Television

Season 5, Episode 5: ‘Dedicado a Max’There’s a pleasing symmetry to “Dedicado a Max,” an episode that could be more accurately titled “A Tale of Two Coots.” The bifurcated plot revolves around a pair of ornery old men. Both are natural-born fighters who don’t like to be told what to do. One is in a house that people want him evicted from, that he refuses to leave. The other is in a house that people want to stay in that he would like to flee.The latter is Mike, who doesn’t seem particularly grateful for the lifesaving measures taken by Gus Fring, who has created a makeshift hospital somewhere in Mexico, complete with high-tech medical equipment, a surgeon and a housekeeper. Mike’s first thought is to escape this idyll. His second is to call Gus and bark: “This is not my beautiful house. This is not my beautiful wife. How did I get here?”OK, those are not direct quotes, but they capture the gist. Fring turns up at the end of the episode to explain that he has saved Mike’s life because he needs some muscle and smarts in the coming war with the Salamancas. The scene, the finest of the episode, plumbs a theme dear to the show’s creators, which also loomed large in “Breaking Bad.” Can acts of kindness make up for acts of evil? Is there a karmic ledger that allows this kind of moral accounting, where pluses and minuses are tallied and zeroed out?“The anonymous benefactor,” says Mike, all but sneering. “Well that must make you feel pretty good. And is that supposed to balance the scales, make up for everything else you do?”“It makes up for nothing,” Fring replies. “I am what I am.”This might be a variation of a line by Iago, the ur-villain of “Othello,” who promises to hide his true self when he says “I am not what I am.” Fring is not what he appears to be, either. Or at least there is much more to him than he lets on. This dialogue unfolds next to a memorial to Max Arciniega, the love of his life and the man to whom this health clinic is dedicated. (Hence the episode’s name.) So we get an added layer of pathos, not visible to Mike. We are watching a man remember and mourn as he tries to convey an aura of invulnerability.The other coot in this episode is Everett Acker, a.k.a. Mr. Hell No. As his lawyer, Jimmy has an approach to jurisprudence that could be defined as “strict obstructionist,” and he finds ever more inventive ways to prevent Mesa Verde’s bulldozers from bulldozing.This enrages Kevin Wachtell (Rex Linn), Mesa Verde’s chief executive, who is eager to start building his call center and fumes at every delay. Instead of bouncing Kim off the case because her boyfriend is suing the bank, Wachtell keeps Kim in situ, arguing that he wants the best to manage this brawl. This gets awkward fast and eventually Kim’s boss, Rich Schweikart, suggests it’s time for her to hand off Mesa Verde to colleagues.Schweikart has seen through Kim’s ruse — she’s helping Jimmy undermine Mesa Verde — which might explain her reaction. She expresses the kind of rage one feels after getting caught. This leads to the episode’s most implausible moment. She follows Schweikart out of her office, down the hall and confronts him in full view of other employees.I can understand why Kim would go all-in at this moment. I just don’t grasp why she did it in such a public space, instead of conferring in Schweikert’s office, per his urging. This is out of character, given Kim’s impeccable instincts about professional appearances. So the scene comes across as gratuitously dramatic, at least by the standards of realism set by this show.Let’s hope that Kim is a step ahead of all of us and that this was a ploy.While we’re on ploys, one of the episode’s highlights is the arrival of “Mr. X,” a.k.a. Sobchak (played by the “Walking Dead” veteran Steven Ogg), who was last seen in Season 1, getting disarmed and throat-punched by Mike as he auditioned for a bodyguard gig. He’s far better as a private detective, it turns out. He has been hired by Jimmy, through the “underground Craigslist,” to scrape up raw material that could be used to blackmail Wachtell. Sobchak has broken into Wachtell’s home and photographed the place.What did he find? Apparently nada. The blackmail approach seems doomed. Then, after Sobchak has been ushered out of the back of the nail salon where this debriefing occurs, Kim looks at some interior shots of Wachtell’s home and smiles. She’s spotted something incriminating.So here’s the question: What is it? The two images that improve her mood both include renderings of Mesa Verde’s corporate logo, a horse-rising cowboy. One is a vintage black and white, beside family photographs. Cut to Kim, at her office computer, comparing the outline of that photograph to the corporate logo. Then to a Mesa Verde ad, which apparently refers to the year of the bank’s founding, 1958.Those are our clues, people, and this is classic “Better Call Saul.” The show has a way of turning us all into Watsons to some character’s Sherlock. If you have a notion of what made Kim smile, please share.Odds and Ends:Broadly speaking, “Better Call Saul” is divided into two strands: a legal plot (about Kim’s and Jimmy’s travails as lawyers and people) and a narco plot (about Gus’s and Lalo’s efforts to dominate the local drug market). The last two episodes have leaned heavily into the legal plot, so much so that Lalo has been absent from both, and Hank and Gomez did not appear in this one.As a fan of the narco plot, I hope that Mike’s journey from depression and surgery to health and (eventual) vigor will mean it gets at least equal time on the show, perhaps more.Come back, Lalo. We miss you.We have finally learned what turns Jimmy on, sexually. Role play. He gets a bit hot and bothered when Kim does a fine impression of Wachtell beside his golf course, reacting angrily to news that ground can’t yet be broken on that call center. Most role play revolves around archetypes that include such classics as the naughty nurse. Not Jimmy’s taste. He’s partial to grumpy, middle-aged bank executives.“Kevin,” he says to Kim, when she’s finished with her Kevin impression. “Would you care to take a shower with me?”Different strokes.In the episode’s last line, Fring says he has chosen Mike as his “button man” because Mike understands a crucial concept: revenge. It’s a stellar ending, and it strongly suggests that Gus has studied Mike’s history enough to know his darkest secret: what Mike did in Philadelphia to avenge his son’s murder.Some parting questions. What is up with Howard and his efforts to recruit Jimmy to his firm? It has to be more than a way to keep Patrick Fabian busy, doesn’t it? But what exactly does Howard want?Please share your guesses, about this and other mysteries described above, in the comments section.Meantime, I have to make a call. More

