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2024 Year-End Round-Up: Closing Out the Year

Posted in Messages, Year End Round Up on December 31, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Needless to say, 2024 has been a tumultuous year between horrible weather systems hitting all over the world, more school shootings, two “assassination” attempts on a certain orange-faced man who will take power in a few weeks, potentially changing the course of our country’s nearly 250-year history and so much more.

But there have been good things to happen too such as the Paris Olympics, more people of color than ever winning at the Emmy Awards and former President Jimmy Carter turning 100 years old.

We can all only hope that whatever 2025 has in store for us that it won’t be all doom and gloom, that there will be at least some shreds of decency left in the world and that we can all eke out at least a little bit of goodwill towards each other.

Most of all I hope that everyone who has visited my little entertainment news site and enjoyed what I’ve shared over the last 12 months and that you’ll continue to come back here for your entertainment news.

Most of all I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year!

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2024 Year-End Round-Up: The New Faces of 2025

Posted in Movies, Pictures, Television, Year End Round Up on December 30, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Much like the Faces of 2024, 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.

The new faces of 2025 appear below in no particular order:

Elliott Heffernan – After a nationwide open casting call and dealing with the audition process, this 11-year-old British boy made his professional on screen debut in the box office World War II-themed movie Blitz from director Steve McQueen. He played the young son, George, of Rita who was portrayed by Saoirse Ronan.

Phylicia Pearl Mpasi – Phylicia is a Maryland-born actress, who turned heads as young Celie in last year’s new version of The Color Purple, a performance which earned her an Outstanding Breakthrough Performance nomination at the 24th Annual Black Reel Awards. Not bad for her first big role, huh? Previously she worked as a staff writer for the short-lived Paramount+ series Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies.

Nikki Rodriguez – The 20-something actress from Minneapolis moved to LA straight out of school, first playing the tough teen girlfriend of a South Central gang member in the Gen Z comedy On My Block and then landing the plum role of Jackie Howard, the smart New York teenager, who ends up living in Colorado with her late mother’s best friend and her large family in the Netflix young-adult drama My Life With the Walter Boys.

Matilda De Angelis – The Italian actress and singer recently starred in the box office movie Across the River and Into the Woods (yes, that’s the full title of the movie and the Ernest Hemingway book on which it is based) alongside Liev Schreiber and Josh Hutcherson before landing the lead role in the spin-off series Citadel: Diana where she played an undercover agent for the global spy agency Citadel.

Anna Sawai – The Best Actress Emmy winner for the revised version of Shogun, had one of her big breaks in the 2021 franchise film F9: The Fast Saga, but it’s been her work in the critically acclaimed Apple TV+ series Pachinko as well as Monarch: Legacy of Monsters that got her attention in addition to her award-winning performance in the aforementioned Shogun.

Mia McKenna-Bruce – She appeared in the young adult dramas Get Even and Vampire Academy as well as the Dakota Johnson-led movie Persuasion before winning the EE Rising Star Award at the BAFTAs, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, which is the British equivalent to the Oscars and Emmys and is the only award voted on by the British public, for her role in the acclaimed indie film How to Have Sex.

Kali Reis – The former world champion professional boxer of Native American descent co-starred alongside recent Emmy winner Jodie Foster in the fourth season of True Detective: Night Country where Kali was nominated herself as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. Not too bad for her small screen acting debut, right?

Ambika Mod – Her first big break was in the AMC+ original series This Is Going to Hurt, playing Shruti Acharya, a young Labour Ward trainee alongside actor Ben Whishaw before appearing in the small screen adaptation of One Day based on the David Nicholls 2009 novel and its 2011 film adaptation, which starred Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. It was this lead role that really broke hearts.

Hoa Xuande – While this newcomer has actually been acting since 2010, it wasn’t until he appeared in the short-lived John Cho series Cowboy Bebop and then the HBO period piece espionage series The Sympathizer, where he starred opposite Robert Downey Jr., that caught viewers’ attention.

Drew Starkey – Drew has appeared in the TV shows Mercy Street, Shots Fired and Ozark as well as the box office movie Love, Simon and the streaming flick The Other Zoey, but it’s been his recurring role in the Netflix series Outer Banks and his starring role in this fall’s box office movie Queer, starring 007 actor Daniel Craig himself, that has been turning heads.

Are there any actors or actresses who you think are the faces to watch in 2025? Please share.

TOMORROW: Closing Out 2024

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2024 Year-End Round-Up: The Faces of 2024

Posted in Familiar Faces, Movies, Pictures, Television, Year End Round Up on December 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The following list highlights the actors and actresses on TV and on the big screen who really caught viewers’ attention throughout this year.

They appear in no particular order:

Danielle Brooks – In the past couple of years, Danielle has portrayed Mahalia Jackson in a Lifetime made-for-TV movie, appeared alongside John Cena in the MAX original series Peacemaker and revisited her Tony-winning role of Sofia in the box office movie The Color Purple that came out at the very end of 2023, which garnered her countless nominations for awards in the earlier part of 2024. Next up she will be seen in action-comedy film A Minecraft Movie, starring alongside Jason Momoa, Jack Black and Wednesday’s Emma Myers.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph – Da’Vine received praise for her roles in the 2019 box office movie Dolemite Is My Name and the 2020 movie The United States vs. Billie Holiday. In the last year, she has appeared in the controversial TV series The Idol, the much buzzed about box office movie Rustin, appearing as Mahalia Jackson I might add, and reprised her role of Donna Williams in season four of Only Murders in the Building. But it was her performance as Mary Lamb in the independent film The Holdovers, which came out in October 2023, that garnered her critical acclaim and eventually an Oscar win for Best Supporting Actress.

Charles Melton – Charles is more than just a “pretty face,” and his role in the 2023 box office movie May December put him on the map. The movie was loosely reminiscent of the scandalous affair between schoolteacher Mary Kay Letourneau and her barely-a-teenager-lover Vili Fualaau with Julianne Moore playing the older woman in the movie and Melton as her much younger lover-nee-husband. Movie goers will recognize him from 2019’s The Sun Is Also a Star and Bad Boys for Life in 2020. He also appeared in the TV series Riverdale for nearly all of its seven-season run on The CW.

Cailee Spaeny – Cailee appeared in the box office movies Bad Times at the El Royale and On the Basis of Sex both in 2018 followed by the reboot of The Craft: Legacy in 2020. She then starred in the TV shows Mare of Easttown in 2021 and The First Lady in 2022; but it was her role of Priscilla Presley in the 2023 box office movie Priscilla that got her rave reviews. She has since appeared in this year’s movies Civil War and Alien: Romulus.

Camila Morrone – Camila started out in 2016 as a model for Victoria’s Secret, Sephora, Chanel and Calving Klein (among others). She later appeared in the 2020 box office movie Valley Girl, but it was her role as Camila Alvarez-Dunne in the Prime Video limited series Daisy Jones & the Six from 2023 that garnered her a lot of attention and even earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination. She also appeared in the indie film Marmalade alongside Cross and Leverage star Aldis Hodge and Stranger Things alum Joe Keery.

Glenn Powell – His first big TV appearance was in 2015 in Scream Queens on FOX and the 2016 box office movie Hidden Figures, but it was the 2022 box office sequel Top Gun: Maverick that put him on the map. He followed that up with an appearance in the box office movie Devotion and then the Netflix movie Hit Man. He then appeared in the highest-grossing R-rated rom com Anyone But You and then this past summer’s sequel film Twisters.

Lewis Pullman – He also appeared in Top Gun: Maverick two years ago and had a role in the Josh Brolin-led TV series Outer Range before starring alongside Captain Marvel star Brie Larson in the Apple TV+ period piece Lessons in Chemistry. This fall he appeared in the horror remake of Salem’s Lot that aired on Max and next year he will star in the ensemble anti-superhero movie Thunderbolts.

Ella Hunt – The singer and musician segwayed into acting with her big break coming through the comedy-drama Dickinson that starred Hailee Steinfeld and then she appeared in the box office movie Lady Chatterley’s Lover. This year was big for her as she appeared in Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 as well as playing legendary comedienne Gilda Radner in the box office movie Saturday Night.

Anthony Boyle – He appeared in two episodes of the Northern Ireland teen comedy Derry Girls as well as the Benedict Cumberbatch-led mini-series Patrick Melrose. He also had roles in the box office movies Tolkien and Tetris. But it’s been his roles in Masters of the Air and Manhunt, which aired nearly simultaneously earlier this year as well as the more recently aired Say Nothing that have put him on the map.

Aaron Pierre – This London-born actor appeared in roles in the TV shows The A Word, Britannia, Krypton and The Underground Railroad before landing a role in the M. Night Shyamalan thriller flick Old. He then landed the role of Malcolm X in the anthology series Genius and followed that up with the lead role in the Netflix movie Rebel Ridge, starring alongside Don Johnson. He will next be seen in the box office movie Lanterns with Kyle Chandler and he provides the voice of Mufasa in the soon to arrive Mufasa: The Lion King box office movie.

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 2025

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2024 Year-End Round-Up: TV Ratings

Posted in Ratings, Television, Year End Round Up on December 28, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The TV landscape has changed quite a bit in the past 20 years since streaming started taking the attention away from linear TV, that would be the cable TV that you pay for through your cable or satellite provider.

And while linear TV isn’t watched as much as streaming, the major and cable networks still rely on the ratings system to determine how shows are performing. For nearly 15 years here at Rueben’s Ramblings I have been providing a yearly ratings report on how TV dramas, limited series, mini-series, anthology series and the like as well as made-for-TV movies have performed for each TV season.

I will continue to do that for as long as linear TV continues to exist, although I have a feeling that the major and cable networks are going to have to start changing their format in order to keep pace with all the streaming services that are available.

So let’s take a look at how the major and cable networks fared throughout 2024.

The first list is the major network dramas that aired from January through approximately May, covering the last half of the 2023-2024 TV season:

Tracker (CBS) – 7.4 million viewers (plus 18.4 million viewers for debut after The Super Bowl)
NCIS (CBS) – 6.5 million viewers
FBI (CBS) – 6.3 million viewers
The Equalizer (CBS) – 6.2 million viewers
Chicago Med (NBC) – 6.2 million viewers
Chicago Fire (NBC) – 6.1 million viewers
Blue Bloods (CBS) – 5.4 million viewers
FBI: International (CBS) – 5.3 million viewers
NCIS: Hawai’i (CBS) – 5.2 million viewers *
Chicago P.D. (NBC) – 5.2 million viewers
Fire Country (CBS) – 5.1 million viewers
NCIS: Sydney (CBS) – 4.8 million viewers
FBI: Most Wanted (CBS) – 4.8 million viewers
9-1-1 (ABC) – 4.7 million viewers
S.W.A.T. (CBS) – 4.7 million viewers
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) – 4.6 million viewers
So Help Me Todd (CBS) – 4.4 million viewers *
Law & Order (NBC) – 4.3 million viewers
CSI: Vegas (CBS) – 4.2 million viewers *
Elsbeth (CBS) – 4.1 million viewers
Magnum P.I. (NBC) – 3.6 million viewers *
Will Trent (ABC) – 3.5 million viewers
Law & Order: Organized Crime (NBC) – 3.4 million viewers
The Rookie (ABC) – 3.3 million viewers
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – 3.1 million viewers
The Irrational (NBC) – 2.8 million viewers
Yellowstone (Paramount Network) – 2.5 million viewers
Station 19 (ABC) – 2.5 million viewers *
The Good Doctor (ABC) – 2.5 million viewers *
Only Murders in the Building (ABC) – 2.4 million viewers
Found (NBC) – 2.4 million viewers
La Brea (NBC) – 2.1 million viewers *
Transplant (NBC) – 2.1 million viewers
The Cleaning Lady (FOX) – 1.8 million viewers
SEAL Team (CBS) – 1.7 million viewers *
Dr. Death (NBC) – 1.6 million viewers
Quantum Leap (NBC) – 1.4 million viewers *
Alert: Missing Persons Unit (FOX) – 1.1 million viewers
Wild Cards (CW) – 517,000 viewers
Family Law (CW) – 394,000 viewers
Ride (CW) – 308,000 viewers (approximately) *

