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2023 Year-End Round Up: Closing Out the Year

Posted in Messages, Year End Round Up on December 31, 2023| Leave a Comment »

We are now several years removed from the pandemic, and while there have been many heartbreaking events throughout 2023, this past year has been a little bit better than the previous few years. There have been plenty of ups and downs during the year, and I certainly hope for each of you that you have had more good moments during 2023 than bad.

As I have said before, if we try to focus on the good, and what makes us happy, hopefully that will help us all weather the rocky terrain that has been 2023.

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year, and I want to thank everyone who has visited my site this year. I hope you’ll come back next year!

Happy New Year!

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2023 Year-End Round-Up: New Faces for 2024

Posted in Movies, Music, New Faces, Television, Year End Round Up on December 30, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Much like the Faces of 2023, 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 2024 appear below in no particular order:

India Amarteifio — India has been acting for the past 10 years, including her breakthrough role in the streaming series Sex Education and prior to that the British series Evermoor, but it was her unenviable task to play the title role in the Netflix spin-off series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, portraying young Queen Charlotte (so deliciously portrayed by Golda Rosheuvel in Bridgerton). She is reportedly set to star alongside Andrew Garfield in the indie drama Hot Air about the British gymnastics’ world.

Lily Gladstone – Lily got her start in the 2012 French film Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian that starred Benicio del Toro and has appeared in movies with the likes of Laura Dern, Kristen Stewart and Michelle Williams in 2016 and Toby Jones in 2019 as well as Showtime’s Billions and FX’s Reservation Dogs; but it was her lead role of Mollie Burkhart in Killers of the Flower Moon alongside the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. Lily’s next project is the Hulu series Under the Bridge.

Marisa Abela – This 20-something British actress made her TV debut in England in the action series COBRA and then starred in the HBO drama Industry (alongside our 2022 Face Myha’la Herrold). She also appeared in last year’s film Rogue Agent before being part of the 2023 juggernaut Barbie. However, it will be her lead role in the Back to Black biopic about the late singer Amy Winehouse that assuredly will garner her a lot of attention.

Teyana Taylor – This 30-something New Yorker is already an established musical artist (singer, songwriter, dancer and choreographer) who has BET and MTV Video Music Awards under her belt; but it was her performance as a single mother in the Sundance Grand Jury Prize winning film A Thousand and One that turned heads. Next up for her is The Book of Clarence where she will star opposite Benedict Cumberbatch and Alfre Woodard.

Yasmin Finney — This newcomer, who initially gained a following through her TikTok videos about her experiences as a Black British teenage trans woman, not only became well-known to TV audiences through her fan favorite role of Elle Argent in the Netflix series Heartstopper, and also landed the plum role of Rose Temple-Noble, the daughter of Donna Noble, in Thanksgiving weekend’s three-part 60th anniversary Doctor Who special (try saying that three times fast) that found David Tennant and Catherine Tate reprising their roles in the long-running series.

Aria Mia Loberti – The Rhode Island native, who is also legally blind due to a severe form of the genetic condition achromatopsia, landed the lead role of Marie-Laure in the highly anticipated four-part limited series All the Light We Cannot See. What’s most impressive is that she was chosen for the role from a global search, beating out thousands of submissions, despite no acting training and off her first, ever, audition. She will next narrate the audiobook for Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, the Jules Verne classic novel.

Jonah Hauer-King – He played Laurie in the PBS version of Little Women in 2017, the lead in the 2019 box office movie A Dog’s Way Home and currently plays one of the lead characters in the PBS period drama World on Fire; but it was his turn as Prince Eric in this year’s The Little Mermaid that has garnered him attention. He will next be seen in the TV series The Tattooist of Auschwitz based on the book by Heather Morris, which will air on Peacock in the States. He will play the younger version of Lale Sokolov, the lead character.

Leo Woodall – This up-and-coming British actor has only been on the scene for a few years, but he appeared in the Tom Holland-led indie film Cherry in 2021, then appeared in a couple of episodes of the short-lived TV series adaptation of Vampire Academy last year. He then appeared in two episodes of the Amazon Prime series Citadel before making a buzzy turn in season two of The White Lotus. He will next star in the TV series adaptation of One Day, based on the David Nicholls novel, which was previously made into the 2011 movie starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. He will take on the role of Dexter Mayhew played by Sturgess in the film.

