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      Review: In ‘Mr. Burns,’ Apocalypse Now, With ‘The Simpsons’ and Songs

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      Anne Washburn’s 2012 play about a post-pandemic society reckoning with loss has not aged at all, our critic writes.Stories, like viruses, are transmissible. In the brain, in the blood, they mutate and change. Tragedies become comedies; dramas become myths. And in Anne Washburn’s visionary and wackadoo “Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play,” revived by the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, an episode of “The Simpsons” becomes an opera and that opera becomes a way for a post-apocalyptic society to reckon with all it has lost.After a devastating contagion and concomitant nuclear meltdowns, the American population has shrunk to maybe a million, maybe half that. In the first act, set in the very near future, somewhere in the northeast, a few survivors have gathered around what should be a campfire (did the fire marshal not allow it?) to tell stories. Or as on this night, one particular story. Collectively, they piece together the events and jokes of “Cape Feare,” a Season 5 episode of “The Simpsons.”Recalling Sideshow Bob’s flourishes and Homer’s doofus behavior connects them to a lost world in a way that feels bearable. Real memories are too painful. Memories of a television show — in a time when televisions no longer work — are what they can manage. In the second act, these scattershot remembrances have been refashioned into a revue. The third act, set decades later and entirely sung through, with music from the composer Michael Friedman, transmutes them further.“Mr. Burns” debuted in May 2012 at the Woolly Mammoth Theater in Washington, and then moved to Playwrights Horizons. Sept. 11 was more vivid in the cultural memory a decade ago. One passage includes a haunting reference to twin towers of light. But with the pandemic, we have a new cataclysm to absorb, which makes “Mr. Burns,” directed by the festival’s artistic director, Davis McCallum, a timely selection. (Will there always be some new disaster? Will this play always seem of the moment? Yes. Probably. Ugh.) In its invention, its cool ruthlessness, its interrogation of why and how we use narrative, it has not aged at all.Sean McNall, Merritt Janson, Quintero, Karaman, Ota, and Zack Fine. With three-quarter seating, the director and his designers sometimes struggle to make the action visible to all.T. Charles EricksonIn some ways, the festival, with its sandy floor and jaunty tent, provides an ideal location. The opening at the back of the tent looks out into some old-growth trees. Even considering the mowed lawn — a concession to picnickers and the tick-averse — it suggests what the landscape might look like if nature made a comeback. (If the vista had shown the recently decommissioned Indian Point nuclear plant, located just down the Hudson, that might have been even more evocative.) But the play was built for a proscenium stage, not three-quarter seating, and McCallum and his designers sometimes struggle to make the action visible to all, particularly in the final act.The acting is uneven here, the rhythms sometimes off, though Sean McNall, a festival veteran, has a terrific turn as a newcomer in the first act, and Merritt Janson, a welcome Off-Broadway presence, does pointed and specific work as an actor-manager in the second. Zachary Fine, who operates on a very low-key in the first two acts, triumphs in the third. During that act, a chorus member banged a drum straight into my ear, which I could have done without.And yet, if you are in the area, and you can book a seat away from that drum, you should see “Mr. Burns.” Here’s why: It seems to me that no new work of art — theater, television, film, fiction — produced in these past few years has really represented the pandemic, at least as I’ve experienced it. Sometimes the more on the nose they were (“Station Eleven,” say) the further away they felt.“Mr. Burns” doesn’t exactly capture it either, but it captures something else. In these past two years, when I have had a moment of downtime, I have turned to comedies and procedurals, shows that made the world feel regular and knowable. “Mr. Burns” explores the ways that we use stories, even seemingly irrelevant stories, to make sense of our lives. “Mr. Burns” is a play about where we find comfort and it is also, more chillingly, about the limits of that comfort, about how reality can intrude even before the credits roll.Reality sometimes intruded, even here, out of the city, out of doors. The show’s opening had been delayed owing to coronavirus cases among the cast. The spectators closest to the actors were asked to wear masks; most did. Still, we could lose ourselves for a while, in imagining how a society much like ours might handle a disaster much worse than this one, how we might or might not come through it. To watch this feels pleasurable and painful and mysterious and weird. Or to put it another way: D’Oh.Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric PlayThrough Sept. 17 at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Garrison, N.Y.; hvshakespeare.org. Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes. More