* 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 approximate time period: January through May 2024:

When Calls the Heart (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million viewers
The Way Home (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (AMC) – 871,000 viewers
True Detective: Night Country (HBO) – 654,000 viewers
Shogun (FX) – 543,000 viewers
Resident Alien (Syfy) – 527,000 viewers
Fargo (FX) – 526,000 viewers
Monsiour Spade (AMC) – 333,000 viewers
Feud: Capote vs The Swans (FX) – 314,000 viewers
Power Book III: Raising Kanan (Starz) – 247,000 viewers
American Horror Story: Delicate (FX) – 236,000 viewers
The Regime (HBO) – 181,000 viewers *
Hightown (Starz) – 126,000 viewers (approximately) *
A Gentleman in Moscow (Showtime) – 118,000 viewers *
The Chi (Showtime) – 107,000 viewers (approximately)
The Sympathizer (HBO) – 102,000 viewers *
Good Trouble (Freeform) – 78,000 viewers *
The Curse (Showtime) – 37,000 viewers

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

No ratings for the following cable dramas that aired from January through May 2024 could be tracked down:

Harry Wild (BBC America)
Blue Ridge: The Series (Cowboy Way Channel)
County Rescue (Great American Family)
Beacon 23 and Belgravia: The Next Chapter (MGM+)
Genius: MLK/X (National Geographic)
Alice & Jack, All Creatures Great and Small, Call the Midwife, Funny Woman *, Guilt *, MaryLand *, Miss Scarlet and the Duke, Mr. Bates vs The Post Office and Nolly (all on PBS)
Mary & George * (Starz)
Hudson & Rex (UPtv)

The third list covers the dramas that aired on the major networks over the summer from May through approximately September/October 2024:

Tulsa King (CBS) – 3.3 million viewers (approximately)
Walker (CW) – 508,000 viewers *
All American (CW) – 403,000 viewers
Sight Unseen (CW) – 327,000 viewers
All American: Homecoming (CW) – 296,000 viewers *
61st Street (CW) – 175,000 viewers

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

The fourth list covers the cable dramas, which aired from May through approximately September, where the ratings could be tracked down. Those dramas are:

House of the Dragon (HBO) – 1.3 million viewers
Snowpiercer (AMC) – 303,000 viewers (approximately) *
The Lazarus Project (TNT) – 217,000 viewers (approximately)
Power Book II: Ghost (Starz) – 210,000 viewers

The following cable network dramas that aired from May through approximately September/October where ratings could NOT be tracked down include the following:

Orphan Black: Echoes (AMC) *
My Life Is Murder (BBC America)
Industry (HBO)
Billy the Kid, Emperor of Ocean Park and Hotel Cocaine (MGM+)
Mayor of Kingstown (Paramount Network)
Cobra: Rebellion, D.I. Ray, Grantchester, Hotel Portofino and Professor T (all on PBS)
The Serpent Queen (Starz) *
The Ark (Syfy)

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

The fifth list covers all of the major network dramas that aired during the first half of the 2024-2025 TV season, covering September/October to approximately mid-December:

Tracker (CBS) – 8.2 million viewers
Matlock (CBS) – 6.6 million viewers
FBI (CBS) – 6.3 million viewers
Chicago Med (NBC) – 5.7 million viewers
Chicago Fire (NBC) – 5.4 million viewers
NCIS (CBS) – 5.2 million viewers
Blue Bloods (CBS) – 5.1 million viewers *
FBI: International (CBS) – 5 million viewers
The Equalizer (CBS) – 4.9 million viewers
Chicago P.D. (NBC) – 4.6 million viewers
9-1-1 (ABC) – 4.6 million viewers
Elsbeth (CBS) – 4.5 million viewers
Fire Country (CBS) – 4.5 million viewers
FBI: Most Wanted (CBS) – 4.4 million viewers
S.W.A.T. (CBS) – 4.3 million viewers
NCIS: Origins (CBS) – 4.1 million viewers
High Potential (ABC) – 3.6 million viewers
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) – 3.6 million viewers
Law & Order (NBC) – 3.5 million viewers
Doctor Odyssey (ABC) – 3.3 million viewers
Brilliant Minds (NBC) – 3.1 million viewers
9-1-1: Lone Star (FOX) – 2.8 million viewers
The Irrational (NBC) – 2.6 million viewers
Rescue: Hi-Surf (FOX) – 2.3 million viewers
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – 2.3 million viewers
Found (NBC) – 2.2 million viewers
Murder in a Small Town (FOX) – 2.1 million viewers
Accused (FOX) – 1.4 million viewers
Superman & Lois (CW) – 474,000 viewers *
Sullivan’s Crossing (CW) – 457,000 viewers
The Chosen (CW) – 420,000 viewers (approximately)
Joan (CW) – 213,000 viewers *

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

The sixth and final list covers the cable network dramas that aired from September through mid-December 2024 where the ratings could be tracked down:

Yellowstone (Paramount Network) – 6.5 million viewers *
The Walking Dead Daryl Dixon: The Book of Carol (AMC) – 519,000 viewers
The Old Man (FX) – 401,000 viewers (approximately) *
The Penguin (HBO) – 354,000 viewers
Grotesquerie (FX) – 196,000 viewers (approxmiately)
Power Book II: Ghost (Starz) – 194,000 viewers *

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

And the following cable network dramas that aired from September through mid-December where the ratings could NOT be tracked down include the following:

Dune: Prophecy, Get Millie Black and Industry (HBO)
Emperor of Ocean Park and From (MGM+)
1923 (Paramount Network)
Hotel Portofino, Moonflower Murder *, Ridley, The Marlow Murder Club and Van der Valk (PBS)
The Agency, Dexter: Original Sin and Lioness (Showtime)
Outlander, Sweetpea and Three Women * (Starz)

* 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. The new drama Tracker has taken over the number one spot on CBS for both TV seasons (2023-2024 and 2024-2025) with the new drama Matlock hot on its heels in second place slightly outpacing the former number one series NCIS. While, the lowest rated shows for the network are Elsbeth and NCIS: Origins.

2. The recently transplanted drama 9-1-1 has taken over as the number one drama on ABC with Will Trent and the new drama High Potential fighting over second place. Meanwhile, the lowest rated dramas on ABC are the recently defunct The Good Doctor and the long-in-the-tooth Grey’s Anatomy.

3. Over on FOX, 9-1-1: Lone Star has moved into the number one slot for the network with the new drama Rescue: Hi-Surf in second place. The lowest rated dramas on FOX are Accused and Alert: Missing Persons Unit.

4. Chicago Med is now the top-rated drama on NBC with Chicago Fire moving into second place while the lowest rated dramas over there are the recently cancelled Quantum Leap and the Canadian transplant (no pun intended) medical drama Transplant.

5. Sadly, the death knell is ringing loudly for the CW, thanks in large part to the demise of the once great DC-based superhero dramas and the acquisition of the network by Nexstar. The highest rated drama is actually the Canadian transplant series Wild Cards with the recently ended Walker a close second. Meanwhile, the lowest rated dramas are the relocated 61st Street and the short-lived drama Joan.

6. Paramount Network takes the prize again with Yellowstone reigning supreme as the highest rated cable drama with the Hallmark Channel’s period piece drama When Calls the Heart, once again, a very, very distant second. The lowest rated cable network drama was The Curse over on Showtime.

My final list covers all of the made-for-TV movies, mini-series and event series that aired during the year on both the major and cable networks where ratings could be tracked down:

Those are as follows:

Holiday Touchdown: A Chief’s Love Story (Hallmark Channel) – 2.9 million viewers
Three Wiser Men and a Boy (Hallmark Channel) – 2.4 million viewers
Santa Tell Me (Hallmark Channel) – 2.3 million viewers
Happy Howlidays (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million viewers
Our Holiday Story (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million viewers
Romance With a Twist (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million viewers
The Heiress and the Handyman (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million viewers
The Santa Class (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million viewers
Falling in Love in Niagara (Hallmark Channel) – 1.8 million viewers
Love on the Right Course (Hallmark Channel) – 1.8 million viewers
Sugarplummed (Hallmark Channel) – 1.8 million viewers
The Real West (Hallmark Channel) – 1.8 million viewers
A Scottish Love Scheme (Hallmark Channel) – 1.7 million viewers
Autumn at Apple Hill (Hallmark Channel) – 1.7 million viewers
Blind Date Book Club (Hallmark Channel) – 1.7 million viewers
Branching Out (Hallmark Channel) – 1.7 million viewers
Jingle Bell Run (Hallmark Channel) – 1.7 million viewers
An Easter Bloom (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
Following Yonder Star (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
Holiday Crashers (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
Paging Mr. Darcy (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
The Christmas Quest (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
The Magic of Lemon Drops (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
Tis the Season to be Irish (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
A Costa Rican Wedding (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
A Whitewater Romance (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Betty’s Bad Luck in Love (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Falling Like Snowflakes (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Deck the Walls (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Falling Together (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
For Love & Honey (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Leah’s Perfect Gift (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Love & Jane (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
His & Hers (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Holiday Mismatch (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Savoring Paris (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Shifting Gears (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
The Christmas Charade (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
To Have and To Holiday (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Debbie Macomber’s Joyful Mrs. Miracle (Hallmark Channel) – 1.4 million viewers
Haunted Wedding (Hallmark Channel) – 1.4 million viewers
Private Princess Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 1.4 million viewers
A Greek Recipe for Romance (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million viewers
An American in Austen (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million viewers
Christmas on Call (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million viewers
Everything Puppies (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million viewers
Legend of the Lost Locket (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million viewers
Junebug (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
Twas the Date Before Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
A Carol for Two (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Christmas with the Singhs (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Hanukkah on the Rocks (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
My Dreams of You (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Rescuing Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Scouting for Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
The 5-Year Christmas Party (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
The Finnish Line (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Trivia at St. Nick’s (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Two Scoops of Italy (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Confessions of a Christmas Letter (Hallmark Channel) – 993,000 viewers
An Ice Palace Romance (Hallmark Channel) – 952,000 viewers
Sense and Sensibility (Hallmark Channel) – 942,000 viewers
A Reason for the Season (Hallmark Mystery) – 920,000 viewers
A Dance in the Snow (Hallmark Mystery) – 846,000 viewers
Trading Up Christmas (Hallmark Mystery) – 832,000 viewers
All I Need for Christmas (Hallmark Mystery) – 808,000 viewers
A Novel Noel (Hallmark Channel) – 794,000 viewers
Christmas Under the Lights (Hallmark Mystery) – 791,000 viewers
True Justice: Family Ties (Hallmark Mystery) – 759,000 viewers
Hannah Swensen Mystery: One Bad Apple (Hallmark Mystery) – 739,000 viewers
Hannah Swensen Mystery: A Sprinkle of Deceit (Hallmark Mystery) – 732,000 viewers
Jazz Ramsey: A K-9 Mystery (Hallmark Mystery) – 710,000 viewers
Curious Caterer Mysteries: Foiled Plans (Hallmark Mystery) – 709,000 viewers
Curious Caterer Mysteries: Forbidden Fruit (Hallmark Mystery) – 683,000 viewers
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters (Hallmark Channel) – 678,000 viewers
Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers (Hallmark Mystery) – 651,000 viewers
TiplineMysteries: Dial 1 for Murder (Hallmark Mystery) – 650,000 viewers
This Time Each Year (Hallmark Mystery) – 641,000 viewers
The Cases of Mystery Lane: Death is Listening (Hallmark Mystery) – 627,000 viewers
My Sweet Austrian Holiday (Hallmark Channel) – 603,000 viewers
Family Practice Mysteries: Coming Home (Hallmark Mystery) – 583,000 viewers
Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement (Hallmark Mystery) – 549,000 viewers
Five Gold Rings (Hallmark Mystery) – 539,000 viewers
BeBe Winans’ We Three Kings (Lifetime) – 448,000 viewers
The Holiday Junkie (Lifetime) – 453,000 viewers
Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch (Hallmark Mystery) – 430,000 viewers
Christmas Less Traveled (Great American Family) – 426,000 viewers
Christmas at Plumhill Manor (Lifetime) 399,000 viewers
Once Upon a Christmas Wish (Great American Family) – 388,000 viewers
A Little Women’s Christmas (Great American Family) – 386,000 viewers
A Very Merry Beauty Salon (Lifetime) – 380,000 viewers
A Carpenter Christmas Romance (Lifetime) – 376,000 viewers
Home Sweet Christmas (Great American Family) – 373,000 viewers
Christmas in the Spotlight (Lifetime) – 353,000 viewers
Tail of Christmas (Great American Family) – 340,000 viewers
A Cozy Christmas Quilt (Great American Family) – 330,000 viewers
Make or Bake Christmas (Lifetime) – 277,000 viewers
A Vintage Christmas (Great American Family) – 275,000 viewers
Christmas on the Alpaca Farm (Lifetime) – 275,000 viewers
Christmas Under the Northern Lights (Great American Family) – 270,000 viewers
A Cinderella Christmas Ball (Great American Family) – 260,000 viewers
A Christmas Castle Proposal (Great American Family) – 251,000 viewers
A Royal Christmas Ballet (Great American Family) – 228,000 viewers
How to Fall in Love By Christmas (Lifetime) – 215,000 viewers
Coupled Up for Christmas (Great American Family) – 208,000 viewers
Mistletoe & Matrimony (OWN) – 203,000 viewers
Christmas By Candlelight (Lifetime) – 186,000 viewers
Romance in Hawaii (UPtv) – 166,000 viewers
The Single’s Guidebook (UPtv) – 161,000 viewers
A Bluegrass Christmas (UPtv) – 156,000 viewers
Holiday in Happy Hollow (Lifetime) – 155,000 viewers
Sincerely, Truly Christmas (Lifetime) – 154,000 viewers
Baked With a Kiss (UPtv) – 140,000 viewers
Romance Friction (UPtv) – 136,000 viewers
The Soulmate Search (UPtv) – 136,000 viewers
A Prince and Pauper Christmas (UPtv) – 102,000 viewers
12 Dares of Christmas (UPtv) – 99,000 viewers
Christmas in Rockwell (UPtv) – 93,000 viewers
My Perfect Romance (UPtv) – 90,000 viewers
Love By Design (UPtv) – 51,000 viewers

