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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.
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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.
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Daniel Sunjata, born in Chicago, likes ‘incredibly complex’ TV role
LORI RACKL: Don’t let the surfing shots fool you. USA Network’s new crime drama, “Graceland,” about a group of undercover agents living in a beachfront mansion, skews a bit darker than most of the cable net’s fare. It’s also more serialized, as viewers gradually learn more about Sunjata’s enigmatic FBI agent Paul Briggs.
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‘Check, Please!’ picks food consultant, ex-lawyer as new host
LORI RACKL: Elmwood Park native Catherine De Orio will replace Alpana Singh at the head of the table when WTTW’s popular restaurant-review show starts filming season 13 next month. “She pops off the screen,” says show creator David Manilow.
Staffers at Downers Grove office air their complaints — on TV
LORI RACKL: The new Fox reality show “Does Someone Have To Go?” gives employees the chance to ax problematic co-workers. Suburban Velocity Merchant Services is featured in the series premiere, airing Thursday.
Michael Douglas, Matt Damon shine in captivating Liberace movie
LORI RACKL: At first lighthearted and campy, HBO's “Behind the Candelabra” turns dark as it tells of the piano virtuoso's romance with the far younger Scott Thorson.
A poignant finale episode closes out ‘The Office’
LORI RACKL: Ain’t no party like a Scranton goodbye party, and the Dunder Mifflin gang proves it with big laughs, emotional moments and the return of the star we most wanted to see.
The paper pushers of ‘The Office’ left an imprint on TV
LORI RACKL: “The Office” is about to close for good, with Thursday’s 75-minute finale capping off a nine-season run. For me — and probably many fans — NBC’s workplace comedy really ended two years ago when Michael Scott left. That said, I’ll still be sad to see the groundbreaking sitcom go.
The personal lives of police at the heart of ‘Chicago Fire’ spinoff
LORI RACKL: Tonight’s “Fire” episode sets the tone for “Chicago PD,” an NBC show for next season that a producer says will “tell stories about what the cops go through personally, how they approach the job and how they interact with each other.”
10 buildings that revolutionized architecture, according to Geoffrey Baer
LORI RACKL: In his first national PBS special, the WTTW hosts highlights a diverse assortment of buildings that have influenced the nation’s architectural landscape.
Peter Sagal hits the road in a Harley to see the Constitution in action
LORI RACKL: The Oak Park radio host’s entertaining new PBS documentary brings the historic, often misunderstood document to life.
Al Jazeera adding Chicago reporters in push to expand U.S. audience
LORI RACKL: The Middle East-based news organization beefs up its Chicago bureau as it prepares to turn Al Gore’s Current TV into a 24/7 U.S. news channel, Al Jazeera America, later this summer.
‘Check, Please!’ host contenders get a taste of being on camera
LORI RACKL: The 17 remaining finalists hoping to succeed Alpana Singh step into the studio to helm a mock version of WTTW’s restaurant review show. This part of the audition process will be made into a behind-the-scenes special airing May 17.
Wilmette’s Nico Tortorella talks about his fate on ‘The Following’
LORI RACKL: The New Trier grad wishes he could have stayed longer on the Fox drama, which caps off its blood-soaked freshman season Monday.
CNN stumbles against TV’s instant 24/7 rivals in race to cover Boston Marathon tragedy
LORI RACKL: With virtual round-the-clock coverage of the most popular show on television Friday — “Manhunt” — broadcast networks beat cable news at its own game. CNN struggled the most this week when it came to chronicling the unfolding drama in Boston, but you wouldn’t know that by looking at the ratings.
Released inmate adjusts to freedom in engrossing Sundance series ‘Rectify’
LORI RACKL: Inspired by a succession of overturned death sentences in Illinois, the poignant story of a man set free from Death Row comes to life in “Rectify,” the beautifully paced series debuting Monday on Sundance Channel. A sneak peek screening takes place Tuesday at Music Box Theatre.
Online spoof of ‘The Bachelor’ next tears down ‘Bachelor Pad’
LORI RACKL: The husband-and-wife team behind the hilarious “Burning Love” launch their latest star-studded parody Friday on Yahoo Screen.
How Ike Barinholtz went from Windy City to ‘Mindy Project’
LORI RACKL: The Chicago-born comic, actor and Cub fan is a writer and — thanks to a promotion earlier this year — a series regular on Mindy Kaling’s Fox sitcom. He’d gladly sacrifice an Emmy if it meant his beloved Cubs could win the World Series.
NBC’s new ‘Hannibal’ has a look and a feel worth devouring
LORI RACKL: A delicious dive into the dark side, the serial-killer thriller pairs Dr. Hannibal Lecter with a tortured criminal profiler.
Single mom moves back home in a ‘topical, timely’ sitcom
LORI RACKL: ABC’s new midseason comedy “How To Live With Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life)” hits home with its creator, who moved back in with her parents as an adult. Starring Sarah Chalke, Brad Garrett and Elizabeth Perkins, the so-so pilot doesn’t make the most of the cast’s talent.
