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Lori’s List: ‘Super Fun Night,’ ‘Ironside’ go nowhere
“SUPER FUN NIGHT” (8:30 p.m., Wednesday, WLS-Channel 7): Rebel Wilson’s comedy about a trio of misfit shut-ins testing the social waters is neither super, nor fun. It’s more like Sad Downer Night watching the talented Wilson (“Bridesmaids,” “Pitch Perfect”) repeatedly exploit her own heft in …Read More
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Lori’s list: ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,’ ‘Masters of Sex’
“MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.”(7 p.m., Tuesday, WLS-Channel 7): Broadcast TV’s most anticipated new drama unfolds in the Marvel universe, picking up where the blockbuster “Avengers” film left off. Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) is back to lead a covert team of human heroes — not superheroes …Read More
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It’s all relatives on networks’ new sitcoms this fall
LORI RACKL: Nine of the 13 sitcoms debuting on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox revolve around families, but some of them lack big laughs in their DNA.
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Queen Latifah eyes the daytime throne
CULVER CITY, Calif. — “Do you want to be the next Oprah?” It’s a question asked a lot lately of Queen Latifah, who jumps into the competitive daytime talk-show circuit Monday with her eponymous chatfest. Latifah’s answer: “There’s no such thing. Oprah is Oprah, and …
Lori’s List: Talkers on the TV schedule for Sept. 10-16
“BILLIE JEAN KING” (8 p.m. Tuesday on WTTW-Channel 11): PBS’ “American Masters” series devotes its first profile of a sports figure in its 27-year history to this groundbreaking tennis champ, one of the most important female athletes of the 20th century. Interviews with Venus and …
New online service another disruption for cable TV
Coming to Chicago: Aereo, which converts free, over-the-air signals — the same signals picked up with varying degrees of success by old-fashioned TV antennas — and sends them via the Internet to subscribers’ computers and mobile devices. For $8 a month, customers can watch live, local broadcast stations on their iPods, iPhones, desktops and laptops, as well as on HDTV screens connected to a Roku box or Apple TV.
Lori’s List — This week’s key television viewing
“LUTHER” (9 p.m. Tuesday on BBC America): Violence begets violence — that’s the disturbing thread running through this dark British crime drama starring Idris Elba (“Pacific Rim,” “The Wire”) in his Golden Globe-winning role as troubled detective John Luther. The miniseries returns with a consecutive …
Ballroom shakeup
The rumor mill is in overdrive as the cast of next season’s “Dancing with the Stars” is set to be revealed Wednesday on “Good Morning America.” Yogurt shill John Stamos and self-professed meatball Snooki are a few of the names being bandied about. “Glee” star …
Chloe Bennet hacks and wisecracks on ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’
The Chicago native goes from Chinese pop princess to computer genius as co-star of this fall’s most buzzed about new show.
Cecily Strong gives Seth Meyers hope for the future of ‘SNL’
LORI RACKL: As the show enters a transition following some high-profile exits, Meyers sees big things for the Oak Park native who “has kind of blown everybody away.”
Park Ridge teen mans a vintage videocam in ‘The Goldbergs’
Sean Giambrone, 14, makes his television series debut in the new 1980s-set sitcom.
‘Boss’ actors move on to ‘Chicago Fire’
LORI RACKL: Five cast members from the acclaimed Kelsey Grammer series stay in Chicago to act on NBC’s firefighting show.
Daymon Patterson takes the driver’s seat with TV show
LORI RACKL: The YouTube favorite reviews Chicago fast food on the premiere of his Travel Channel series “Best Daym Takeout.”
‘Project Runway’ picks 2 designers with Chicago ties
LORI RACKL: Kahindo Mateene and Justin LeBlanc both were trained here on their way to Lifetime’s fashion competiton.
Murder case’s subplots shore up ‘The Bridge’ on FX
LORI RACKL: Despite a few bumps in the road, FX’s new crime drama “The Bridge” has enough twists and turns to make for an interesting ride.
Chicagoans brave the wilds on new Bear Grylls show
LORI RACKL: Two duos with local roots — a pair of girlfriends, and a father and daughter — vie for $500,000 on NBC’s survival competition “Get Out Alive.”
CBS Summer debut of ‘Under the Dome’ looks promising
LORI RACKL: CBS’ pulpy, intriguing new series “Under the Dome,” adapted from a Stephen King novel, is the most promising show launching on broadcast television this summer, a season long-ignored by traditional TV networks.
Two Chicagoans leave life behind for CBS’ Big Brother
Andy Herren has to skip town this summer, which pains the Lake View resident . Alas, the “Big Brother” crew came a-knockin’, told Herren to pack his bags and gave him a key to his new home: a house in California tricked out with 53 …
Predictable turns mar series from Marc Cherry, Eva Longoria
LORI RACKL: The maids are more tedious than devious in Lifetime’s new dramedy loosely based on a Mexican telenovela. “Devious Maids” puts a lot of dusty cliches to work in this largely dull series that’s gotten some heat for perpetuating the Latina-maid stereotype.
James Caan learns to say ‘Wilmette’ to play Chicago mobster on ‘Magic City’
James Caan turns up the heat in Miami when he joins Starz’ 1959 period drama, “Magic City,” this season as Jewish mobster Sy Berman, head of the Chicago Outfit.
