home safely at the end of each day – he’s got a wife, TRISH (Keesha Sharp, “The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story”), teenagers ROGER, JR. (Dante Brown, “Mr. Robinson”) and RIANA (newcomer Chandler Kinney) and a newborn baby.

Riggs’ life-on-the-edge attitude makes him a priority case for the department’s psychologist, DR. MAUREEN “MO” CAHILL (Jordana Brewster, “Furious 7”). Rounding out the precinct is SCORSESE (Johnathan Fernandez, “Girls,” “Younger”), a pathologist with the LAPD who got his nickname after a stint in film school, which no one will let him forget.

By the time their first investigation ends, Riggs realizes he may have found something worth living for – a partner and friend, Murtaugh. And even Murtaugh figures this arrangement might just work out after all. If only Riggs doesn’t get them killed first…

Update:  Designated Survivor surprised me by being much better than expected.  While the destruction of DC is now a regular theme, Kiefer Sutherland's character is an interesting change from the normal know-it-all government superman.  It seems ABC agrees and the show has been granted additional episodes for a full season.  That gives Tom Kirkman more time to make America whole again. 

The Return of Family Shows on ABC with One New Addition

Prepare yourself for the return of two great family shows, ABC's Modern Family (season 8) and Blackish (season 3) as well as a new family show from ABC called Speechless.  This new series is about a family  dealing with life and a child with cerebral palsy, as highlighted here in the description from ABC:

Maya DiMeo (Minnie Driver) is a mom on a mission who will do anything for her husband Jimmy, her kids Ray, Dylan, and JJ, her eldest son with cerebral palsy. As Maya fights injustices both real and imagined, the family works to make a new home for themselves, and searches for just the right person to give JJ his "voice."

In addition to starring an actor with cerebral palsy, the show was created by Scott Silveri who has a son with cerebral palsy.  Not that this guarantees a successful show, but at least it has a number of elements that should ground it in reality and hopefully believable scenarios. 

The Hollywood Reporter notes the comedy has the right mix of good acting and good writing: 

Make no mistake — Speechless is funny because of the writing, first and foremost, and that writing is brought to life by the always spot-on Minnie Driver (About a Boy, The Riches) as the mother. But Silveri told critics recently that his new series goes out of its way not to leave a feeling of "an afterschool special" nor does it want to be all about positive, inspiring moments, noting that in the disabled community there's a derisive term called "inspiroporn" used to lampoon overly sentimental representations. 

You can view the trailer and see for yourself.  

Update:  I believe ABC has another top-notch family show on its hand with Speechless, and now the series has been picked up by ABC for a full season.  Good news for all of us.

New Family and Courtroom Drama on Tuesday

Tonight you can watch the premiere of two more new shows - this time dramas.  The first is This is Us on NBC (see trailer), a multi-family drama where distinct stories come together.  Here is the spin from NBC:

Sometimes life will surprise you. Starring Mandy Moore ("A Walk to Remember"), Milo Ventimiglia ("Heroes," "Gilmore Girls") and Sterling K. Brown ("The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story"), this refreshingly honest and provocative series follows a unique ensemble. As their paths cross and their life stories intertwine in curious ways, we find that several of them share the same birthday and so much more than anyone would expect. From the writer and directors of "Crazy, Stupid, Love" comes a smart, modern dramedy that will challenge your everyday presumptions about the people you think you know.

I haven't seen Milo Ventimiglia a series for awhile, though I think he was part of last year's series The Whispers. It wasn't a show I watched, but he did a good job in a weird role on Crackle's The Chosen (as did Chad Michael Murray before he returned to a more traditional, and boring, role on Agent Carter).

