PBS

Blu-ray Review: TV Fans Need to See ‘Johnny Carson: King of Late Night’

American Masters Johnny Carson

CHICAGO – Any list of the most influential and important people in the history of television that doesn’t include Johnny Carson is simply incomplete. He was SUCH a force in the medium, coming into the homes of millions every night. That’s why so many luminaries came out to speak about the man in the excellent “American Masters” documentary “Johnny Carson: King of Late Night,” recently released on Blu-ray and DVD.

Blu-ray Review: Amazing ‘Sherlock: Season Two’ Works For Everyone

Sherlock S2

CHICAGO – It’s official. After season two of BBC’s and Masterpiece’s amazing “Sherlock,” recently released on Blu-ray and DVD, I can stand by my thoughts after season one and make them clear — this is the best embodiment of Sherlock Holmes since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle put pen to paper. With brilliant screenwriting, clever direction, perfect design, and simply spectacular performances, this isn’t just a great TV on Blu-ray release. If these three 90-minute films had played in theaters instead of on PBS, they’d all be in my top ten as far as the best movies of the year to date.

Blu-ray Review: Ken Burns Uses His Amazing Skill to Chronicle ‘The War’

The War

CHICAGO – Ken Burns is one of the most important, influential, and talented filmmakers alive. His long-form documentaries for PBS — “Baseball,” “The Civil War,” and “Jazz” — are all must-sees (and he’s working on pieces on “The Dust Bowl” and “Vietnam”). One of his most accomplished works, “The War,” has been released on Blu-ray just in time for Father’s Day and would make a perfect gift for anyone interested in World War II.

TV Review: ‘American Masters Johnny Carson: King of Late Night’

CHICAGO – There is arguably no icon on a higher pedestal in the history of television than Johnny Carson, the man who didn’t just host “The Tonight Show” for three decades but became a cultural fixture. We let Johnny into our homes and trusted him in ways that I believe just can’t happen again in a more cynical TV age. He was a nightly visitor for millions and the new PBS documentary about him, “American Masters Johnny Carson: King of Late Night,” is one of the best TV history documentaries yet produced.

TV Review: PBS Masterpiece Updates Charles Dickens’ ‘Great Expectations’ with Stylish Remake

CHICAGO – Very few pieces of fiction have had the proven staying power of Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations,” which gets yet another adaptation in a two-week mini-series Masterpiece version, starting this Sunday, April 1st, 2012, on PBS.

DVD Review: Beloved ‘Downton Abbey’ Returns With Second Season

CHICAGO – “Downton Abbey” became one of the most notable TV phenomenons of the last several years this season as the second installment of the multiple award-winning show became such a part of pop culture that it was even spoofed on “Saturday Night Live.”

Film Review: Cameron Crowe’s ‘Pearl Jam Twenty’ is Amazing Rock Doc

CHICAGO – Very few music documentaries in the history of the form have more successfully conveyed the inner workings and outer artistic expression of a band than Cameron Crowe’s brilliant “Pearl Jam Twenty,” a joyful, inspirational examination of the importance of creative integrity and great rock ‘n’ roll.

Blu-Ray Review: Rufus Sewell Stars in Stylish, Smart ‘Zen’

Zen

CHICAGO – Stylish, sexy, and smart, “Zen” is a treat for international mystery lovers, seen recently on PBS stateside and now available on DVD and a stunningly-transferred two-disc Blu-ray. Starring Rufus Sewell and Caterina Murino, the release includes three feature-length mysteries — “Vendetta,” “Cabal,” and “Ratking” — all based on Michael Dibdin novels. While the BBC canceled the show (despite strong ratings) due to a reported glut of male crimefighters in the country’s TV (if only more American producers felt that way), “Zen” stands out from the crowd.

On WGN Radio: HollywoodChicago.com’s Brian Tallerico on ‘Breaking Bad,’ ‘Same Name,’ ‘Zen,’ More

WGN Radio

CHICAGO – Brian Tallerico guests on Bill Moller’s show on WGN-AM 720 Radio in Chicago on July 23rd, 2011 to talk about recently-premiered and upcoming programs including “Entourage,” “Same Name,” “Breaking Bad,” “Zen,” and “Web Therapy.”

DVD Review: Patrick Stewart Delivers Towering Portrayal of ‘Macbeth’

Macbeth Thumb

CHICAGO – There are few things more excruciating to sit through than a botched adaptation of Shakespeare. The Bard’s language is so intricately textured and poetically structured that it must be fully understood in order to be adequately delivered. An audacious mess like Baz Luhrmann’s “Romeo and Juliet” recalls memories of amateur high school productions where students raced through the dialogue in order to sound naturalistic.

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TV, DVD, BLU-RAY & THEATER REVIEWS

  • Manhunt

    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+.

  • Topdog/Underdog, Invictus Theatre

    CHICAGO – When two brothers confront the sins of each other and it expands into a psychology of an entire race, it’s at a stage play found in Chicago’s Invictus Theatre Company production of “Topdog/Underdog,” now at their new home at the Windy City Playhouse through March 31st, 2024. Click TD/UD for tickets/info.

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