The ratings for the following made-for-TV movies where the ratings could NOT be tracked down include the following:

24-Karat Christmas (OWN)
A ‘90s Christmas (Hallmark Channel)
A Country Music Christmas (UPtv)
A Match for the Prince (UPtv)
A Novel Christmas (UPtv)
A Royal Makeover (UPtv)
A Taste of Love (Hallmark Channel)
A Very English Christmas (UPtv)
Believe in Christmas (Hallmark Channel)
Christmas in Scotland (Great American Family)
Country Roads Christmas (UPtv)
Descendants: The Rise of Red (Disney)
Discovering Love (UPtv)
Dognapped: Hound for the Holidays (UPtv)
Engaged by Christmas (Lifetime)
Festival of Trees (UPtv)
Get Him Back for Christmas (UPtv)
I Heard the Bells (UPtv)
Just in Time (Great American Family)
Love at the Ranch (Great American Family)
Love on Retreat (UPtv)
Love’s Second Act (Great American Family)
North By North Pole: A Dial S Mystery (UPtv)
Sweetly Salted (UPtv)
The Case of the Christmas Diamond (UPtv)
The Love Advisor (UPtv)
The Search for Secret Santa (UPtv)
The Wedding Rule (UPtv)
Writing a Love Song (UPtv)

What TV dramas or made-for-TV movies have you enjoyed the most (and the least) throughout the year? Please share.

TOMORROW: The Faces of 2024

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2024 Year-End Round-Up: Deepest Sympathies

Posted in Condolences, Movies, Music, Sports, Television, Year End Round Up on December 27, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The following industry personalities, athletes, politicians (etc.) passed away in 2023 and heartfelt condolences are extended to their families, friends and fans.

The celebrities we have lost this year are (in alphabetical order):

Jim Abrahams (Film Director and Writer, Airplane, Hot Shots and the Naked Gun franchise) [He was 80]
Anouk Aimee (French Actress, A Man and a Woman) [He was 92]
Steve Albini (Recording Engineer, Worked with Nirvana, PJ Harvey, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, among countless others) [He was only 61]
Bobby Allison (NASCAR Hall of Fame Driver) [He was 86]
Jean Allison (Character Actress, Bonanza, McCloud, Highway to Heaven and more) [She was 94]
Angela Alvarez (Cuban-born Singer and Songwriter, Oldest Performer to Win Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist at age 95) [She was 97]
John Amos (Actor, Good Times and Roots) [He was 84]
Wallace “Wally” Amos, Jr. (Founder of Famous Amos Cookies) [He was 88]
William Anders (Flew on First Manned Space Mission to Orbit the Moon and Took “Earthrise Photo) [He was 90]
Alfa Anderson (Chic Lead Vocalist, “Good Times” and “Le Freak” [She was 78]
Iris Apfel (Fashion Icon and subject of Albert Maysles documentary) [She was 102]
John Aprea (Actor, Godfather Part II and Full House) [He was 83]
Erica Ash (Actress, Survivor’s Remorse and MADtv) [She was 46]
Dick Asher (Veteran Music Executive) [He was 92]
John Ashton (Actor, Beverly Hills Cop franchise)
Jonathan Axelrod (Studio Executive, Screenwriter and Producer; Responsible for producing over 2 dozen Hallmark movies)
Robin Ayers (Entertainment journalist and Radio Host) [She was only 44)]

Hinton Battle (3-time Tony Award winner, Singer, Dancer, Producer, Director, Choreographer, Actor, the original production of The Wiz and Buffy, the Vampire Slayer “Once More With Feeling” musical episode) [He was only 67]
Billy Bean (Former Openly Gay Outfielder for Detroit Tigers, LA Dodgers and San Diego Padres, MLB’s First Ambassador for Inclusion) [He was only 60]
Bob Beckwith (9/11 Fireman who stood beside President Bush at Ground Zero) [He was 91]
Soma Golden Behr (Senior Editor at The New York Times) [She was 84]
Joan Benedict (Soap Opera Star, General Hospital and Days of Our Lives) [She was 96]
Robyn Bernard (Actress, General Hospital) [She was 64]
Susie Maxwell Berning (Trailblazing 3-Time Champion of US Women’s Open Golf Tournament)
Roy Battersby (Director and Stepfather to Actress Kate Beckinsale)
Dickey Betts (Guitarist, Allman Brothers) [He was 80]
Frankie Beverly (Singer, R&B Group Maze)
Michel Blanc (French Actor, the film Les Bronzes and crime drama Monsieur Hire)
Christine Boisson (French Actress, Emmanuelle) [She was only 68]
Angela Bofill (R&B Singer, “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter,” “I Try” and “Angel of the Night”)
Joe Bonsall (Member of Legendary Country Singing Group Oak Ridge Boys)
Barbara Taylor Bradford (Best-Selling Author, “A Woman of Substance”) [She was 91]
Marshall Brickman (Oscar-Winning Co-Screenwriter, Annie Hall) [She was 85]
Cole Brings Plenty (Actor, Yellowstone and 1923) [He was only 27]
Kevin Brophy (Actor, TV Series Lucan and Cult Horror Film Hell Night)
Aaron Brown (Former ABC News and CNN anchor)
Joe “Jellybean” Bryant (Professional Basketball Player and Coach, Father to the Late Kobe Bryant) [He was only 69]
Don Buchwald (Longtime Agent to Howard Stern) [He was 88]
Susan Buckner (Actress, Grease)
Edgar Burcksen (Emmy-Winning Film and TV Editor, Young Indiana Jones Chronicles)
Janice Burgess (Creator of Nickelodeon’s The Backyardigans)

Joe Camp (Creator and Director of Benji movies) [He was 84]
Adan Canto (Actor, The Cleaning Lady and Designated Survivor) [He was only 42]
Peter Caranicas (Long-Time Variety Editor) [He was 80]
Eric Carmen (Singer, “All By Myself” and “Hungry Eyes”)
Caleb Carr (Military Historian and Author, ‘The Alienist’) [He was only 68]
Jimmy Carter (39th President of the United States) [He was 100]
Jenne Casarotto (Founder of Brit Talent Agency)
Roberto Cavalli (Fashion Designer) [He was 83]
Cindy Charles (Head of Music at Twitch and Digital Music Veteran) [She was only 69]
Pei-pei Cheng (Cheng Pei-pei in proper Chinese culture) (Actress, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Come Drink With Me)
Thom Christopher (Actor, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and One Life to Live)
Christopher Cicone (Artist, Interior Designer and younger brother of Madonna) [He was only 63]
Bill Cobbs (Veteran Actor, The Bodyguard and The West Wing) [He was 90]
Sherry Coben (Creator, Kate and Allie)
Pat Colbert (Actress, Dallas)
Michael Cole (Actor, Mod Squad) [He was 84]
Dabney Coleman (Veteran Actor, 9 to 5, Tootsie, Buffalo Bill, Yellowstone and Boardwalk Empire) [He was 92]
Charlie Colin (Founding Member and Bassist of the band Train) [He was only 58]
Eleanor Collins (Canada’s First Lady of Jazz, First Black person in Canada to host a TV program) [She was 104]
Roger Cook (PBS’ This Old House Cast Member)
Roger Corman (Pioneering Independent Producer, King of B Movies and Discovered Jack Nicholson, Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro) [He was 98]
Mickey Cottrell (Veteran Publicist and Champion of Independent Filmmakers)
Gavin Creel (Tony Winner and Broadway Star, Hair, Hello Dolly and Into the Woods) [He was only 49]
Arlene Croce (Dance Critic for The New Yorker) [She was 90]
Peter Crombie (Actor Seinfeld and House of Frankenstein)
Kathryn Crosby (Actress, Singer and Widow of Bing Crosby) [She was 90]
Charles R. Cross (Music Journalist) [He was 67]
Michael Culver (British Actor, Sherlock Holmes, Star Wars franchise and A Passage to India) [He was 85]
Sarah Cunningham (British Painter of Hypnotic Canvases) [She was only 31]

Mark Damon (Actor turned Independent Sales Executive, Producer on Monster) [He was 91]
James Darren (Teen Idol Actor in Gidget, Singer and Director) [He was 88]
Lynn Yamada Davis (TikTok star known for Cooking with Lynja) [She was only 67]
Vontae Davis (Former NFL Player) [He was only 35]
Lorenza de’Medici (Descendant of Storied Italian Family, Author, TV Host and Cooking School Director) [She was 97]
Diane Delano (Actress, Northern Exposure) [She was only 67]
Alain Delon (French Actor, Le Samourai) [He was 88]
Daniel C. Dennett (Widely Read and Fiercely Debated Philosopher) [He was 82]
Michaela DePrince (World-Renowned Ballerina) [She was only 29]
Geoffrey Deuel (Actor, The Young and the Restless and Chisum) [He was 81]
Paul Di’Anno (Former Iron Maiden Lead Singer) [He was only 66]
Shannen Doherty (Actress, Beverly Hills 90210 and Charmed) [She was only 53]
Lou Dobbs (Conservative Political Commentator)
Charles Dolan (Founder of HBO and Cablevision) [He was 98]
Phil Donahue (Legendary Talk Show Host) [He was 88]
William Donaldson (Chairman of the S.E.C.) [He was 93]
Shelley Duvall (Actress, The Shining)