On CBS you can catch the more traditional Bull (see trailer) where the lawyers and experts are brilliant, of course. Then I read "Dr. Phil McGraw" was the model for the expert and lost any potential interest (okay, the interest was already dead). Here is the story for this one:

Bull stars Michael Weatherly as Dr. Jason Bull in a drama inspired by the early career of Dr. Phil McGraw, the founder of one of the most prolific trial consulting firms of all time. Brilliant, brash and charming, Dr. Bull is the ultimate puppet master as he combines psychology, human intuition and high tech data to learn what makes jurors, attorneys, witnesses and the accused tick. Bull employs an enviable team of experts at Trial Analysis Corporation to shape successful narratives down to the very last detail. They include his quick-witted former brother-in-law, Benny Colón, a lawyer who acts as defense attorney in the company’s mock trials; Marissa Morgan, a cutting-edge neurolinguistics expert from the Department of Homeland Security; former NYPD detective Danny James, the firm’s tough but relatable investigator; haughty millennial hacker Cable McCrory, who is responsible for gathering cyber intelligence; and Chunk Palmer, a fashion-conscious stylist and former All-American lineman who fine tunes clients’ appearances for trial. In high-stakes trials, Bull’s combination of remarkable insight into human nature, three Ph.D.’s and a top-notch staff creates winning strategies that tip the scales of justice in his clients’ favor.
And finally, if you just need a good comedy tonight, you can catch the fourth season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Fox. 

Update:  I am not going to spoil the surprise from the pilot of This is Us, but it makes the show that much more endearing.  I like where it is going, as does NBC as the series gets a full season. 

Two New Comedies Tonight on NBC and CBS

Of the two new shows premiering tonight, I look forward to NBC's comedy The Good Place with Ted Danson and Kristen Bell. This is the natural home of Danson rather than police shows.  Here is the summary:

The show follows Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell, "House of Lies," "Veronica Mars"), an ordinary woman who enters the afterlife and, thanks to some kind of error, is sent to the Good Place instead of the Bad Place, which is definitely where she belongs. While hiding in plain sight from Michael (Ted Danson, "CSI," "Cheers"), the wise architect of the Good Place (who doesn't know he's made a mistake), she's determined to shed her old way of living and discover the awesome (or, at least, the pretty good) person within.

Helping Eleanor navigate her new surroundings are Chidi (William Jackson Harper, "Paterson"), her kind, open-hearted "soul mate" who sees the good in people but finds himself facing quite a dilemma; her seemingly perfect new neighbors, Tahani (Jameela Jamil, "Playing It Straight") and Jianyu (Manny Jacinto, "The Romeo Section"); and Janet (D'Arcy Carden, "Broad City"), the go-to source for any and all information in the Good Place.  

I know we have seen versions of this idea before, but maybe this one will get some traction. I'm willing to give it a chance.

I cannot say that about the next show. Tonight's premiere of Kevin Can Wait on CBS looks like your run of the mill family comedy. Kevin James plays a retiring cop who has new duties after his daughter drops out of college. Don't expect anything too wild here.

2016 Emmy Awards

Just in case you missed it, the Emmy award winners were announced last night. I am happiest about the awards going to Master of None and Mr. Robot.  And I am always cheering for Regina King. While I know Game of Thrones will take many of the awards, we have a rich selection of television programs worthy of awards.

Here is the complete list:

Comedy Series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”

Actor in a Comedy Series: Jeffrey Tambor, “Transparent”

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Kate McKinnon, “Saturday Night Live”

Comedy Series Writing: “Master of None”

Guest Actress in a ComedySeries: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, “Saturday Night Live”

Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Peter Scolari, “Girls”

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Louie Anderson, “Baskets”

Directing for a Comedy Series: Jill Soloway, “Transparent”

Reality Competition: “The Voice”

Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series or Movie: D.V. DeVincentis, “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia” from “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”

Supporting Actress In A Limited Series/Movie: Regina King, “American Crime”

Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series or Movie: Susanne Bier, “The Night Manager”

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie: Sterling K. Brown, “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie: Sarah Paulson, “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie: Courtney B. Vance, “The People v. O.J. Simpson” American Crime Story”

Movie: “Sherlock: The Abominable Bride”

Outstanding Limited Series: “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special: Patton Oswalt, “Patton Oswalt: Talking for Clapping”

Outstanding Variety Talk Series: “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” 

Outstanding Directing of a Variety Special: Thomas Kail and Alex Rudzinski, “Grease: Live”

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: “Key and Peele”

Guest Actor in a Drama: Hank Azaria

Guest Actress in a Drama: Margot Martindale

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, “Game of Thrones”

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Maggie Smith, “Downton Abbey”

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series: Miguel Sapochnik, “Game of Thrones”

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Ben Mendelsohn, “Bloodline”

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: Rami Malek, “Mr. Robot”

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: Tatiana Maslany, “Orphan Black”

Outstanding Comedy Series: “Veep”

Outstanding Drama Series: “Game of Thrones”

Eighth Set of Amazon Originals

Okay, it appears we are on our eighth release of Amazon pilots, though this time it is only three comedies with no dramas. That works since I'm sure a ninth set of pilots are being planned and many past pilots have yet to be released as full series. 

Most of the attention to date has gone to I Love Dick.  However, I was not impressed with the pilot, no matter how hard Jill Soloway (Transparent) tried with this material.  Here is the Amazon summary: 

Adapted from the lauded feminist novel, I LOVE DICK is set in a colorful academic community in Marfa, Texas. It tells the story of a struggling married couple, Chris and Sylvere, and their obsession with a charismatic professor named Dick. Told in Rashomon-style shifts of POV, I LOVE DICK charts the unraveling of a marriage, the awakening of an artist and the deification of a reluctant messiah. 

Kevin Bacon played an interesting Dick, but the couple traveling to the Texas program was not all that interesting nor believable. And there was clearly a substory with the character living in the trailer and watching over the house, but we never learned enough for it to really matter.  

Now The Tick was a different story altogether.  Here are the basics:

In a world where superheroes have been real for decades, an accountant with mental health issues and zero powers comes to realize his city is owned by a global super villain long-thought dead. As he struggles to uncover this conspiracy, he falls in league with a strange blue superhero. 

With bugs and bats already claimed by superheroes, a tick was just right. Just when I was tiring of this genre we get a spoof that makes it fun again. And who cannot like a tick that talks like Sam the Eagle on the Muppet Show?  I hope this pilot makes it into a full series, but I will drop it immediately if I see a crossover episode with Super Flea.

Update: All three pilots have been picked up by Amazon for a full series. I am surprised there is an audience for each of them, but that appears to be good news for Amazon and those voting for these shows. I will stick with The Tick.

And finally, we get a washed up Jean-Claude Van Damme as a washed up Jean-Claude Van Damme.  Here is the plot:

JEAN-CLAUDE VAN JOHNSON stars global martial arts & film sensation Jean-Claude Van Damme playing "Jean-Claude Van Damme", a global martial arts & film sensation, also operating under the simple alias of "Johnson" as the world's best undercover private contractor. Retired for years, a chance encounter with a lost love brings him back to the game. This time, he'll be deadlier than ever. Probably. 

Perfect, but for one episode only. It was fun to see him spoofing himself, but a whole series of this?  Sorry, but that's a little too much.

Pot & Fleabags on a Friday Night

Tonight you can watch some "new" series that may not be so new to fans. 

On HBO you can see the "premiere" of High Maintenance, a series that really started on the web and only now finds a place on television. It involves a New York City pot-dealer and many different stories along the way, including the dog's version of life. HBO has created six new episodes while also trying to keep the original feel of the show (here is a trailer). 

Robert Lloyd from the Los Angeles Times wrote a positive review, stating:

You do not have to be a pot smokers to like it, I can personally attest. Although marijuana threads through the episodes, it is not the actual point of the show — which is human variety, haplessness and tenderness. 

And tonight on Amazon you can see the six-part Fleabag, a popular series from Britain. Here is the story from Amazon (and trailer):

Fleabag is a hilarious and poignant window into the mind of a dry-witted, sexual, angry, grief-riddled woman, as she hurls herself at modern living in London. Award-winning playwright Phoebe Waller-Bridge writes and stars as Fleabag, an unfiltered woman trying to heal, while rejecting anyone who tries to help her and keeping up her bravado all along. 

Alan Sepinwall in Hitfix states,

I came into the series expecting a raunchy black comedy, and got that, but with the added bonus of something achingly beautiful when it wanted to be.

We are only talking six episodes per series, so invest a little time this weekend for a solid reward. 

Mary + Jane = Crazy Fun

I don't know how I missed this one, but MTV broadcast a new show Mary + Jane last week (September 5th) and it is pretty good.  

After ending both Awkward and Faking It earlier this year, and shortly broadcasting the last season of Teen Wolf, I was wondering how young adults might be portrayed in a new series (other than as victims in Scream). 

Now we know. Kids today are addled drug dealers to the stars. Or that is the career plans for these two roommates. Hey, at least they are not living at home with mom and dad.

What I liked most was the way the show pokes fun at "hot" restaurants and celebrities.  California has a tendency to take itself a little to seriously, so such mocking is welcome.

Anyway, you can already view the first two episodes on the MTV site and decide for yourself. 

Dark Matter Turns Dark

If you watched the two hour-long episodes of Dark Matter on Friday, you too may be amazed with the plot twist (spoiler alert!). 

The up-to-now quiet character Four (played by Alex Mallari Jr., who really does have a black belt), seemed to be very careful in his plotting to regain the throne until the last 2 minutes when he wiped out all of his foes. Even for Dark Matter, a show that has gutted its characters in the past and left them to die, this was a surprise. I was mostly surprised about the murder of his brother, but Four may know more about his brother than we do now that he has his memory back.

This "Red Wedding" moment put the series on a whole new footing at episode 12, with only one episode to go. 

Will his Raza crewmates support him now and give him the Blink Drive technology he needs? Six's comments earlier in the episode regarding his worries about a fleet of such weapons was not encouraging. 

It is unlikely all of this can be wrapped up in one more episode, but luckily Dark Matter has already been approved for a third season.

The richness of the double-sided characters, as well as access to parallel universes, promises plenty more great stories and wild plot turns. 

I'm hooked!

One Mississippi on Amazon

When Amazon was premiering a number of pilots some time ago (I cannot remember which one because they have become more frequent and less commented on), I remember being impressed with One Mississippi. The story of this lesbian woman (Tig Notaro) dealing with the loss of her mother seemed more documentary than drama, and I looked forward to the rest of the story.

Well as of yesterday, we can all see the rest of the story on Amazon.  I plan to rewatch the pilot and then dig into the rest of the episodes (six in all). 

And while I thought some of it was related to real life, now I learn most of it was, and as recent as 2012 (as told by the Decider):

She got pneumonia, which morphed into C-Diff, a crazy bacterial infection that almost killed her. While recuperating, her mother fell and hit her head and died. Then, while dealing with the pain of the loss, she broke up with her girlfriend. Finally, she was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer.

That's what I remember from the pilot as well, so this was a documentary after all. Okay, not exactly, but close enough to be pretty accurate as well as fascinating to watch. 

And I also learned it was Louis C.K. that pushed her to share more of her story with the world at large. So we have Louis to thank for two series about strong women premiering this week. Impressive. 

Quarry on Cinemax

Here is another drama for you to ponder this week - Quarry from Cinemax.  The show, which premieres tonight, uses the Vietnam era as the background to a bleak soldier's tale. 

Here is how Cinemax defines the show:

'Quarry' is the story of Mac Conway, a Marine who returns home to Memphis from Vietnam in 1972 and finds himself shunned by those he loves and demonized by the public. As he struggles to cope with his experiences at war, Conway is drawn into a network of killing and corruption that spans the length of the Mississippi River. The one-hour drama stars Logan Marshall-Green, Jodi Balfour, Peter Mullan, Nikki Amuka-Bird and Damon Herriman. 

The series is based on the novels of Max Allan Collins, who is also author of The Road to Perdition.  Quarry, first started in 1976, is an extensive series of novels, and Mr. Collins is still writing them.  Here is the list from Wikipedia:

• Quarry (a.k.a. The Broker) (1976, reissued 2015)
• Quarry's List (a.k.a. The Broker's Wife) (1976, reissued 2015)
• Quarry's Deal (a.k.a. The Dealer) (1976, reissued 2016)
• Quarry's Cut (a.k.a. The Slasher) (1977, reissued 2016)
• Quarry's Vote (a.k.a. Primary Target) (1987, reissued 2016)
• Quarry's Greatest Hits (2003)
• The Last Quarry (2006)
• The First Quarry (2008)
• Quarry In The Middle (2009)
• Quarry's Ex (2010)
• The Wrong Quarry (2014)
• Quarry's Choice (2015)
• Quarry In The Black (Coming In 2016)

Should the series go well, Cinemax will never be short of new material.

Better Things? I Hope So

You can watch the premiere of Better Things on FX tonight. FX describes the new show as follows:

Better Things is a new comedy series on FX co-created by Pamela Adlon and Louis C.K., starring Adlon as “Sam Fox,” a single, working actor with no filter trying to raise her three daughters – “Max” (Mikey Madison), “Frankie” (Hannah Alligood) and “Duke” (Olivia Edward) – in Los Angeles. She is mom, dad, referee and the cops. 

Sam also watches out for her mother, “Phil” (Celia Imrie), an English expatriate, who lives across the street. Sam’s just trying to earn a living, navigate her daughters’ lives, have fun with a friend or two and also — just maybe — squeeze in some private time once in a while.

It sounds simple enough, and having both Louis C.K. and related parties associated with the program never hurts. 

The Guardian says we will be pleased, pointing out:

Adlon’s character, Sam, is much more sympathetic and down-to-earth than the Pamela we met on Louie. Just as CK is famous for his riff about how his kids are assholes, Sam has the same sort of antagonistic relationship with her children, scoffing at her oldest daughter when she asks her to score pot but then stealing the condom she finds under her daughter’s nightstand for an assignation with a married man. 

Are you ready for a female Louis? I am, particularly since you never know if he will be back. So let's enjoy his humor, even if it is channeled through others (though Adlon is more than capable of handling her own affairs). 

Quote: A Tough Fall Season

"It’s extremely difficult for us to launch these shows and turn them into successful series as is...It’s definitely one of those situations where we have a lot of things working against us.”

-Statement by Andy Kubitz, ABC Entertainment’s executive vice president of program planning and scheduling, in an Indiewire story with regard to scheduling new fall shows around the presidential debate schedule. The article noted that other complications, such as non-network premieres (Amazon, Netflix, etc.), NFL schedules, blockbuster films, and other things. Of course, people do own DVRs, so the window for seeing new shows is much wider than it was years ago.  

A Busy Night of Premieres: Atlanta, StartUp, and Queen Sugar

The fall season is already ramping up.  Here are a few shows premiering tonight that you may want to check out.

- Atlanta on FX:  This new show combines two cousins in Atlanta and the music industry (here is the trailer).  Whereas Empire shows us the gold at the end of the rainbow, this series highlights the search for that rainbow. The New York Times provided it with an overall positive review, commenting:

The Atlanta of “Atlanta” is above all a layer cake of African-American life, bourgeois and street, hipster and old school. Even in a more diverse TV environment, it’s a statement for a marquee show to be this immersively black (including, unusually for television, the writing staff).

- StartUp on Crackle:  This new series seems to be a mix of Halt and Catch Fire, Mr. Robot, and a much darker Miami Vice.  And what is Bilbo Baggins doing here?  Actually, some great acting.  Here is the trailer and some background: 

Set in the steamy streets of Miami, what do a young banker from Brickell, a gorgeous Cuban hacker from Haileah, and a thug from Little Haiti have in common?‎ In Crackle's new scripted drama, “StartUp,", the answer is made abundantly clear during 10 hour-long episodes that explore the launch of GenCoin, a potentially revolutionary idea for an unregulated digital currency. Created, directed, written and executive produced by, Ben Ketai (“Chosen,” THE FOREST), the unexpected and fast-paced narrative focuses on the deadly tech war that ignites around the creation of this ingenious algorithm.

Untaxed, untraceable and a possible game changer in the world of finance, GenCoin is incubated on the wrong side of the tracks in the unconstrained and opportunistic streets of Miami by three unlikely allies who don’t necessarily fit the mold of tech entrepreneurs: Adam Brody (“CHiPS,” “The League”) as shrewd financier Nick Talman, Edi Gathegi (“The Blacklist,” “The Blacklist: Redemption”) as Haitian gang leader Ronald Dacey, and Otmara Marrero (“Graceland”) as tech entrepreneur Izzy Morales. Also starring is Martin Freeman (“Fargo,” “Sherlock”) as the brilliant, yet irrational FBI agent Phil Rask who is out to take them down.

Haitian narcotraffickers, sleazy bankers and crooked cops are all at the core of this gritty and provocative thriller which exposes how people corrupt money and examines what happens when high-tech erodes government control of society. Welcome to “StartUp” where even the good get dirty.

- Queen Sugar on OWN:  Oprah's Network has a new series about the tribulations of a sugar cane family in Louisiana.  This trailer shows you a pretty complex story that is only touched upon below: 

The contemporary drama “Queen Sugar” chronicles the lives and loves of the estranged Bordelon siblings in Saint Josephine, Louisiana: Nova (Rutina Wesley “True Blood”), a world-wide journalist and activist; Charley (Dawn-Lyen Gardner “Unforgettable”), the savvy wife and manager of an NBA star; and Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe “Awkward”), a formerly incarcerated young father in search of redemption. 

 After a family tragedy, the Bordelons must navigate the triumphs and struggles of their complicated lives in order to run an ailing sugarcane farm in the Deep South. Led by acclaimed film director DuVernay, who directed the first two episodes, all episodes in the series’ debut season are directed by women. 

Learn More About the History Behind the Harley Davidson Motorcylces

Tomorrow night on Discovery you can learn all you ever wanted to know about the history behind the Harley Davidson motorcycle.  The three-night program, Harley and the Davidsons, is a dramatization of this history (see the trailer here).  Discovery notes:

A Harley-Davidson is more than a motorcycle. It is a symbol of Americana, built from the ground up by founders Walter and Arthur Davidson and their friend Bill Harley. But the road to success was not exactly smooth - it was filled with innumerable obstacles, ruthless competitors and extraordinary risks. Together these three young men, the sons of blue-collar immigrants, gave everything they had to ensure the survival of the company they founded. But just how far would they go to reach the ultimate American dream?

Based on a true story, Harley and the Davidsons charts the birth of this iconic bike during a time of great social and technological change beginning at the turn of the 20th century. Walter, Arthur and Bill risked their entire fortune and livelihood to launch the budding enterprise. Each of these men faced very different challenges, but it was the motorcycle that united their dreams and ambitions.

Walter, Arthur, and Bill cemented Harley-Davidson's reputation as a builder of bikes that go anywhere, can ride hard and ignore all the rules. It's a legacy that has endured over 100 years - and at the heart of the brand and its loyal riders.

The story of Walter, Arthur, and Bill is just what we need this Labor Day weekend as people wonder if the US workforce can still make great things.  Maybe this story will inspire a few more inventors to take a chance.  

By the way, you may recognize Michiel Huisman, who plays Walter Davidson.  He also plays Daario Naharis on Game of Thrones watching Daenerys tame dragons.  I guess this was quite a change of pace for him.

Smithsonian Special on Star Trek

The Smithsonian Channel will broadcast Building Star Trek Sunday evening (September 4th).  The program will highlight the "science" of Star Trek.  Here is a quick summary:

When "Star Trek" first aired in 1966, it expanded the viewers' imaginations about what was possible in their lifetimes. Today, many of the space-age technologies displayed on the show, like space shuttles, cell phones, and desktop computers, have already gone from science fiction to science fact. Other innovations, like warp drive, teleportation, and medical tricorders are actively in development. Join us as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of "Star Trek" - a show that continues to inform, enrich, and inspire.

The key word is inspire.  For example, space entrepreneur Elon Musk (who admittedly is having a bad week) had this to say about Star Trek:

I love technology. So I, yeah what I mean, particularly when I was a kid, I'd just consume like all science-fiction and fantasy, you know, movies, books, anything at all, even if it was really shlucky. So - in terms of sort of key influences, I mean I certainly like 'Star Trek,' because that actually shows like more of a utopian future, like it's not like, things aren't horrible in the future. It's like there's so many bloody post-apocalyptic futures, like OK, can we have one that's nice? Just a few. So I like that about 'Star Trek.