TV Reviews

Late-Night Infomercial Meets Telethon: What 1st DNC Night Was Like For Viewers

5:11pm August 18, 2020

Political conventions are made for TV. But this year's Democratic National Convention was virtual only. NPR discusses how the first night played out for viewers.

Halt! Cthulhu goes there? (L to R):Uncle George (Courtney B. Vance), Atticus (Jonathan Majors) and Letitia (Jurnee Smollett) in HBO's Lovecraft Country.

Arts

'Lovecraft Country': Facing Monsters —And A Monstrous History

7:00am August 16, 2020

by Glen Weldon

HBO's new dark fantasy series serves up satisfyingly pulpy thrills even as it examines the enduring legacy of slavery through a prism of science-fiction and horror.

Arts

HBO's 'Lovecraft Country' Puts A Bold New Spin On The Works Of A Horror Legend

1:38pm August 14, 2020

by David Bianculli

A new 10-part drama upends the stories of H.P. Lovecraft, presenting a narrative in which the heroes are Black, the setting is the racially divided 1950s, and each episode seems to have its own tone.

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Arts

HBO's 'Lovecraft Country' Brings Viewers To A World Of Monsters, Magic and Racism

5:56am August 14, 2020

by Eric Deggans

The new HBO Series Lovecraft Country mixes the real horrors of 1950's Jim Crow America with the imaginary horrors of author H.P Lovecraft.

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What TV Programs To Expect This Fall

4:06pm August 12, 2020

by Eric Deggans

A virtual TV critics summer tour has ended. NPR's TV critic talks about the most interesting programs to expect this fall.

Arts

'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Sketches Out Life In The Bottom Berths Of The Starship

2:18pm August 11, 2020

by David Bianculli

A new CBS All Access cartoon focuses on the ensigns who populate the ship's lower decks — and are charged with mostly menial tasks, like fetching drinks or repairing food replicators.

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L to R: Ensigns Tendi (voiced by Noel Wells), Mariner (voiced by Tawny Newsome) and Boimler (voiced by Jack Quaid) do the grunt work on Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Books
Arts

With 'Star Trek: Lower Decks,' A Venerable Franchise Loosens Up

5:00am August 06, 2020

by Glen Weldon

The animated series spoofs Trek with in-jokes and easter eggs and even if the gags aren't yet firing on all nacelles, the premise — Starfleet's D-listers — holds promise.

Author Michelle McNamara, in the HBO documentary series based on her book.

Arts

'I'll Be Gone In The Dark' Sheds Light On Both Justice And Its Pursuers

10:11am August 03, 2020

by Linda Holmes

By the end of the HBO docuseries, you may not know much more about the case writer Michelle McNamara pursued until her death. But you will know more about the price of that pursuit.

Arts

'Muppets Now' Proves: It's Not Easy To Capture The Old Muppet Magic

2:04pm July 31, 2020

by David Bianculli

A new comedy from The Muppets Studio features familiar characters and a few new ones. But the Disney+ series isn't nearly as funny as the original — and many of its sketches go on too long.

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HBO's 'Weight Of Gold' Examines Olympians' Psychological Struggles

5:28am July 29, 2020

by Eric Deggans

A new HBO documentary explores the mental health challenges of Olympic athletes. The Weight Of Gold is deep and revealing. It is also problematically not diverse.