Bob Edwards (Host of the NPR news program Morning Edition)
Duane Eddy (Grammy-winning Guitarist) [He was 86]
Ron Ely (Actor, 1960’s TV series Tarzan) [He was 86]
Jeannie Epper (Stunt Double for Lynda Carter in Wonder Woman) [She was 83]
Dr. Anthony Epstein (Doctor who found virus capable of cousin cancer in humans) [He was 102]
Art Evans (Actor, A Soldier’s Story and Die Hard 2) [He was 82]

Abdul “Duke” Fakir (Last Surviving Member of the Four Tops) [He was 88]Henry Fambrough (Last Original Member of The Spinners, “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love” and “The Rubberband Man”) [He was 85]
Tisa Farrow (Actress, Only God Knows and younger sister of Mia Farrow)
Neill Fearnley (TV Director)
April Ferry (Acclaimed Costume Designer, Maverick, Game of Thrones and Rome) [He was 91]
Joe Flaherty (Comedian-Actor, SCTV and Freaks and Geeks) [He was 82]
Vic Flick (English Musician/Guitarist, Responsible for the classic guitar riff on the iconic James Bond Theme) [He was 87]
Herbie Flowers (Bassist, Performed with David Bowie, Paul McCartney and Lou Reed) [He was 86]
Woody Fraser (Producer and Creator, The Mike Douglas Show and Good Morning America) [He was 90]
Frank Fritz (American Pickers) [He was only 60]
Yvonne Furneaux (Actress in Fellini’s La Dolce Vita and Polanski’s Repulsion) [She was 98]

David Gail (Actor, Port Charles) [He was only 58]
Teri Garr (Actress and Oscar Nominee, Tootsie, “Young Frankenstein” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”) [She was 79]
Chris Gauthier (Actor, Once Upon a Time and Eureka) [He was only 48]
Mitzi Gaynor (Actress, South Pacific) [She was 93]
Cecilia Gentili (Actress, Pose and longtime trans activist) [She was only 52]
Eric Gilliland (Writer and Producer, Roseanne) [He was only 62]
Nikki Giovanni (Poet, Activist, Professor and Children’s Book Author) [She was 81]
Cat Glover (Muse and Choreographer who worked with Prince) [She was 62]
Richard Goldstein (Trailblazer in Mapping Other Planets) [He was 97]
Benny Golson (Saxophonist and Composer) [He was 95]
Louis Gossett Jr. (Oscar-Winning Veteran Actor, Office and a Gentleman and Roots) [He was 87]
David Graham (British Actor, Peppa Pig, Thunderbirds franchise and the Daleks on Doctor Who) [He was 99]
Gary Graham (Actor, Star Trek and Alien Nation)
Nancy Green-Keyes (Casting Director, The Notebook and Rush Hour) [She was 68]
Benji Gregory (Former Child Actor, ALF) [He was only 46]
Greg Gumbel (Sports Broadcaster)
Mark Gustafson (Oscar-Winning Director) [He was only 64]

Dayle Haddon (Actress and Former Supermodel)
Francoise Hardy (French Singer and Actress) [She was 80]
Ron Harper (Actor, Land of the Lost and Planet of the Apes) [He was 91]
Bill Hayes (Actor, Days of Our Lives) [He was 98]
Rickey Henderson (Hall of Fame Outfielder) [He was only 65]
Greg Hildebrandt (Famed Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings and Marvel Artist) [He was 85]
Bernard Hill (Actor, Titanic and The Lord of the Rings)
Nonny Hogrogian (Honored Illustrator of Children’s Books) [She was 92]
Rod Holcomb (Emmy-Winning TV Director, ER and Lost)
Thomas Hoepker (Photographer whose 9/11 photo of 5 people lounging on a Brooklyn waterfront as the World Trade Center burned in the background, left an indelible mark. [He was 88]
Drake Hogestyn (Actor, Days of Our Lives)
Earl Holliman (Actor, The Rainmaker and Forbidden Planet) [He was 96]
Cissy Houston (Renowned Gospel and Soul Singer, Two-Time Grammy Winner and Mother of Whitney Houston) [She was 91]
Barbara Howar (Nonconformist and Author, “Laughing All the Way) [She was 89]
Olivia Hussey (Actress, Romeo and Juliet and Black Christmas’ Star)

Doug Ingle (Founder of band Iron Butterfly, Singer and Co-Writer ‘In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida’)

Khyree Jackson (Recently Drafted by the Minnesota Vikings) [He was only 24]
Sheila Jackson Lee (Long-time Texas Congresswoman)
Tito Jackson (Founding Member of the Jackson 5)
Jill Jacobson (Actress, The New Gidget and Falcon Crest)
Tom Jarriel (ABC News Correspondent and Anchor) [He was 89]
Norman Jewison (Director, Moonstruck, Jesus Christ Superstar and In the Heat of the Night) [He was 97]
Will Jennings (Grammy and Oscar Winner and Songwriter, “My Heart Will Go On,” “Tears in Heaven” and “Wind Beneath My Wings”) [He was 80]
Glynis John (British Actress, Mary Poppins) [She was 100]
Harry Johnson (Actor, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlestar Galactica and Law & Order)
Dub Jones (Football Player, Cleveland Browns) [He was 99]
Jack Jones (Singer, Theme Song of The Love Boat) [He was 86]
Jacoby Jones (Super Bowl Champion and Former NFL Wide Receiver) [He was only 40]
James Earl Jones (Legendary Film and TV Actor) [He was 93]
Quincy Jones (Artist, Grammy-Winning Producer and Film Composer) [He was 91]

Daniel Kahneman (Renowned Psychologist and Nobel Prize Winner) [He was 90]
Jay Kanter (Agent to Stars Like Marilyn Monroe and Marlon Brando) [He was 97]
Aaron Kaufman (Producing Partner to Robert Rodriguez) [He was only 51]
Toby Keith (Country Singer) [He was only 62]
Jamie Kellner (TV Maverick who launched both FOX and The WB)
Ethel Kennedy (Widow of Senator Robert F. Kennedy) [She was 96]
Greg Kihn (Singer-Songwriter, Hitmaker of Songs “Jeopardy” and “Breakup Song”)
James Kottak (Former drummer for hard-rock band Scorpions) [He was only 61]
Daniel Kramer (Bob Dylan Photographer) [He was 91]
Wayne Kramer (Guitarist and Co-Found of MC5, He influenced the creation of punk rock)
Kris Kristofferson (Actor, A Star Is Born, and Country Singer) [He was 88]
Thomas Kurtz (Inventor, BASIC, the computer programming language) [He was 96]

Jon Landau (Oscar-winning producer, Titanic and Avatar) [He was only 63]
Linda Lavin (Tony Winner and Veteran Actress, Alice) [She was 87]
Rev. James Lawson Jr. (Strategist for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Taught Protesters Painful Techniques of Nonviolence) [He was 95]
Mary Wells Lawrence (First woman to Own and Run a Major National Advertising Agency) [She was 95]
Steve Lawrence (Singer and Actor) [He was 88]
Richard Leibner (Agent who made news anchors into stars) [He was 85]
Phil Lesh (Bassist for The Grateful Dead) [He was 84]
Gerald Levin (Media Executive Behind Time Warner-AOL Merger Debacle) [He was 84]
Richard Lewis (Actor and Comedian)
Joseph Lieberman (Senator and Former Vice-Presidential Candidate) [He was 82]
David Liederman (Creator of David’s Cookies)
Rachel Lillis (Voice of Misty and Jessie in Pokémon) [She was only 46]
Robert Logan (Actor, 77 Sunset Strip and Wilderness Family) [He was 82]
Dave Loggins (Grammy nominated Hall of Fame singer/songwriter, “Please Come To Boston”)
Bill Lucy (Trailblazing Black Union Leader, Fought for Civil Rights in American South and against Apartheid in South Africa) [He was 90]

Angus MacInnes (Actor, Star Wars and Rogue One)
Robert MacNeil (Legendary PBS News Anchor and Writer) [He was 93]
Mandisa (American Idol finalist and Grammy winning Christian Artist) [She was only 47]
Bernie Marcus (Co-Founder, Home Depot) [He was 95]
Peter Marshall (Original TV Host, Hollywood Squares) [He was 98]
Mary Martin (Grammy-winning Talent Scout, Manager and Record Executive) [She was 85]
John Mayall (British Blues-Rock Legend and 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee) [He was 90]
Jane McAlevey (Fierce Labor Organizer and Scholar) [She was only 59]
Les McCann (Legendary Jazz Pianist)
Murray McCory (Founder of JanSport) [He was 80]
Chad McQueen (Son of Steve McQueen and Actor, The Karate Kid) [He was only 63]
Melanie (Singer and Songwriter, Performer at Woodstock in 1969 and wrote lyrics to “The First Time I Loved Forever,” the theme song for the 1980’s TV series Beauty and the Beast)
Hudson Meek (Actor, Baby Driver) [He was only 16]
Kent Melton (Character Sculptor, Aladdin, The Lion King and Coraline) [He was 68]
Sergio Mendes (Brazilian Pop Innovator) [He was 83]
Steve Mensch (President and General Manager, Tyler Perry Studios) [He was 62]
Sam Mercer (Hollywood Producer and M. Night Shyamalan collaborator) [He was 69]
Spencer Milligan (Actor, 70s Kids Show Land of the Lost)
Sandra Milo (Actress, Fedrico Fellini’s 8½ and Juliet of the Spirits) [She was 90]
Kenneth Mitchell (Actor, Jericho, Star Trek: Discovery and Switched at Birth) [He was only 49]
Peggy Moffitt (Actor and 1960’s Mod Icon) [She was 86]
Josette Molland (French Resistance, Nazi Forced-Labor Camp Survivor and Painter) [She was 100]
Bob Moore (Founder of Bob’s Red Mill whole-grains company) [He was 94]
Cindy Morgan (Actress, Tron and Caddyshack) [She was only 69]
Chris Mortensen (ESPN NFL Reporter)
Michael Mosley (Popular UK TV Doctor) [He was 67]
Martin Mull (Veteran Comedic Actor)
Alice Munro (Nobel Prize-Winning Canadian Author) [She was 92]
Ana Ofelia Murguia (Mexican Star and Voice of Disney’s Coco) [She was 90]
Don Murray (Actor, Bus Stop and Knot’s Landing) [He was 94]
Alec Musser (Actor, All My Children) [He was only 50]
Dikembe Mutombo (NBA Hall of Fame Player) [He was only 58]

Bette Nash (World’s Longest-Serving Flight Attendant) [She was 88]
Alexei Navalny (Russian Opposition Leader) [He was only 47 and in a Russian prison at time of death]
Tyka Nelson (Singer and Only Full Sibling of Prince) [She was only 64]
Bob Newhart (Comedy Icon and Actor) [He was 94]
Michael Newman (Real-Life Lifeguard and Firefighter and Actor, Baywatch) [He was only 67]
Annie Nightingale (Pioneering BBC Radio DJ)
Zack Norman (Comedian, Film Producer and Actor, Romancing the Stone) [He was 83]
Wayne Northrop (Actor, Days of Our Lives, Dynasty and Port Charles)

Edna O’Brien (Prolific Irish Author) [She was 93]
Dr. Thomas O’Brien and Ruth Reardon O’Brien (Parents of Late-Night Host Conan O’Brien, who passed asway within days of each other) [They were 95 and 92 respectively]
William O’Connell (Veteran Actor, Star Trek and Clint Eastwood movies) [He was 94]
Lynda Obst (Producer, Sleepless in Seattle, Flashdance and Adventures in Babysitting)
Charles Osgood (Host, CBS Sunday Morning) [He was 91]
Edwin Overland (Football and Speedway Commentator)