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      Trevor Noah Is a Fan of Pope Francis

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      “He’s reached out to other faiths, he said gay people can get into heaven, and don’t forget he added a pop and lock to the sign of the cross,” Noah joked on Tuesday.Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous night’s highlights that lets you sleep — and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now.Catholic Guilt Takes CanadaPope Francis issued an apology to Indigenous Canadians on Monday, saying he was “deeply sorry” for the ways in which “many Christians supported the colonizing mentality of the powers that oppressed the Indigenous peoples.”“I’m glad he is doing that,” Trevor Noah said on Tuesday. “It also must have been a shock to Canadians, you know? Someone coming and apologizing to them?”“You know, say what you want, I love this pope. I really do. Yeah, because ever since he has come into office, or into power, or ever since he has gotten the gig, what do they even say? Whatever it is, he has done a really good job of trying to right the Catholic Church’s wrongs, you know? He’s reached out to other faiths, he said gay people can get into heaven, and don’t forget he added a pop and lock to the sign of the cross.” — TREVOR NOAH“And you know beyond the pope, the pope is great in all of this but you know who the heroes of the story are? The Indigenous people, yeah. For not just speaking to the pope but for forgiving him, even letting him wear their traditional headdress. That was amazing. It was gracious, you know? Unless they were just setting him up for a trap, you know? Like, ‘We let bygones be bygones, please accept this headdress,’ snap photo, ‘And you’re canceled, mother [bleep]! We got you — cultural appropriation.’” — TREVOR NOAH“Now, apparently in addition to the apology the church has also agreed to pay a settlement for what they did, which I think is fantastic, especially on the tribe for actually insisting on it. Yeah, because so many people’s lives have been destroyed and a generation was thrust into poverty. So sorry is nice, but money goes a long way, yeah. In fact, you know what, they should put ‘I’m sorry’ in the caption of the Venmo payments, that is what they should do.” — TREVOR NOAHThe Punchiest Punchlines (R.I.P. Choco Taco Edition)“I’m going to shoot you straight: Things are looking a little rough right now. The climate is on fire, democracy is hanging on by a pube, and just when we thought we couldn’t take another punch to the national gut, we’ve learned that Klondike’s Choco Taco has been discontinued after almost 40 years. No, not the Choco Taco! It was the only dessert with as much real beef as Taco Bell!” — STEPHEN COLBERT“Well, I guess the answer to ‘What would you do for a Klondike bar?’ is ‘ruin childhood.’” — STEPHEN COLBERT“The Choco Taco is the perfect American fusion of cultures. right? It’s Mexican and sugar.” — TREVOR NOAH“[Singing in the vein of Elton John] ’Cause it seems to me you lived your life like a taco in the fridge. You’re an ice cream waffle taco covered in chocolate, and I sure did love to eat you when I was just a kid. Your choco melted long before your taco ever did.” — JIMMY FALLON“And may I point out, we learned this shocking news on a Taco Tuesday. That’s just salted caramel in the wound.” — STEPHEN COLBERTThe Bits Worth WatchingMaggie Rogers performed her song “Want Want” on Tuesday’s “Tonight Show.”Also, Check This OutPaul Sorvino as the mob underboss who gave orders with just a nod of his head in “Goodfellas.”Warner Bros.The late Paul Sorvino is perhaps known for playing the underboss Paulie Cicero in “Goodfellas,” but he almost walked away from the role. More

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      Editors’ Note

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      An obituary of the actor Tony Dow was published in error. The Times based the confirmation of his death on a Facebook post by his representatives, which proved erroneous and has since been deleted. More

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      Seth Meyers Mocks Trump for His Imaginary Friends

