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Archive for the ‘Year End Round Up’ Category

Year-End Round-Up: The Faces of 2016

Posted in Movies, Music, Television, Year End Round Up on December 29, 2016| 1 Comment »

The following list highlights the actors and actresses on television and on the big screen who really caught viewers’ attention throughout this year. They appear in no particular order:

brie-larson

1. Brie Larson – Brie has been acting since she was a young girl eventually appearing in episodes of Raising Dad, United States of Tara and Community. But it was her Oscar-winning role in the independent film Room that put her on the map. Since then she has landed the role of Captain Marvel in the latest upcoming Avengers franchise film as well as the stand-alone Captain Marvel film. She will be seen in next year’s Kong: Skull Island movie alongside Tom Hiddleston along with the films The Glass Castle, Unicorn Store and Basmati Blues.

connor-jessup

2. Connor Jessup – TV viewers will recognize him from his stand-out role as middle son Ben Mason on the long-running alien apocalypse series Falling Skies on TNT, but he really turned heads in the ABC anthology series American Crime.

margot-robbie

3. Margot Robbie – She made a name for herself in Australian on the long-running soap opera Neighbours and then landed on the short-lived US series Pan Am. But it was her role in The Wolf of Wall Street that got her attention. She had a big year in 2016, appearing Whiskey Tango Foxtrot with Tina Fey, The Legend of Tarzan alongside Alexander Skarsgard and stealing the show as Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad. She has four films in the works for 2017, including a stand-alone Harley Quinn film.

katy-mixon

4. Katy Mixon – Katy is well known to viewers of the CBS comedy Mike & Molly for her role of Victoria Flynn and she was one of the voice actors in the 2015 animated movie Minions; but she made a big move this year by landed the lead role in the new ABC comedy American Housewife, which was given a full season order in November by the network.

gal-gadot

5. Gal Gadot – The Israeli born actress was not only a model and former Miss Israel, but she also served in the IDF, the military force of the State of Israel before landed the role of Gisele in the Fast and Furious franchise before landing the coveted role of Diana Prince aka Wonder Woman in the 2016 Batman vs. Superman movie as well as the long-awaited Wonder Woman film set to hit the big screen next year. She is also set to don the golden lasso and bullet-proof bracelets in two upcoming Justice League flicks.

mahershala-ali

6. Mahershala Ali – Avid TV viewers will recognize this talented actor from his role on the USA Network series The 4400 – when he used his screen name Mahershalalhashbaz Ali – but it has been his work in House of Cards, the movies Free State of Jones and Moonlight as well as the streaming series Marvel’s Luke Cage. He will also be seen in the December film Hidden Figures; and he has three films set to debut next year.

haley-bennett

7. Haley Bennett – In 2007, Haley appeared as ditzy pop star Cora Corman in the film Music and Lyrics, but while she continued to appear in a number of movies over the years, it has been her roles in this year’s The Girl on the Train and The Magnificent Seven that put her on the map. She also has a role in the Warren Beatty-led film Rules Don’t Apply and has two big movies coming out next year.

aja-naomi-king

8. Aja Naomi King – Aja has been a series regular on the much-buzzed about ABC drama How to Get Away With Murder for the past three TV seasons and then she landed the plum leading role of Cherry in the much-talked about feature film The Birth of a Nation. Before that she appeared in the short-lived shows Emily Owens M.D. and Black Box.

felicity-jones

9. Felicity Jones – Felicity has been an actress since 1996, appearing in roles on the small and big screen, but it was her role in 2014 of The Theory of Everything that really got her attention. This year alone she has appeared alongside Tom Hanks in the film Inferno from Dan Brown, she has the lead role in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and she will appear in January’s film A Monster Calls.

adele

10. Adele – She has been a powerful force – and voice – in the music world since her debut album hit shelves in 2008. She has won countless awards for her first two albums 19 and 21, but it was the release of her latest album 25 that really put her over the top. She had a huge tour during 2016 and four years after her last album, she has added even more awards to growing collection.

tatiana-maslany

11. Tatiana Maslany – Tat, as she is known to her cast members, has been in the public eye since the BBC America series Orphan Black debuted in March of 2013 although she had quite a long resume before that. But it was in 2016 where she finally got her just reward: winning an Emmy Award for her complicated, multiple roles in the show.

bridget-regan

12. Bridget Regan – She is the most ubiquitous actress of the year, appearing as deadly assassin Dottie Underwood in Marvel’s Agent Carter, tough as nails fighter Sasha Cooper on The Last Ship, criminal mastermind Sin Rostro on Jane the Virgin and most recently as Megan Hunt on Grey’s Anatomy.

tobias-menzies

13. Tobias Menzies – He is the most ubiquitous actor of the year, appearing in the fan favorite Starz series Outlander in the dual role of Frank Randall and 18th Century villain Black Jack Randall, he returned as Edmure Tully in Game of Thrones and he starred as Geoffrey Dromgoole alongside Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie in the AMC mini-series The Night Manager. He will next star with Kate Beckinsale in January’s box office flick Underworld: Blood Wars.

Who are some of the faces from this year who caught your attention either on television, in music or in film? Please share.

TOMORROW: New Faces of 2017

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The Winners and Losers on TV in 2016

Posted in Ratings, Television, Year End Round Up on December 28, 2016| Leave a Comment »

As I have stated for years now, TV ratings are the life’s blood of every series on the major and cable networks. The success or failure of every show is at the mercy of their ratings.

Sadly, though, the networks have become far too dependent on the very limiting 18-39 year old viewers and are continuing to ignore and overlook the rest of the viewers who are outside of that age group. I have had a problem with that close-minded thought process ever since I reached my 40’s.

Needless to say, I have made it my mission to only focus on the overall viewership (the millions of viewers who watched each show) of the major and cable network dramas. Each section below will feature a list of all the dramas (and dramas only) from highest to lowest rated and a brief explanation of the time period for which each list covers.

Here we go…

The first list is the major network dramas that aired from January through June, covering the last half of the 2015-2016 TV season:

NCIS (CBS) – 16.2 million
NCIS: New Orleans (CBS) – 12.9 million
Empire (FOX) – 10.3 million
Blue Bloods (CBS) – 10.4 million
Madam Secretary (CBS) – 9.8 million
Scorpion (CBS) – 9.6 million
Criminal Minds (CBS) and The X-Files (FOX) – 9.1 million
NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS) – 8.8 million
Hawaii Five-0 (CBS) – 8.6 million
The Good Wife (CBS) – 8.2 million *
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – 7.8 million
Chicago Med (NBC) – 7.6 million
Chicago Fire (NBC) – 7.5 million
Supergirl (The CW) – 7.2 million
The Mysteries of Laura * (NBC) and Code Black (CBS) – 7 million
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (CBS) – 6.8 million
The Blacklist (NBC) – 6.6 million
CSI: Cyber (CBS) – 6.4 million *
Scandal (ABC) – 6.3 million
Limitless (CBS) – 6.2 million *
Castle (ABC) – 6.1 million *
Blindspot (NBC) – 6 million
Elementary (CBS) – 5.8 million
Shades of Blue (NBC) and How to Get Away With Murder (ABC) – 5.1 million
Lucifer (FOX) and Heartbeat * (NBC) – 4.6 million
Rosewood (FOX) and The Catch (ABC) – 4.2 million
Nashville (ABC) – 4 million *
Gotham (FOX) – 3.9 million
Heroes: Reborn * and Grimm (NBC) and Once Upon a Time (ABC) – 3.8 million
American Crime (ABC) – 3.7 million
Quantico (ABC) – 3.6 million
The Flash (The CW) – 3.5 million
The Family (ABC) – 3.2 million *
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC) – 3 million
Sleepy Hollow (FOX) and Of Kings and Prophets * (ABC) – 2.9 million
Second Chance (FOX) – 2.5 million *
Arrow (The CW) – 2.4 million
Marvel’s Agent Carter * (ABC) and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (The CW) – 2.1 million
Supernatural (The CW) – 1.8 million
The 100 (The CW) – 1.4 million
iZombie (The CW) – 1.3 million
Reign and The Vampire Diaries (The CW) – 1.1 million
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW) – 957,000 viewers
Jane the Virgin (The CW) – 948,000 viewers
The Originals (The CW) – 924,000 viewers

* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending

The second list covers all of the cable network dramas from that same time period – January through June:

The Walking Dead (AMC) – 13.1 million
Game of Thrones (HBO) – 7.7 million
Fear the Walking Dead (AMC) – 5 million
The People vs. O.J. Simpson (FX) [mini-series] – 3.3 million
The Haves and Have Nots (OWN) – 3 million
Major Crimes (TNT) – 3.2 million
Rizzoli & Isles (TNT) – 2.7 million *
If Loving You Is Wrong (OWN) – 2.3 million
Vikings (History Channel) – 2.2 million
Better Call Saul (AMC) and Good Witch (Hallmark Channel) – 2.1 million
American Horror Story (FX) – 2 million
When Calls the Heart (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million
Suits (USA Network) – 1.7 million
Pretty Little Liars (Freeform) and Bates Motel (A&E) – 1.4 million
Hit the Floor (VH1) – 1.3 million
Colony (USA Network), Billions (Showtime) and Outlander (Starz) – 1.1 million
Underground (WGN America) – 990,000 viewers
Shadowhunters (Freeform) – 959,000 viewers
Teen Wolf (MTV) – 915,000 viewers
The Americans (FX) – 904,000 viewers
The Royals (E!) – 829,000 viewers
Outsiders (WGN America) – 826,000 viewers
The Fosters (Freeform) – 805,000 viewers
Motive (USA Network) – 796,000 viewers *
The Magicians (Syfy) – 789,000 viewers
The Shannara Chronicles (MTV) – 780,000 viewers
The Night Manager (AMC) [mini-series] – 768,000 viewers
Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce (Bravo) – 689,000 viewers
Black Sails (Starz) – 661,000 viewers
Unforgettable (A&E) – 655,000 viewers *
Vinyl (Showtime) – 645,000 viewers *
Penny Dreadful (Showtime) – 594,000 viewers *
Turn: Washington’s Spies (AMC) – 566,000 viewers
Wynonna Earp (Syfy) – 558,000 viewers
The Expanse (Syfy) – 520,000 viewers
Damien (A&E) – 478,000 viewers *
Recovery Road (Freeform) – 459,000 viewers *
12 Monkeys (Syfy) – 402,000 viewers
Lost Girl (Syfy) – 391,000 viewers *
Stitchers (Freeform) – 387,000 viewers
Banshee (Cinemax) – 377,000 viewers *
Bitten (Syfy) – 347,000 viewers *
Hunters (Syfy) – 315,000 viewers *
Orphan Black (BBC America) – 255,000 viewers
Hap and Leonard (SundanceTV) – 262,000 viewers
Beowulf (Esquire) – 171,000 viewers (approximate) *
The Last Panthers (SundanceTV) – 51,000 viewers *
Prey (BBC America) [mini-series] – 30,000 viewers *

* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending

NOTE: Ratings for the following shows could not be tracked down: Downton Abbey and Mercy Street (PBS).

The third list covers all of the dramas that aired on the major networks over the summer from about the end of April through about mid-September:

Person of Interest (CBS) – 6.1 million *
The Night Shift (NBC) – 5.1 million
Zoo (CBS) – 4.5 million
Bones (FOX) – 4.3 million
Rush Hour (CBS) – 3.6 million *
Game of Silence (NBC) – 3.4 million *
American Gothic (CBS) – 2.8 million *
Mistresses (ABC) – 2.7 million *
BrainDead (CBS) – 2.6 million *
Wayward Pines (FOX) – 2.5 million
Houdini & Doyle (FOX) – 2.2 million *
Aquarius (NBC) – 1.9 million *
Containment (The CW) – 1.2 million *
Beauty and the Beast (The CW) – 804,000 viewers *

* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending

The fourth list covers all of the dramas that aired on the cable networks over the summer from about the end of June through about October:

Rizzoli & Isles (TNT) – 4.2 million *
Major Crimes (TNT) – 3.7 million
Fear the Walking Dead (AMC) – 3.5 million
The Last Ship (TNT) – 2.2 million
Greenleaf (OWN) – 2.1 million
Power (Starz) – 1.9 million
Suits (USA Network) and Chesapeake Shores (Hallmark Channel) – 1.8 million
Preacher (AMC) – 1.7 million
Hell on Wheels (AMC) – 1.6 million *
Royal Pains (USA Network) *, Murder in the First (TNT) * and The Night Of (HBO) – 1.4 million
Animal Kingdom (TNT) – 1.3 million
Pretty Little Liars (Freeform), Queen of the South (USA Network) and Ray Donovan (Showtime) – 1.2 million
The Strain (FX) – 965,000 viewers
Devious Maids (Lifetime) – 896,000 viewers *
The Fosters (Freeform) – 887,000 viewers
Motive (USA Network) – 755,000 viewers *
Dark Matter (Syfy) – 676,000 viewers
Mr. Robot (USA Network) – 672,000 viewers
Killjoys (Syfy) – 644,000 viewers
Too Close to Home (TLC) – 616,000 viewers
UnReal (Lifetime) – 534,000 viewers
Dead of Summer (Freeform) – 459,000 viewers *
Feed the Beast (AMC) – 447,000 viewers *
Scream: The TV Series (MTV) – 377,000 viewers
Guilt (Freeform) – 331,000 viewers *
Roadies (Showtime) – 307,000 viewers *
Halt & Catch Fire (AMC) – 302,000 viewers
Outcast (Cinemax) – 174,000 viewers
Cleverman (SundanceTV) – 149,000 viewers
Thirteen (BBC America) [mini-series] – 118,000 viewers *
Ripper Street (BBC America) – 104,000 viewers
Gomorrah (SundanceTV) – 94,000 viewers
The A Word (SundanceTV) – 62,000 viewers

* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending

NOTE: Ratings for the following show could not be tracked down: Kingdom (DirecTV).

The fifth list covers the cable network dramas that aired from approximately August to mid-December:

The Walking Dead (AMC) – 11.9 million
American Horror Story (FX) – 2.9 million
If Loving You Is Wrong (OWN) – 2.2 million
Vikings (History Channel) – 2.1 million
Westworld (HBO) and Queen Sugar (OWN) – 1.8 million
The Librarians (TNT) – 1.8 million
Shooter (USA Network) – 1.4 million [does not include the new December 27 episode]
Z Nation (Syfy) – 788,000 viewers
Good Behavior (TNT) – 718,000 viewers [does not include the new December 27 episode]
Van Helsing (Syfy) – 660,000 viewers
The Affair (Showtime) – 646,000 viewers
Eyewitness (USA Network) – 639,000 viewers
The Royals (E!) – 607,000 viewers
Aftermath (Syfy) – 571,000 viewers
Incorporated (Syfy) -560,000 viewers
Channel Zero (Syfy) – 543,000 viewers
Teen Wolf (MTV) – 493,000 viewers
Falling Water (USA Network) – 481,000 viewers
Masters of Sex (Showtime) – 453,000 viewers *
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency (BBC America) – 287,000 viewers
Salem (WGN America) – 265,000 viewers *
Quarry (Cinemax) – 180,000 viewers
Sweet/Vicious (MTV) – 182,000 viewers
Rectify (SundanceTV) – 133,000 viewers *
Undercover (BBC America) – 73,000 viewers

NOTE: Ratings for the following shows could not be tracked down: The Living and the Dead (BBC America); Ice (DirecTV); Versailles (Ovation) and Berlin Station (EPIX).

* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending

The sixth and final list covers all of the major network dramas that aired during the first half of the 2016-2017 TV season, covering September to approximately mid-December:

NCIS (CBS) – 14.6 million
Bull (CBS) – 12.5 million
NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS) – 10.6 million
Blue Bloods (CBS) – 10 million
NCIS: New Orleans (CBS) – 9.7 million
This Is Us (NBC) and Hawaii Five-0 (CBS) – 9.4 million
Empire (FOX) – 8.6 million
Madam Secretary (CBS) – 8.5 million
MacGyver (CBS) – 8.2 million
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – 8 million
Criminal Minds (CBS) – 7.6 million
Chicago Fire (NBC) and Scorpion (CBS) – 7.4 million
Chicago Med (NBC) – 6.9 million
Lethal Weapon (FOX) – 6.8 million
Designated Survivor (ABC) – 6.5 million
Chicago P.D. (NBC) – 6.1 million
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and The Blacklist (NBC) – 6 million
Code Black (CBS) – 5.9 million
Elementary (CBS) – 5.7 million
Blindspot and Timeless (NBC) – 5.6 million
Conviction (ABC) – 4.5 million *
How to Get Away With Murder (ABC) – 4.4 million
Notorious (ABC) – 4.1 million *
Pure Genius (CBS) – 3.9 million *
Lucifer (FOX) – 3.8 million
Gotham (FOX) and Once Upon a Time (ABC) – 3.5 million
Rosewood (FOX) – 3.4 million
The Flash (The CW) and Pitch (FOX) – 3 million
Secrets and Lies (ABC) – 2.9 million
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Quantico (ABC) – 2.8 million
Supergirl (The CW) – 2.7 million
Arrow (The CW) – 2.1 million
The Exorcist (FOX) – 2 million
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and Supernatural (The CW) – 1.8 million
Scream Queens (FOX) – 1.5 million
Jane the Virgin (The CW) – 1.3 million
Frequency (The CW) – 1.1 million *
The Vampire Diaries (The CW) – 1 million
No Tomorrow (The CW) – 966,000 viewers *
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW) – 554,000 viewers

* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending

The final analyses of all these ratings for both the major and cable networks for the entire year are as follows:

1. NCIS is once again the reigning champ, being the top rated drama on the air. CBS is still the top network overall with more dramas in the top 10 than any other network throughout the entire year. Elementary is repeating as one of the two lowest rated dramas on CBS with the soon-to-be-officially canceled new medical drama Pure Genius being the lowest rated drama on the network.

2. Grey’s Anatomy took over the number one spot for dramas on ABC with the new drama Designated Survivor placing a distant second and the last half of Scandal’s previous season right on its heels. ABC found Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. once again being its lowest rated show with Quantico only slightly ahead of it.

3. Over on FOX, Empire held onto its top spot as the highest rated network on that network with the The X-Files and small screen adaptation of Lethal Weapon coming in second and third. On the other end of things, Sleepy Hollow and Scream Queens are ranked as the lowest rated shows on the network.

4. NBC has a new number one drama in This Is Us with Chicago Fire and Chicago Med neck-in-neck for second place. The latter half of Grimm’s previous season was the lowest rated drama for the network while both Blindspot and the new time travel drama Timeless are slightly above.

5. The Flash is the top rated drama on The CW yet again with the newly relocated Supergirl taking over second place. The lowest rated shows are, once again, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and The Originals as well as the soon-to-be-officially announced No Tomorrow.

6. Despite a drop in numbers The Walking Dead is still the top rated cable network drama, beating off Game of Thrones by over 6 million viewers. American Horror Story also saw a decline in numbers for FX while Rizzoli & Isles closed out its final season with high numbers for TNT.

There is one last list, though, and it is long so be prepared. The following covers all of the made-for-TV movies, mini-series, event series and specials that aired during 2016 on both the major and cable networks for which ratings could be tracked down:

Grease Live (FOX) – 12.2 million (average over 3 hour airing)
Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love (NBC) – 11.5 million
Hairspray Live! (NBC) – 8.9 million
Madoff [2-Parts] (ABC) – 6.9 million (average)
The Passion [Live Event] (FOX) – 6.6 million
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (FOX) – 5 million (average)
Journey Back to Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 4.8 million
My Christmas Love (Hallmark Channel) – 4.6 million
My Christmas Dream (Hallmark Channel) – 4.5 million
Love You Like Christmas and A December Bride (Hallmark Channel) – 4.3 million
A Heavenly Christmas and Sleigh Bells Ring (Hallmark Channel) – 4.2 million
Christmas List (Hallmark Channel) – 4.1 million
Every Christmas Has a Story (Hallmark Channel) – 4 million
Looks Like Christmas and The Mistletoe Promise (Hallmark Channel) – 3.9 million
Dream of Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 3.8 million
A Nutcracker Christmas and Christmas Cookies When Calls the Heart: The Heart of Christmas (all 3 on Hallmark Channel) – 3.7 million
Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart (Lifetime) – 3.6 million
Harley & the Davidsons (Discovery) [3 night event] – 3.4 million (average over 3 nights)
Christmas in Homestead and A Wish for Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 3.4 million
Broadcasting Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 3.2 million
Love in Paradise (Hallmark) – 3.1 million
Unleashing Mr. Darcy (Hallmark) – 3 million
Valentine Ever After and Summer of Dreams (Hallmark Channel) – 2.5 million
Appetite for Love and Love on the Sidelines (Hallmark) – 2.4 million
Stop the Wedding, The Wedding March, A Perfect Christmas and Love on a Limb (all 4 on Hallmark Channel) and Surviving Compton (Lifetime) – 2.3 million
The Convenient Groom, Love’s Complicated, All Yours, Anything for Love, Hearts of Spring, Love By Chance, Autumn in the Vineyard, Pumpkin Pie Wars and Good Witch: Secrets of Grey House (all 9 movies on Hallmark Channel) – 2.2 million
Tulips in Spring, Summer Villa and For Love & Honor (all 3 movies on Hallmark Channel) – 2.1 million
Dater’s Handbook (Hallmark) and Girl in the Box (Lifetime) – 2 million
Date With Love and My Summer Prince (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million
The Breaks (VH1), Mommy’s Little Girl (Lifetime), Ms. Matched and Summer Love (both on Hallmark Channel) and Killing Reagan (National Geographic) – 1.8 million
All Things Valentine (Hallmark) – 1.7 million
Hearts of Christmas and Finding Father Christmas (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) and Summer in the City (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million
Sound of Christmas and I’ll Be Home for Christmas and Operation Christmas (all 3 movies on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.5 million
Suicide Note, Don’t Wake Mommy, Nightmare Nurse and The Wrong Car (all 4 movies on Lifetime) and Karen Kingsburg’s The Bridge Part 2, A Christmas to Remember and Irresistible Blueberry Farm (all 3 movies on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.4 million
Bad Sister, Manson’s Lost Girls, Newlywed and Dead, Who Killed JonBenet? (all 4 movies on Lifetime) – 1.3 million and Roots (A&E, History Channel, Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network) [4 parts] – 1.3 million (average over 2 nights over 4 networks)
My Sweet Audrina, Pregnant at 17, The Stepchild, Dying to be Loved, You May Now Kill the Bride, Hidden Truth, Killer Coach, Boy in the Attic, Unwanted Guest, Stalked by My Doctor (all 10 movies on Lifetime) and Flower Shop Mystery: Dearly Depotted, Aurora Teagarden: The Julius House and Hailey Dean Mystery: Murder, With Love (all 3 movies on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.2 million
I Have Your Children, The Wrong Roommate, Where’s My Baby, The Maid, His Double Life, The Night Stalker, My Husband Is Missing, Mommy’s Secret, Nightmare Wedding and Heaven Sent (all 10 movies on Lifetime), All the Way (HBO), Garage Sale Mystery: A Novel Murder (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) and Wedding Bells (Hallmark) – 1.1 million
Wrong Swipe and Sister Cities (both on Lifetime), Signed, Sealed, Delivered: One in a Million, Murder She Baked: A Deadly Recipe and J.L. Family Ranch (all 3 movies on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1 million

