TV & Movie

‘Walker: Independence’ Review: CW’s Western Prequel of Jared Padalecki

'Walker: Independence' Review: CW's Western Prequel of Jared Padalecki

In January 2021, the Jared Padalecki-starring and executive-produced “Walker, Texas Ranger” reboot (simply titled “Walker”) premiered as a new hit for The CW. Perhaps not quite infiltrating pop culture the same way as “Riverdale” had, still, it found success as a family and crime drama. The show was soon renewed for a second season, and is about to start its …

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‘Grimsburg’ Review: Jon Hamm Comedy Skewers Crime Clichés

'Grimsburg' Review: Jon Hamm Comedy Skewers Crime Clichés

The protagonist of “Grimsburg” looks and acts nothing like Jon Hamm, though the actor lends his voice — and backing as an executive producer — to the lead of Fox’s latest animated sitcom. Detective Marvin Flute is a scruffy, potbellied deadbeat who’s somewhat skilled at solving crimes, if nowhere near as much as he thinks he is. Flute is a far …

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‘The Diplomat’ Review: Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell Star in Netflix Show

'The Diplomat' Review: Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell Star in Netflix Show

Fans of FX’s popular Cold War drama “The Americans” will undoubtedly check out “The Diplomat” in the hopes that Keri Russell’s next political thriller can fill the heart-pumping void the hit series left behind in 2018. They shouldn’t — at least, not for that reason. Though “The Americans” and “The Diplomat” share a star, as well as a similar focus on …

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Review: Gaga Almost Saves a VMAs Unsure How to Go On in a Pandemic

Review: Gaga Almost Saves a VMAs Unsure How to Go On in a Pandemic

Before proceeding any further, let’s acknowledge the clear superstars of the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards: Lady Gaga’s mask designers. They should be given their own awards, at some point, for being keeping us on the edge of our seats during a show that has never drummed up much suspense about winners, even in its early glory days, let alone …

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‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ Review: A Fun Take On The Franchise

'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' Review: A Fun Take On The Franchise

Transitions are challenging, and for preteens encountering those first pivotal life shifts, change can feel overwhelming. For 12-year-old Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell), who has always felt like an outsider, coming of age means godly encounters, foretold prophecies and cross-country quests. Based on the acclaimed books by Rick Riordan, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” is a gorgeous, intriguing narrative about self-discovery, …

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‘Frasier’ Paramount+ Reboot Review: Did Anyone Need This?

‘Frasier’ Paramount+ Reboot Review: Did Anyone Need This?

The film and television industries have resigned themselves to becoming recycling factories. Reboots and revivals have become the norm among the brand-new content that premieres each year. Still, fans rightfully sneered when Paramount+ announced the revival of “Frasier,” a reboot of the Emmy-winning show, which ran on NBC for 11 seasons from 1993-2004. Kelsey Grammer had already portrayed the stuffy …

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‘Wedding Season’ Review: Hulu Throws Rosa Salazar Into Chaotic Mystery

'Wedding Season' Review: Hulu Throws Rosa Salazar Into Chaotic Mystery

At first, Hulu’s “Wedding Season” seems to be a charming enough take on a British “Four Weddings and a Funeral”-style romantic comedy, complete with a hopeless romantic boy, his boisterous friend group, and the enigmatic American girl he falls for the minute he meets her at — where else? — a wedding. But both Oliver Lyttelton’s take on the setup …

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‘Velma’ Review: Mindy Kaling’s Queer ‘Scooby-Doo’ Reboot Doesn’t Work

‘Velma’ Review: Mindy Kaling's Queer 'Scooby-Doo' Reboot Doesn't Work

If the rule for covers of widely cherished songs — make it your own, or leave it alone —  holds for adaptations of beloved television shows, then in one respect, HBO Max’s “Velma” is a towering success. To be fair, this thoroughly modern reimagining of “Scooby-Doo” maintains the load-bearing beams of the over 50-year-old cartoon’s lore. It’s still set in …

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‘Power Book IV: Force’ Season 2 Review: Starz Series Hits Its Stride

'Power Book IV: Force' Season 2 Review: Starz Series Hits Its Stride

For the past decade, fans of the Courtney Kemp-created “Power” Universe have kept up with countless personalities and storylines across multiple shows. However, few characters have been as captivating as Tommy Egan (Joseph Sikora) from the original “Power.” Ruthless, hot-headed and hilarious, when Starz announced Tommy would be getting his own spinoff series, “Power Book IV: Force,” fans flocked to …

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