Are there any actors or actresses who you think are the faces to watch in 2024? Please share.

TOMORROW: Closing Out 2023

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2023 Year-End Round Up: Faces of 2023

Posted in Familiar Faces, Movies, Music, New Faces, Pictures, Television, Year End Round Up on December 29, 2023| 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:

Hong Chau – She has been honing her craft for the past 17 years, but since last year she has really taken the industry by storm, starring alongside Michelle Williams in the box office movie Showing Up that premiered at Cannes last year. Then she followed that up by playing a nurse opposite Brendan Fraser in his Oscar-winning role in the acclaimed indie film The Whale. She had a supporting role in the 2022 box office movie The Menu and then appeared in the popular Netflix series The Night Agent. She also appeared in the ensemble cast of the Wes Anderson flick Asteroid City.

Nicholas Galitzine – This British hunk first caught the attention of viewers with his role in 2020 in the box office movie The Craft: Legacy and the following year he starred opposite recording artist Camila Cabello in Amazon Prime’s Cinderella. Last year he starred alongside Sofia Carson in the Netflix film Purple Hearts and this year he hit it big in Amazon Prime’s movie Red, White & Royal Blue based on the book by Casey McQuiston. He will next be seen with Anne Hathaway in the box office movie The Idea of You and next year’s Starz limited series Mary & George alongside Julianne Moore.

Halle Bailey – I included Halle, a talented Atlanta actress and singer back in 2019 before the pandemic hit, causing her upcoming projects – specifically The Little Mermaid and the upcoming bold new take on the beloved classic The Color Purple, which will be in theatres on Christmas Day – to be put on hold, but she is finally getting the attention she deserves.

Myha’la Herrold – Going by only her first name now, Myha’la stars in the HBO series Industry that follows a group of hungry, young graduates plunged head-first into the exhilarating world of international finance. This year she has been on the big screen in the box office movie Dumb Money, which told the nearly unbelievable if it wasn’t true story about how everyday people got rich by turning GameStop (the video game store) into the world’s hottest company. And she will soon be seen alongside Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawk and Mahershala Ali in the box office Leave the World Behind.

Archie Madekwe – For three seasons, Archie appeared in the Apple TV+ series See, playing the visually-abled son of Jason Momoa’s Baba Voss. He then appeared in this year’s box office flick Gran Turismo alongside David Harbour and Orlando Bloom and with Gal Gadot in the Netflix movie Heart of Stone. He can currently be seen in the much-buzzed about movie Saltburn.

Bella Ramsey – This talented 20-something Brit first came to the attention of TV viewers through her role in Game of Thrones, but it has been her role in the acclaimed TV adaptation of The Last of Us alongside Pedro Pascal that has really garnered her attention. She was also the scene-stealing lead in the box office movie Catherine Called Birdy last year.

Sandra Huller – Sandra has been a working actress for over 20 years, but she has received acclaim from critics and reviewers all over the world for her latest roles in two very different films from this past year. First in The Zone of Interest she played the wife of the commandant of Auschwitz, who strives to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp; and her lead role in Anatomy of a Fall, where she played a woman suspected of her husband’s murder, and their blind son faces a moral dilemma as the main witness.

Mia Goth – After appearing in the back-to-back buzzworthy, albeit horror, flicks last year – X and Pearl – Mia landed a plum role in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe movie Blade that will star Oscar winner Mahershala Ali in the lead role; and her next project is another horror flick MaXXXine.

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 2024

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2023 Year-End Round-Up: TV Ratings

Posted in Ratings, Television, Year End Round Up on December 28, 2023| Leave a Comment »

With the actors and writers strikes both impacting much of the year, this year’s ratings report is much different than those in the past; namely, it’s much lighter on programming because for half of the year there were a lot less shows airing new episodes, and the fall TV season was nearly non-existent.

However, like every year, what is to follow is the list of ratings for the TV dramas – and only TV dramas – that have aired on the major and cable networks during the last half of the 2022-2023 TV season and the first half of the much truncated 2023-2024 TV season. The numbers provided below are the average of the overnight viewership for each drama; they do not include any additional days or adjustments.

