(courtesy IMP Awards) SNAPSHOTIwájú is an original animated series set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria, co-produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. The exciting coming-of-age story follows Tola – a young girl from the wealthy island, and her best friend, Kole, a self-taught tech expert, as they discover the secrets & Continue Reading
TV
C’mon and get televisually happy: Palm Royale, The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin + The New Look
(via Shutterstock) INTRO Palm Royale (via First Showing (c) AppeTV+) SNAPSHOTPalm Royale is a true underdog story that follows Maxine Simmons (Kristen Wiig) as she endeavors to break into Palm Beach high society. As Maxine attempts to cross that impermeable line between the haves and the have-nots, “Palm Royale” asks Continue Reading
They hit different: Thoughts on Mr. & Mrs. Smith season 1
(courtesy IMP Awards) If the digital platforming age has taught us anything, besides of course the need to schedule healthy breaks between bingeing stints, it’s that any movie that has seen the light of cinematic day is fair game for platformers looking for a new property to add to their Continue Reading
Welcome home, Franklin: New Snoopy: Presents special on its way
(courtesy IMP Awards) SNAPSHOTThe origin story for one of Peanuts‘ most beloved characters, the special follows Franklin as he moves to a new town and navigates new friendships. Franklin’s family is always on the move with his dad’s military job, and everywhere he goes Franklin finds support in a notebook Continue Reading
Blood runs in the family: Thoughts on The Brothers Sun
(courtesy First Showing) You have to love any series that uses the energetic musical idiosyncrasy of Belgian popster Plastic Bertrand’s “Ça plane pour moi” to soundtrack a montage of two long estranged brothers bonding in L.A. at the supposed multi-million dollar vacation home of actor John Cho. You have to Continue Reading
All suspects aboard: Thoughts on Death and Other Details (S1, E1-2)
(courtesy IMP Awards) Murder is a very serious thing. As is the investigation to solve it which inevitably uncovers all kinds of nefarious intent, impulsive violent action and dreadfully dark consequence. And yet, somehow, when a murder mystery finds its way to the movies, or in the case of Death Continue Reading
Doctor Who specials 2023 review: “The Star Beast”, “Wild Blue Yonder”, and “The Giggle” + Christmas special “The Church on Ruby Road”
(courtesy BBC) To commemorate Doctor Who‘s 60th anniversary – the show premiered on 23 November 1963 with William Hartnell in the role of the eponymous Time Lord – the BBC released three specials in late 2023. These specials, “The Star Beast”, “Wild Blue Yonder”, and “The Giggle”, not only brought Continue Reading
Stream, stream my televisual dream: Top 25 TV / streaming shows of the year
(via Shutterstock) It’s weird watching TV these days. There’s so much great content around that getting to it all, or honestly, just some of it because realistically that’s all you can manage, that you pretty much have to schedule time to watch what you want. Easy enough I guess if Continue Reading
Merry pop culture Christmas to all … and to all a good streaming-reading-listening night!
(courtesy Pinterest (c) Charles M. Schulz) Merry pop culture Christmas everyone! I have had a ball as always this year writing about all kinds of books, movies, TV/streaming shows, graphic novels/comics and songs, and while it’s been tough to keep writing in my spare time when my day job as Continue Reading
Two retro festive episodes of Frasier (“Miracle on Third or Fourth Street” and “Perspectives on Christmas”) + bonus Frasier 2023 review (S1, E7-10)
(courtesy CBS) If there is one thing that the classic sitcom excelled at, it was not pretending that everything in life was perfect. Oh, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and his equally dandy brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce) aspired to that superlative state of being with their eyes always on the just-so Continue Reading