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Year-End Round-Up: The Faces of 2014

Posted in Movies, New Faces, New Shows, Television, Year End Round Up on December 29, 2014| 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:

Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan

Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan

Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan – Relative newcomers Caitriona and Sam landed the lead roles in the highly anticipated Outlander series based on the international best-selling novel of the same name by Diana Gabaldon. Caitriona got her start as a runway model before landing small roles in the box office films Super 8 and Now You See Me as well as the online series H+. Meanwhile, Sam appeared in the Hallmark Channel movie A Princess for Christmas (with his naturally short blonde hair), the made-for-TV movie Any Human Heart and the British medical soap opera Doctors.

Adele Exarchopoulos

Adele Exarchopoulos

Adele Exarchopoulos – This French actress, who got her start at the tender age of 12, really burst onto the scene in the acclaimed foreign film Blue Is the Warmest Colour, which earned Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations as well as being heralded as the best film of 2013 by many critics. She will next be seen in the Sean Penn-directed film The Last Face that is set to star Charlize Theron, Javier Bardem and Jean Reno.

Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong’o – Lupita, of course, won an Oscar this year for her first role (ever) in the acclaimed film 12 Years a Slave; and then starred alongside Liam Neeson in the film Non-Stop. Her voice will be featured in next year’s The Jungle Book and she also landed a role in the highly-coveted Star Wars: Episode VII film.

Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie – Margot was a huge star in her native Australia by starring in the soap opera Neighbours, but she was first noticed by an American audience in the short-lived drama Pan Am and then the film The Wolf of Wall Street. She has a lot of projects coming up including Suite Francaise with Michelle Williams, Focus with Will Smith, Z for Zachariah with Chris Pine and Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tarzan with Alexandar Skarsgard and Samuel L. Jackson, The Taliban Shuffle with Tina Fey and The Mountain Between Us with Charlie Hunnam.

Ansel Elgort

Ansel Elgort

Ansel Elgort – Newcomer Ansel seemed to be all over the place in 2014, appearing in the film adaptation of the Veronica Roth novel Divergent, the film adaptation of the John Green book The Fault in Our Stars and the Jason Reitman film Men, Women & Children. He will next be seen in the Divergent sequel Insurgent.

Michiel Huisman

Michiel Huisman

Michiel Huisman – Michiel seemed to be everywhere on TV between appearing in episodes of the ABC music-themed drama Nashville, taking over the role of Daario Naharis on Game of Thrones and showing up in the second season of the acclaimed BBC America drama Orphan Black. He has also been appearing in the latest Chanel No. 5 commercials. He will be seen in the films The Age of Adaline with Blake Lively and American Dream with Nick Stahl and Luke Bracey.

Kathryn Alexandre

Kathryn Alexandre

Kathryn Alexandre – No one knows her “real” face, but everyone who has watched just one episode of Orphan Black knows Kathryn’s work. She is the 24-year-old actress who plays alongside Tatiana Maslany as her clone double. She wears the wigs and costumes and plays out the roles of the clones just as well as Tatiana; and deserves to be praised for what she does. Also, viewers who watched closely to the October 16 episode of Reign would have seen Kathryn as Lady Barnard.

Charlotte Le Bon and Manish Dayal

Charlotte Le Bon and Manish Dayal

Charlotte Le Bon and Manish Dayal – Charlotte and Manish appeared in the acclaimed independent film The Hundred-Foot Journey that starred Helen Mirren. Charlotte appeared in the box office movie Yves Saint Laurent and will next be seen The Walk with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ben Kingsley and James Badge Dale as well as the upcoming film Bastille Day with Idris Elba and Richard Madden. Meanwhile, Manish appeared in episodes of 90210, Rubicon and Switched at Birth.

Brenton Thwaites

Brenton Thwaites

Brenton Thwaites – The Australian actor appeared in a number of films throughout the year, including The Signal with Laurence Fishburne and Olivia Cooke, Maleficient with Angelina Jolie, The Giver with Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep and Son of a Gun with Ewan McGregor and Alicia Vikander. He will next be seen in Gods of Egypt with Gerard Butler, Rufus Sewell, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Geoffrey Rush.

Jacqueline Toboni

Jacqueline Toboni

Jacqueline Toboni – Virtually fresh out of college with a degree in theatre, Jacqueline landed a recurring role in the NBC fairytale drama Grimm, appearing as Theresa Rubel – aka Trubel – a new “Grimm” who arrives in Portland not knowing or really understanding her gift until she meets Detective Nick Burkhardt.

Nicola Peltz

Nicola Peltz

Nicola Peltz – Back in 2010, Nicola starred in the much-maligned film The Last Airbender, but three years later she landed a role in the FX drama Bates Motel and then she landed a role in the latest Transformers franchise film alongside Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci and Kelsey Grammer.

Jamie Blackley

Jamie Blackley

Jamie Blackley – Two years ago, Jamie starred in Snow White and the Huntsman, but it was his roles in this year’s The Fifth Estate alongside Benedict Cumberbatch, Peter Capaldi, Dan Stevens and David Thewlis as well as his lead role in the film adaptation of If I Stay with Chloe Grace Moretz, that got him noticed. He will next be seen in the as-yet untitled Woody Allen film that will star Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix and Parker Posey.

Alex Saxon

Alex Saxon

Alex Saxon – Alex is a relative newcomer, who landed a recurring role on the ABC Family drama The Fosters; a role that became a fan favorite. And then not that much later he landed a recurring role on the MTV family drama Finding Carter where his character, once again, became a fan favorite.

Arden Cho

Arden Cho

Arden Cho – Arden joined the cast of the MTV thriller Teen Wolf during the latter half of the third season and became a series regular for the show’s fourth season that aired this summer, playing Kira Yukimura. Previously, she appeared in episodes of Castle, Pretty Little Liars, Rizzoli & Isles and CSI: NY. She will next be seen alongside Giancarlo Esposito in the film Stuck.

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

TOMORROW: New Faces of 2015

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Year-End Round-Up: Ratings for 2014

Posted in Ratings, Television, Year End Round Up on December 28, 2014| Leave a Comment »

TV ratings, of course, are the life’s blood of every series on the major and cable networks. Every show is at the mercy of the ratings – whether they are the immediate overnight numbers or the combined final ratings along with DVD viewing. But in recent years, the networks have become obsessed with the 18-39 year old viewers. And while those demographics are important to the powers that be, in my personal opinion, they are ageist and exclusive to a great majority of viewers who still matter, especially where the all-important advertising dollars are concerned.

Needless to say, like every year for the past 10 years, I will focus only 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.

Let’s get started!!