Then at the bottom of this piece, just like in years past, I will provide all of the made-for-TV movies on the major and cable networks where ratings could be tracked down.

Let’s get started…

The first list is the major network dramas that aired from January through approximately May, covering the last half of the 2022-2023 TV season:

NCIS (CBS) – 6.8 million viewers
FBI (CBS) – 6.7 million viewers
Fire Country (CBS) – 6.5 million viewers
Chicago Fire (NBC) – 6.5 million viewers
The Equalizer (CBS) – 6.4 million viewers
Chicago Med (NBC) – 6.2 million viewers
Blue Bloods (CBS) – 5.7 million viewers
FBI: International (CBS) – 5.5 million viewers
Chicago P.D. (NBC) – 5.1 million viewers
NCIS: Hawai’i (CBS) – 5 million viewers
S.W.A.T. (CBS) – 5 million viewers
East New York (CBS) – 4.9 million viewers *
FBI: Most Wanted (CBS) – 4.9 million viewers
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) – 4.7 million viewers
So Help Me Todd (CBS) – 4.6 million viewers
NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS) – 4.5 million viewers
Law & Order (NBC) – 4.4 million viewers
9-1-1 (FOX) – 4.3 million viewers [will be relocating to ABC in 2024]
The Rookie (ABC) – 4.1 million viewers
Station 19 (ABC) – 3.8 million viewers
9-1-1: Lone Star (FOX) – 3.5 million viewers
Law & Order: Organized Crime (NBC) – 3.4 million viewers
The Good Doctor (ABC) – 3.4 million viewers
Magnum P.I. (NBC) – 3.3 million viewers
CSI: Vegas (CBS) – 3.2 million viewers
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – 3.2 million viewers
Will Trent (ABC) – 3 million viewers
New Amsterdam (NBC) – 2.8 million viewers *
Alaska Daily (ABC) – 2.7 million viewers *
The Rooke: Feds (ABC) – 2.7 million viewers *
The Resident (FOX) – 2.6 million viewers *
True Lies (CBS) – 2.4 million viewers *
Accused (FOX) – 2.3 million viewers
Big Sky (ABC) – 2.3 million viewers *
The Company You Keep (ABC) – 2.2 million viewers *
Alert: Missing Persons Unit (FOX) – 2.1 million viewers
The Blacklist (NBC) – 2.1 million viewers *
Quantum Leap (NBC) – 2 million viewers
La Brea (NBC) – 1.9 million viewers
A Million Little Things (ABC) – 1.8 million viewers *
Fantasy Island (FOX) – 1.8 million viewers *
Superman & Lois (The CW) – 664,000 viewers
Walker (The CW) – 662,000 viewers
The Flash (The CW) – 509,000 viewers *
All American (The CW) – 508,000 viewers
Walker: Independence (The CW) – 453,000 viewers *
All American Homecoming (The CW) – 448,000 viewers
Kung Fu (The CW) – 401,000 viewers *
Gotham Knights (The CW) – 398,000 viewers *
The Winchesters (The CW) – 383,000 viewers *

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

The second list covers all of the cable network dramas from that same approximate time period: January through May 2023:

Yellowstone (Paramount Network) – 8.2 million
1923 (Paramount Network) – 3.7 million viewers [special cable network airing]
The Way Home (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Ride (Hallmark Channel) – 1 million viewers *
The Last of Us (HBO) – 809,000 viewers
Succession (HBO) – 705,000 viewers *
Mayfair Witches (AMC) – 504,000 viewers
The Ark (Syfy) – 397,000 viewers
Perry Mason (HBO) – 349,000 viewers *
Lucky Hank (AMC) – 303,000 viewers *
Your Honor (Showtime) – 285,000 viewers *
Power Book II: Ghost (Starz) – 274,000 viewers
George & Tammy (Showtime) – 252,000 viewers (approximately) *
White House Plumbers (HBO) – 184,000 viewers (approximately) *
Yellowjackets (Showtime) – 173,000 viewers
The Watchful Eye (Freeform) – 117,000 viewers *
Good Trouble (Freeform) – 92,000 viewers *

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

NOTE: No ratings for the following cable dramas that aired during January and May could be tracked down: A Spy Among Friends, From and Godfather of Harlem on MGM+ (formerly EPIX); C.B. Strike (HBO); A Small Light on National Geographic; All Creatures Great and Small, Call the Midwife, Marie Antoinette, Miss Scarlet & the Duke, Sanditon, Tom Jones and Vienna Blood all on PBS.

