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 …

‘Chicago Fire’ prop master sets stage for realistic TV

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 02:17:47 -0500

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

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.

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.

Emmy Awards: Jeff Daniels among the surprise winners

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 00:04:00 -0500

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

Wed, 18 Sep 2013 02:24:22 -0500

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

Mon, 16 Sep 2013 19:59:05 -0500

“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 (gay) straight man to Samberg’s wacky antics. The talented comedic ensemble makes the most of the strong material from “Parks & Recreation” vets Dan Goor and Mike Schur (a k a Mose from “The Office”). “THE LEAGUE” (9:30 p.m. Wednesday on FXX): Chicago Bears quarterback and wife Kristin Cavallari guest star in this bawdy cable …

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 …

10 promising shows coming on networks hungry for some hits

Thu, 05 Sep 2013 07:46:01 -0500

Broadcast TV’s new shows last fall had a pretty abysmal success rate.

Chicago Boyz go for the finals on ‘America’s Got Talent’

Mon, 09 Sep 2013 18:12:00 -0500

“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

Tue, 03 Sep 2013 18:44:00 -0500

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 and pop culture from once a week to five times a week is scary — and that’s a good thing, as far as Bell is concerned. “Fear is the engine that keeps me going forward,” the standup comic said. “Whenever I feel totally confident, things go really badly.” “Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell,” which …

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 …

‘American Idol’ taps Lopez, Connick as judges

Tue, 03 Sep 2013 10:44:29 -0500

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 for season 13 was announced Tuesday by Fox. They’ll join Urban to make up the talent show’s first panel consisting solely of singers — a la NBC’s successful 2011 upstart “The Voice.” Pop star and actress Lopez will be back on “American Idol” after a two-season run as judge in 2011 and 2012 that was …

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 …