Aurora Teagarden: Three Bedrooms, One Corpse (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 997,000 viewers
Honeymoon From Hell (Lifetime) – 995,000 viewers
Love Always, Santa (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 959,000 viewers
The Perfect Daughter (Lifetime) – 958,000 viewers
I Am Watching You (Lifetime Movie Network) – 949,000 viewers
Jack of the Red Hearts (Lifetime) – 948,000 viewers
Killing Mommy (Lifetime) – 946,000 viewers
Garage Sale Mystery: Guilty Until Proven Innocent (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 943,000 viewers
Confirmation (HBO) – 936,000 viewers
Death of a Vegas Showgirl (Lifetime) – 935,000 viewers
Backstabbed (Lifetime) – 918,000 viewers
The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story (Lifetime) – 901,000 viewers
Pretty Little Addict (Lifetime) – 889,000 viewers
I Know Where Lizzie Is (Lifetime Movie Network) – 881,000 viewers
Break Up Nightmare (Lifetime) – 880,000 viewers
Flower Shop Mystery: Mum’s the Word (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 879,000 viewers
Day of Reckoning (Syfy) – 866,000 viewers
Murder She Baked: The Peach Cobbler Mystery (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 861,000 viewers
Broken Promises (Lifetime) – 837,000 viewers
Sorority Nightmare (Lifetime) – 831,000 viewers
Gourmet Detective: Death Al Dente (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 825,000 viewers
Seduced (Lifetime) – 815,000 viewers
Signed Sealed Delivered: From the Heart (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 807,000 viewers
The Inherited (Lifetime Movie Network) – 794,000 viewers
The Wrong Child (Lifetime) – 786,000 viewers
Karen Kingsbury’s A Time to Dance (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 782,000 viewers
The Crooked Man (Syfy) – 772,000 viewers
Trust No One (Lifetime) – 751,000 viewers
Sandra Brown’s White Hot (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 750,000 viewers
Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County (Lifetime) – 747,000 viewers
Love Under Management (TV One) – 728,000 viewers
Trapped Child (Lifetime) – 728,000 viewers
The Last Bid (Lifetime) – 715,000 viewers
A Father’s Secret (Lifetime Movie Network) – 714,000 viewers
Perfect Sisters (Lifetime) – 713,000 viewers
Mother, May I Sleep With Danger (Lifetime) – 707,000 viewers
Center Stage: On Pointe (Lifetime) – 700,000 viewers
A Mother’s Escape (Lifetime Movie Network) – 696,000 viewers
The Ultimate Legacy (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 691,000 viewers
Inspired to Kill (Lifetime Movie Network) – 688,000 viewers
Remote Paradise (Lifetime Movie Network) – 665,000 viewers
Who Killed My Husband (Lifetime) – 659,000 viewers
Shadows of the Dead (Syfy) – 651,000 viewers
Ten Year Reunion (Lifetime) – 643,000 viewers
Below the Surface (Lifetime Movie Network) – 633,000 viewers
Flower Shop Mystery: Snipped in the Bud (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 619,000 viewers
Stake Land 2 (Syfy) – 616,000 viewers
Her Last Will (Lifetime Movie Network) – 609,000 viewers
Little Girl’s Secret (Lifetime) – 608,000 viewers
Night Before Halloween (Syfy) – 605,000 viewers
Dead 7 (Syfy) – 579,000 viewers
And Then There Were None (Lifetime) [2-parts] – 565,000 viewers (average)
Finders Keepers (Syfy) – 562,000 viewers
The Watchers (Lifetime) – 546,000 viewers
Best-Selling Murders (Lifetime Movie Network) – 485,000 viewers
Letter Never Sent (Lifetime Movie Network) – 462,000 viewers
The Secrets She Kept (TV One) – 370,000 viewers
Casa Vita (Lifetime Movie Network) – 364,000 viewers
Bad Dad Rehab (TV One) – 358,000 viewers
Girlfriends of Christmas Past (UP Channel) – 352,000 viewers
Season’s Greetings (UP Channel) – 284,000 viewers
Jean of the Joneses (TV One) – 273,000 viewers
Merry Christmas Baby (UP Channel) – 267,000 viewers
Second Sight (TV One) – 233,000 viewers
Chasing Waterfalls (TV1) – 222,000 viewers
Ringside (TV One) – 218,000 viewers
30 Years to Life (TV One) – 203,000 viewers
The Dresser (Starz) – 109,000 viewers
Rebellion (5-part] [Sundance TV] – 96,000 viewers [1 episode aired in April]

Ratings for the following made-for-TV movies and/or mini-series could not be tracked down or weren’t available in time for this post:

A Christmas in Vermont (ION)
A Cinderella Christmas (ION)
A Husband for Christmas (ION)
Anne of Green Gables (PBS)
Call the Midwife (PBS)
Christmas with the Andersons (ION)
Doctor Who: The Return of Doctor Mysterio (BBC America)
Durrell’s in Corfu (PBS)
Endeavor (PBS)
Firehouse Christmas (ION)
Grantchester (PBS)
Heartfelt (ION)
Henry VI, Part I and Part II (PBS)
Indian Summer (PBS)
Inspector Lewis (PBS)
Love Finds You in Valentine (UP Channel)
Married by Christmas (UP Channel)
Mr. Selfridge (PBS)
Poldark (PBS)
Richard III (PBS)
The Game of Love (UP Channel)
The Tunnel (PBS)
Wallander (PBS)

What shows, made-for-TV movies, mini-series and/or specials have you enjoyed the most throughout the year? Please share.

TOMORROW: Faces of 2016

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Year-End Round-Up: They Will Be Missed (2016)

Posted in Books, Condolences, Movies, Music, Television, Year End Round Up on December 27, 2016| Leave a Comment »

The following industry personalities (listed in alphabetical order) passed away in 2016 and heartfelt condolences are extended to their families, friends and fans:

Mohammad Ali (Boxing Legend)
René Angélil (Music Impresario and Céline Dion’s husband)

Kenny Baker (The Man Behind R2-D2 in “Star Wars”)
David Bowie (Legendary Singer)
Dave Brubeck (Legendary Jazz Musician)

Charmain Carr (Actress, “Liesl” from The Sound of Music)
Fidel Castro (Revolutionary leader and Cuba’s former President)
William Christopher (Actor, “Father Mulcahy” on M*A*S*H*)
Chyna (Former WWE Wrestler)
Leonard Cohen (Singer-Songwriter, Poet and Novelist)
Natalie Cole (Singer)
Pat Conroy (Author, “The Prince of Tides” and “The Great Santini”)

Gloria DeHaven (Actress from Golden Age of Hollywood)
Daniel Dion (Celine Dion’s brother)
Jerry Doyle (Actor, “Babylon 5”)
Larry Drake (Actor, “L.A. Law”)
Patty Duke (Legendary Actress)

Ronnie Claire Edwards (Actress, “The Waltons”)

