Chicago Sun-Times

Lori’s List: ‘Super Fun Night,’ ‘Ironside’ go nowhere

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 02:17:43 -0500

“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 a failed attempt for cheap laughs. Rating: ★ “IRONSIDE” (9 p.m., Wednesday, WMAQ-Channel 5): What do beehives, freshly painted fingernails and Raymond Burr’s old cop drama have in common? They’re all things better left alone. But that didn’t stop NBC from rebooting this generic series with Blair Underwood as the detective in a wheelchair. While …

Lori’s list: ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,’ ‘Masters of Sex’

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 02:17:59 -0500

“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 — charged with protecting the planet from extraordinary threats. Co-created by fanboy favorite Joss Whedon, the show’s pricey-looking pilot caters to both comic book geeks and mainstream viewers with its witty writing and special effects. Whether it’s able to sustain that for a whole season, only someone with Level 7 clearance knows. ★★★ “MASTERS OF …

It’s all relatives on networks’ new sitcoms this fall

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 02:17:35 -0500

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.

Queen Latifah eyes the daytime throne

Wed, 11 Sep 2013 11:30:31 -0500

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 she’s still being Oprah in case anyone hadn’t noticed.” That’s not to say the hip-hop star, entrepreneur and actress, best known for her role as Mama Morton in the 2002 movie musical “Chicago,” wants her show to be completely different from the Queen of Talk’s. “One of the cool things that Oprah did was take …

Lori’s List: Talkers on the TV schedule for Sept. 10-16

Tue, 10 Sep 2013 18:32:00 -0500

“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 Serena Williams, Elton John, Gloria Steinem and Chicago natives Hillary Clinton and Valerie Jarrett round out the documentary on King, who looks back on her pioneering career as a tennis icon and advocate for gay and women’s rights. The show coincides with the 40th anniversary of King’s legendary “Battle of the Sexes” match against Bobby …

New online service another disruption for cable TV

Mon, 09 Sep 2013 19:53:53 -0500

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

Mon, 02 Sep 2013 16:58:51 -0500

“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 four-night run that has Luther hunting down one of the scariest predators on TV. (Chance of nightmares: 95 percent.) Luther isn’t the only one doing the investigating in season three; a new superintendent (David O’Hara, “The Tudors”) has it out for the unorthodox detective. “IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA” (9 p.m. Wednesday on FXX): Twisted …

Ballroom shakeup

Mon, 02 Sep 2013 20:42:24 -0500

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 Amber Riley, Jack Osbourne, Valerie Harper and Leah Remini are reportedly ready to rumba. Hearsay has it that former “Teen Mom” Farrah Abraham was asked to be on the show, along with “tan mom” Patricia Krentcil. Whom would host Tom Bergeron like to see waltz their way into the competition this season? “That retired pope …

Chloe Bennet hacks and wisecracks on ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 07:26:41 -0500

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’

Sun, 29 Sep 2013 06:33:58 -0500

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’

Sun, 29 Sep 2013 06:18:22 -0500

Sean Giambrone, 14, makes his television series debut in the new 1980s-set sitcom.

‘Boss’ actors move on to ‘Chicago Fire’

Fri, 27 Sep 2013 06:05:36 -0500

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

Mon, 29 Jul 2013 18:48:00 -0500

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

Mon, 19 Aug 2013 15:38:41 -0500

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

Wed, 10 Jul 2013 11:13:04 -0500

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

Tue, 06 Aug 2013 06:28:24 -0500

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

Wed, 24 Jul 2013 06:09:13 -0500

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

Tue, 25 Jun 2013 19:16:55 -0500

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 cameras and 97 microphones to record him and a bunch of strangers — 24/7 — as they scheme, plot and compete for the $500,000 prize. He’s one of two Chicagoans competing on the CBS reality show, where contestants vote to kick someone out of the house each week. The 15th season starts at 7 p.m. …