“Saturday Night Live” became the latest topical comedy series to suspend its season amid concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. “S.N.L.,” the late-night NBC variety sketch program, had been on a scheduled hiatus after its March 7 broadcast and was expected to return on March 28. But the series “will now not resume production until further notice,” NBC said in a statement on Monday. The network added, “We will monitor the situation closely and make decisions about future shows on an ongoing basis as further information develops.”“S.N.L.,” which is currently in its 45th season and is broadcast from NBC’s New York headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, joins the ranks of other programs like “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “Late Night With Seth Meyers” and “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” which have all halted their seasons during the spread of the coronavirus.During its many years on the air, “S.N.L.” has occasionally been suspended in midseason by writers’ strikes. After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the show was back on the air in less than a month; its Sept. 29 season premiere that year opened memorably with an introduction by then-Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and the singer-songwriter Paul Simon, who performed “The Boxer,” a song about showing resilience in the face of hardship. More

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In related news, the feud between Kenya and fellow ‘RHOA’ star NeNe doesn’t show any sign of ending as the two nemesis are involved in a heated argument during the ladies’ trip to Greece.
Mar 16, 2020
AceShowbiz – The upcoming reunion special of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” season 12 is going to be epic, according to Kenya Moore. The cast member of the Bravo reality series recently took to her Instagram account to allude that she would be bringing receipts in the upcoming reunion.
“RHOA Season 12 Reunion will be EPIC! The #TRUTH about all these #FAKE friendships will be exposed,” so the mom of one wrote alongside a picture of a pile of receipts. “Secrets have been kept way too long. All the snake’s heads will be cut off. My receipts are ready.”
Even though it seems like Kenya will come prepared to the filming, people didn’t really think that things would go in her way. “Kenya with the karma. Porsha and nene are cool. Let it go,” one fan said, referring to fellow “RHOA” stars Porsha Williams and NeNe Leakes. Seemingly thinking of Kenya being childish, another fan wrote, “How old is she? Why is she acting like this?”
Some others suggested Kenya to mind her business and her failed marriage to Marc Daly, with whom she shares daughter Brooklyn. “Kenya, sweetie, worry about ya little marriage baby girl……,” someone shared advice for her. Meanwhile, another comment read, “Where Marc receipts at though good sis? You always throwing shade till it come down to that miserable marriage,” with one person saying, “This is why her marriage is failing !!!!!!”
In related news, the feud between Kenya and NeNe doesn’t show any sign of ending. During the ladies’ trip to Greece, the two nemesis were involved in a heated argument. During an outing, NeNe calls out Cynthia for being too easy to Kenya. NeNe called Kenya a “big a** bully, b***h,” prompting Kenya to feel offended and reply, “Wait a minute. Did you just call me a b***h? What is this?”