The first list is the major network dramas that aired from January through June 2014, covering the last half of 2013-2014 TV season:

NCIS (CBS) – 17.6 million
NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS) – 14.8 million
Blue Bloods (CBS) – 11.8 million
Criminal Minds (CBS) and The Blacklist (NBC) – 10.6 million [TIE]
Person of Interest (CBS) – 10.3 million
CSI (CBS) – 9.9 million
Hawaii Five-0 (CBS) – 9.8 million
Castle (ABC) – 9.3 million
The Good Wife and The Mentalist (both on CBS) – 9.2 million [TIE]
Scandal (ABC) – 9 million
Resurrection (ABC) – 8.9 million
Elementary (CBS) – 8.5 million
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – 8.1 million
Unforgettable (CBS) – 7.5 million *
Chicago Fire (NBC) – 7 million
Intelligence (CBS) – 6.8 million *
Chicago P.D. (NBC) – 6.4 million
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) and Bones (FOX) – 6.3 million [TIE]
Once Upon a Time (ABC) – 6.1 million
Almost Human (FOX) – 5.9 million *
Revenge (ABC) – 5.5 million
Grimm (NBC) – 5.3 million
The Following (FOX) – 5.2 million
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC) – 5.1 million
Believe (NBC) – 5 million *
Nashville (ABC) and Revolution (NBC) * – 4.9 million [TIE]
Hostages (CBS) – 4.8 million *
Sleepy Hollow (FOX) – 4.4 million
Parenthood (NBC) – 4 million
Crisis (NBC) – 3.7 million *
Killer Women (ABC) – 3.4 million *
Betrayal * and Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (both on ABC) * – 3.2 million [TIE]
Rake (FOX) – 3.1 million *
Dracula (NBC) – 2.9 million *
Hannibal (NBC) – 2.7 million
Glee (FOX) and Mind Games (ABC) * – 2.5 million [TIE]
Arrow (The CW) – 2.4 million
The Assets (ABC) – 2.3 million *
Supernatural (The CW) – 2.2 million
The Vampire Diaries (The CW) – 2 million
The Originals and The 100 (both on The CW) – 1.9 million [TIE]
Reign (The CW) – 1.5 million
The Tomorrow People (The CW) – 1.2 million *
Star-Crossed (The CW) – 1 million *
Hart of Dixie (The CW) – 951,000 viewers
The Carrie Diaries (The CW) – 918,000 viewers *
Beauty And the Beast (The CW) – 843,000 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) – 13.7 million
Game of Thrones (HBO) – 7 million
Downton Abbey (PBS) – 6 million (approximate)
Major Crimes (TNT) – 5.2 million
Rizzoli & Isles (TNT) – 3.9 million
American Horror Story: Coven (FX) – 3.4 million
Sherlock (PBS) – 3.3 million
Vikings (History Channel) and The Haves and Have Nots (OWN) – 3.2 million [TIE]
White Collar (USA Network) – 2.8 million
Being Mary Jane (BET) and Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family) – 2.5 million [TIE]
Suits (USA Network) – 2.4 million
Bates Motel (A&E), True Detective (HBO) and Justified (FX) – 2.3 million [TIE]
Teen Wolf (MTV) – 2.1 million
Dallas * and Perception * (both on TNT) and Mad Men (AMC) – 2 million [TIE]
Fargo (FX) – 1.9 million
Psych (USA Network) * and The Fosters and Switched at Birth (both on ABC Family) – 1.6 million [TIE]
The Americans (FX), Drop Dead Diva (Lifetime) *, Turn (AMC) and When Calls the Heart (Hallmark) – 1.4 million [TIE]
Ravenswood (ABC Family) * and Helix (Syfy) – 1.3 million [TIE]
Being Human * and Warehouse 13 * (both on Syfy) and Twisted (ABC Family) * – 1.1 million [TIE]
Signed Sealed Delivered (Hallmark) * – 1 million (approximate) ^^
Continuum (Syfy) – 844,000 viewers
Penny Dreadful (Showtime) – 840,000 viewers
Bitten (Syfy) – 789,000 viewers
Black Sails (Starz) – 761,000 viewers
Lost Girl (Syfy) – 740,000 viewers (approximate)
Those Who Kill (A&E then moved to Lifetime Movie Network) – 718,000 viewers *
Orphan Black (BBC America) – 555,000 viewers
Salem (WGN America) – 473,000 viewers
Banshee (Cinemax) – 468,000 viewers
Da Vinci’s Demons (Starz) – 351,000 viewers
Atlantis (BBC America) – 246,000 viewers
Ripper Street (BBC America) – 230,000 viewers ^

* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
^ Ripper Street moves from BBC America over to Netflix for its next season
^^ Signed Sealed Delivered has moved over to Hallmark Movies & Mysteries from the Hallmark Channel and will play as numerous made-for-TV movies throughout the year rather than as the series it was original set as

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

Under the Dome (CBS) – 7.1 million
The Night Shift (NBC) – 6.8 million
Extant (CBS) – 6.1 million
Unforgettable (CBS) – 6 million *
24: Live Another Day (FOX) – 5.7 million
Taxi Brooklyn (NBC) – 5.3 million *
Rookie Blue (ABC) – 4.8 million
Reckless (CBS) *, Black Box * and Motive (both on ABC) – 3.9 million [TIE]
Mistresses (ABC) – 3.7 million
Gang Related (FOX) * and Crossbones (NBC) * – 2.7 million [TIE]
Beauty And the Beast (The CW) – 874,000 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 May through about mid-September:

Rizzoli & Isles and Major Crimes (both on TNT) – 5.2 million [TIE]
The Last Ship (TNT) – 4.4 million
True Blood * (HBO) and Longmire * (A&E) ^ – 3.5 million [TIE]
The Haves and Have Nots (OWN) – 3 million
Murder in the First (TNT) – 2.9 million
Perception (TNT) – 2.8 million *
Suits (USA Network) – 2.6 million
Falling Skies (TNT) – 2.5 million
Hit the Floor (VH1) – 2.3 million
Hell on Wheels (AMC), The Strain (FX) and Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family) – 2.2 million [TIE]
Royal Pains (USA Network) – 2 million
Covert Affairs and Rush * (both on USA Network) – 1.7 million [TIE]
The Leftovers (HBO), Dallas * (TNT), Teen Wolf (MTV), Defiance and Dominion (both on Syfy) – 1.6 million [TIE]
Ray Donovan (Showtime), Legends (TNT), The Fosters (ABC Family) and Tyrant (FX) – 1.5 million [TIE]
Satisfaction (USA Network) – 1.4 million
Graceland (USA Network) and Switched at Birth (ABC Family) – 1.3 million [TIE]
Chasing Life (ABC Family) and Franklin & Bash (TNT) – 1.2 million
Witches of East End * (Lifetime), Finding Carter (MTV) and The Bridge * (FX) – 1.1 million [TIE]
Outlander (Starz) – 1 million
Masters of Sex (Showtime) – 800,000 viewers
Halt & Catch Fire (AMC) – 797,000 viewers
The Lottery (Lifetime) – 670,000 viewers *
Power (Starz) – 654,000 viewers
The Knick (Cinemax) – 368,000 viewers
The Divide (WE TV) – 301,000 viewers *
Rectify (Sundance) – 144,000 viewers (approximate)

* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
^ Longmire was picked up Netflix for its third season

NOTE: Ratings for the following cable dramas could not be tracked down: Almighty Johnsons (Syfy), Cedar Cove (Hallmark), The Musketeers (BBC America), Matador (El Rey Network) * and Rogue (DirecTV).