Ken Page (Actor and Cabaret Singer, Broadway’s Ain’t Misbehavin and Cats)
Conrad Palmisano (Veteran Hollywood Stuntman, Stunt Coordinator and Director) Weekend at Barnie’s and Sleepless in Seattle)
Larry H. Parker (Personal Injury Attorney in Southern California known for motto “We’ll fight for you”)
Francine Pascal (Author, “Sweet Valley High” Novels) [She was 92]
Liam Payne (Member of British boy band One Direction) [He was only 31]
Chance Perdomo (Actor, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Gen V) [He was only 27]
Chuck Philips (Pulitzer-Winning LA Times Journalist)
Mike Pinder (Founding Keyboardist of the Moody Blues) [He was 82]
Nicholas Pryor (Veteran Actor, Port Charles, 90210 and Risky Business) [He was 89]
Judi Pulver (Singer-Songwriter and later Sales Executive at Variety)

Alan Rachins (Actor, L.A. Law and Dharma & Greg) [He was 82]
Alvin Rakoff (Director, “A Voyage Round My Father” and “Shades of Greene”) [He was 97]
Joyce Randolph (Actress, Honeymooners) [She was 99]
Catherine “Kasha” Rigby (Big Mountain and Expedition Skier) [She was only 54]
Leonard Riggio (Founder of Barnes &Noble) [He was 83]
Chita Rivera (Two-time Tony Award winner, West Side Story, Chicago and Kiss of the Spider Woman) [She was 91]
Thomas Rockwell (Son of Artist Norman Rockwell and Children’s Book Author) [He was 91
Richard Romanus (Actor, Mean Streets and The Sopranos)
Sam Rubin (KTLA Entertainment Reporter) [He was only 64]
Barbara Rush (Actress, It Came From Outer Space and Peyton Place) [She was 97]
Marian Robinson (Mother of Former First Lady Michelle Obama) [She was 86]
Chi Chi Rodriguez (Legendary Professional Golfer) [He was 88]
Fred Roos (Oscar-Winning Producer-Casting Director, The Godfather and Godfather Part II) [He was 89]
Pete Rose (Major Little Baseball All-Time Hit King) [He was 83]
Eddie Rosenblatt (Longtime Geffen Records President) [He was 89]
Gena Rowlands (Veteran Actress, A Woman Under the Influence and The Notebook) [She was 94]
Al Ruddy (Producer, Godfather, Million Dollar Baby and Co-Creator Hogan’s Heroes) [He was 94]
William Russell (Stage and Screen Actor, Doctor Who and Father of Harry Potter actor Alfred Enoch) [He was 99]

Alan Sacks (Co-Creator, Welcome Back Kotter and TV Producer) [He was 81]
Pamela Salem (British Actress, Doctor Who and EastEnders) [She was 80]
Bengt Samuelsson (Nobel Prize-winning biochemist) [He was 90]
CJ Sansom (British Author)
John Savident (U.K. Actor, Coronation Street) [He was 86]
Alan Scarfe (Actor, One Life to Live, Double Impact and Seven Days]
George Schenck (NCIS Writer, Producer and Showrunner) [He was 82]
Marvin Schlachter (Record Executive, Launched the Careers of Dionne Warwick and the Shirelles and later created influential disco label) [He was 90]
Al Schultz (Makeup Artist, The Carol Burnett Show and Good Times) [He was 82]
Lillian Schwartz (One of the First Artists to Use the Computer to Make Films) [She was 97]
David Seidler (Oscar-winning screenwriter, The King’s Speech) [He was 86]
Tom Shales (Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post TV Critic and Author)
Marlena Shaw (Jazz Vocalist, “California Soul”)
Doug Sheehan (Actor, General Hospital and Knots Landing)
Shifty Shellshock (Frontman of Rap Rock Band Crazy Town) [He was only 49]
Richard Sherman (Songwriter of ‘Spoonfuls of Sugar’) [He was 95]
Vladimir Shklyarov (Russian Ballet Star) [He was only 39]
James B. Sikking (Actor, Hill Street Blues and Doogie Howser) [He was 90]
Steve Silberman (Journalist, Author and Grateful Dead archivist) [He was 66]
Richard Simmons (Fitness Guru)
O.J. Simpson (Former Football Star and Actor Turned Murder Suspect and Ex-Con)
McCanna “Mac” Sinise (Son of Actor Gary Sinise) [He was only 33]
Bud S. Smith (Editor, Sorcerer, The Exorcist and Flashdance) [He was 88]
Dame Maggie Smith (Legendary Actress, Harry Potter franchise and Downton Abbey) [She was 89]
Maxine Solters (Publicist, Writer, Actor and Producer) [She was only 37]
Jae-lim Song (South Korean K-drama actor, Moon Embracing the Sun) [He was only 39]
David Soul (Actor, Starsky & Hutch and Singer, “Don’t Give Up On Us, Baby”)
John David “JD” Souther (Prolific Songwriter and Musician, Collaborator with The Eagles and Linda Ronstadt)
Adele Springsteen (Bruce Springsteen’s Mom) [She was 98]
Stephanie Sparks (Host of Golf Channel’s Big Break) [She was only 50]
Dr. Werner Spitz (Famed Forensic Examiner) [He was 97]
Morgan Spurlock (Documentary Filmmaker) [He was only 53]
Alice Stewart (Long Time Political Reporter and CNN Commentator) [He was 58]
Rob Stone (Co-Founder of Cornerstone Agency, Music Marketing Company, and its magazine the Fader) [He was only 55]
Donald Sutherland (Veteran TV and Film Actor, Emmy-Winner) [He was 88]
Anthea Sylbert (Costume Designer, Chinatown, Rosemary’s Baby and Shampoo) [She was 84]

Richard Tandy (Keyboardist for ELO)
Ruth Ashton Taylor (Pioneering Radio and TV Journalist) [She was 101]
Esta TerBlanche (Actress, All My Children) [She was only 51]
Duane Thomas (Running Back for the Dallas Cowboys)
Dennis Thompson (Drummer and Last Surviving Member of Detroit Rock Band MC5)
Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball Manga Creator) [He was only 68]
Jeremy Tepper (SiriusXM’s ‘Outlaw Country’ Chief and a Leader of the Americana Movement) [He was 60]
Tony Todd (Actor, Candyman and Final Destination) [He was only 69]
Robert Towne (Oscar Winning Writer, Chinatown) [He was 89]

Yoshihiro Uchida (Judo Coach at San Jose State University) [He was 104]

Fernando Valenzuela (Los Angeles Dodgers Pitcher) [He was only 63]
Tom Van Amburg (Broadcast TV Veteran at KABC-TV) [He was 83]
Toni Vaz (One of the first Black Stuntwomen in Hollywood and Created the NACCP Image Awards) [She was 101]
Simon Verity (British Stone Carver, one of his statues adorns the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Upper Manhattan)
Michael Villella (Actor, The Slumber Party Massacre) [He was 84]
Ozzie Virgil, Sr. (Dominican-born Baseball Player, New York Giants and Detroit Tigers) [He was 92]

Johnny Wactor (Actor, General Hospital) [He was only 37]
M. Emmet Walsh (Veteran Actor, Blade Runner and Raising Arizona) [He was 88]
Bill Walton (NBA Star and ESPN Commentator)
Carl Weathers (Actor, Rocky franchise and The Mandalorian)
Paula Weinstein (Emmy-Winning Producer, The Perfect Storm and The Fabulous Baker Boys and Former Tribeca Enterprises Executive)
Mary Weiss (Lead Singer of Shanri-Las, “Leader of the Pack” and “Out in the Street”)
Jerry West (NBA Hall of Famer) [He was 86]
Ruth Westheimer (Sex Guru Dr. Ruth) [She was 96]
Mark Withers (Actor, Dynasty)
Maurice Williams (R&B Singer and Composer, Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, “Stay”) (he was 86]
Taylor Wily (Actor, in both remakes of Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I.) [He was only 56]
Robin Windsor (Professional Dancer, Strictly Come Dancing) [He was only 44]
Steven Wise (Animal Rights Activist)
Susan Wojcicki (Former YouTube CEO and Influential Google Executive) [She was only 56]
Chuck Woolery (Legendary Game Show Host) [He was 83]

Eduardo Xol (Extreme Makeover: Home Edition) [He was only 58]

Patti Yasutake (Actress, Beef and Star Trek: The Next Generation)

Lloyd Ziff (Magazine Designer and Photographer) [He was 81]

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: TV Ratings

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2024 Year-End Round-Up: Awards Season

Posted in Artists, Awards, Movies, Music, Television, Year End Round Up on December 26, 2024| Leave a Comment »

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

GOLDEN GLOBES (January)

Best TV Drama – Succession
Best TV Comedy – The Bear
Best Actress, TV Drama – Sarah Snook, Succession
Best Actress, TV Comedy – Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
Best Actress, TV Limited Series – Ali Wong, BEEF
Best Picture, Box Office Drama – Oppenheimer
Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement – Barbie
Best Actress Box Office Drama – Emma Stone, Poor Things
Best Supporting Actress, Motion Picture – Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers
Best Support Actor, Motion Picture – Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer
Best Director, Motion Picture – Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
Best Original Song, Motion Picture – “What Was I Made For?”, Barbie

CREATIVE ARTS EMMYS (January)

Guest Actress, Comedy – Judith Light, Poker Face
Host, Nonfiction Series – Stanley Tucci, Searching for Italy
Documentary Series – The 1619 Project
Music Composition for Documentary – Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
Original Main Title Theme Music – Wednesday
Period Hairstyling – Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Movie
Period Costume, Limited Series – Daisy Jones & the Six
Stunt Coordination, Drama – The Boys
Stunt Performance – The Mandalorian

GOLD LIST WINNERS (January)

Best Picture – Past Lives
Best Director – Celine Song, Past Lives
Best Performance in a Supporting Role – Charles Melton, May December
Best Adapted Screenplay – Dave Callaham, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Best Original Song – “Can’t Catch Me Now,” Olivia Rodrigo, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Best Animated Feature – The Boy and The Heron

ASTRA TV AWARDS (formerly HCA TV Awards) (January)

Best Broadcast Network Drama Series – Will Trent
Best Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Drama Series – Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
Best Broadcast Network or Cable Limited Series – A Small Light
Best TV Comedy – Abbott Elementary
Best Guest Actor, TV Drama – Nick Offerman, The Last of Us

STREAMING PROGRAM AWARDS (January):

Best Streaming Comedy – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Best Supporting Actor, Streaming Comedy – James Marsden, Jury Duty
Best Supporting Actor, Limited or Streaming – Paul Walter Hauser, Black Bird
Best Streaming Drama – The Boys
Best Actress, Streaming Series – Keri Russell, The Diplomat
Best Supporting Actor, Streaming Drama – Jensen Ackles, The Boys
Best Supporting Actress, Streaming Drama – Elizabeth Debecki, The Crown and Jeri Ryan, Star Trek: Picard
Best Period Costumes – The Crown

EMMY AWARDS (January)

Comedy Series – The Bear
Lead Actor, Drama – Kieran Culking, Succession
Lead Actress, Comedy – Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Supporting Actress, Comedy – Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
Variety Special – Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium

CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS (January)

Best Picture – Oppenheimer
Best Actor, Motion Picture – Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers
Best Actress, Motion Picture – Emma Stone, Poor Things
Best Supporting Actor, Motion Picture – Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer
Best Supporting Actress, Motion Picture – Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers
Best Original Screenplay, Motion Picture – Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, Barbie
Best Costume Design, Motion Picture – Jacqueline Durran, Barbie
Best Animated Feature, Motion Picture – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Best Origial Song, Motion Picture – “I’m Just Ken,” Barbie
Best Supporting Actor, TV Drama – Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
Best Actor, TV Comedy – Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
Best Supporting Actress, TV Comedy – Meryl Streep, Only Murders in the Building
Best Made for TV Movie – Quiz Lady
Best Supporting Actor, Limited Series – Jonathan Bailey, Fellow Travelers

AARP MOVIES FOR GROWNUPS AWARDS (January)