The third list covers the dramas that aired on the major networks over the summer from May through approximately September/October 2023:

The Chosen (The CW) – 456,000 viewers
Family Law (The CW) – 441,000 viewers
Nancy Drew (The CW) – 404,000 viewers *
The Rising (The CW) – 361,000 viewers ^
Moonshine (The CW) – 302,000 viewers ^
Barons (The CW) – 174,000 viewers (approximately) [the show was pulled from the line-up after only four episodes]

* denotes those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
^ denotes those shows that not been renewed yet by their home networks

The fourth list covers all of the cable network dramas that aired from April through September 2023:

When Calls the Heart (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million viewers
Dark Winds (AMC) – 909,000 viewers
The Walking Dead: Dead City (AMC) – 685,000 viewers
Justified: City Primeval (FX) – 625,000 viewers *
Fear the Walking Dead (AMC) – 493,000 viewers *
Mayans MC (FX) – 468,000 viewers *
The Lazarus Project (TNT) – 442,000 viewers (approximately)
Outlander (Starz) – 342,000 viewers
Winning Time: Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (HBO) – 239,000 viewers *
The Chi (Showtime) – 165,000 viewers
Cruel Summer (Freeform) – 132,000 viewers *
Heels (Starz) – 40,000 viewers *

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

NOTE: No ratings for the following cable dramas that aired during April to September could be tracked down: Domina on MGM+ and DI Ray, Endeavor, Grantchester, Mrose & The Last Endeavor: A Masterpiece Mystery and Ridley all on PBS.

The fifth list covers all of the major network dramas that aired during the first half of the 2023-2024 TV season, covering September/October to approximately mid-December:

NCIS: Sydney (CBS) 5 million viewers
Yellowstone (CBS) [Seasons 1 and 2] – 4.5 million viewers
The Irrational (NBC) – 3.8 million viewers
Magnum P.I. (NBC) – 3.2 million viewers
Found (NBC) – 3.1 million viewers
Quantum Leap (NBC) – 2.7 million viewers
Transplant (NBC) – 2.1 million viewers (approximately) ^^
SEAL Team (CBS) – 1.3 million viewers ^
The Chosen (The CW) – 485,000 viewers ^
Sullivan’s Crossing (The CW) – 457,000 viewers
The Spencer Sisters (The CW) – 388,000 viewers ^
The Swarm (The CW) – 334,000 viewers *

* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
^ denotes those shows that have not been renewed nor cancelled yet
^^ denotes the shows that aired episodes through Christmas Day or just a few days after the holidays, and their ratings weren’t available in time for this report to be posted

The sixth and final list covers all of the cable dramas that aired from September through December:

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (AMC) – 647,000 viewers
The Gilded Age (HBO) – 522,000 viewers
Fear the Walking Dead (AMC) – 484,000 viewers *
American Horror Story: Delicate (FX) – 347,000 viewers
Fargo (FX) – 338,000 viewers (approximately)
Power Book IV: Force (Starz) – 286,000 viewers (approximately)
All Rise (OWN) – 251,000 viewers *
Billions (Showtime) – 223,000 viewers *
Power Book III: Raising Kanan (Starz) – 201,000 viewers (approximately) ^
SurrealEstate (Syfy) – 180,000 viewers
BlackBerry (AMC) – 125,000 viewers *
Fellow Travelers (Showtime) – 70,000 viewers (approximately)
The Curse (Showtime) – 36,000 viewers (approximately) ^

* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
^ denotes the shows that aired episodes through Christmas Day or just a few days after the holidays, and their ratings weren’t available in time for this report to be posted

NOTE: No ratings for the following cable dramas that aired during September to December could be tracked down: Beacon 23, Billy the King and The Winter King on MGM+; Annika, Hotel Portofino, Little Bird, Professor T, Unforgotten, Van der Valk and World on Fire all on PBS

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

1. NCIS reclaimed its number one status on CBS during the first half of the year with FBI hot on its heels, and Fire Country ranking as the top rated new series. On the other end, the small screen adaptation of True Lies was the lowest rated drama on the network, which is why the show was cancelled.