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

The Walking Dead (AMC) – 14.6 million
Sons of Anarchy (FX) – 4.7 million *
American Horror Story: Freak Show (FX) – 4.1 million
Major Crimes (TNT) – 3.6 million ^
The Librarians (TNT) – 3 million ^
Boardwalk Empire (HBO) – 2 million *
Hell on Wheels (AMC) – 1.9 million
If Loving You Is Wrong (OWN) – 1.7 million
White Collar (USA Network) – 1.6 million *
Homeland (Showtime) – 1.5 million
Z Nation (Syfy) and The Newsroom (HBO) * – 1.4 million [TIE]
Covert Affairs (USA Network) – 1.3 million
Doctor Who (BBC America) 1.1 million (approximate)
Transporter: The Series (TNT) [Season 1] – 1 million
Transporter: The Series (TNT) [Season 2] – 1 million ^
Haven (Syfy) – 857,000 viewers
Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce (Bravo) -829,000 viewers ^
The Affair (Showtime) – 715,000 viewers
Intruders (BBC America) – 403,000 viewers
Atlantis (BBC America) – 273,000 (approximate) viewers
The Missing (Starz) – 219,000 (approximate) viewers

* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
^ there was one other episode of this show that either aired after or had its ratings announced after this annual report had to be posted

NOTE: Ratings for the following cable dramas could not be tracked down: Kingdom (DirecTV) and The Game (BBC America).

The sixth and final list covers all of the major network dramas that aired during the first half of the 2014-2015 TV season, covering September to approximately mid-December:

NCIS (CBS) – 17.3 million
NCIS: New Orleans (CBS) – 15.6 million
Madam Secretary (CBS) – 12.6 million
Blue Bloods (CBS) – 11.0 million
Scorpion (CBS) – 10.8 million
The Good Wife (CBS) – 10.6 million
Criminal Minds and Hawaii Five-0 (both on CBS) – 10.4 million [TIE]
How to Get Away with Murder (ABC) – 10.3 million
Scandal (ABC) and The Blacklist (NBC) – 10.1 million [TIE]
Castle (ABC) and Person of Interest (CBS) – 9.6 million [TIE]
The Mentalist (CBS) – 8.9 million *
NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS) – 8.8 million
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) and The Mysteries of Laura (NBC) – 8.6 million [TIE]
CSI (CBS) – 8.2 million
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) – 8 million
Chicago Fire (NBC) – 7.9 million
Stalker (CBS) – 7.7 million
Elementary (CBS) – 7.5 million
Chicago P.D. (NBC) – 7.2 million
Once Upon a Time (ABC) and State of Affairs (NBC) – 6.6 million [TIE]
Gotham (FOX) – 6.5 million
Bones (FOX) – 5.9 million
Nashville (ABC) – 5.5 million
Forever (ABC) – 5.3 million
Resurrection (ABC) and Grimm (NBC) – 5.1 million [TIE]
Revenge (ABC) – 4.8 million
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC) and Sleepy Hollow (FOX) – 4.7 million [TIE]
Parenthood (NBC) – 4.2 million *
The Flash (The CW) – 3.8 million
Gracepoint (FOX) – 3.7 million *
Constantine (NBC) – 3.3 million *
Red Band Society (FOX) – 3.1 million *
Arrow (The CW) – 2.8 million
Supernatural (The CW) – 2.4 million
The Vampire Diaries and The 100 (both on The CW) – 1.7 million [TIE]
The Originals (The CW) – 1.4 million
Reign and Jane the Virgin (both on The CW) – 1.3 million [TIE]

* 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. Just like previous years, CBS is still the number one most watched network with NCIS being the highest rated drama for the entire year of 2014. The network also owns nearly all of the top 10 drama spots on the charts. CBS is also the home of the top new drama of the fall TV season in the form of Madam Secretary. The new thriller Stalker is the only drama on the network that isn’t performing that well in the ratings (at least where the network is concerned).

2. The Shonda Rhimes drama How to Get Away with Murder edged out both Scandal and Castle as the number one show on ABC for the fall. The lowest rated dramas on ABC are Revenge and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; but despite that fact there is a possibility that the network could give both shows one more season in order to give Revenge a 5-season run and give SHIELD support simply because it’s part of the Marvel universe.

3. While Bones has been the top drama on FOX, it was defeated by the new drama Gotham, which took over the lead this fall. FOX has cancelled its new drama Gracepoint and its other new drama Red Band Society is on life support at this point.

4. The Blacklist is still holding strong as the top rated show on NBC, but the surprise of the fall season is how well the much-maligned (at least by critics) new drama The Mysteries of Laura is performing in the ratings. The show most in jeopardy at NBC is the new drama Constantine, which is the lowest rated drama on the network and the series that had its production halted.

5. While Arrow was the number drama on The CW for the 2013-2014 TV season, it has been overtaken by the new spin-off series The Flash, which is now the top rated show on the network. The other surprise for the network is that the new dramedy Jane the Virgin may not be making banner marks in the ratings department (it is currently the lowest rated show on the network tied with Reign), but it sure is getting fan and critical acclaim.

6. As for the cable dramas, The Walking Dead is still the reigning king overall for all of 2014 while CBS’ Under the Dome edged out NBC’s The Night Shift just slightly for the top summer cable series.

There is one last list, though. The following covers all of the made-for-TV movies, mini-series, event series and specials that aired during 2014 on both the major and cable networks for which ratings could be tracked down in time for this report to be posted:

Peter Pan Live! (NBC) – 9.1 million
Flowers in the Attic (Lifetime) – 6.1 million
Christmas Under Wraps (Hallmark) – 5.8 million
Zapped (Disney) – 5.7 million
Cloud 9 (Disney) – 5 million
How to Build a Better Boy (Disney) – 4.6 million
In My Dreams (ABC) – 4.6 million
A Royal Christmas (Hallmark) – 4.5 million
Lizzie Borden: Took An Ax (Lifetime) – 4.4 million
The Christmas Shepherd (Hallmark) – 4.2 million
Christmas at Cartwrights (Hallmark) – 4.1 million
Northpole (Hallmark) – 4 million
Sharknado 2 (Syfy) – 3.9 million
The Gabby Douglas Story (Lifetime) – 3.8 million
One Christmas Eve (Hallmark) – 3.6 million
Rosemary’s Baby (NBC) – 3.5 million
The Christmas Parade (Hallmark) – 3.5 million
The Best Christmas Party Ever (Hallmark) – 3.4 million
Petals on the Wind (Lifetime) – 3.4 million
The Nine Lives of Christmas (Hallmark) – 3.4 million
Angels & Ornaments (Hallmark) – 3.3 million
Debbie Macomber’s Mr. Miracle (Hallmark) – 3.3 million
Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B (Lifetime) – 3.2 million
A Cookie Cutter Christmas (Hallmark) – 3.2 million
Klondike (Discovery Channel) – 3.1 million
One Starry Christmas (Hallmark) – 3.1 million
Chance at Romance (Hallmark) – 2.7 million
Blindsided (Lifetime) – 2.5 million
The Good Witch’s Wonder (Hallmark) – 2.5 million
The Good Mistress (Lifetime) – 2.3 million (approximate)
A Day Late and A Dollar Short (Lifetime) – 2.2 million
Stranded in Paradise (Hallmark) – 2.2 million
One Child (Sundance) – 2.2 million
The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime) – 2.1 million
Big Driver (Lifetime) – 2.1 million
The Girl He Met Online (Lifetime) – 2 million
For Better or For Worse (Hallmark) – 2 million
Outlaw Prophet: Warren Jeffs (Lifetime) – 1.8 million
Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever (Lifetime) – 1.8 million
A Ring By Spring (Hallmark) – 1.7 million
Bermuda Tentacles (Syfy) – 1.7 million
Presumed Dead in Paradise (Lifetime) – 1.7 million
House of Secrets (Lifetime) – 1.6 million
June in January (Hallmark) – 1.6 million (approximate)
The Unauthorized Saved By the Bell Story (Lifetime) – 1.6 million
Ascension (Syfy) – 1.6 million
The Brittany Murphy Story (Lifetime) – 1.5 million
Status: Unknown (Lifetime) – 1.5 million
Death Clique (Lifetime) – 1.5 million
A Daughter’s Nightmare (Lifetime) – 1.5 million
Return to Zero (Lifetime) – 1.5 million
Killing Daddy (Lifetime) – 1.5 million
The Santa Con (Lifetime) – 1.4 million
The Grim Sleeper (Lifetime) – 1.4 million
A Lesson in Romance (Hallmark) – 1.4 million
Sorority Surrogate (Lifetime) – 1.4 million
Mom’s Day Away (Hallmark) – 1.4 million
The Normal Heart (HBO) – 1.4 million
When Sparks Fly (Hallmark) – 1.4 million
The Mentor (Lifetime) – 1.4 million
Stolen From the Womb (Lifetime) – 1.4 million
The Good Sister (Lifetime) – 1.3 million
Lucky in Love (Hallmark) – 1.2 million
Snakehead Swamp (Syfy) – 1.2 million
Starving in Suburbia (Lifetime) – 1.1 million
Looking for Mr. Right (Hallmark) – 1.1 million (approximate)
Labyrinth (The CW) – 1 million (approximate)
Wally Lamb’s Wishin’ and Hopin’ (Lifetime) – 972,000 viewers
The Color of Rain (Hallmark Movie Channel) – 915,000 viewers (approximate)
Seasons of Love (Lifetime) – 734,000 viewers
The Red Road (Sundance) – 194,000 viewers (approximate)

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

TOMORROW: Faces of 2014

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Year-End Round-Up: Condolences for 2014

Posted in Books, Movies, Music, Television, Year End Round Up on December 27, 2014| Leave a Comment »

The following industry personalities (listed in alphabetical order) passed away in 2014 and heartfelt condolences are extended to their families, friends and fans:

Maya Angelou (Renowned Poet, Author and Civil Rights Activist)
Lord Richard Attenborough (English actor)
James Avery (Actor, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)

Lauren Bacall (Film Legend)
Skye McCole Bartusiak, (21-Year Old Actress, The Patriot)
Polly Bergen (Legendary screen and stage Actress)
Norman Bridwell (Creator of Clifford the Big Red Dog Books
Shirley Temple Black (Legendary Actress and Humanitarian)
James Brady (White House Press Secretary)
David Brenner (Legendary Comedian)
Richard Bull (Actor, Little House on the Prairie)

Sid Caesar (TV Pioneer and Legendary Comedian)
Mary Grace Canfield (Veteran Character Actress, Green Acres)
Bob Casale (Original member of the band Devo)
Joe Cocker (Singer)

Ann B. Davis (TV legend, The Brady Bunch)
Oscar de la Renta (Legendary Fashion Designer)
Ruby Dee (Oscar-Nominated Actress)
Hal Douglas (Iconic Narrator of Movie Trailers)
Ruth Robinson Duccini (last surviving female Munchkin from classic Wizard of Oz film)

Eileen Ford (Modeling Agency Founder)

James Garner (Legendary Actor)
Gerry Goffin (Lyricist and former husband to singer-songwriter Carole King)
Michael Gottlieb (Writer-Director, Mannequin [film])

Charlie Haden (Legendary Jazz Bassist)
Robert Halmi, Sr. (Legendary Producer)
Bob Hastings (Actor, McHale’s Navy)
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Legendary Actor)
Jan Hooks (Saturday Night Live Alum)
Bob Hoskins (British Actor, Who Framed Roger Rabbit)

P.D. James (Legendary British Authoress)
Jimi Jamison (Survivor Lead Singer)
Michael Johns (American Idol Contestant/Australian Singer-Songwriter)
Russell Johnson (The Professor on Gilligan’s Island)
Sarah Jones (Camera Operator [killed in tragic train/filming accident])

Casey Kasem (Radio Personality)
Daniel Keyes (Author, “Flowers for Algernon”)
Richard Kiel (James Bond Villain)

Jim Lange (TV Host, The Dating Game)
Glen A. Larson (Series Creator, Battlestar Galactica and Magnum PI)
Stephen Lee (Seinfeld Actor)
Cynthia Lynn (Actress, Hogan’s Heroes)

Sheila MacRae (Actress, The Honeymooers)
Dave Madden (Actor, The Partridge Family)
Lee Marshall (Voice of Tony the Tiger)
Arlene Martel (Actress, Star Trek)
Frank Marth (Actor, The Honeymooners)
Paul Mazursky (Director, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice)
Denny Miller (Athlete-Actor, Tarzan on Big Screen)
Mary Ann Mobley (Miss America 1959, TV & Film Actress)

Mike Nichols (Legendary Director of The Graduate)

Kate O’Mara (British Actress, Dynasty)

Don Pardo (Legendary Announcer for Saturday Night Live)
Gerard Parkes (Fraggle Rock Actor)
Elizabeth Pena (Actress, Matador)
John Pinette (Stand-Up Comedian and Actor, The Punisher)

Harold Ramis (Actor, Ghostbusters and Stripes)
Tommy Ramone (Founding Member of The Ramones)
James Rebhorn (Actor, Homeland)
Mary Rodgers (Author, “Freaky Friday”)
Mickey Rooney (Film Legend)
Jimmy Ruffin (Motown Singer)

James Shigeta (Actor, Die Hard and Midway)
Dick Smith (Legendary Hollywood Makeup Artist)
Marcia Strassman (Actress, Welcome Back Kotter)
Elaine Stritch (Emmy and Tony-winning Actress)
Carol Ann Susi (Actress, The Big Bang Theory)