NeNe wasn’t backing down and further challenged Kenya, “What are you gonna say about it, though? What are you gonna do about it?” When Kenya asked, “Do you want me to fight you? What are talking about?” NeNe responded, “No, you can’t fight me, girl. You would lose. So all you’re gonna do is run your mouth.” With that, all hell breaks loose. NeNe was later seen threatening to throw peanuts on Kenya.

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With schools in New York and many other places closed or closing soon, there’s a good chance that you and your children are about to spend a lot of coronavirus-mandated time together. And let’s face it, not all of that time will be spent on remote learning. You’ll both need a break, and you’ll probably already be in front of a screen.There is, of course, a world of classic content you can explore together, from film masterpieces like “Spirited Away” (for rent at Amazon, iTunes, Google Play and other sites) to vital series like “Adventure Time” (streaming on Hulu). But if you would like to try something fresher, here are four shows, new this year, that you can enjoy discovering with your children, or at least tolerate while you nod and check your email. They’re roughly in order by target audience, youngest to oldest.‘Powerbirds’What “The Powerpuff Girls” did for kindergartners, “Powerbirds” does for parakeets. The premise is simple but cleverly executed. Whenever Max, a comics-obsessed teenager, is hanging out in his room, his pet birds Ace and Polly hop and tweet harmlessly in the background. As soon as he leaves, however, they start to talk — like the pint-size but intrepid crimefighters they are — and zoom down to the Command Coop, donning their superhero tights along the way.Their missions around the neighborhood are not of the super-dangerous variety — one short episode finds them scrambling to keep leaves from falling into the wet cement of a new sidewalk. But the show, created by the editorial cartoonist and children’s-book author Stephen Breen, gives the costumed parakeets a snap, humor and sophistication that you might not expect in a series aimed at preschoolers. That’s especially true with regard to Polly, a plucky dame out of a vintage Hollywood comedy who’s played by the animation veteran Tara Strong, the voice of Bubbles in “The Powerpuff Girls.” (Universal Kids, 10 a.m. Sundays; universalkids.com)‘It’s Pony’It’s the story of a girl and her horse, with a few contemporary twists: They live with her parents in a high-rise apartment building and it’s the pony who’s the nosy, needy, irrepressible attention sponge who constantly gets them into jams. (“I’m friendly,” Pony says. “It’s who I am. It’s never been a problem.”) The girl, Annie, and her friends are a wise and patient group who grudgingly accept Pony’s disruptions as the price of adolescence; the highly driven Annie, voiced by Jessica DiCicco (“The Loud House,” “Adventure Time”), is a little like a kinder-gentler version of Kristen Schaal’s Louise in “Bob’s Burgers,” with the snark level adjusted for early-tween viewers.The full-gallop 15-minute stories, involving Pony’s innocent derailment of school projects or the infinite forbearance of Annie’s parents, are brisk and charming. But the real attraction of this standout show, which was created by the British animator Ant Blades, is the art, with its heavily outlined, scribbled, brightly colored characters moving across lulling, watercolor-like backgrounds. “It’s Pony” is an urban tale and the New York-like cityscapes and apartment interiors are rendered with surprising depth and detail for a Saturday-morning show. And it has an absolutely addictive theme song (“Pony on the sixth floor, pony in the bathroom …”), which, for parents, may or may not be a good thing. (Nickelodeon, 11:30 a.m. Saturdays; nick.com)‘The Owl House’Yes, Virginia, there’s still a Disney Channel, even though the streaming service Disney Plus is getting all the attention at the moment. And this supernatural comedy for tweens is a good reason to seek it out. It’s a wisecracking, fast-paced, pop-culture-savvy coming-of-age adventure in a classic sitcom style, with hints of Matt Groening (in the imaginative monsters) and Seth MacFarlane (in the lightly cynical repartee, pitched, at a guess, for 10-to-12-year-old ears).A Dominican-American teenager, Luz (Sarah-Nicole Robles), stumbles into an alternate world where magic and an ambient ooze are facts of life, and humans are looked down on as talentless wastes of space. It’s a setup for mean-girl and gross-out humor, and for positive lessons as Luz struggles for acceptance and tries to learn magic. The show’s irresistible force, though, is the instantly identifiable, bourbon-soaked voice of the wonderful Wendie Malick, who plays Eda, the impatient witch who takes on Luz as an apprentice and all-around punching bag. (Disney Channel, 8:47 and 9:11 p.m. Friday, then on midseason hiatus; Disney Now)‘Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts’This 10-episode eco-fantasy comes from DreamWorks Animation and Netflix, and it has a visual sophistication that separates it from the other shows here. (The show’s provenance also brings in voice actors like Sterling K. Brown, Dan Stevens, Lea DeLaria, John Hodgman and GZA for supporting characters.) Its story, about a 13-year-old who ventures to the surface of a post-apocalyptic earth and finds overgrown urban ruins and a colorful variety of mutant talking animals, is typical teenage-adventure fare. But its artwork, an integration of practical American action and Miyazaki-inflected anime splendor, will keep you in front of the screen after your bored teenagers have wandered off. (Netflix) More