Best Picture – Killers of the Flower Moon
Best Actress – Anette Bening, Nyad
Best Actor – Colman Domingo, Rustin
Best Supporting Actress – Jodie Foster, Nyad
Best Director – Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
Best Ensemble – The Color Purple
Best Foreign Film – The Zone of Interest

GRAMMY AWARDS (February)

Record of the Year – Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
Album of the Year – Taylor Swift, “Midnights”
Song of the Year – Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, “What Was I Made For?,” Barbie
Best Rock Album – Paramore, “This Is Why”
Best Rock Song – Boygenius, “Not Strong Enough”
Best R&B Song – SZA, “Snooze”
Best Country Solo Performance – Chris Stapleton, “White Horse”
Best Folk Album – Joni Mitchell, “Joni Mitchell at Newport [Live]”
Best Audio Book – Michelle Obama, “The Light We Carry: Overcoming In Uncertain Times”
Best Immersive Audio Album – Alicia Keys, “The Diary of Alicia Keys”

BAFTA (February)

Leading Actor – Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
Rising Star Award – Mia McKenna -Bruce
Original Screenplay – Justine Triet and Arthur Harai, Anatomy of a Fall
Animated Film – The Boy and the Heron
Casting – The Holdovers
Costume Design – Holly Waddington, Poor Things

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS (February)

Action Movie of the Year – The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Comedy Movie of the Year – Barbie
Male Movie Star of the Year – Ryan Gosling, Barbie
Female Movie Star of the Year – Margot Robbie, Barbie
Action Movie Star of the Year – Rachel Zegler, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Movie Performance of the Year – America Ferrera, Barbie
TV Show of the Year – Grey’s Anatomy
Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Show of the Year – Loki
TV Drama Star of the Year – Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
Daytime Talk Show of the Year – The Kelly Clarkson Show
Male Country Singer of the Year – Jelly Rool
Male Latin Artist of the Year – Bad Bunny
Song of the Year – Olivia Rodrigo, “Vampire”

SAG AWARDS (February)

Female TV Actor, Drama – Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown
Male TV Actor, Drama – Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
Female Film Actress – Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon
Stunt Ensemble – Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part 1

SPIRIT AWARDS (February)

Best Lead Performance – Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction
Best Director – Celine Song, Past Livers
Best Breakthrough Performance – Dominic Sessa, The Holdovers
Best First Screenplay – Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik, May December

PRODUCERS GUILD AWARDS (February)

Outstanding Producer of Episodic TV, Comedy – The Bear
Outstanding Children’s Program – Sesame Street

RAZZIE AWARDS (March)

Worst Picture – Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey
Worst Actor – Jon Voight, Mercy
Actress – Megan Fox, Johnny & Clyde
Supporting Actor – Sylvester Stallone, Expend4ables

OSCARS (March)

Best Picture – Oppenheimer
Adapted Screenplay – Cord Jefferson, American Fiction
Costume Design – Holly Waddington, Poor Things

NAACP IMAGE AWARDS (March)

Outstanding Actor, TV Comedy – Mike Epps, The Upshaws
Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Comedy – William Stanford Davis, Abbott Elementary
Outstanding TV Drama – Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Outstanding Actress, TV Drama – India Ria Amarteifio, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Outstanding Supporting Actor, Limited Series – Don Cheadle, Secret Invasion
Outstanding Talk Series – The Jennifer Hudson Show
Outstanding Motion Picture – The Color Purple
Outstanding Actress, Motion Picture – Fantasia Barrino, The Color Purple
Outstanding Director, Motion Picture – Ava DuVernay, Origin
Outstanding New Artist – Victoria Monet
Outstanding Female Artist – H.E.R.
Entertainer of the Year – Usher

GLAAD AWARDS (March)

Outstanding TV Drama – Yellowjackets
Outstanding Limited Series – Fellow Travelers

CRITICS CHOICE SUPER AWARDS (April)

Best Action Movie – John Wick: Chapter 4
Superhero Movie – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Action TV Series – Reacher
Action TV Series, Best Actress – Zoe Saldana, Special Ops: Lioness

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS (May)

Entertainer of the Year – Lainey Wilson
Duo of the Year – Dan + Shay
Single of the Year – Luke Combs, “Fast Car”
Music Event of the Year – Jelly Roll with Lainey Wilson, “Save Me”

GOTHAM TV AWARDS (June)

Breakthrough Comedy Series – Colin From Accounts
Breakthrough Limited Series – Baby Reindeer
Outstanding Performance in TV Drama – Zine Tseng, 3 Body Problem
Outstanding Performance in Limited Seies – Andrew Scott, Ripley

TONY AWARDS (June)

Best Musical – The Outsiders
Leading Actor in a Musical – Jonathan Groff, Merrily We Roll Along
Leading Actress in a Play – Sarah Paulson, Appropriate
Featured Actor in a Musical – Daniel Radcliffe, Merrily We Roll Along

TELEVISION CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARDS (July)

Achievement in Drama – Anna Sawai, Shogun
Achievement in Comedy – Jean Smart, Hacks
Achievement in Family Programming – Doctor Who
Career Achievement Honoree – Andre Braugher
Heritage Award – Twin Peaks

MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS (September)

Video of the Year – Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone, “Fortnight”
Best New Artist – Chappell Roan
Most Iconic Performance – Katy Perry, “Roar”
Song of the Year – Sabrina Carpenter, “Espresso”
Best Alternative – Benson Boone, “Beautiful Things”
Best Rock – Lenny Kravitz, “Human”

EMMY AWARDS (September)

Drama Series – Shogun
Comedy Series – Hacks
Lead Actor, Drama – Hiroyuki Sanada, Shogun
Lead Actress, Drama – Anna Sawai, Shogun
Lead Actress, Limited Series – Jodie Foster, True Detective: Night Country
Supporting Actress, TV Drama – Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown

CMA AWARDS (November)

Entertainer of the Year – Morgan Wallen
Song of the Year – Chris Stapelton and Dan Wilson, “White Horse”
New Artist of the Year – Megan Moroney
Female Vocalist of the Year – Lainey Wilson
Vocal Group of the Year – Old Dominion
Vocal Duo of the Year – Brooks & Bunn

GOTHAM FILM AWARDS (December)
Best Feature – A Different Man
Outstanding Lead Performance – Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
Outstanding Supporting Performance – Clarence Maclin, Sing Sing
Best International Feature – All We Imagine as Light
Best Screenplay – Azazel Jacobs, His Three Daughters
Breakthrough Director – Vera Drew, The People’s Joker
Breakthrough Performer – Brandon Wilson, Nickel Boys

NEW YORK FILM CRITICS (December)

Best Film – The Brutalist
Director – RaMell Ross, Nickel Boys
Actor – Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Actress – Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truths
Supporting Actor – Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Supporting Actress – Carol Kane, Between the Temples
Screenplay – Sean Baker, Anora
Animated Film – Flow

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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2024 Year-End Round-Up: Box Office Movies

Posted in Movies, Year End Round Up on December 25, 2024| Leave a Comment »

It was another interesting year at the movieplex this year with a very wide array of movies available, especially the juggernaut movies Wicked, Part 1 and Gladiator 2 that capped off the year, becoming known as “Glicked” (much like how Barbie and Oppenheimer became known as Barbenheimer last summer).

There was also the late 2023 release of the R-rated rom-com Anyone But You, starring ubiquitous stars Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney. This movie became the highest-grossing R-rated rom-com in almost a decade, becoming more than a sleeper hit as the new year broke, crossing well over $100 million at the worldwide box office.

It was also the year of animated films with Despicable Me (it’s latest version: Despicable Me 4 was released in July) becoming the first animated franchise in movie history to cross over the $5 billion mark at the international box office while Inside Out 2 became the first animated film to hit $1 billion at the worldwide market.

The reverse could be said about the prequel series Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which stumbled badly at the box office, creating the worst record for the Memorial Day weekend in nearly three decades and the sequel film Joker: Folie a Deux bombed as well, being set to lose at least $150 million to $200 million in its theatrical run.

Speaking of Joker (the 2019 movie starring Joaquin Phoenix), that movie had been the highest-grossing R-rated movie in history, but it was overshadowed by the Ryan Reynolds-Hugh Jackman-led Deadpool & Wolverine, which generated over $1 billion dollars in the box office during its first 23 days of release.

As for Deadpool & Wolverine, that was one of a handful of movies that I got to see at the theatre this year, as rising ticket costs and a general lack of extra time to go to the movies put a damper on what I was able to see this year.

I was fortunate enough to see The Fall Guy and Wicked, Part 1 in the theatre, and I highly recommend both!

I also got to see Argylle, starring Henry Cavill and Bryce Dallas Howard (among others), and while I know that movie didn’t perform all that well in the theatres, and received its fair share of less-than-flattering reviews, I found it to be a fun movie to watch (even if it was a little hard to believe at times).

Now let’s take a look at the top 30 box office winners from this year (up through Saturday, December 14 that is):

1. Inside Out 2 – 653 million
2. Deadpool & Wolverine – 637 million
3. Despicable Me 4 – 361 million
4. Wicked – 286 million
5. Moana 2 – 248 million
6. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice – 294 million
7. Dune: Part Two – 282 million
8. Twisters – 268 million
9. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire – 196 million
10. Kung Fu Panda 4 – 193.59 million
11. Bad Boys: Ride or Die – 193.57 million
12. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – 171 million
13. It Ends with Us – 149 million
14. Gladiator II – 146 million
15. The Wild Robot – 143 million
16. Venom: The Last Dance – 140 million
17. A Quiet Place: Day One – 139 million
18. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire – 113 million
19. IF – 111 million
20. Alien: Romulus – 105 million
21. Bob Marley: One Love- 97 million
22. The Fall Guy – 92.9 million
23. Red One – 92.6 million
24. The Garfield Movie – 92 million
25. Wonka – 85 million
26. Longlegs – 74 million
27. Migration – 73 million
28. Mean Girls – 72 million
29. Smile 2 – 68.9 million
30. Civil War – 68.6 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 uninterested in seeing them.

They appear in alphabetical order below:

Abigail
Anora
Arcadian
Blink Twice
Brothers
Challengers
Imaginery
Joker: Folie à Deux
Kraven the Hunter
Kinds of Kindness
Lisa Frankenstein
Longlegs
Megalopolis
Monkey Man
Nightbitch
Poolman
Smile 2
Speak No Evil
Stopmotion
Terrifier 3
The End
The First Omen
Trap
Venom: The Last Dance

What movies did you enjoy seeing this year?

TOMORROW: Awards Season

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

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2024 Year-End Round-Up: The Rhythm Is Gonna Get You

Posted in Artists, Music, Year End Round Up on December 24, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I’ve shared for many years now how much music has played a key part in my life. As far back as I can remember, music was always playing in my childhood home. It all started when I was a little girl, listening to music while sitting in the middle of my big brothers’ shared bedroom on their old 1970’s turntable then listening to my big boom box and later the Walkman I had in the 1980’s all the way through to my iPod in the 2000’s to now with my Pandora and Spotify accounts.

I wake up to music every morning rather than a buzzing alarm; and then I go to bed with music. Music may not mean to everyone what it means to me, but it does play a crucial part in television, Broadway, theatre and the box office.

The following are just some of the top performers for 2024:

Most Moving Video (Prior to the Election) – “What Happens When a Woman Takes Power”

This song became the anthem for women all across the country during the Harris-Walz campaign with lots of different female groups recording their versions of the song. Admittedly, it was very disappointing for half of the population that we didn’t get the election result we were hoping for, but this song at least made a difference to a lot of us when we needed it most.

Best New Male Artist – Benson Boone

Benson auditioned for season 19 of American Idol in 2021 and made it into the Top 24, but he actually dropped out to consider his career. He obviously made the right decision because his first single “Beautiful Things,” which came out in January of this year, became the biggest song of the year, accurring 1.434 billion on-demand audio streams worldwide. The single topped various singles-focused charts including U.S. top digital song consumption and U.S. top song: on-demand streaming for both audio and audio plus video.