Meshach Taylor (Actor, Designing Women)

Garrick Utley (Veteran TV Journalist)

Jerry Vale (1950’s Singer “You Don’t Know Me”)

Ralph Waite (Actor, The Waltons and NCIS)
Eli Wallach (Legendary Actor)
Ken Weatherwax (Pugsley on the original classic Addams Family)
Robin Williams (Legendary Actor-Comedian)

Louis “Louie” Zamperini (World War II Hero and Olympic Medalist)
Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. (Actor, 77 Sunset Strip)

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: Awards of 2014

Posted in Awards, Movies, Music, Television, Year End Round Up on December 26, 2014| 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)

Favorite Dramatic TV Actress – Stana Katic (Castle)
Favorite Network TV Drama – The Good Wife
Favorite Cable TV Actress – Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars)
Favorite New TV Drama – Reign
Favorite TV Crime Drama – Castle
Favorite Cable TV Comedy – Psych
Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress – Kristin Kreuk (Beauty and the Beast)
Favorite TV Bromance – Sean, Dean and Castiel (Supernatural)

GOLDEN GLOBES (January)

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama – Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama – Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)
Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical – Amy Adams (American Hustle)
Best Supporting Actress, Motion Picture – Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)
Best Supporting Actor, Motion Picture – Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)
Best Motion Picture, Drama – 12 Years a Slave
Best Animated Feature Film – Frozen

CRITICS’ CHOICE MOVIE AWARDS (January)

Best Picture – 12 Years a Slave
Best Supporting Actress – Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave)
Best Foreign Language Film – Blue Is the Warmest Color
Best Action Movie – Lone Survivor
Best Actress in an Action Movie – Sandra Bullock (Gravity)
Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie – Gravity
Best Costume Design – Catherine Martin (The Great Gatsby)
Best Song – “Let It Go” by Robert Lopez, and Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Frozen)
Joel Siegel Award – Forest Whitaker

SAG AWARDS (January)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries – Helen Mirren (Phil Spector)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries – Michael Douglas (Behind the Candelabra)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Rita Moreno
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series – Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey)

GRAMMY AWARDS (January)

Best New Artist – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Best Pop Solo Performance – “Royals” by Lorde
Best Country Album – Same Trailer Different Park by Kacey Musgraves
Song of the Year – “Royals” by Lorde
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album – To Be Loved by Michael Bublé
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media – “Skyfall” by Thomas Newman
Best Country Solo Performance – “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker
Best Rock Performance “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons

NAACP IMAGE AWARDS (February)

Drama Series – Scandal (ABC)
Drama Actress – Kerry Washington (Scandal)
Drama Actor – LL Cool J (NCIS: Los Angeles)
Drama, Supporting Actress – Taraji P. Henson (Person of Interest)
Drama, Support Actor – Joe Morton (Scandal)
Outstanding TV Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special – Being Mary Jane (BET)
Outstanding Actress in a TV Movie, Mini Series or Dramatic Special – Gabrielle Union (Being Mary Jane)
Outstanding Actor in a TV Movie, Mini Series or Dramatic Special – Idris Elba (Luther)

OSCARS (March)

Best Supporting Actor – Jared Leto (Dallas Buyer’s Club)
Animated Feature Film – Frozen
Best Supporting Actress – Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave)
Best Actor – Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)
Best Picture – 12 Years a Slave
Best Original Song – “Let It Go,” Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (Frozen)
Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress – Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)

RAZZI AWARDS (March)

Worst Picture – Movie 43
Worst Actor – Jaden Smith (After Earth)
Worst Supporting Actor – Will Smith (After Earth)

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS (April)

Entertainer of the Year – George Strait
Album of the Year – Same Trailer Different Park by Kacey Musgraves
Vocal Group of the Year – The Band Perry
Female Vocalist of the Year – Miranda Lambert
Male Vocalist of the Year – Jason Aldean
New Artist of the Year – Justin Moore
Vocal Duo of the Year – Florida Georgia Line

MTV MOVIE AWARDS (April)

Movie of the Year – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Best Male Performance – Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)
Best Female Performance – Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)
Best Villain – Mila Kunis (Oz the Great and Powerful)
Best Hero – Henry Cavill (Man of Steel)
Favorite Character – Tris, “Divergent” (Shailene Woodley)

BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS (May)

Top New Artist – Lorde
Top Duo/Group – Imagine Dragons
Top Touring Artist – Bon Jovi
Top Country Artist – Luke Bryan
Top Rock Album – Night Visions by Imagine Dragons
Top Country Song – “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line Featuring Nelly
Top Rock Song – “Royals” by Lorde

CMT MUSIC AWARDS (June)

Group Video of the Year – “Done” by The Band Perry
Breakthrough Video of the Year – “Wasting All These Tears” by Cassadee Pope
Male Video of the Year – “Doin’ What She Likes” by Blake Shelton
Video of the Year – “See You Again” by Carrie Underwood

TONY AWARDS (June)

Actor in a Featured Role in a Play – Mark Rylance (Twelfth Night)
Actor in a Leading Role in a Play – Bryan Cranston (All the Way)
Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical – Neil Patrick Harris (Hedwig and the Angry Inch)
Actress in a Featured Role in a Play – Sophie Okonedo (A Raisin in the Sun)
Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical – Lena Hall (Hedwig and the Angry Inch)
Actress in a Leading Role in a Play – Audra McDonald (Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill)

CRITICS’ CHOICE TV AWARDS (June)

Best Drama Series – Breaking Bad
Best Actor in a Drama Series – Matthew McConaughey (True Detective)
Best Actress in a Drama Series – Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black)
Best Comedy Series – Orange Is The New Black
Best Movie – The Normal Heart
Best Mini-Series – Fargo
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Bellamy Young (Scandal)

TELEVISION CRITICS ASSOCIATION (July)

Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming – The Fosters
Outstanding Achievement in Drama – The Good wife
Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Mini-Series and Specials – True Detective

TEEN CHOICE AWARDS (August)

Choice Movie: Action/Adventure – Divergent
Choice Movie Actor: Action/Adventure – Theo James (Divergent)
Choice Movie Actress: Action/Adventure – Shailene Woodley (Divergent)
Choice Movie: Sci-Fi/Fantasy – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Choice Movie Actor: Sci-Fi/Fantasy – Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)
Choice Movie Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy – Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and X-Men: Days of Future Past)
Choice Movie: Drama – The Fault in Our Stars
Choice Movie Actor Drama – Ansel Elgort (The Fault in Our Stars)
Choice TV Show Drama – Pretty Little Liars
Choice TV Actor Drama – Ian Harding (Pretty Little Liars)
Choice TV Actress: Drama – Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars)
Choice TV Villain – Dylan O’Brien (Teen Wolf)
Choice TV Male Scene Stealer – Tyler Hoechlin (Teen Wolf)

EMMY AWARDS (August)

Best Comedy – Modern Family
Best Drama – Breaking Bad
Best Miniseries – Fargo
Best Television Movie – The Normal Heart
Lead Actor Drama – Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Lead Actress Drama – Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
Supporting Actor Drama – Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad)
Supporting Actress Drama – Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad)
Actor, Miniseries/Movie – Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock)
Supporting Actor Miniseries/Movie – Martin Freeman (Sherlock)

CMA AWARDS (October)

Single of the Year – Automatic by Miranda Lambert
Song of the Year – Follow Your Arrow by Kacey Musgraves
Vocal Duo of the Year – Florida Georgia Line
Album of the Year – Platinum by Miranda Lambert
Vocal Group of the Year – Little Big Town
Male Vocalist of the Year – Blake Shelton
Female Vocalist of the Year – Miranda Lambert
Entertainer of the Year – Luke Bryan

AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS (November)

Favorite Alternative Rock Artist – Imagine Dragons
Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist – Sam Smith
Favorite Country Female Artist – Carrie Underwood
Favorite Country Band, Duo or Group – Florida Georgia Line
Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist – John Legend
Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist – Katy Perry
Top Soundtrack – Frozen

Let’s send out a hearty congratulations to all of these winners (and the countless others who won awards) over the course of 2014. Are any of your favorites included above? Was there an actress, actor or entertainer who you thought should have received some type of award for their work in television, movies or music who isn’t listed above? Please share your thoughts.

TOMORROW: Condolences

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Year-End Round-Up: Movie Highlights of 2014

Posted in Movies, Year End Round Up on December 25, 2014| Leave a Comment »

For a number of years, I thoroughly enjoyed going to see as many box office movies as I could; but over the last couple of years, I have severely reduced how many movies I see at the Cineplex each year. The main reasons are cost and the proliferation of people who simply cannot leave their cell phones in the car.

Despite those deterrents, I still like to go to the movies and among the 2014 films that I enjoyed most include the following: Veronica Mars, Belle, The Grand Seduction, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Divergent, Big Hero 6 and Guardians of the Galaxy.

I doubt that readers are really that concerned about what movies I enjoyed seeing this year and would rather know what were the top 25 movies for this year based on their overall gross. Here is the list based on the box office results for the entire year up through December 15:

1. Guardians of the Galaxy – 332 million
2. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 – 280 million
3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier – 260 million
4. The LEGO Movie – 258 million
5. Transformers: Age of Extinction – 245 million
6. Maleficent – 241 million
7. X-Men: Days of Future Past – 234 million
8. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – 209 million
9. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 – 203 million
10. Godzilla – 201 million
11. 22 Jump Street – 192 million
12. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – 191 million
13. Big Hero 6 – 186 million
14. How to Train Your Dragon 2 – 177 million
15. Interstellar – 168 million
16. Gone Girl – 165 million
17. Divergent – 151 million
18. Neighbors – 150 million
19. Ride Along – 135 million
20. Rio 2 – 132 million
21. Lucy – 127 million
22. The Fault in Our Stars – 125 million
23. Mr. Peabody & Sherman – 112 million
24. 300: Rise of An Empire – 107 million
25. The Maze Runner – 102 million

I also compiled a list of the movies that were either a disappointment at the box office or simply had horrible-looking trailers (they appear in alphabetical order):

22 Jump Street
A Haunted House 2
A Million Ways to Die in the West
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Annabelle
As Above So Below
Bad Words
Blended
Cuban Fury
Deliver Us From Evil
Devil’s Due
Dumb and Dumber To
Filth
Horns
Horrible Bosses 2
Let’s Be Cops
Mom’s Night Out
Neighbors
Oculus
Ouija
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones
Ride-Along
Sex Tape
Tammy
The Interview
The Other Woman
The Purge: Anarchy
The Pyramid
The Quite Ones
Think Like a Man Too
Walk of Shame

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: Music Moments in 2014

Posted in Music, Year End Round Up on December 24, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Music is an important aspect of all our lives, whether it is in your favorite TV series, playing on your car or office radio or more specifically on iTunes, Pandora or your iPod and/or phone or the latest box office film you have been anxiously waiting to see. Music, obviously, comes in many different formats: pop, hip hop, rap, metal, country, classic rock, inspirational, R&B, Latin, dance and much more.

Among some of the special music moments from this past year are as follows:

Most Played Single of the Year – “Fall in Love” by Phantagram

Best New Import – Vance Joy, who has the hit single “Riptide”

Best R&B Artist – “All of Me” by John Legend

Top Rock Song – “I Wanna Get Better” by Bleachers

Most Anticipated Album of the Year – “Shine On” by Sarah McLachlan

Best Duet – “Say Something” by A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera

Best Rock Band – Arctic Monkeys

Catchy-est Hit Single – “Everything is AWESOME” by Tegan and Sara (from the box office film The LEGO Movie)

Best Male Singer – Sam Smith

Most Overplayed Single – “Happy” by Pharrell Williams (from the box office film Despicable Me 2)

Best New Band – Magic!

Best Country Band – The Band Perry

Best Male Country Singer – Jason Aldean

Best Songs Used in TV Shows [Three-Way TIE] – “Aquarius” by Digital Daggers (used in pilot of short-lived series Star-Crossed); “Love Me Again” by John Newman (used as advertising for the USA Network series Suits) and “Human” by Christina Perri (also used in short-lived series Star-Crossed)

Talented Artist Who Needs to Put Away the Autotune and the Glam and Just Sing – Ariana Grande

Here is the auto-tune and over-the-top “glam” version of Ariana:

While here is the live Ariana version where she is just singing:

NOTE: See the difference!!

Best New Artist – “All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor

Here is the video too:

Most Overlooked Single – “Battlefield” by Lea Michele

Here is the video of Battlefield so you can hear a live version of the single:

Most Entertaining (and Lip Dubbed) Video – “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift

Most Moving Single and Video – “Try” by Colbie Caillat

TOMORROW: Movies

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Year-End Round-Up: The Best (and Worst) of Television in 2014

Posted in Television, Year End Round Up on December 23, 2014| 2 Comments »

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:

Arrow Battle

Best Battle – Oliver and his team against the Mirakuru soldiers on the May season finale of Arrow

Castle Wedding

It’s About Damn Time [TIE] – Kate finally gets Bracken for the murder of her mother AND Castle and Beckett finally get married and have their honeymoon on Castle

Reaching a TV Milestone [TIE] – 250th episode of NCIS and 200th episode of Supernatural

NOTE: Here is the awesome rendition of “Carry On My Wayward Son” from the Supernatural 200th episode:

First Kisses

Best First Kiss [TIE] – Felicity and Oliver on Arrow (even though it meant the end of their relationship before it could even really get started) and Jack and Elizabeth finally kissing on When Calls the Heart

Eliza and Josh

Best Actress in a Drama – Eliza Taylor on The 100

Best Actor in a Drama – Josh Charles on The Good Wife

Grant and Justin

Best Male Newcomer [TIE] – Grant Gustin on The Flash and Justin Baldoni on Jane the Virgin