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Even though the postponement is inevitable because putting everyone’s well-being should be the top priority, that doesn’t stop fans of the popular Starz TV show from feeling disappointed.
Mar 16, 2020
AceShowbiz – Coronavirus outbreak appears to be pissing off 50 Cent. The rapper/actor/producer recently took to his social media account to address the postponement of the production on the much-anticipated spin-offs of Starz’s “Power”, “Power Book II: Ghost” and “Power Book III: Raising Kanan”.
The “In Da Club” hitmaker shared on Saturday, March 14 a screenshot of an article that broke the news of the decision. “i had to do it we were the last production still working. f**k,” Fiddy begrudgingly wrote in the caption.
His followers assured him that it was the best decision because “Health comes first. Can’t knock it fif.” Another person added, “Better safe than sorry. In this case.” One other said, “Don’t worry champ @50cent Things will bounce back better.”
Commenting on how Coronavirus disease has massively affected the industry, someone commented, “WOW this corona s**t is f***in up everything.” Echoing the sentiment, one person added, “Smh corona messing up moves.”
Even though the postponement was inevitable because putting everyone’s well-being should be the top priority, that didn’t stop fans from feeling disappointed. “Damn. Right when we need power in case they make us stay indoors,” one noted. “Yeah but 50 what we gonna watch now when we’re ill with coronavirus, your shows are the illest knowwhatimsayin #trailerparkboys,” someone else wrote.
As reported back in February, Starz ordered 3 “Power” spin-offs, “Power Book III: Raising Kanan”, “Power Book IV: Influence” and “Power Book V: Force”, in addition to the already announced “Power Book II: Ghost”.
“Raising Kanan” is set to follow Kanan Stark during the ’90s as a prequel series. “Influence” will center on the character of Rashad Tate, while “Force” will tell the story about Tommy Egan leaving New York for good. As for “Ghost”, the upcoming show will continue where the original series leaves off.
“In television history, only a select few shows have inspired four consecutive series extensions, launched into active production and development at the same time,” said Jeffrey Hirsch, president and CEO of Starz. “These new and exciting chapters will continue the journey of some of ‘Power’ ‘s most controversial characters while featuring a growing ensemble of complex, distinct characters along with the high-octane drama that set ‘Power’ in a class of its own.”

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Concluding the night is Amber Field who impresses the judges after belting out Etta James’ ‘Trust in Me’ as Hollywood Week is set to start airing on March 16 at 8 P.M. on ABC.
Mar 16, 2020
AceShowbiz – “American Idol” season 18 aired its final night of auditions on Sunday, March 15. The episode opened with Robert Taylor who opted to perform “Bruises” by Lewis Capaldi in front of the judges, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. It was undeniably an epic performing, earning Robert three yeses and a ticket to Hollywood.
Following him up was Jafar Hurambi. He sang “Famous” by The Pussycat Dolls while dancing. The judges, however, didn’t think he was ready for Hollywood. Singing The Highwomen’s “Crowded Table” next was Grace Leer. The judges loved it and sent her to Hollywood. Joining her in heading to Hollywood was Franklin Boone after he impressed the judges with a performance of “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac.
Luke Stafford was the next performer, but he failed to captivate the judges’ hearts. Roselyn Carter then appeared, singing “So High” by John Legend and that was exactly what the judges were looking for. Offering a powerful performance was Megan Knight. She successfully nabbed a golden ticket to Hollywood.
Gilberto Rivera later got Katy excitedly dancing as he showed off his skills by performing “Proud Mary” by Tina Turner. Unsurprisingly, he was sent to Hollywood. Aliana Jester also secured a golden ticket after belting out “Who’s Lovin’ You” by the Jackson 5. Jahzan and Jordan Moyes also amazed the judges and headed to Hollywood.
Demi Rae performed next, singing a rendition of “Mad at You” by Noah Cyrus. It was a solid performance and the judges gave her a golden ticket. Getting three yes from the judges later was Makayla Brownlee, who stunned them with a performance of “Travelin’ Soldier” by Dixie Chicks. Concluding the night was Amber Field who opted to belt out Etta James’ “Trust in Me”.
“American Idol” will air Hollywood Week on March 16 at 8 P.M. on ABC.

