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.
HollywoodChicago.com Television
DVD Review: Frustrating USA Mini-Series ‘Political Animals’
Submitted by BrianTT on August 12, 2013 - 9:11pmCHICAGO – USA’s mini-series “Political Animals” should have been one of the TV events of 2012. Instead it was just one of its biggest disappointments. That cast! That subject! In a political, election season! Zzzzzzz. Sadly, the creators of “Political Animals” delivered a program more like “Dallas” than “The West Wing” and viewers tuned out to the degree that the potential second season was canned. Now we can see what went wrong in one lackluster DVD set.
TV Review: Larry David’s ‘Clear History’ Appeases Fans of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’
Submitted by BrianTT on August 9, 2013 - 2:04pmCHICAGO – There hasn’t been a new episode of Larry David’s brilliant comedy, “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” in almost two years and the creator of the HBO program has yet to commit to ever doing a ninth season, saying recently to TV Guide to ask him again in six months.
TV Review: The CW Hits Reality TV Bottom with ‘Capture’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 30, 2013 - 11:37amCHICAGO – “Get me a TV version of The Hunger Games! This is The CW! If it’s popular with young adults, we need a TV show like it!”
“Sir, have you SEEN The Hunger Games? It’s about killing people.”
TV Review: AMC Begins Final Arc of Beloved ‘Breaking Bad’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 29, 2013 - 11:37amCHICAGO – Walter White is back. Those four words mean more to loyal fans of “Breaking Bad” than any other this Summer.
TV Feature: The 11 Biggest Emmy Snubs of 2013
Submitted by BrianTT on July 18, 2013 - 10:28amCHICAGO – The 2013 Emmy nominations were announced this morning, leading to the natural hand-wringing and chest-beating over who missed the cut. Before we get to the most egregious snubs of the year, a few places where the Academy unexpectedly, happily got it right:
TV News: ‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘30 Rock’ Lead Familiar 2013 Emmy Nominations
Submitted by BrianTT on July 18, 2013 - 8:38amCHICAGO – While there were a few nice surprises (Vera Farmiga! Laura Dern!), the 2013 Emmy nominations were a largely predictable bunch, including most of the nominees from last year, including “Breaking Bad,” “Homeland,” “Downton Abbey,” “Mad Men,” “Modern Family,” and many more.
DVD Review: ‘Last Resort: The Complete Series’ Offers History of Doomed Show
Submitted by BrianTT on July 17, 2013 - 12:01pmCHICAGO – Around a year ago, I named Shawn Ryan’s excellent “Last Resort” the most-promising new show of the Fall season. I think I need to relabel that this year to “creatively promising,” for while I knew Ryan and his crew here had a chance to produce something special, I also worried that ABC was dooming it on Thursday nights.
TV Review: HBO’s ‘The Newsroom’ Adjusts Its Broadcast Style
Submitted by BrianTT on July 14, 2013 - 10:47amCHICAGO – There’s no television program that can be more simultaneously brilliant and frustrating as Aaron Sorkin’s “The Newsroom,” returning tonight, July 14, 2013, to start an already-tumultuous second season.
TV Review: Netflix Continues Hot Streak with Excellent ‘Orange is the New Black’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 10, 2013 - 10:39amCHICAGO – Jenji Kohan’s “Orange is the New Black,” premiering in its entirety this Thursday, July 11, 2013 on Netflix for those of you who love your binge viewing, is one of those rare programs that gets better and better in memory.
TV Review: NBC Wants You to Enroll in Likable ‘Camp’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 9, 2013 - 8:32amCHICAGO – Here are a few words that adequately describe NBC’s “Camp,” a Summer series premiering this Wednesday, July 10, 2013 — “Likable,” “Amiable,” “Cute,” “Fun.” It’s not designed to challenge your dramatic expectations and delivers exactly what you’d expect it to deliver but the cast has some notable stand-outs and the whole thing has the feel of a long weekend away in the Summer — fun while it lasts if not overly memorable.