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      Meyers noted that Trump’s speeches frequently have him “whining incessantly about how he’s being treated or repeating some weird lie an imaginary friend supposedly told him.”Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous night’s highlights that lets you sleep — and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now.Trump and His Imaginary FriendsFormer President Donald Trump over the weekend attended a conservative conference in Tampa, Fla., where he repeated a story to the crowd about a friend who once referred to him as “the most persecuted person in American history.”Seth Meyers pointed out on Monday that Trump’s speeches often have him “whining incessantly about how he’s being treated or repeating some weird lie an imaginary friend supposedly told him.”“I like the idea that this never occurred to Trump until a friend suggested it. Is this where he gets all his ideas? ‘[imitating Trump friend] You know, Donald, I was thinking, your situation kind of reminds me of — well, the Salem witch trials. It’s almost like it’s a hunt — for witches, Donald. You know, like a witch hunt.’” — SETH MEYERS“He just sat back and he thought about it and he came to the conclusion that, yes, his friend was right. I’m sure he was just sitting in his study with a pipe and smoking jacket surrounded by walls of books, comparing himself to other historical examples famous persecuted Americans. ‘[imitating Trump] Let’s see. There’s me, there’s Rosa Parks, there’s Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter. I guess out of those three, it’s got to be me — if it’s those three.” — SETH MEYERS“I also love the idea that Trump sat back and thought about it, you know, after he finished conjugating ‘persecuted’: ‘[imitating Trump] Persecuted, persecution. They persecute and I’m the persecutee.’” — SETH MEYERSThe Punchiest Punchlines (Monkeypox Takes New York Edition)“On Saturday, the W.H.O. declared monkeypox a global health emergency. No, no, W.H.O.! No new health emergencies until you finish your Covid, little mister!” — STEPHEN COLBERT“Why? Why! Another global health emergency? No! We just got done with ignoring this pandemic, I don’t know if I can handle another one.” — TREVOR NOAH“The C.D.C. has provided some information on how monkeypox spreads, mainly through direct contact with an infectious rash and bodily fluids, which is why they say, when at all possible, people with monkeypox should handle their own soiled laundry. That C.D.C. report was written by Dr. Mom-who-is-sick-of-this: ‘You’re 23, Jordan! Go to a laundromat!’” — STEPHEN COLBERT“The reason monkeypox has been upped to emergency status is because it’s spreading faster than the scientists had expected. As of today, New York City alone has logged over 1,000 cases. That is unacceptable. The only disease you should contract in New York is herpes from a subway pole. Welcome to our beautiful city! Touch nothing.” — STEPHEN COLBERT“And also, why is New York the epicenter again, huh? Haven’t we been through enough? Hurricane Sandy, coronavirus, the Knicks. No, I’m joking, I’m joking — Sandy wasn’t a complete disaster.” — TREVOR NOAH“Seriously, people, what is it about New York? Why do diseases love it, you know? What is it about this place, outside of the rats and cockroaches and the subways full of feces and pounds of garbage on the sidewalk?’” — TREVOR NOAHThe Bits Worth WatchingToro y Moi performed “Millennium” from his new album “Mahal” on Monday’s “Tonight Show.”What We’re Excited About on Tuesday NightSt. Vincent will perform the second night of her weeklong residency on Tuesday’s “Late Show.”Also, Check This OutJoni Mitchell, who has rarely appeared in public in recent years, performed some of her most iconic songs, including an extended guitar solo on “Just Like This Train” from her “Court and Spark” album.Nina WesterveltJoni Mitchell made a surprise appearance at the Newport Folk Festival on Sunday and performed live for the first time in two decades. More

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      ‘Better Call Saul’ Season 6, Episode 10 Recap: Sweet Revenge