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What’s on TVTHE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA 9 p.m. on HBO. Ed Burns and David Simon’s six-part adaptation of Philip Roth’s 2004 novel conjures an alternative history of the 1940s in which the United States takes a dark path under the sway of a popular demagogue. In the premiere episode, the tension is already beginning to build. Charles Lindbergh, a hero to many for his solo trans-Atlantic flight in 1927, foments anti-Semitic sentiment as he campaigns to prevent the United States from declaring war on Nazi Germany. Herman (Morgan Spector) and Elizabeth (Zoe Kazan), a working class couple Jewish couple in New Jersey, try to shield sons their sons Sandy and Phillip from the growing unrest while also wrangling with more mundane family issues. MY BRILLIANT FRIEND 10 p.m. on HBO. Spurred by the reported disappearance of the mercurial Lila, an aging Elena began to share the story of their transformative friendship at the beginning of the first season of this ongoing adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels. The two met as girls in a poor neighborhood in 1950s Naples. Both were promising students but only Elena was able to pursue her education. Despite her talent and spirit, Lila was left behind to ply her father’s trade and eventually accept the marriage proposal of a suitor. In the second season, based on Ferrante’s “The Story of a New Name,” the ambivalent but deep connection between the women continues to develop as Elena’s academic success takes her further from her community and Lila’s troubled relationship crumbles.What’s StreamingTHE LADY FROM SHANGHAI (1948) Stream on the Criterion Channel; rent on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu and YouTube. This film noir by Orson Welles includes just about everything one might expect: stylized black and white photography, an alluring but destructive femme fatale figure, and a plot rife with misdirection and sudden bursts of revelation. Welles stars as Michael, a sailor conscripted into a yacht trip from New York to San Francisco by Arthur, a wealthy lawyer, and his wife, Elsa (Rita Hayworth). Michael hopes to win Elsa’s affection, and is drawn into a scheme to help fake the death of Arthur’s partner George. But the deal Michael makes is not what it initially appears. In the hands of Welles, a master filmmaker, these conventional elements are used to explore identity, truth and desire.THE RETURN (2003) Stream on Acorn TV. Julie Walters plays Lizzie, a recovering alcoholic who is released from prison after serving a 10-year sentence for killing her husband in a drunken haze. As she readjusts to life on the outside, Lizzie’s memory of that event begins to return and she realizes that she may not have been her partner’s murderer. There’s an investigation, plot twists and salacious details aplenty but this film focuses on its imperfect main character’s struggle to reconcile herself with a past that she largely wasn’t really present for. More

The production of the hit NBC show has been put on hold following in the footsteps of ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ and ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ among others.
Mar 16, 2020
AceShowbiz – “America’s Got Talent has halted production due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The hit NBC show was filming auditions in Los Angeles up until Friday, March 13, with the absence of an audience, however out of an abundance of caution, the show is being closed down, according to the New York Post’s gossip column Page Six.
“The absolute priority is the care and well-being of the crew and everybody working on the show, and their families,” said a source from the production.

Following in the footsteps of programmes including “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”, “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”, “Late Night with Seth Meyers”, and “The Wendy Williams Show”, the show has halted production indefinitely after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.
It comes after judge Heidi Klum went off sick from the show on Tuesday after displaying symptoms of coronavirus, or Covid-19, with the supermodel now at home waiting for test results.
In a post online, Heidi also revealed that her husband Tom Kaulitz was also tested after he came home early from his tour after feeling sick. The two are now quarantined separately, she said.

“These are strange times… but in these moments, you remember what’s really important- the people you love and keeping them safe,” she said. “Sending all of you love and positivity and healing vibes… together we can get through this but we need to be proactive so that we can all have a bright and healthy future.”

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