Joey Feek (Country Singer from Duo Joey + Rory)
Fyvush Finkel (Actor, “Picket Fences” and “Boston Public”)
Carrie Fisher (Actress, Princess Leia in Star Wars franchise)
Tommy Ford (Actor “Martin” and “The Parkers”)
Bernard Fox (Veteran Actor)
Glenn Fry (Guitarist and Singer “The Eagles”)

Zsa Zsa Gabor (Veteran Actress)
Michael Galeota (Disney Star) [he was only 31]
George Gaynes (Character Actor, “Punky Brewster,” “Tootsie” and “Police Academy”)
David Gest (Music Producer)
Gary Glasberg (NCIS Showrunner)
Ron Glass (Actor, “Barney Miller” and “Firefly”)
John Glenn (Former Astronaut and U.S. Senator)
Christina Grimmie (“The Voice” Competitor) [She was only 22]
Reg Grundy (Australian Media Mogul)

Merle Haggard (Country Music Legend)
Dan Haggerty (Actor, “Grizzly Adams”)
Earl Hamner (Creator of “The Waltons”)
Curtis Hanson (Director, “L.A. Confidential”)
Pat Harrington (Actor, “One Day at a Time”)
Florence Henderson (Actress, “The Brady Bunch”)
Steven Hill (Actor, “Law & Order” and original TV series “Mission: Impossible”)
Arthur Hiller (Director, “Love Story)
Robert Horton (Actor, “Wagon Train”)
Ken Howard (SAG-AFTRA President and Former Actor “White Shadow”)
Gordie Howe (Hockey Legend)
Beth Howland (Actress, “Alice”)
David Huddleston (Veteran Character Actor, “The Big Lebowski”)

Barry Jenner (Actor, “Family Matters” and “Dallas”)

Paul Kantner (Founding Member of Jefferson Airplane)
George Kennedy (Veteran Actor, “Airport”)

Harper Lee (Author, “To Kill a Mockingbird”)
Ron Lester (Actor, “Popular” and “Varsity Blues”)

Jerry Maren (Actor, “Wizard of Oz”) [the last of the Munchkins]
David Margulies (Actor, “Ghostbusters”]
Garry Marshall (Legendary Director)
George Martin (Beatles Producer)
Joseph Mascolo (Veteran Actor, “Days of Our Lives”)
Michael Massee (Actor, “The Crow” and “24”)
John McLaughlin (Host, “The McLaughlin Group”)
George Michael (Singer)

Noel Neill (Actress, the original Lois Lane from the 1950’s “Superman” TV series)
Agnes Nixon (Creator of All My Children and One Life to Live)
Marni Nixon (“Ghost Singer” for Deborah Kerr in The King and I; Natalie Wood in West Side Story and Audrey Hepburn in Fair Lady)
James Noble (Actor, “Benson”)
Bill Nunn (Character Actor, “Do the Right Thing”)

Hugh O’Brian (Veteran Actor, “The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp”)

Arnold Palmer (Golf Legend)
Jon Polito (Character Actor “The Big Lebowski” and “Miller’s Crossing”)
Prince (Legendary Musician, Singer and Songwriter)

Nancy Reagan (Former First Lady)
Janet Reno (First Female U.S. Attorney General)
Debbie Reynolds (Legendary Actress)
Alan Rickman (Veteran Actor)
Jack Riley (Actor, “The Bob Newhart Show”)
Doris Roberts (Veteran Actress)

Morley Safer (Legendary “60 Minutes” Reporter)
Theresa Saldana (Actress, “Raging Bull”)
Joe Santos (Actor, “Rockford Files”)
John Saunders (ESPN Commentator)
Antonin Scalia (Supreme Court Justice)
William Schallert (Veteran Actor and Former SAG President)
Garry Shandling (Actor and Comedian)
Jim Simpson (Sportscaster)
Frank Sinatra, Jr.
David Smyrl (Actor, “Sesame Street”)

Alan Thicke (Actor, “Growing Pains”)
Grant Tinker (Former NBC Chairman-CEO and Founder of MTM Enterprises)

Vanity (aka Denise Katrina Matthews) (Lead singer of 80’s girl group Vanity 6)
Peter Vaughan (Veteran Actor, “Game of Thrones”)
Robert Vaughn (Actor, “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.”)
Abe Vigoda (Actor, “Barney Miller”)

Janet Waldo (Voice actress for Judy Jetson from “The Jetsons”)
Tom Whedon (Father of Joss Whedon)
Maurice White (Founder of Earth, Wind & Fire)
Elie Wiesel (Nobel Prize-Winning Author)
Gene Wilder (Veteran Actor, “Willy Wonka” and “Young Frankenstein”)
Van Williams (Actor, “The Green Hornet”)

Anton Yelchin (Actor, “Star Trek”) [He was only 27]
Alan Young (Veteran Actor, “Mister Ed” Star)

NOTE: This list, in no way, covers all the industry talent who passed away this year. Again, condolences are extended to one and all.

Out of respect, please take a moment of silence.

TOMORROW: Ratings

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Year-End Round-Up: And the Award Goes To 2016

Posted in Awards, Movies, Music, Television, Year End Round Up on December 26, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Every year there are lots of awards shows, some important, some just fun and numerous just silly or nonsensical, but the following list is just some of the top winners over the course of the year:

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS (January 2016):

Favorite Premium Cable Show: Homeland (Showtime)
Favorite TV Crime Drama: Person of Interest (CBS)
Favorite TV Crime Drama Actor: Nathan Fillion, Castle (ABC)
Favorite TV Crime Drama Actress: Stana Katic, Castle (ABC)
Favorite Network TV Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show: Beauty and the Beast (The CW)
Favorite Cable TV Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show: Outlander (Starz)
Favorite TV Sci-Fi/Fantasy Actor: Jensen Ackles, Supernatural (The CW)
Favorite TV Sci-Fi/Fantasy Actress: Caitriona Balfe, Outlander (Starz)
Favorite New TV Drama: Supergirl (CBS)
Favorite Cable TV Drama: Pretty Little Liars (Freeform)
Favorite Actress in a New TV Series: Priyanka Chopra, Quantico (ABC)
Favorite Cable TV Actress: Sasha Alexander, Rizzoli & Isles (TNT)
Favorite Breakout Artist: Shawn Mendes
Favorite Album: Meghan Trainor
Favorite Action Movie: Furious 7
Favorite Action Movie Actor: Chris Hemsworth
Favorite Dramatic Movie: The Martian
Favorite Family Movie: Minions

GOLDEN GLOBES (January 2016):

Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical: The Martian
Best TV Series – Drama: Mr. Robot
Best Animated Feature Film: Inside Out”
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama: Brie Larson in Room
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical: Matt Damon in The Martian
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Sylvester Stallone in Creed
Best Actress in a TV Series – Drama: Taraji P. Henson in Empire
Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Limited-Series or TV Movie: Christian Slater in Mr. Robot
Best Original Song: “Writing’s on the Wall” from “Spectre” by Sam Smith

CRITIC’S CHOICE AWARDS (January 2016):

Actress: Brie Larson in Room
Supporting Actress: Alicia Vikander in The Danish Girl
Supporting Actor: Sylvester Stallone in Creed
Young Actor: Jacob Tremblay in Room
Animated Feature: Inside Out
Drama TV Series: Mr. Robot
Actor in TV or Limited Series: Idris Elba in Luther
Supporting Actress in Drama TV Series: Constance Zimmer in UnREAL

SAG AWARDS (January 2016):

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: Spotlight
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Brie Larson, “Room”
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Idris Elba, “Beasts of No Nation”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl”
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: Downton Abbey
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: Viola Davis, “How to Get Away With Murder”
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries: Idris Elba, “Luther”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries: Queen Latifah, “Bessie”
Life Achievement Award: Carol Burnett

