television
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 …
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 …
‘Chicago Fire’ prop master sets stage for realistic TV
Billy D’ Ambra of Glen Ellyn keeps the show stocked with fake axes, needles and corpses.
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.
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.
Emmy Awards: Jeff Daniels among the surprise winners
LORI RACKL: The star of “The Newsroom” defeats Bryan Cranston and other formidable nominees in a night full of unusual upsets.
Anna Gunn of ‘Breaking Bad’ ready for a comedy
A Chicago actress (and waitress) before becoming Skyler White, the TV star wants to move on after “a lot of heavy, intense drama.”
Lori’s List: TV highlights for Sept. 17-23
“BROOKLYN NINE-NINE” (7:30 p.m. Tuesday on WFLD-Channel 32): Out of a weak crop of new fall sitcoms, this Andy Samberg-starring workplace comedy about a rag-tag group of New York Police Department detectives is the best of the bunch. Chicago’s own Andre Braugher nails it as …
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 …
10 promising shows coming on networks hungry for some hits
Broadcast TV’s new shows last fall had a pretty abysmal success rate.
Chicago Boyz go for the finals on ‘America’s Got Talent’
“We’ve been practicing hard,” says one young tumbler in the group competing for $1 million.
W. Kamau Bell kicks off daily show Wednesday on FXX
Chicago native W. Kamau Bell’s late-night talk show returns Wednesday on a new cable network, FXX, and in a new format, airing at 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays with best-of “mix tape” episodes on Sundays. Taking his outspoken, half-hour comedy chatfest about race, religion, politics …
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 …
‘American Idol’ taps Lopez, Connick as judges
LOS ANGELES — “American Idol” is betting that a judges’ remix with Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr. and Keith Urban will fare better with viewers than bickering divas Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj did last season. The rumored addition of Lopez and Connick as judges …
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 …