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      Gene Takavic, a.k.a, Saul Goodman, thwarts an enemy using little more than his wits and a lot of sugar.Season 6, Episode 10: ‘Nippy’A mystery has lurked in the post-“Breaking Bad” timeline of “Better Call Saul,” when our favorite plaintiff’s attorney has become Gene Takavic, manager of a Cinnabon at an Omaha mall. Each season of “Better Call Saul” has opened with a few minutes of Gene’s life, shot in black and white, a glimpse at a life filled with frosting, tedium and dread. Saul is an hourly wage drudge who lives alone and constantly scans for anyone who might recognize him from his days as a wanted man in the aftermath of “Breaking Bad” infamy.Last season, his worst nightmare was realized. A guy named Jeff — a slightly menacing cabbie who had spent time in Albuquerque and had seen Saul on TV and billboard ads — confronted Saul during a lunch break at the mall and elicited a confession.“I know who you are, you know who you are,” Jeff said, creepily. “Let’s just get past that.”How Saul would handle this potential catastrophe was one of the questions looming in the final season, and in this week’s episode, we get the answer. Saul falls back on his gift for elaborate cons. He persuades Jeff and a co-conspirator to shoplift thousands of dollars worth clothing from a store at the mall where Saul works, a heist that succeeds only because Saul distracts the mall’s security officer from a bank of surveillance video screens with — what else? — a nightly Cinnabon.Once the crime has been committed, Saul explains to Jeff and his confederate that they both could be prosecuted for federal crimes. So never speak to Gene/Saul again. Or visit the mall.The blackmailer, in other words, is blackmailed. Or checkmated, if you prefer. So much for Jeff.Your Faithful Recapper found much of this unsatisfying, although before he could get to that feeling, he had to work through some confusion. The Jeff in this episode isn’t the same as the original Jeff. (Don Harvey was reportedly unable to reprise the role because of a contractual commitment with another show.) The issue with the change goes beyond continuity in the most cosmetic sense. The new Jeff, as embodied by Pat Healy, seems like a different character — more malleable and less intimidating.The Return of ‘Better Call Saul’The “Breaking Bad” prequel is ending this year.A Refresher: Need to catch up? Here’s where things left off after the first seven episodes of the show’s final season, which aired this spring.Bob Odenkirk: After receiving a fifth Emmy nomination in July, the star discussed bringing some measure of self-awareness to the character of Saul for his final bow.Stealing the Show: Kim Wexler’s long slide toward perdition has become arguably the narrative keystone of the series, thanks to Rhea Seehorn’s performance.Writing the Perfect Con: We asked the show’s writers to break down a pivotal scene in the ​​transformation of Jimmy McGill into Saul Goodman.And that, it turns out, is the right way to play Jeff. The Don Harvey version of the guy seemed like a serious criminal, perhaps a hit man, or security for a cartel heavy. We first laid eyes on Jeff at the start of Season 4, a pair of very ominous eyes staring at Saul through a rear view mirror. He seemed like a looming fiasco.So early in “Nippy,” when Saul says, “I know what you really want; you want in the game,” you think he’s about to discuss major felonies, perhaps a drug deal. After all, Jeff would have known Saul as a figure in a spectacular meth bust.When Saul offers help engineering a scam to steal Air Jordans and Armani suits, it jars. The crime seems too small-bore. In actuality, it’s a perfect fit for the character on the page and the version of Jeff in this episode. He’s a divorced man who has money troubles and lives with his mom (played straight and beautifully by Carol Burnett). Earning a few