GRAMMY AWARDS (February 2016):

Record of the Year: Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk”
Album of the Year: Taylor Swift, 1989
Best New Artist: Meghan Trainor
Best Musical Theater Album: Hamilton
Song of the Year: Ed Sheeran, “Thinking Out Loud”
Best Rock Album: Muse, Drones
MusiCares Person of the Year: Lionel Richie

OSCARS (February 2016):

Best Picture: Spotlight
Animated Feature Film: Inside Out
Visual Effects: Ex Machina
Music (Original Song): “Writing’s On The Wall” from Spectre

SATURN AWARDS (June 2016):

The Lifetime Achievement Award: Nichelle Nichols
The President’s Award: Haven [the TV show]
The Dan Curtis Legacy Award: Eric Kripke
The Breakthrough Performance Award: Melissa Benoist
Best Comic-to-Film Motion Picture: Ant-Man
Best Fantasy Film: Cinderella
Best Action / Adventure Film: Furious 7
Best Performance by a Younger Actor: Ty Simpkins (Jurassic World)
Best Costume: Alexandra Byrne (Avengers: Age of Ultron)
Best Independent Film Release: Room
Best Animated Film: Inside Out
Best Science Fiction Television Series: Continuum
Best Fantasy Television Series: Outlander
Best Superhero Adaptation Television Series: The Flash
Best New Media Television Series: Marvel’s Daredevil
Best Television Presentation: Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song
Best Actress on Television: Caitriona Balfe (Outlander)

EMMY AWARDS (September 2016):

Outstanding Drama Series: Game of Thrones (HBO)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black (BBC America)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey (PBS)
Outstanding Television Movie: Sherlock: The Abominable Bride (Masterpiece) (PBS)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie: Sarah Paulson, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie: Sterling K. Brown, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
Outstanding Drama Guest Actress: Margo Martindale, The Americans (FX)

TEEN CHOICE AWARDS (August 2016)

Action/Adventure Film: Deadpool
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film: Captain America: Civil War
Drama Film: Miracles from Heaven
Breakout Star Movie: Daisy Ridley (Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens)
Summer Movie: Finding Dory
TV Show Drama: Pretty Little Liars
TV Actor Drama: Ian Harding (Pretty Little Liars)
TV Actress Drama: Ashley Benson, (Pretty Little Liars)
TV Show Sci-Fi/Fantasy: Once Upon a Time
TV Actor Sci-Fi/Fantasy: Grant Gustin (The Flash)
TV Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy: Lana Parrilla, (Once Upon a Time)
TV Villain: Janel Parrish, (Pretty Little Liars)
TV: Scene Stealer: Sasha Pieterse (Pretty Little Liars)
TV: Breakout Star: Matthew Daddario (Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments_
TV: Breakout Show: Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments
Summer TV Show: Teen Wolf

AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS (November 2016):

Favorite Duo or Rock – Pop/Rock: Twenty One Pilots
Favorite Female Country Artist: Carrie Underwood
Favorite Country Duo or Group: Florida Georgia Line
Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist: Adele

Congratulations to all of the above winners (and the countless others who won awards) this year. Are any of the above your favorites? Do you think there was an actor or actress who was overlooked this year? Please share your thoughts.

TOMORROW: Condolences

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Year-End Round-Up: The Hits and Misses on the Big Screen 2016

Posted in Movies, Year End Round Up on December 25, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Over the last few years I had reduced how many movies I saw at the theatre namely because of the proliferation of cell phones; and while that is still an issue no matter where you go now-a-days, I actually saw more movies this year than I have for quite some time.

Needless to say, I far surpassed seeing 25 movies this year, which is my usual goal annually, by seeing nearly 40 in total. Out of those that I had the chance to see this year, I enjoyed the following the most: the animated movies Sing, Zootopia, Moana and Finding Dory, the tearjerker Me Before You, the Marvel Universe hits Suicide Squad and Doctor Strange and the R-rated Deadpool.

I know that readers don’t care about what movies I saw throughout the year or which ones I liked best so let’s take a look at the 30 biggest box office winners from this year (approximately through the December 19 and December 20 weekend):

1. Finding Dory – 486 million
2. Captain America: Civil War – 408 million
3. The Secret Life of Pets – 368 million
4. The Jungle Book – 364 million
5. Deadpool – 363 million
6. Zootopia – 341 million
7. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – 330 million
8. Suicide Squad – 325 million
9. Doctor Strange – 226 million
10. Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them – 208 million
11. Moana – 163 million
12. Jason Bourne – 162 million
13. Star Trek Beyond – 159 million
14. X-Men: Apocalypse – 155.4 million
15. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story – 155.1 million
16. Trolls – 147 million
17. Kung Fu Panda 3 – 144 million
18. Ghostbusters – 128 million
19. Central Intelligence – 127.4 million
20. The Legend of Tarzan – 126.6 million
21. Sully – 125 million
22. Bad Moms – 114 million
23. The Angry Birds Movie – 108 million
24. Independence Day: Resurgence – 103 million
25. The Conjuring 2 – 102 million
26. Sausage Party – 98 million
27. The Magnificent Seven – 93 million
28. Ride Along 2 – 91 million
29. Don’t Breathe – 89 million
30. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children – 87 million

On the other spectrum are the movies that were either a disappointment in the box office due to poor ticket sales or, more importantly, had a horrible trailer that made me completely disinterested in seeing them.

They appear in alphabetical order below:

Bad Moms
Bad Santa 2
Boo! A Madea Halloween
Central Intelligence
Dirty Grandpa
Don’t Breathe
Ghostbusters
Fifty Shades of Black
Hail, Caesar
Hateful 8
How To Be Single
Incarnate
Keanu
Keeping Up with the Joneses
Lights Out
Masterminds
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates
Neighbors 2
Nerve
Office Christmas Party
Popstar
Pride & Prejudice & Zombies
Ride Along 2
Sausage Party
The Boss
The Boy
The Brothers Grimsby
The Conjuring 2
The Darkness
The Forest
The Other Side of the Door
The Shallows
War Dogs
Why Him?
Zoolander 2

What movies did you most enjoy seeing this year? Which movies were disappointments to you? Please share your thoughts and comments.

TOMORROW: Awards

PS: Merry Christmas!!!

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Year-End Round-Up: The Tops In Music 2016

Posted in Music, Year End Round Up on December 24, 2016| Leave a Comment »

In my world, I couldn’t live without music.

Every day I wake up to music rather than an alarm. Every night I go to bed with music playing. The first thing I do after I start my car is turn on the radio. Whenever I leave my house, my music is playing as I don’t like to have a quiet house – even when I’m not around.

Music may not be for everyone, but I can’t live without music.

Since music plays a crucial role in my life, I wanted to take the time to highlight just some of the songs, performers and video moments from this past year:

Queen of the Music World (Again) – Adele for her album “25” (and subsequent world tour)

Video for “When We Were Young”

Best Dance Tune of the Year – “Cake by the Ocean” by DNCE

Here is the video:

Theme Song of the Year – Fitz and the Tantrums “HandClap”

Here is the video:

Best New Country Singer – Cam

Here is the video for “Burning House”

Best Musical Duo – twenty-one pilots with “Heathens”

Here is the video (from Suicide Squad: The Album):

Most Welcome Reunion – The Monkees “Good Times” (50th Anniversary album)

Video for “She Makes Me Laugh” (written by Rivers Cuomo from the band Weezer)

Best Imports – “7 Years” by Lukas Graham

Here is the video:

Best Rock Song – “Way Down We Go” by Kaleo and “Unsteady” by x Ambassadors

Here is the video for Kaleo:

Here is the video for x Ambassadors:

Best Song from a Soundtrack – “Alive” by Sia [from The 5th Wave movie]

Here is the video:

Best New Female Singer – “River” by Bishop Briggs

Here is the video:

Best New Male Singer: Jordan Smith

Here is the video for “Stand in the Light”:

NOTE: He won Season 9 of The Voice in 2015 and has been making strides all of 2016.