2. The Rookie overtook Station 19 as the highest rated drama on ABC with Will Trent ranking as the highest rated new drama. A Million Little Things, which aired its series finale in May, was the lowest rated drama.

3. Over on FOX, 9-1-1 was the highest rated drama (and ironically will be moving to ABC in March of 2024) with its spin-off 9-1-1: Lone Star coming in second place. The revival of Fantasy Island ranked as the lowest drama on the network and was subsequently cancelled after two seasons.

4. Chicago Fire is one again the top-rated drama on NBC with Chicago Med also in second place again; and Chicago P.D. was a distant third. NBC was the only network to have new, original dramas airing in the fall with The Irrational being the highest rated new drama. The lowest rated NBC drama was La Brea, which is actually coming back for its third and final season.

5. The CW is a very pale version of itself with the acquisition by Nexstar, but this time around Superman & Lois was the top-rated series followed very closely by Walker. The lowest rated original series was The Winchesters.

6. Once again, Yellowstone on Paramount Network was the highest rated series overall – even higher than NCIS – with When Calls the Heart over on Hallmark Channel a very, very distant second. The lowest rated dramas overall were Fellow Travelers and The Curse both on Showtime.

The final list – which is extremely long – covers all of the made-for-TV movies, mini-series, event series and specials that aired during 2023 on both the major and cable networks for which ratings could be tracked down.

Here is that extremely long list:

A Merry Scottish Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 3.3 million viewers
A Biltmore Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 3.1 million viewers

Christmas Island (Hallmark Channel) – 2.6 million viewers
The Wedding Veil Expectations (Hallmark Channel) – 2.5 million viewers
Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up (Hallmark Channel) – 2.4 million viewers
3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Ghost (Hallmark Channel) – 2.3 million viewers
Holiday Hotline (Hallmark Channel) – 2.3 million viewers
The Wedding Veil Inspiration (Hallmark Channel) – 2.3 million viewers
The Wedding Veil Journey (Hallmark Channel) – 2.3 million viewers
A Heidelberg Holiday (Hallmark Channel) – 2.2 million viewers
Catch Me If You Claus (Hallmark Channel) – 2.1 million viewers
Holiday Road (Hallmark Channel) – 2.1 million viewers
Sealed With a List (Hallmark Channel) – 2.1 million viewers
Sweeter Than Chocolate (Hallmark Channel) – 2.1 million viewers
A Not So Royal Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 2 million viewers
Christmas on Cherry Lane (Hallmark Channel) – 2 million viewers
Love in Glacier National: A National Park Romance (Hallmark Channel) – 2 million viewers
My Norwegian Holiday (Hallmark Channel) – 2 million viewers
Navigating Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 2 million viewers
The Wedding Cottage (Hallmark Channel) – 2 million viewers