thousand dollars with stolen clothing is just his speed.By the end of this episode, it’s clear that the Jeff problem is not that big a deal — more an unpleasant inconvenience than mortal threat. That’s a letdown because viewers could be forgiven for thinking that Jeff was a genuine impediment, not a goofball who nearly bungles a (relatively) modest robbery.Now let’s discuss context and timing. Giving over an entire episode to one caper puts a lot of pressure on that caper, and this one had the same flaw as parts of the Get Howard Scheme. It felt low-stakes and a bit broad, a tone that felt out of place after the departure of Kim and the murder of Howard. With three episodes left, it seems odd that the writers devised a tale in which Saul snookers a mall cop with an oversized pastry. The show should be steamrolling toward the resolution of tantalizing conflicts, threads that we viewers can’t wait to see tied together. At the moment, with Lalo dead and with Jeff neutralized, we don’t know what those conflicts will be.That said, Your Faithful Recapper would bet that the best episodes of this show are ahead of it. This one ends with Saul visiting the slightly depleted department store and draping a very garish tie over a busily patterned shirt. It’s a moment of nostalgia, a chance to look briefly at his old costume. He nearly revs up a fake smile, the one he always used when greeting a new client. But before he truly grins, he returns to his senses and puts the clothing back on the rack.Cinnabon, Up CloseThis week, we break from the usual closing format of “Odds and Ends” to bring you an interview. In May, Your Faithful Recapper called the Cinnabon headquarters in Atlanta and talked with Michael Alberici, the company’s head of marketing, to learn more about its relationship with “Better Call Saul.” Now that the show has aired an episode that all but co-stars one Cinnabon after another, it’s time to excerpt that discussion.Toward the end of “Breaking Bad,” Saul says that his best case scenario is winding up as a manager as a Cinnabon in Omaha. What did you guys think when you heard that line?Our phones blew up. People were calling to say, “Did you see that?” And our social media team swung into action and they sent a tweet to Bob Odenkirk with a cheeky message, something like: “We hear you’re looking for a job. Here’s how to apply,” with a link to our careers page.How much do you participate in the show?The show is very secretive about the scripts, which is fine, of course. They just call us and ask us to set up the store, which is actually in a mall in Albuquerque, a former Cinnabon that’s now closed. So each time, we recreate the bakery — the ovens, the mixers, the hot plates and everything else are in a storage facility — and we send thousands of fresh rolls. We train the actors as if they’re real team members, so they know how to interact with extras. The actors at the cash register know all the mannerisms, they know what to do.Do you have any agreement with the producers, any guardrails about the way the company is represented?We just have to trust that they have the brand’s best interests in mind. And if there were to be some crazy story line in which the store blows up, we’ll handle it. We monitor social media and the press daily, and right now there’s a lot of talk about whether Cinnabon will show up again in “Better Call Saul.” It keeps our brand top of mind for consumers around the world. We’d be crazy to put stipulations around this opportunity.Saul Goodman looks like he would rather be doing anything other than working at a Cinnabon. What does the company make of the way it’s portrayed on the show?We definitely don’t take it as a ding on the brand. I mean, he might not like his job, but that has no impact on the company. They always make that store look like a well-oiled machine. The bakery looks great. He’s miserable, but hey, the rolls are hot. More