Most Moving Love Song – “Why I Love You” by MAJOR. (yes, his name is in all caps with a period at the end)

Here is the video:

Try Not to Get Up and Dance to this Song – “Can’t Stop the Feeling” by Justin Timberlake and “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon

Here is the video for Justin Timberlake:

Here is the video for Walk the Moon:

Best Singers on the Planet (Again): Pentatonix

Here is their video for “Hallelujah”:

In memory of the late Leonard Cohen, who passed away this year and was the composer of this moving song, here is the man himself singing the song back in 2009:

Which artists stood out for you over this past year? What was your favorite song? Which songs did you get sick of hearing on the radio? What song could you listen to over and over again? What was the top album in your opinion? Please share your thoughts on the music of 2016 below.

TOMORROW: Movies

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Year-End Round-Up: The Best and Worst of Television 2016

Posted in Television, Year End Round Up on December 23, 2016| Leave a Comment »

this-is-us

Every TV season viewers never know what to expect from their favorite shows because the powers that be behind those shows are sneaky, they like to freak us out, make us laugh, make us cheer and sigh in relief. There is always so much going on each TV season that sometimes it’s hard to point out all of the best (and worst) that TV gives us each year, but the following list, which is featured in no particular order, is what really stood out for me:

castle-series-finale
Best New Drama – This Is Us (NBC)

Most Anti-Climatic and Unsatisfying Series Finale – Castle (ABC)

Most Entertaining Crossover – Supergirl, Arrow, The Flash and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (The CW)

cw-crossover

The Best, Most Twisty Episode – “Cape May” from The Blacklist (NBC) and “The Abominable Bride” from Sherlock (PBS)

You Should Always Be Careful What You Say While on Set – Thomas Gibson’s altercation on set with one of Criminal Mind’s (CBS) writers that caused him to be fired from the show

supernatural

The Show That Just Can’t Die – Supernatural (The CW)

Best Actor in a TV Show – Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us and The People vs. O.J. Simpson)

Best Online Series – The Crown (Netflix)

the-crown

Most Entertaining Penultimate Episode of a Final Season – “The Good News Is…” (the musical episode) on Royal Pains (USA Network)

Most Upsetting Deaths on TV – Aife and Trick on Lost Girl (Syfy); Laurel Lance on Arrow (The CW); Lexa on The 100 (The CW), Root on Person of Interest (CBS); Tommen Baratheon and Hodor on Game of Thrones (HBO); Barb on Stranger Things (Netflix) and Elizabeth Keen on The Blacklist (NBC) [even though the last one was faked)

Thanks for the Memories – Downton Abbey coming to an end on PBS

downton-abbey

Best Villains – Reverse Flash and Damien Darhk on The Flash and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (The CW)

If He Isn’t Nominated for an Emmy, Someone Really Screwed Up – John Lithgow for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in The Crown (Netflix)

the-night-manager

Best Mini-Series – The Night Manager (AMC)

Best Actress in a TV Series – Caitriona Balfe in Outlander (Starz) and Sarah Paulson (in everything she does)

shadowhunters

Most Entertaining Guilty Pleasure Show – Shadowhunters (Freeform) and Wynonna Earp (Syfy)

wynonna-earp

The Final Season That More Viewers Should Have Watched – Person of Interest (CBS)

person-of-interest

When Reboots (or Small Screen Adaptations) Ruled the World (Whether We Wanted Them To or Not) – The X-Files, Lethal Weapon and The Exorcist (FOX), MacGyver (CBS), Frequency (The CW); and coming in mid-season Prison Break and 24: Legacy (FOX) and Training Day (CBS)

Prettiest Newcomer – Tori Anderson on No Tomorrow (The CW) and Kylie Bunbury on Pitch (FOX)

The News That Made Fans So Happy – Nashville being picked up for another season by CMT after ABC canceled it, airing a cliffhanger to boot

Most Disturbing Season Finale – UnReal (Lifetime)

Best New Additions to a TV Show – Tyler Hoechlin and Chris Wood on Supergirl (The CW) and Scott Porter on Scorpion (CBS)

Why Are These Shows Still on the Air – Scream Queens (FOX) and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW)

emerald-city

Most Anticipated Shows for the Upcoming Mid-Season TV Season – Emerald City and Midnight, Texas (both on NBC)

midnight-texas

Best Male Newcomer – Aaron Diaz on Quantico (ABC) [he is well-known for his telenovelas but new to American viewers]

We Hardly Got to Know You (Disappointing Cancellations) – Guilt and Dead of Summer (Freeform) and BrainDead (CBS)

Coolest New Sci-Fi Series – The Magicians (Syfy)

Most Unsettling Storyline to Fans – Nick and Adalind having sex on Grimm (NBC)

They Did What Now – Lifetime cancelled Devious Maids, leaving viewers with a big cliffhanger

Why Isn’t This Show Doing Better in the Ratings – Pitch (FOX)

the-100

They Shouldn’t Have Done This – ABC cancelling Marvel’s Agent Carter for Conviction, as Hayley Atwell (and Peggy Carter) deserves better

Get This Woman Her Own Show Already – Bridget Regan (she’s appeared in Grey’s Anatomy, The Last Ship, Marvel’s Agent Carter and Jane the Virgin this year)

Two of the Best Shows You’re Still Not Watching – The 100 (The CW) and 12 Monkeys (Syfy)

12-monkeys

Best Ending to a Long-Running Drama – Rizzoli & Isles (TNT)

Favorite New Cable Drama – Chesapeake Shores (Hallmark)

It’s About Damn Time – Tatiana Maslany finally getting an Emmy Award for her work on Orphan Black (BBC America)

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on what you liked the most and the least on television throughout 2016. Please share.

TOMORROW: Movies

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Year-End Round-Up: My Observations on 2016

Posted in Books, Convention/Event, Messages, Television, Year End Round Up on December 22, 2016| Leave a Comment »

I have been putting together my year-end round-ups on all things entertainment industry related for over a decade now. Just thinking about how long I have been compiling these round-ups is surprising to me. As I have said before, every year it is an interesting experience keeping track of the unique events that take place in the world of entertainment.

Of course, it’s impossible to focus on every single thing that has happened over the past year, but I sure do enjoy focusing on all the good things that have taken place throughout the year.

I have been a big fan of television since I was a child, becoming “the walking encyclopedia of the entertainment industry” (at least for my small hometown back in Pennsylvania) by the time I was in my mid-teens. In fact, I like to joke that I was IMDB before IMDB existed. But, I also love reading, and for the past decade I have set a goal for myself to read at least 20 books a year.

For avid book readers that total is pretty small, but given the fact that my small business is just going into its second year of existence, all the freelance writing I do throughout the year and – well, real life – getting through 20 books is a lot for me.

Among the books that I enjoyed the most this year included a trilogy of books by authors Susan Mallery, Veronica Roth and Nora Roberts as well as several Jane Austen inspired books by Alexandra Potter and Kaitlyn Saunders. I also really enjoyed Deadly Heat by Richard Castle, The Heirloom Girls by Chris Culler and the Diana Gabaldon novel Voyager (in preparation for season three of Outlander).