A Paris Proposal (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million viewers
Christmas in Notting Hill (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million viewers
Everything Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million viewers
Magic in Mistletoe (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million viewers
Miracle in Bethlehem, PA (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.9 million viewers
The Secret Gift of Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million viewers
Welcome to Valentine (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million viewers
Flipping for Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 1.8 million viewers
Never Been Chris’d (Hallmark Channel) – 1.8 million viewers
Where Are You, Christmas? (Hallmark Channel) – 1.8 million viewers
A Picture of Her (Hallmark Channel) – 1.7 million viewers
Checkin’ It Twice (Hallmark Channel) – 1.7 million viewers
Joyeux Noel (Hallmark Channel) – 1.7 million viewers
Mystic Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 1.7 million viewers
Our Christmas Mural (Hallmark Channel) – 1.7 million viewers
The Dog Lover’s Guide to Dating (Hallmark Channel) – 1.7 million viewers
The Santa Summit (Hallmark Channel) – 1.7 million viewers
A Prince of Portugal (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
Christmas With a Kiss (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
Fourth Down and Love (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
Love’s Greek to Me (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
Made for Each Other (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
Reba McEntire’s The Hammer (Lifetime) – 1.6 million viewers
A Safari Romance (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Aloha Heart (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Field Day (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Game of Love (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Hearts in the Game (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Letters to Santa (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Love in the Great Smoky Mountains (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Love in Zion National: A National Park Romance (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Making Waves (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Notes of Autumn (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Round and Round (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Under the Christmas Sky (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
A Winning Team (Hallmark Channel) – 1.4 million viewers
Heaven Down Here (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.4 million viewers
Love in the Maldives (Hallmark Channel) – 1.4 million viewers
Never Too Late to Celebrate (Hallmark Channel) – 1.4 million viewers
Retreat to You (Hallmark Channel) – 1.4 million viewers
The Wedding Contract (Hallmark Channel) – 1.4 million viewers
When Love Springs (Hallmark Channel) – 1.4 million viewers
The Professional Bridesmaid (Hallmark Channel) – 1.4 million viewers
To All a Good Night (Hallmark Channel) – 1.4 million viewers
Christmas By Design (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million viewers
Friends & Family Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million viewers
Mystery on Mistletoe Lane (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.3 million viewers
Wedding Season (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million viewers
A Season for Family (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
A Very Venice Romance (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
Curious Caterer: Grilling Season (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
Dream Moms (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
Make Me a Match (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
A World Record Christmas (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.1 million viewers
My Christmas Guide (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.1 million viewers
Napa Ever After (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Time for Her to Come Home for Christmas (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.1 million viewers
Family History Mysteries: Buried Past (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1 million viewers
Ms. Christmas Comes to Town (Hallmark Channel) 1 million viewers

Hannah Swensen Mysteries: A Zest for Death (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 991,000 viewers
The Dancing Detective: A Deadly Tango (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 870,000 viewers
Curious Caterer: Fatal Vows (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 855,000 viewers
A Cowboy Christmas Romance (Lifetime) – 850,000 viewers
The Cases of Mystery Lane (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 824,000 viewers
Mystery Island (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 789,000 viewers
Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 788,000 viewers
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 738,000 viewers
Unexpected Grace (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 693,000 viewers
Gwen Shamblin: Starving for Salvation (Lifetime) – 679,000 viewers
V.C. Andrews Dawn (Lifetime, Part 4 of 4) – 670,000 viewers
The Blessing Bracelet (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 657,000 viewers
The More Love Grows (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 632,000 viewers
V.C. Andrews Dawn (Lifetime, Part 2 of 4) – 610,000 viewers
Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 591,000 viewers
Come Fly With Me (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 576,000 viewers
The Jane Mysteries: Inheritance Lost (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 569,000 viewers
Guiding Emily (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 562,000 viewers
Ladies of the ‘80s: A Divas Christmas (Lifetime) – 553,000 viewers
Christmas at the Chalet (Lifetime) – 498,000 viewers
Christmas Plus One (Lifetime) – 498,000 viewers
Giving Hope: The Ni’Cola Mitchell Story (Lifetime) – 421,000 viewers
Yes, Chef! Christmas (Lifetime) – 405,000 viewers
Peppermint & Postcards (Great American Family) – 386,000 viewers
My Christmas Hero (Great American Family) – 371,000 viewers
A Christmas Intern (Lifetime) – 367,000 viewers
Merry Magic Christmas (Lifetime) – 361,000 viewers
A Royal Date for Christmas (Great American Family) – 349,000 viewers
Santa, Maybe (Great American Family) – 349,000 viewers
Mistletoe Match (Lifetime) – 348,000 viewers
The Naughty Nine (Disney) – 345,000 viewers
The Jingle Bell Jubilee (Great American Family) – 340,000 viewers
Designing Christmas With You (Great American Family) – 338,000 viewers
Planes, Trains and Christmas Trees (Lifetime) – 336,000 viewers
A Christmas Blessing (Great American Family) – 332,000 viewers
The Holiday Proposal Plan (Lifetime) – 316,000 viewers
Christmas on Windmill Way (Great American Family) – 306,000 viewers
Meet Me Under the Mistletoe (Great American Family) – 294,000 viewers
A Christmas for the Ages (Great American Family) – 282,000 viewers
A Paris Christmas Waltz (Great American Family) – 265,000 viewers
Laughing All the Way (Lifetime) – 258,000 viewers
12 Games of Christmas (Great American Family) – 253,000 viewers
Dial S for Santa (UPtv) – 253,000 viewers
Monster High 2 (Nickelodeon) – 250,000 viewers
Christmas Keepsake (Great American Family) – 231,000 viewers
Christmas of Yes (OWN) – 218,000 viewers
Christmas at the Amish Bakery (UPtv) – 198,000 viewers
Royal Rendezvous (E! Entertainment) – 194,000 viewers
The Christmas Detective (OWN) – 194,000 viewers
Mistletoe Connection (UPtv) – 186,000 viewers
Prom Pact (Disney) – 182,000 viewers
A Christmas Serenade (OWN) – 176,000 viewers
A Harvest Homecoming (Great American Family) – 173,000 viewers
Christmas Time Capsule (UPtv) – 163,000 viewers
Craft Me a Romance (Great American Family) – 161,000 viewers
Country Hearts Christmas (UPtv) – 160,000 viewers
Country Hearts (UPtv) – 157,000 viewers
Married By Mistake (E! Entertainment) – 156,000 viewers
Yuletide the Knot (UPtv) -154,000 viewers
Why Can’t My Life Be a Rom-Com? (E! Entertainment) – 129,000 viewers