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      What’s on TV This Week: ‘Irma Vep’ and ‘Riverdale’

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      A mini-series from Olivier Assayas wraps up on HBO. And the long-running CW show based on the Archie comics ends its penultimate season.With network, cable and streaming, the modern television landscape is a vast one. Here are some of the shows, specials and movies coming to TV this week, July 25-31. Details and times are subject to change.MondayIRMA VEP 9 p.m. on HBO. This limited series, which stars Alicia Vikander, will end its first season on Monday. Its eight-episodes follow Mira (Vikander), an American actress who goes to France to star in a remake of the French silent film “Les Vampires.” While there, she struggles to keep her personal world and the world of her character separate. The show is written by Olivier Assayas, who wrote the 1996 film of the same name, but it isn’t a sequel or a remake, Assayas told The New York Times. “Turning ‘Irma Vep’ into the new ‘Irma Vep’ is like moving from poetry to novel,” he said, “and to a thick novel.”TuesdayMH370: MYSTERY OF THE LOST FLIGHT 8 p.m. on History. Eight and a half years after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared, History will air an original documentary about the flight. Though the official search for the missing plane and passengers ended in 2018, people have not stopped trying to come up with theories and to find evidence about what might have happened to the plane. In this documentary, experts discuss possible explanations for the disappearance.WednesdayA still from “We Met in Virtual Reality.”HBOWE MET IN VIRTUAL REALITY (2022) 9 p.m. on HBO. Exploring a new kind of reality, this HBO documentary is filmed completely within Virtual Reality. We have seen V.R. help autistic children experience the world, allow older adults relive their memories and become a general means of communication. This movie expands the idea of using V.R. in day-to-day life and follows the stories of four sets of people who are using V.R. to connect romantically, start new businesses and improve accessibility for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.ThursdayMAGIC MOMENTS — THE BEST OF ’50s POP 8:30 p.m. on PBS (check local listings). Originally filmed in Atlantic City, N.J., in 2004, this show is hosted by Mary Lou Metzger, Phyllis McGuire and Pat Boone. It features performances by Debbie Reynolds, Patti Page and the Chordettes, plus a reunion of the McGuire Sisters. Cue the nostalgia.FATAL FLAW: A SPECIAL EDITION OF 20/20 10 p.m. on ABC. This four-part documentary show uses firsthand perspectives from investigators and journalists — as well as dollhouse re-creations of homicide scenes — to look at how detectives tracked down different killers. Thursday’s finale focuses on a crime that was solved by a clue found in a kitchen freezer.HELL OF A WEEK WITH CHARLAMAGNE THA GOD 11:30 p.m. on Comedy Central. Charlamagne Tha God’s show, formerly known as “Tha God’s Honest Truth,” got a big rebrand this year: This season is formatted like a talk show, whereas last season had more of a variety format. The new season, entitled “Hell of a Week With Charlamagne Tha God,” will feature celebrity guests — including politicians and comedians — who have a range of political views. (Last season’s guests included Vice President Kamala Harris, Ed Sheeran and Kevin Hart.)FridayBARRY LYNDON (1975) 8 p.m. on TCM. This Stanley Kubrick film stars Ryan O’Neal as a man who climbs the ranks of wealth and privilege after being left homeless by a duel. (The film was adapted from a novel by William Makepeace Thackeray, itself based on a true story.) “‘Barry Lyndon’ is another fascinating challenge from one of our most remarkable, independent-minded directors,” the film critic Vincent Canby wrote in his review for The Times. If you are in the mood for a Stanley Kubrick double feature, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971) airs on TCM right after “Barry Lyndon.”SaturdayDaniel Day-Lewis in “Phantom Thread.”Laurie Sparham/Focus FeaturesPHANTOM THREAD (2017) 8 p.m. on TCM. In this movie, Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Day-Lewis teamed up for a second time (10 years after “There Will Be Blood”) to take the audience to a dressmaking business in the 1950s. Day-Lewis plays Reynolds Woodcock, a renowned dressmaker to the rich and famous. He is also a notorious playboy — until he meets Alma (Vicky Krieps), who becomes his muse. “Not every movie about an artist is a self-portrait of its director,” A.O. Scott wrote in his review for The Times, “but ‘Phantom Thread’ almost offhandedly lays out intriguing analogies between Reynolds’s métier and Mr. Anderson’s.”SundayFrom left, Cole Sprouse, Lili Reinhart and KJ Apa in “Riverdale.”Michael Courtney/The CWRIVERDALE 6 p.m. on the CW. This season of “Riverdale,” the downbeat and dramatic TV adaptation of the Archie comics, has included superpowers, a Barchie (the couple name given to Betty and Archie by their fans) relationship and a parallel universe. Sunday night’s episode is the season finale. The cast has recently been shooting its seventh and final season in Vancouver.CITY ON A HILL 10 p.m. on Showtime. Set in the 1990s, this show follows an F.B.I. veteran (Kevin Bacon) and an assistant district attorney (Aldis Hodge) as they try to change Boston’s criminal justice system. The show’s new, third season will follow Bacon’s character, Jackie Rohr, as he lands a new gig after leaving the F.B.I. It also keeps up with Hodge’s character, Decourcy Ward, as he continues working to fix the broken criminal justice system. When the show debuted in 2019, Ben Affleck, one of its executive producers, wrote in an email to The Times that his inspiration to develop the series came from his research for the movie “The Town” (2010), which was also set in Boston. This show, Affleck explained, allowed for a wider exploration of“what was going on politically, socioeconomically, racially and culturally at the time I kind of came of age there.” More