How Could They End It Like That – Witches of East End (huge cliffhangers for all the characters and then the show gets canceled)

Favorite New Cable Drama – Outlander

Best New Summer Cable Drama – Finding Carter

Villains

Best New Villain [TIE] – Mara on Haven and Martine Rousseau on Person of Interest

Best Way to Bring a Show to an End – Warehouse 13’s series finale

What the Hell Just Happened – Olivia being taken on Scandal’s fall finale

The Returning Drama That’s Experiencing a Bit of a Sophomore Slump – Sleepy Hollow

Kate and Stiles

Best Performance By a Veteran Female Character – Kate Beckett in the episode of Castle entitled “In the Belly of the Beast” when she goes undercover as a Russian courier who actually turned out to be a hired killer

Best Performance By a Male Character – Stiles on Teen Wolf (when the fox spirit was possessing him)

Candice and Gina

Prettiest Newcomer [TIE] – Candice Patton on The Flash and Gina Rodriguez on Jane the Virgin

Most Anticipated Shows for the Upcoming Mid-Season TV Season [TIE] – 12 Monkeys on Syfy and Agent Carter on ABC

The Most Overlooked New Drama of the Fall TV Season – Red Band Society

I Didn’t See That Coming [TIE] – Dean becoming a demon on the May season finale of Supernatural and Ingrid and Freya being killed on Witches of East End

Kenzi and Ward

Most Valuable Player – Kenzi sacrificing her live to save Bo and the rest of the team on Lost Girl

I Actually Did (Kinda) See This Coming – Ward turning out to be part of Hydra on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Favorite New Show of the Fall TV Season (Not Based on Ratings Results) – Scorpion

Best Season Finales (from May 2014) [Four-Way TIE] – The 100, Grimm, Castle and Person of Interest

Rick and Jacqueline

Best Supporting Actor on Cable Drama – Rick Hoffman on Suits

Best New Addition – Jacqueline Toboni as Trubel on Grimm

Worst Cancellations from 2013-2014 TV Season [TIE] – Star-Crossed and Almost Human

We Are SO Gonna Miss You, but Pretty Happy with the Ending (Well, Almost) [Three-Way TIE] – Drop Dead Diva, Psych and White Collar

Outlander Wedding NEW

Favorite Couple on a New Drama – Jamie and Claire on Outlander

Most Anticipated Episode of a Cable Drama – The Wedding episode of Outlander

Best Guilty Pleasure Shows [TIE] – Bitten and Transporter: The Series

Still Can’t Believe This New Show Is Doing As Well As It Is – The Mysteries of Laura

Slade and Diggle

He So Deserved What He Got – Slade Wilson on Arrow

Best Sidekick (Who Is SO Much More Than Just a Sidekick) – Diggle on Arrow

Most Buzzed About Family-Themed Cable Drama – The Fosters

Favorite TV Techie – Tory Ellis on Castle

Tory NEW

What’s Up With All the Stunning Deaths [Nine-Way TIE] – Allison on Teen Wolf; James Novak on Scandal; Will Gardner on The Good Wife; Neal Cassidy on Once Upon a Time; Hale on Lost Girl; King Joffrey on Game of Thrones; Moira Queen and Sara Lance on Arrow; Captain Irving on Sleepy Hollow and Dr. Lance Sweets on Bones

Why Did They Have to Show Us That – Huck and Quinn having sex on top of a parked car on Scandal (EWWW!!!)

Dramas That Have Taken The Biggest Ratings Hits This Fall TV Season [TIE] – Resurrection and How To Get Away With Murder (losing 4 million and 5 million viewers respectively from their premiere nights)

This Cable Show Is Just Unstoppable – The Walking Dead

The What the Hell Just Happened in That Fall Finale – Oliver Queen getting stabbed by Ra’s al Ghul, who then kicked him off a cliff on Arrow

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on what you liked the most and the least on television throughout 2014. Please share.

TOMORROW: Movies

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Year-End Round-Up: My Observations on 2014

Posted in Books, Convention/Event, Messages, Year End Round Up on December 22, 2014| Leave a Comment »

For nearly 10 years now, I have been putting together my year-end round-ups on all things related to the entertainment industry; and what a great year it has been for all of these mediums, right? There have been plenty of scandals, horrors (Isis anyone?!), Twitter wars and unexpected calamities but, above all else, fans have been provided with a lot of great entertainment [when tragedies have been overlooked].

Like every year, I want to take a little bit of time, selfish though it may be, before I get underway with the 2014 year-end round-ups to focus on some of the goals I set for myself each year.

Besides watching a lot of television, one of my favorite hobbies is reading; and each year I strive to read at least 20 books in the year. This year I actually made it well beyond that goal (YAY me!!). Among the books that I wanted to read were the first two books of the Outlander franchise by Diana Gabaldon – mainly in preparation for the debut of the Starz TV series Outlander – and I thoroughly enjoyed both books. I also read two more books by fictional TV character Richard Castle (from the TV series Castle) and the first book in the Veronica Mars book series. And, very much like last year, I enjoyed reading more Jane Austen inspired books from authors like Cora Harrison, Jenni James, Syrie James, Nina Benneton, Belinda Roberts as well as The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet.

This year I was also busy with TV events, including Wonder Con in Anaheim and Comic Con in San Diego. Like so many past years, I also attended the annual Paley Fest in Los Angeles, participating in their panels for Veronica Mars, Pretty Little Liars, the Lost reunion, Sleepy Hollow and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I also attended the following events at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills: The Evolution of the Crime Drama Heroine, a screening for the new show Manhattan, the center’s Annual Preview Parties and The Facts of Life reunion.

I also thoroughly enjoyed attending one of the first Outlander events in Los Angeles, saluting the Starz drama well before it debuted in August, attending the Sarah McLachlan concert at the Greek Theatre and the Nocking Point Wines (Stephen Amell’s wine company) Fall Release Party in Studio City.

But enough about all of that, tomorrow I will start rolling out my year-end round-up starting with the best (and worst) in television with much more as 2014 comes to an end.

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 2013

Posted in Messages, Year End Round Up on December 31, 2013| Leave a Comment »

What a complicated and unbelievable year 2013 has been for fans of television, movies, music and books. While we have all had good and bad times throughout the year, we can all rejoice in the great entertainment these medium 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: The New Faces of 2014

Posted in Movies, New Faces, New Shows, Television, Year End Round Up on December 30, 2013| 1 Comment »

Much like the Faces of 2013, there are always entertainers of note to be on the look-out for in the new year. With the help of some online research, here are my predictions for the faces of 2014 (in no particular order):

Alicia Vikander

Alicia Vikander

1. Alicia Vikander – The Swedish actress appeared in the Oscar-nominated Danish film A Royal Affair, then she appeared in the Kiera Knightley led film Anna Karenina and, most recently, she had a role in The Fifth Estate. In the new year, she will appear in the fantasy film loosely based on the Joseph Delaney’s novel series The Wardstone Chronicles as well as the Ewan McGregor-lead Son Of A Gun and the big screen remake of The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Dylan O'Brien

Dylan O’Brien

2. Dylan O’Brien – He may already be a fan favorite with viewers of the MTV thriller Teen Wolf, where he plays Stiles Stilinski, the sarcastic best friend of lead character Scott McCall, but it will be his lead role of Thomas in the upcoming big screen adaptation of the 2009 novel The Maze Runner by author James Dashner that will put him on the map with more than just the fringe TV audience.

Jack Reynor

Jack Reynor

3. Jack Reynor – The American-born but Irish-raised actor had a small role in the made-for-TV Hallmark movie Chasing Leprechauns that starred Adrian Pasdar and the lead role in an Irish film called What Richard Did. He can currently be seen in the Vince Vaughn-led film Delivery Man, but it will be next year’s box-office blockbuster Transformers 4 that will put him firmly in the public eye. He will play Shane opposite Mark Wahlberg and Stanley Tucci.

Luke Arnold

Luke Arnold

4. Luke Arnold – Luke will appear in the much-anticipated Starz pirate adventure Black Sails where he will play legendary (Long) John Silver and he has the lead role of Michael Hutchence, the late lead singer of the band INXS, in the two-part Australian mini-series Never Tear Us Apart: The INXS Story. Prior to these projects, Luke had a small role in the World War II mini-series The Pacific, appeared in the Australian drama Winners & Losers and the independent film Broken Hill with Tim Hutton and Alexa Vega.

Brady Corbet

Brady Corbet

5. Brady Corbet – Brady got his first big break in the scintillating film Thirteen and later appeared in several episodes of season 5 of 24. In more recent years, he has appeared in the independent films Melancholia and Martha Marcy May Marlene, but it will be his appearance alongside The Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson in the box office film Paradise Lost as well as his role in the box office film While We’re Young with Amanda Seyfried.

Lily James

Lily James

6. Lily James – Earlier this year, Lily appeared in season four of the international hit mini-series Downton Abbey as Crawley family cousin Rose, and prior to that she appeared in several episodes of Secret Diary of a Call Girl and had a role in the box office film Wrath of the Titans. But, it will be her lead role in the fairytale big screen film Cinderella that will be directed by Kenneth Branagh and will star Cate Blanchett as her nasty stepmother.

Marie Avgeropoulos

Marie Avgeropoulos

7. Marie Avgeropoulos – Marie has appeared in episodes of Supernatural, Harper’s Island, Fringe, Human Target and Eureka before landing the lead role in the Lifetime made-for-TV movie Fugitive at 17 and then starring in the short-lived CW series Cult. But, it will be her turn in the upcoming futuristic CW drama The 100 as well as her starring role alongside Twilight franchise star Taylor Lautner in the 2014 parkour film Tracers that will have people working very hard to pronounce her last name correctly.

Ed Oxenbould

Ed Oxenbould

7. Ed Oxenbould – Disney has cast young Australian newcomer Ed Oxenbould in the title role of Alexander in the big screen adaptation of the Judith Viorst book Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day that will follow Alexander through the mishaps of a terrible day for his family after he wishes they all would experience the same troubles he does. This youngster will star alongside Jennifer Garner, Steve Carrell, Megan Mullally and Jennifer Coolidge.

Brenton Thwaites

Brenton Thwaites

8. Brenton Thwaites – The Australian actor got his big break in the long-running Aussie soap opera Home And Away before landed the lead role in the Lifetime made-for-TV remake (of sorts) Blue Lagoon: The Awakening. But it will be his numerous 2014 film roles that will get him the most attention, including The Signal with Laurence Fishburne; Son of a Gun with Ewan McGregor, Maleficent with Angelina Jolie, Ride with Helen Hunt and The Giver with Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep.

Sam Heughan

Sam Heughan

9. Sam Heughan – Prior to landing the much-coveted role of Jamie Fraser in the Starz adaptation of the internationally popular Outlander series of books by Diana Gabaldon, Sam caught the eye of many Hallmark Channel viewers in the holiday film A Princess at Christmas alongside Merlin alum Katie McGrath. He also appeared in the PBS mini-series Any Human Heart, the British medical drama Doctors and the British mini-series Island at War.

Ty Simpkins

Ty Simpkins

10. Ty Simpkins – Movie goers who saw Iron Man 3 will recognize young Ty Simpkins as Harley Keener, the young kid who helped Tony Stark out of a bind, but he also appeared in the 2010 horror flick Insidious as well as its 2013 follow-up. But, he will be seen in the long-in-the-works Jurassic Park sequel that will be released in the summer of 2015. Among this now 12 year old’s resume are the box office films War Of The Worlds, Revolutionary Road and Little Children.

Sophie Nelisse

Sophie Nelisse

11. Sophie Nelisse – This 13-year-old Canadian newcomer landed the lead role in the 2013 fall film release The Book Thief, playing Liesel Meminger, an adopted, illiterate girl who is fostered by the Hubermanns (played by Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson) when her father abandons her family, forcing her mother to give Liesel up for adoption. She learns to read thanks to the Hubermanns. Sophie was chosen over 1,000 other girls for this part and has only appeared in one other film: the 2011 Oscar-nominated Best Foreign Language film Monsieur Lazhar.

There will also be two groups of people (from film and TV) that will, assuredly, catch the attention of viewers in the new year, and they include:

Daniel Lissing and Erin Krakow

Daniel Lissing and Erin Krakow

1. Erin Krakow and Daniel Lissing – These two will play the lead roles of Elizabeth Thatcher and Jack Thornton in the new Hallmark Channel weekly series When Calls the Heart that is based on the Janette Oke book series. Daniel was, in fact, part of my faces of 2012 list because of his role in the short-lived ABC drama Last Resort while some TV viewers will recognize Erin from her recurring role on Army Wives.

Divergent Cast Justine Wachsberger, Ansel Elgort and Amy Newbold

Divergent Cast Justine Wachsberger, Ansel Elgort and Amy Newbold

Divergent Cast: Ben Lamb, Christian Madsen and Ben Lloyd-Hughes

Divergent Cast: Ben Lamb, Christian Madsen and Ben Lloyd-Hughes

2. The Cast of Divergent – The recognizable faces among the cast of this adaptation of the Veronica Roth YA novel includes Shailene Woodley (The Secret Life of the American Teenager), Theo James (Golden Boy), Kate Winslet (Titanic), Tony Goldwyn (Scandal), Ashley Judd (Missing), Maggie Q (Nikita), Miles Teller (Footloose), Zoe Kravitz (singer Lenny Kravitz’s daughter and X-men: First Class) and Mekhi Phifer (ER and Torchwood); but it will be the newer actors/actresses who will be starring alongside these bigger name stars who will be getting a lot of attention once the movie opens. They include Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Ben Lamb, Ansel Elgort, Christian Madsen, Amy Newbold and Justine Wachsberger.

Are there any actors or actresses who you think are the faces to watch in 2014? Please share.

TOMORROW: Closing Out 2013

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