Best Song of the Year – Lady Gaga and Brun Mars, “Die With a Smile”

This soulful song was released in August of this year, featuring the singers in a duet that became an instant smash and a classic tune all at the same time. Their 70’s Nashville style video also helped launch the song into the stratosphere. It’s a tune that you simply can’t get out of your head once you’ve heard it, and the best kind of earworm.

Best New Female Artist – Chappell Roan

Chappell Roan is on a massive hot streak this year with her freshman album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” which hit number 2 on the charts just behind Taylor Swift. While the album came out in 2023, it became a sleeper hit earlier this year, showcasing Roan’s “campy” style that is heavily influenced by drag queens, 1980s synth-pop and 2000s pop songs.

Earworm Hit – Sabrina Carpenter, “Feather”

This actress-singer has been working professionally for the past 13 years between television series and movies, but it was her 6th studio album “Short n’ Sweet” – which was released this summer – that had her hitting number one on the charts and making it the summer of Sabrina Carpenter.

A Most Welcome Return – Linkin Park

This rock band has been together since 1996, and has had a successful run in the music industry that is until the sad and untimely death by suicide of its lead singer Chester Bennington in 2017, causing the band to enter an indefinite hiatus. This year the band came back with a brand new studio album and a new lead singer in the form of female rocker Emily Armstrong.

Best New Duo – Royel Otis

While this Australian duo, comprised of Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic, has been together since 2019, and they’ve released three EPs, it was their first studio alum Pratts & Pain, which was released in February of this year that put them on the map. But it’s been their covers of “Murder on the Dancefloor” and “Linger” that have placed them on the top of the charts. The former single, original done in 2001 by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, has attained nearly 50 million streams on Spotify and first went big on TikTok with over 13 million views.

TV Star Turned Music Artist – Djo, “End of Beginning”

TV viewers will recognize Djo as Joe Keery from Netflix’s Stranger Things and the box office movie Free Guy, but acting isn’t his only hustle. In 2019, Djo released his debut album and in 2022 his second album was released. From that sophomore effort, albeit two years after its release, the single “End of Beginning” hit the airwaves, gaining popularity and becoming viral on social media.

Big Musical Announcement of the Year – Oasis Reunion

After 15 years of brotherly war, Oasis members Liam and Noel Gallagher announced a reunion tour. The announcement was made two days before the 30th anniversary of their debut album. The tour will get underway on July 4, 2025 and will end on November 23, 2025. Their single “Wonderwall” was released on October 30, 1995 and while it never actually made it to number one, it is their most popular single, and you can be assured that when the brothers perform this single, and all their other songs, at the reunion tour, fans are going to go crazy.

Best Way to End 2024 – Wicked

The box office version of the immensely popular Broadway musical Wicked opened in theatres on November 22, starring Cynthia Erivo and Arianna Grande in the lead roles of Elphaba and Glinda, the earlier versions of the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch of the North. The video clips above are just small snippets of the first part of this blockbuster that will have people humming these songs (and more) from the movie far beyond the holidays.

What singer or band has been your “go-to” music during the past year? Which singles were the stand-outs for you this year? What song did you get sick of hearing on the radio? What was the top album in your opinion? Please share your thoughts on the music of 2024 below.

TOMORROW: Hits (and Misses) at the Box Office

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2024 Year-End Round-Up: Hits and Misses on TV

Posted in Pictures, Television, Video, Year End Round Up on December 23, 2024| Leave a Comment »

With the strikes out of the way and productions back in full swing, there were a LOT of programming options for TV viewers, covering all facets of stories and genres, whether it was on the major or cable networks as well as the ever-growing streaming services.

Throughout the year, TV fans have been able to enjoy their favorite shows, good, bad or otherwise along with new shows for which we became obsessed with; outstanding performances, lots of streaming shows to get hooked on, unexpected departures and much, much more.

Please join me as I focus on the top highlights for 2024 (listed in no particular order):

Top Actress – Juno Temple, Fargo (FX)

The FX series, now in its 5th season, found former child actress Juno Temple becoming the standout, delivering what has been described as “perfect comedic timing, charm and range, making a mostly engaging experience” as Dorothy “Dot” Lyon, a “wonderfully unhinged” character who brought “not only perfect…zingers but also the necessary charm to ground the chaos that began unfolding” around her. [Source: Collider]

Fresh New Face (Actress) – Anna Sawai, Shogun and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (FX and Apple TV)

Anna took the industry by storm this year, starring in the remake of Shogun, earning an Emmy as Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as Lady Mariko, becoming the first Japanese actress to win the category. Her performance has been “thoroughly convincing and captivating [Source: The New York Times]; and she also starred as Cate Randa, a San Francisco school teacher dealing with PTSD whose search for her missing father led her to uncover his involvement with Monarch in the Apple TV+ series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters at the end of 2023, leading into January of this year.

Standout Performance – Kenneth Choi, 9-1-1 (ABC)

Getting to the church on time took a whole new meaning for Howard “Chimney” Hahn in the May episode of 9-1-1 entitled “There Goes the Groom” for Kenneth Choi. Chimney had to overcome not only an undiagnosed case of viral encephalitis, which led to brain swelling and memory loss, causing him to completely forget about his bride-to-be (series regular Jennifer Love Hewitt). Acting out the hallucinations Chimney was experiencing could have taken a bad turn if not for the incredible talent of Choi.

Top Actor – Tom Hollander, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans (FX)

Hollander literally disappeared into his role of the one-and-only Truman Capote in the FX anthology series Feud that focused on the literary “genius” and The Swans, a socialite group of New York City high society, consisting of Babe Paley, the wife of William S. Paley, the man who founded CBS, Lady Nancy ‘Slim’ Keith, fashion icon C. Z. Guest, Lee Radziwill, the younger sister of Jackie O, former showgirl Ann Woodward and Joanne Carson, ex-wife of late night talk show host Johnny Carson.

Highest Rated Drama – Matlock (CBS)

This new series is only reminiscent of the popular 1980s to 1990s legal drama in name only. Kathy Bates plays Matty Matlock, nee wealthy retired attorney Madeline Kingston, in this revitalized and intriguing new CBS drama that includes a great ensemble cast. The series has been averaging well over 6 million viewers a week, ranking higher than any other new drama on any of the major networks.

Most Reviled New Drama – Doctor Odyssey (ABC)

Despite being a close second, nee third, in terms of viewership for a new drama this TV season, Doctor Odyssey seems to have far more haters out there than fans. There has also been this crazy theory that the Odyssey (the ship on which the show is based) is a dream of Dr. Max Bankman, played by Dawson’s Creek alum Joshua Jackson, as viewers, at least after a few episodes, came to believe he is still sick from COVID and everything that has happened on the Odyssey is nothing more than a dream of his coma-like state.

Most Disappointing Final Season – The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)

The Umbrella Academy came to an end in August after four seasons on Netflix, airing only six episodes, which for many of its devoted fans – who, for the most part, enjoyed the previous seasons – felt were six episodes too many. What should have been a great swan song for this irreverent and outlandishly enjoyable series turned into an excruciating trip down the strangest rabbit hole of warped storylines and a stuck in an alternate world love affair that tainted the viewers love for the series. The Umbrella Academy deserved more than the disturbing end that they received.

Best Couple – Joanne and Noah, Nobody Wants This (Netflix)

Kristin Bell and Adam Brody each have their own devoted (so to speak) fanbase because of their previous TV roles in Veronica Mars and The O.C. (respectively) [don’t get me started, though, on the vitriol from fans because of what happened in season four of Veronica Mars, ok?!] In this “based on somewhat true events” in the life of series creator, actress Erin Foster, Bell and Brody play Joanne and Noah, an agnostic podcaster and rabbi (no this isn’t the start of some weird joke), an unlikely pair who quickly became a swoon-worthy couple [how about that first kiss, am I right?! They put the chemistry between Chenford, Lucy Chen and Tim Bradford from The Rookie, my choice for Best Couple last year, to shame.

Honorable Mention – Brian Dietzen, NCIS (CBS)

The episode entitled “The Stories We Leave Behind,” paying tribute to Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard (and in essence the actor who portrayed him, David McCallum) on the CBS drama NCIS, was written by long-time series star Brian Dietzen. And what a moving tribute to the man it was! Dietzen not only honored the man he had acted beside for over two decades with a touching episode but also found a way to tie the story back to the long-running show’s pilot episode. As the folks over at TV Line shared, “Dietzen skillfully communicat(ed) the incredibly deep loss felt by Dr. Jimmy Palmer.” If you weren’t at least a little bit moved by the flashbacks and tribute paid to McCallum/Ducky, then you aren’t really a fan of the show.

Best Line – Wild Cards (CW)

From the debut episode, entitled “The Infinity Thief,” of the Canadian transplant series Wild Cards on CW, which stars Riverdale alum Vanessa Morgan as con woman Max Mitchell and Grey’s Anatomy hunk Giacomo Gianniotti as demoted detective Cole Ellis, in their first “case” together:

Max to Cole: “Damn that was amazing. We’re like Bones and that dude from Buffy or Castle and that hot girl.”

Best Awards Show Performance – Ryan Gosling, The 2024 Oscars (ABC)

Ryan Gosling took center stage at this year’s Oscars, belting out the song “I’m Just Ken” from the award-winning box office movie Barbie to not only a packed audience at the Dolby Theatre in the heart of Hollywood but also to the countless viewers watching, nee salivating, at home. He proudly wore sunglasses and a bejeweled pink suit, and with the help of dozens of Kens (including Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa and Shang-Chi star Simu Liu, among others), Gosling delivered what TV Line called a “deliriously fun performance (which) captured what made Barbie so entertaining on the big screen.”

Bittersweet Endings (TIE): Series Finale of Superman & Lois (CW) and Season Finale of Will Trent (ABC)

Superman & Lois came to an end on December 2 with an emotional series finale especially for those who stuck with the show for its four seasons on CW. The final 10-minutes packed a wallop, including seeing the twins as grown men (including series lead Bitsie Tulloch’s real-life husband David Giuntoli from Grimm and A Million Little Things fame playing Jonathan), seeing Clark as an older man and even Krypto the dog not to mention Lois in that knock-out red dress. If you don’t cry over the video below, well, then you just don’t have heart:

Whereas, the season finale of season two of Will Trent aired on May 21 and the last, roughly 6 minutes of the episode was surprising, sweet, tender and then heartbreaking, as Will envisioned his future with his on-again off-again love Angie Polaski as they got married, had two daughters, a foster son and grew old together until he had to do his job and arrest Angie.

Here is the full season finale of Will Trent, but you can watch that specific scene starting at the 38:06 minute-mark and watch to the end, and judge for yourself.

Fun New Cast Addition – Edi Patterson, Resident Alien (Syfy)

Edi Patterson played Heather, the Blue Avian alien paramour (see the inset picture to the right), to Alan Tudyk’s literally out-of-this-world Harry Vanderspeigle. She was able to keep pace with Tudyk, who is known for his improv, managing to rival his outlandish performance in every scene until Heather broke Harry’s heart, and she left back to her own world.

Why Was This Show So Popular – Baby Reindeer, Netflix

This series became a surprise hit back in April at the streaming service (for some reason) despite its harrowing, or more to the point, excruciatingly disturbing subject matter. Scottish comedian Richard Gadd played a fictionalized version of himself, recounting the ordeal he dealt with after being stalked by a middle-aged woman who claimed to be a fan, which in turn made him face a buried trauma that he had been sexually assaulted by an older male TV industry mentor. Like I said, harrowing and disturbing and for some reason, it received 85 million views. ARGH!