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      Taurean Blacque, Actor Best Known for ‘Hill Street Blues,’ Dies at 82

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      He received an Emmy nomination for his work as Detective Neal Washington, a character he strove to portray as something other than “that hip, jive Black man.”Taurean Blacque, the actor best known for his Emmy-nominated performance as a detective on the critically acclaimed NBC drama series “Hill Street Blues,” died on Thursday in Atlanta. He was 82.His family announced the death in a statement. It did not specify a cause, saying only that he died after a brief illness.Mr. Blacque, who began his career as a stage actor in New York, had several television appearances under his belt when, in 1981, he landed his breakthrough role: the street-smart Detective Neal Washington on “Hill Street Blues,” which drew praise for its realistic portrayal of the day-to-day reality of police work and was nominated for 98 Emmy Awards in its seven seasons, winning 26.The part of Washington, Mr. Blacque later recalled, was sketchily written, and it was his choice to play the character as quiet and reflective. “I think the original concept was that hip, jive Black man, you know,” he told TV Guide. “But I wanted to turn it around a little, give him some depth, not get into that stereotype.”Mr. Blacque was nominated for a 1982 Primetime Emmy for best supporting actor in a drama series, but he lost to his fellow cast member Michael Conrad. (All the nominees in the category that year — the others were Charles Haid, Michael Warren and Bruce Weitz — were members of the “Hill Street Blues” cast.)“Hill Street Blues” ended its run in 1987, and two years later Mr. Blacque starred with Vivica A. Fox and others on the NBC soap opera “Generations.” Probably the most racially diverse daytime drama of its era, “Generations” dealt with the relationship over the years between two Chicago families, one white and one Black. Mr. Blacque played the owner of a chain of ice cream parlors.He later moved to Atlanta, where he was active on the local theater scene, appearing in productions of August Wilson’s “Jitney,” James Baldwin’s “The Amen Corner” and other plays. He was also involved in the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C.Taurean Blacque was born Herbert Middleton Jr. on May 10, 1940, in Newark. His father was a dry cleaner, his mother a nurse.He graduated from Arts High School in Newark but did not decide to pursue an acting career until he was almost 30 and working as a mail carrier. He enrolled at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York in 1969 and, he told USA Today, “Once I found out that acting was my niche, I poured all my energies into it.”He said he chose the stage name Taurean Blacque (Taurus was his astrological sign) in part as a way to get casting directors’ attention. Eventually, after several years of paying dues, he did.Work in community theater in New York led to roles with the Negro Ensemble Company and eventually to Hollywood, where he landed guest roles on “Sanford and Son,” “Taxi,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “The Bob Newhart Show” and other TV series before being cast on “Hill Street Blues.”In addition to being an actor, Mr. Blacque, who had two biological sons and adopted 11 other children, was an adoption advocate. He was the spokesman for the Los Angeles County adoption service. In 1989, President George Bush appointed him the national spokesman for adoption.Mr. Blacque’s survivors include 12 children, 18 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.The Associated Press contributed reporting. More

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      Stephen Colbert Goes Live After Thursday’s Jan. 6 Hearing

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      “Yes, he is a stain on our history, and thanks to these hearings, we know that stain is ketchup,” Stephen Colbert said of Donald Trump.Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous night’s highlights that lets you sleep — and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now.The Insurrection Will Be TelevisedThe lengthy Jan. 6 hearing on Thursday night highlighted former President Donald Trump’s lack of attempts to stop the insurrection on the Capitol, instead choosing to watch Fox News in the White House dining room.“He chose not to act. Same review he got for ‘Home Alone 2,’” Stephen Colbert said on Thursday’s live edition of “Late Night.”“He did not call them from a box. He did not call while watching Fox. He did not help out Uncle Sam. His brain is made of eggs and ham. But, in his defense, it is possible he forgot the number for 9-1-1.” — STEPHEN COLBERT, on news that Trump didn’t reach out to any security officials on Jan. 6“Yes, he is a stain on our history — and thanks to these hearings, we know that stain is ketchup.” — STEPHEN COLBERT, referring to Representative Adam Kinzinger’s referring to Trump’s inaction as “a stain” on our history“So, all in all, it was a long night — almost three hours — but it wasn’t nearly as long as the 187 minutes where the former president did nothing to stop an ongoing insurrection that he created and then watched it all in glee as it played out on TV. Let’s just hope some of his followers were watching this tonight.” — STEPHEN COLBERTThe Punchiest Punchlines (‘Positive’ News for Biden Edition)“The White House announced that President Biden has a mild case of Covid. On the bright side, it’s the first positive news Biden’s gotten in months.” — JIMMY FALLON“Now of course, the big story today is that President Biden tested positive for Covid, but according to the White House, Biden is feeling pretty good for a 300-year-old man.” — RUPAUL, guest host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live”“President Biden tested positive today for the coronavirus. Luckily, we’ve all been keeping our distance.” — SETH MEYERS“Joe said his symptoms are mild, and he’ll be back to falling off his bike in no time.” — RUPAUL“Get well soon, sir. You made it through the Spanish flu; you can make it through this.” — TREVOR NOAH“Biden hasn’t been this sick since the time he got scurvy on Noah’s Ark.” — RUPAUL“That’s right, Covid isn’t going to slow Joe Biden down because he can’t get any slower.” — STEPHEN COLBERTThe Bits Worth WatchingJimmy Fallon announced his book club’s latest selection on Thursday’s “Tonight Show”: “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow,” by Gabrielle Zevin.Also, Check This OutFrom left, Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer and Brandon Perea in “Nope,” the latest feature from the director Jordan Peele.Universal PicturesJordan Peele’s “Nope” stars Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer as brother-and-sister horse wranglers defending the family ranch from an extraterrestrial threat. More