Just like last year I attended Paley Fest in Los Angeles, but unlike every other year for the past few years, I only attended one panel for Supergirl. I also enjoyed attending WonderCon and Comic Con; a panel for the Syfy TV series 12 Monkeys at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills as well as the Paley Center’s annual Preview Parties for each of the five major networks. As a big fan of Outlander, I also got to see the cast and creative minds behind the show in March as well as the Outlander Exhibit at the Paley Center

That’s enough about me, though. Starting tomorrow my first year-end round-up focusing on the best and worst of television will go live and for each day throughout the rest of the year I will spotlight the year that was: 2016.

NOTE: I apologize in advance for any omissions, spelling errors or oversights I may have made, but I don’t apologize for any of the choices I made.

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Year-End Round-Up: Closing Out 2015

Posted in Messages, Year End Round Up on December 31, 2015| Leave a Comment »

As we have all seen, both in the entertainment world, and in the very real and scary world for which we live in, there have been some very interesting, exciting and unpredictable events that have taken place in 2015.

We have all had good and bad times throughout the year, we can all rejoice in the great entertainment these medium – television, movies, music and books – they have provided.

Have a wonderful New Year!

PS: Thank you all so very much for visiting my site. I hope you will continue to visit as often as you can.

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Year-End Round-Up: New Faces of 2016

Posted in Movies, New Faces, Television, Year End Round Up on December 30, 2015| 1 Comment »

Much like the Faces of 2015, there are always entertainers of note to be on the look-out for in the new year or those who made great waves throughout the current year who will, undoubtedly, be big stars in the new year.

Here are my predictions for the faces of 2016 (in no particular order):

Sarah Hay

1. Sarah Hay – Sarah was virtually plucked from obscurity for the lead role of Claire Robbins in the Starz ballet drama Flesh and Bone. Sarah began her ballet training at the School of American Ballet at the tender age of 8. She later attended the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Ballet at the American Ballet Theatre.

John Boyega

2. John Boyega – John can be seen in the role of Finn in the much buzzed about sequel Star Wars: The Force Awakens that just came out in the theatres on December 18. His prior credits include 24: Live Another Day and the independent UK film Attack the Block. He will next be seen in the box office film The Circle alongside Emma Watson, Tom Hanks, Karen Gillan, Bill Paxton and Patton Oswalt.

Maika Monroe

3. Maika Monroe – Maika got her big break in the box office film Labor Day alongside Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin. She then starred alongside Downton Abbey alum Dan Stevens in the 2014 box office film The Guest and followed that up with a role in the horror flick It Follows. Her next roles will be in the sci-fi-themed box office movies The 5th Wave (based on the book of the same name) that stars Chloe Grace Moretz and Independence Day: Resurgence.

Justin Hires

4. Justin Hires – In 2007, Justin had a role in the box office film Stomp the Yard and then in 2012, he had a role in the box office adaptation of 21 Jump Street that starred Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. But it will be his role in the small screen adaptation of Rush Hour that is set to air on CBS at some point in 2016, that will assuredly get his attention.

Chris Wood

5. Chris Woods – Chris has been a mainstay with The CW over the last couple of years, starring in the short-lived The Carrie Diaries and then playing villain Kai Parker on The Vampire Diaries. It will be his turn as Jake Riley in the apocalyptic series Containment, set to air in early 2016, that will, more than likely, turn heads.

Rod Paradot

6. Rod Paradot – Rod, a teen newcomer, who had never acted before in his life, became the first major breakout star of this year’s Cannes Film Festival for the French film La Tete Haute (aka Standing Tall) where he played a deeply troubled 15-year-old from a troubled home and starred alongside legendary French beauty Catherine Deneuve.

Emory Cohen (Getty Image)

7. Emory Cohen – He is turning heads in the much-buzzed-about box office film Brooklyn where he stars with Saoirse Ronan, but some TV viewers may recognize him from his role of Leo Houston in the NBC musical-drama Smash. His other credits include The Place Beyond the Pines and Beneath the Harvest Sky. He has 6 upcoming projects including By Way of Helena with Liam Hemsworth and War Machine with Brad Pitt.

Photo Credit for Emory Cohen: Getty Image

Alex Roe

8. Alex Roe – The British hunk will be seen in the sci-fi-themed box office film The 5th Wave (based on the book) where he will star alongside Chloe Grace Moretz and Liev Schreiber, but he will also be seen in the long-in-the-waiting, upcoming remake Rings that will also star Johnny Galecki, Aimee Teegarden and Zach Roerig.

Shanice Williams

9. Shanice Williams – This 18-year-old New Jersey native landed the plum role (being selected out of hundreds of applicants in a nationwide audition) of Dorothy Gale in the NBC production of The Wiz Live! that aired on NBC earlier this month. She has co-starred in local productions of West Side Story, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, 42nd Street, Seussical and Pippin.

Jason Ralph

10. Jason Ralph – In 2016, viewers of the upcoming Syfy series The Magicians – based on the novel of the same name by Lev Grossman about a secret institution specializing in magic – will see Jason play the lead role of Quentin Coldwater. His prior credits include the David Duchovny series Aquarius and the CBS hit series Madam Secretary.

11. – 15. Cast of Shadownhunters – The ABC Family (soon to be FreeForm) series, based on the book series The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, is set to debut on January 12. The main cast includes Katherine McNamara, Dominic Sherwood, Emeraude Toubia, Matthew Daddario and Alberto Rosende.

Katherine McNamara

Katherine McNamara will play the lead role of Clary Fray. She has appeared in episodes of Drop Dead Diva, Touch, Unforgettable, Glee and CSI as well as a lead role in the short-lived MTV series Happyland and a short recurring role in The Fosters. She also starred in the box office film Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials.

Dominic Sherwood

Dominic Sherwood will play Jace Wayland. He appeared in the box office film Vampire Academy, based on the young-adult paranormal romance novels by author Richelle Mead and he will next be seen in the box office film Take Down with Ed Westwick (Wicked City and Gossip Girl) and Phoebe Tonkin (The Originals)

Emeraude Toubia

Emeraude Toubia will play Isabelle Lightwood. This Canadian-born but Texas-raised beauty was selected to participate in the Univision reality show/beauty pageant Nuestra Belleza Latina and has appeared in numerous commercials and ad campaigns as a model. This is her first major TV role.

Matthew Daddario (@rohmanoff)

Matthew Daddario will play Alec Lightwood. He has appeared in the box office films Delivery Man with Vince Vaughn and When the Game Stands Tall with Jim Caviezel and Michael Chiklis. His older sister is Alexandra Daddario from White Collar, San Andreas and the Percy Jackson films.

Photo Credit for Matthew Daddario: @rohmanoff

Alberto Rosende

Alberto Rosende will play Simon Lewis. Alberto is a South Florida native who is a newcomer to the small screen, having appeared in one episode of Blue Bloods prior to landing this role.

16. to 18. Cast of The Shannara Chronicles – The MTV drama is based on the legendary book series by Terry Brooks that blends magic and primitive technology on an Earth long after civilization was destroyed in a chemical and nuclear holocaust. The three lead roles are played by Ivana Baquero, Austin Butler and Poppy Drayton.

Ivana Baquero

Ivana Baquero will play Eretria. This Spanish beauty has a number of foreign films on her resume as well as appearing in the Guillermo del Toro box office film Pan’s Labyrinth.

Austin Butler

Austin Butler will play Wil Ohmsford. TV viewers will recognize him from his roles in Zoey 101, Ruby & the Rockits, Life Unexpected, Switched at Birth, The Carrie Diaries and Arrow.

Poppy Drayton

Poppy Drayton will play Amberle Elessedil. She appeared in the made-for-TV movie When Calls the Heart (upon which the Hallmark Channel TV series is centered and based on the Janette Oke books) and the beloved PBS drama Downton Abbey.

Are there any actors or actresses who you think are the faces to watch in 2016? Please share.

TOMORROW: Closing Out 2015

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