Best Parodies – Scarlett Johansson and Maya Rudolph, Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Both actresses were dead-on in their parodies of Alabama Senator Katie Britt and Vice President Kamala Harris (respectively). As TV Line stated, Johansson “perfectly channeled Britt’s frenzied delivery (of her State of the Union response), predicting doom and gloom with a smile from her family kitchen.” Britt herself was criticized for her “performance” in that response because it was so eerie and disturbing, but Johansson turned it into just a great performance.

Whereas, Rudolph got every head tilt, voice pattern and even the laugh of our should-have-been-voted to President of the United States Harris down pat even working alongside the actual Vice President in a close-to-election day appearance where they were mirror images of each other. It was something to behold.

Most Disappointing Cancellation – So Help Me Todd (CBS)

This legal dramedy, starring Marcia Gay Harden and Skylar Astin, was pulled from the CBS line-up after only two seasons; and while many of the scenes between these two, who played mother and son, were outlandish and, quite frankly, a bit over-the-top at times, the series was actually performing fairly well ratings-wise and was leading up to quite an interesting third season.

Handsome Newcomer – Deniz Akdeniz, High Potential (ABC)

Akdeniz plays Lev “Oz” Osman on the wildly popular new ABC drama High Potential. He may be a little better know in his home country of Australia, but he has had guest appearances in quite a number of American dramas like Jane the Virgin, Once Upon a Time, S.W.A.T. and most recently The Flight Attendant and he even had a recurring role in the short-lived spin-off series The Rookie: Feds.

What have been the stand-out moments on the small screen (networks or streaming) for you? Who was your favorite actor for the year? What series, special or TV event disappointed you the most? Please share your thoughts on TV from this year below.

TOMORROW: The Rhythm is Gonna Get You

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2024 Year-End Round-Up: Observations of the Year

Posted in Messages, News, Year End Round Up on December 22, 2024| Leave a Comment »

We are now on the precipice of a galactic-sized change in our democracy, and not necessarily for the better for at least half of the population of the United States of America (however long we remain that), thanks to the misguided votes by the other half of the population of this country, who saw fit to elect an unhinged dictator-wanna-be into the highest position in the land. God help us all!

Before that regretful time is thrust upon us, though, it’s time to look back at the events that took place in 2024.

The following are just some of the top stories for this year, broken down by month:

January

Tsunami warnings in Japan after powerful 7.6 earthquake
Earthquake in Long Beach, California on New Years Day
1.7 earthquake hit New York
Teenager killed a 6th grader and injured several others before killing himself in an Iowa school
Trump received millions from foreign governments as President (the very “crime” the GOP had been trying to pin on President Biden)
Trump rebuked the judge in his court case, but his lawyers were told to “control your client”
2023 Emmys tie record for most winning actors of color
First active-duty military member Madison Marsh crowned Miss America
Elton John becomes 19th person to become an EGOT (winner of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony)
Trump was ordered to pay E. Jean Carroll over $83 million for defamation after she accused him of rape

February

King Charles III was diagnosed with cancer
36-year-old Genesse Ivonne Moreno opened fire in Joel Osteen’s megachurch; she was killed by off-duty officers and her son was critically injured in the gunfire.
Major winter storm hit the Northeast
Senate Republicans block bipartisan border deal (primarily because Donald Trump told them to)
Ex-FBI Informant charged with lying about President Biden and his son Hunter
Trump order to pay over $350 million and barred from running a business in New York for 3 years
Senator Mitch McConnell to step down as GOP leader at end of 2024
People in Gaza killed in horrible Aid Convoy accident
Tornado warnings in Illinois, Ohio and Indiana
Massive fire in Texas

March

France makes world history, becoming first country to explicitly enshrine abortion rights in their Constitution
Alabama lawmakers pass bill to protect IVF
Hannah Gutierrez Reed found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in Rust movie set accidental shooting
Alabama Senator Katie Britt’s creepy State of the Union GOP rebuttal
Terrifying subway shooting in New York despite National Guard being stationed at subway system
Kamala Harris was first Vice President to visit a women’s health clinic
Picture controversy of the Royal family with fingers being pointed at Princess Kate
Trump spurned by 30 companies as he sought bond in $454 million judgment
Princess Kate revealed cancer diagnosis
Gunmen killed 40 people and injured more than 100 people at Moscow Concert Hall
Members of Ghost Army, after decades of being classified, receive Congressional Gold Medal
Federal Agents raid home of Sean “Diddy” Combs
Francis Scott Key Bridge hit by massive cargo ship, killing six city workers
Gag order imposed on Trump during Manhattan Criminal Trial
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for orchestrating fraud

April

Major earthquakes in Taiwan
Kanye West accused of anti-black racism in lawsuit filed by ex-employee
Country singer Morgan Wallen arrested in Nashville after throwing chair from rooftop
Jennifer and James Crumbley, parents of teenage Ethan Crumbley, the Michigan school shooter, were sentenced to prison for manslaughter
A man lit himself on fire, caught on camera by CNN during live coverage of Trump’s NYC trial
Massive college protests over Israel-Palestine crisis, some turning violent
New York Appeals Court overturned Harry Weinstein’s rape case

May

David DePape, the man who bludgeoned Nancy Pelosi’s husband receives 30-year prison sentence
Hard-line President of Iran and numerous of his right-hand men killed in helicopter crash
Disturbing 2016 hotel video of Sean “Diddy” Combs beating his former girlfriend released
Severe plane turbulence on Boeing plane
(Corrupt) Supreme Court sides with Republicans over South Carolina voting map
Flag controversy connected to United States Supreme Court Judge Samuel Alito
Trump CONVICTED of all 34 felony counts in hush money trial

June

Mexico elects first female President, Claudia Sheinbaum
Singer Syndie Christmas (yes, that’s her real last name), won Britain’s Got Talent
Georgia Appeals Court stays (basically freezes) Trump’s election case in Georgia at least through the presidential election in November
80th Anniversary of Normandy Invasion celebrated with three surviving World War II vets
Long-time Trump advisor Steve Bannon ordered to surrender for his prison term
Pat Sajak bids farewell to Wheel of Fortune after 41 years as the game show host
Four Israeli hostages freed
Hunter Biden found guilty in gun case
Arkansas grocery store shooting

July

Disastrous Biden-Trump debate
Middle school students in Pennsylvania posted racist and homophobic video on TikTok, first known mass attack of its kind in the United States
Tropical Storm Beryl hit Houston, Texas
A Russian missile destroyed Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital in Kyiv
Massive heat wave hits all throughout the United States
Alec Baldwin’s Rust movie set case dismissed
Attempted assassination of Donald Trump at Pennsylvania Rally
(Corrupt) Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed Trump’s classified documents case
Trump chose Ohio Senator and “Hillbilly Elegy” author J.D. Vance as his running mate
Worldwide tech outage that ground business to a massive halt at airlines, hospitals, banks, transit companies and the 9-1-1 system
President Joe Biden dropped out of the Presidential election and endorsed VP Kamala Harris
New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez set to resign after corruption conviction
Secret Service Director, Kimberley Cheatle, resigned after Trump assassination attempt
Arson attack caused travel chaos ahead of Olympics opening ceremony in Paris
Venezuela authoritarian leader, Nicolas Maduro, declared winner in tainted election
Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and U.S. Team reclaim throne with gold medals at Paris Olympics
14 people arrested at San Diego Comic Con in anti-human trafficking case
9-11 plotter and accomplices plead guilty to conspiracy charges in exchange for life sentences

August

Multi-country prisoner swap freed Russian prisoners Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan (among others)
Historic storms and flooding in Florida, Georgia and other southern states
Pakistani man charged in alleged plot to kill U.S. leaders
Vice President Kamala Harris named Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her Vice-Presidential running mate
Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna canceled after two men arrested in ISIS-connected terrorist plot
Utah banned books, including works by Judy Blume and Margaret Atwood
62 passengers killed in plane crash in Brazil
Capitol riot assaulter David Dempsey sentenced to 20 years in federal prison
4.4 earthquake hit Los Angeles, California
Personal assistant and doctors charged in actor Matthew Perry’s accidental drug overdose death
Republican Congressman George Santos plead guilty to wire fraud and identity theft
Two American astronauts on the International Space Station stuck there until 2025
Israel launched airstrikes in Lebanon
Brazil blocked social media site X after owner Elon Musk ignored court order

September

Israeli citizens flood streets in protest to demand a deal after bodies of 6 hostages in Gaza were discovered
Another school shooting in Georgia High School
Colin Gray, father of teenage shooter at Georgia High School, arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter
Hunter Biden entered surprise plea in tax case
Manhattan judge delayed Trump’s sentencing until after election day
SpaceX civilians perform historic first spacewalk with Polaris crew
Second failed “attempted assassination” of Trump at Florida Golf Course
Sean “Diddy” Combs arrested in New York
New York City Mayor Eric Adams indicted on federal charges
Long-time Today co-anchor Hoda Kotb announced she’ll be leaving news show in early 2025

October

Both Hurricane Helene and Hurrican Milton hit southern states, causing massive destruction and countless deaths
Iran launched over 100 ballistic missiles against Israel
Former President Jimmy Carter turned 100 years old, becoming the longest-living President in U.S. history
Dockworkers on East and Gulf Coasts went on strike
Judge unsealed new evidence in January 6 case against Trump
Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, killed in Gaza fighting
Former Abercrombie CEO, Michael Jeffries, arrested in sex-trafficking case
Federal Judge ordered Rudy Giuliani to forfeit millions in assets to election workers he defamed
Chinese hackers targeted phones used by Trump and Vance campaign
Two people, both heavily weaponized, attacked Turkish defense firm
Comic Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico “a floating island of garbage” at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally
E. coli outbreak with onions used in McDonald’s Quarter Pounder beef patties
Los Angeles Dodgers win World Series

November

Spain flooding caused the death of over 200 people
Election night disaster with Donald Trump being announced as winner
Jewish soccer fans were assaulted in Amsterdam
Wildfires raging in New Jersey, Massachusetts and New York with an 18-year-old parks worker losing his life in the struggle
Another big wildfire hit California
Over 40 monkeys used at a South Carolina research center escaped with about half captured in the middle of the month
Shooting at Tuskegee University, killing one and injuring at least 16 others
John Krasinski was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2024
Republicans won the Senate, the House and the White House, a disappointing trifecta to the other side hoping for a future of joy and prosperity
Matt Gaetz, selected as United States Attorney General, withdrew his candidacy
Disgraced actor Jussie Smollett had his 2021 conviction overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel and Yoav Gallant, the former Defense Minister
It’s the time of “Glicked” with moviegoers hitting theatres in droves to watch Wicked and Gladiator II (think about Barbenheimer from last year when people were doing double features of Barbie and Oppenheimer)
Three Americans held as prisoners in China were finally released thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration
A US-brokered cease-fire agreement was made between Israel and Hezbollah

December

President Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden of his conviction much to the consternation of the Republican Party and MAGA
South Korean Leader, Yoon Suk Yeol, declared martial law, but due to immediate protests by the South Korean people and its Parliament, that order was rescinded and Yeol narrowly diverted an impeachment
United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot to death in New York by MIA gunman
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake rattled Northern California
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s brutal reign over the country came crashing down after 13 years when rebel fighters stormed the capital of Damascus, claiming victory and sending Assad off to Russia where he claimed asylum
Wildfire in Malibu, California prompting mass evacuations
Current FBI Director Christopher Wray to step down
President Biden pardons nearly 1,500 Americans, a record for one day; many of them placed in home confinement during the Pandemic
Another school shooting this time in Madison, Wisconsin by a 15-year-old girl
New York judge denied Trump’s big to throw out his 34-felony convictions over immunity ruling
Matt Gaetz ethics report was to be released after House Panel’s secret vote
Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan
Jeju Air jet from Thailand crashed in South Korea

That is quite the list of just some of the top news items throughout the year, wouldn’t you say?!

I hope that you will join me through the end of this year, as I focus on the best and the worst of 2024 in the worlds of TV and movies, TV ratings and so much more.

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

TOMORROW: Hit and Misses on TV

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