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

A Belgian Chocolate Christmas (Great American Family)
A Lifelong Love (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)
A Nashville Legacy (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)
A Royal Christmas Crush (Hallmark Channel)
A Royal Christmas Holiday (Great American Family)
A Royal in Paradise (Great American Family)
Adeline (UPtv)
Big Sky River: The Bridal Path (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)
Bringing Christmas Home (Great American Family)
Charming Valentine (Great American Family)
Christmas Revisited (OWN)
Christmas With a View (UPtv)
Destined 2: Christmas Once More (Great American Family)
Fall Into Winter (Great American Family)
Finding Love in San Antonio (UPtv)
Heist 88 (Showtime)
Just Jake (UPtv)
Lease on Love (Great American Family)
Love at the Lodge (UPtv)
Love Can Surprise You (Great American Family)
Love in Aruba (Great American Family)
Lucky Hearts (UPtv)
Maybe It’s Love (E! Entertainment)
Mixed Baggage (UPtv)
Mom’s Christmas Boyfriend (Lifetime)
One Perfect Match (Great American Family)
Romantic Rewrite (Great American Family)
Something’s Brewing (UPtv)
Southern Gospel (UPtv)
Spring Breakthrough (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)
Sweet As Maple Syrup (UPtv)
Sweet on You (UPtv)
Swing Into Romance (Great American Family)
Take Me Back for Christmas (Hallmark Channel)
The Happy Camper (UPtv)
The Love Club: Lauren’s Dream (Hallmark Channel)
The Love Club: Nicole’s Pen Pal (Hallmark Channel)
The Love Club: Sydney’s Journey (Hallmark Channel)
The Love Club: Tara’s Tune (Hallmark Channel)
The Princess & the Bodyguard (UPtv)
The Secret Sauce (UPtv)
The Warrant: Breaker’s Law (INSP)
The Wedding Wish (UPtv)
V.C. Andrews Dawn (Lifetime, Part 1 of 4)
V.C. Andrews Dawn (Lifetime, Part 3 of 4)
We’re Scrooged (UPtv)
When Love Blooms (UPtv)
Written in the Stars (UPtv)

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

TOMORROW: Faces of 2023

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2023 Year-End Round Up: Condolences

Posted in Condolences, Movies, Music, Sports, Television, Year End Round Up on December 27, 2023| 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):

DJ Mark the 45 King (Music Producer for Eminem, Jay-Z and Queen Latifah) [He was 62]

Sharon Acker (Canadian Actress, Point Blank and rebooted Perry Mason in the 1970s)
Joss Ackland (Actor, