CHICAGO – Theatrical satires of the Star Wars Universe are like the number of TV series the universe has wrought … too many to figure out if anything is worthwhile. But “Trade Federation” (subtitled “Or Let’s Explore Globalization Through the Star Wars Prequels”), presented by Otherworld Theatre in Wrigleyville Chicago, gets it right on.
Apple TV+
Podtalk: The Double Life of Bernadette Peters in ‘HIgh Desert’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 29, 2023 - 2:12pmCHICAGO – One of the peculiar secrets … since revealed … in the new Apple TV+ series “High Desert” is that the icon Bernadette Peters portrays two characters. One is the mother (Rosalyn) of main character Peggy, and the other is mysterious actor Ginger who somehow ended up in California desert country. New episodes drop every Wednesday.
Podtalk: Icon Bernadette Peters Takes Refuge in ‘HIgh Desert’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 17, 2023 - 9:08amCHICAGO – How has actor/singer/Broadway icon Bernadette Peters ended up in the arid lands of California? She is featured in the new Apple TV+ series “High Desert.” It has an ensemble cast led by Patricia Arquette as Peggy Newman, a recovering human being in an odd and spiritual place. The series begins streaming on May 17th.
Podtalk: Director Davis Guggenheim on ‘Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 10, 2023 - 3:32pmCHICAGO – An essential documentary will stream on Apple TV+ beginning May 12th. “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie,” directed by Davis Guggenheim (“An Inconvenient Truth”) combines interview, re-creations and most telling, clips of Fox’s film/TV appearances to highlight his triumph and later, his Parkinson’s Disease.
On-Air Film Review: A Fitting Group of Blockheads in ‘Tetris’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 3, 2023 - 4:10pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 30th, 2023, reviewing “Tetris,” the 1980s origin of the addictive video game. Currently in theaters, since March 31st.
Across the Pond! On-Air TV Review of ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 3
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 25, 2023 - 7:54amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 23rd, 2023, reviewing “Ted Lasso” Season 3, a continuation of the story of an American coach trying his methods out for a British soccer team, and other fish out of water situations. Currently streaming on Apple TV+.
SXSW2023: Spotlight Documentary ‘Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 24, 2023 - 10:59amAUSTIN, TX – Michael J. Fox is an entertainment treasure, and given what has happened to him through his fight and advocacy for Parkinson’s Disease, he damn well could be qualified as an international treasure. Fox made an appearance at the SXSW Film & TV Festival on behalf of his new documentary “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie.”
Audio Film Review: Piercing Piece for Julianne Moore in ‘Sharper’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 20, 2023 - 9:29amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Sharper,” a new film from A24 and Apple TV+ featuring Julianne Moore, Sebastian Stan and John Lithgow in a film about deception and circumstances. Currently in select theaters (see local listings) and streaming on Apple TV+ beginning February 24th.
On-Air Series Review: Let’s Get Small! ‘Shrinking’ on Apple TV+
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 3, 2023 - 1:08pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on The Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on WSSR-FM (Star 96.7 Joliet, Illinois) on January 27th, reviewing the new TV series “Shrinking,” featuring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford. Currently streaming on Apple TV+.
On-Air Film Review: Will-ing Redemption in ‘Emancipation'
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 2, 2022 - 1:45pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Jason Makos on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on December 1st, 2022, reviewing “Emancipation,” featuring Will Smith and set in the Civil War period within the eradication of slavery. In theaters on December 2nd, streaming December 9th on Apple TV+.
On-Air Film Review: ‘Spirited’ is Ghost of Musical Presents
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 26, 2022 - 8:55amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on The Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on WSSR-FM (Star 96.7 Joliet, Illinois) on November 23rd, reviewing the holiday musical “Spirited,” a reimagined version of Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol, currently streaming on Apple TV+.
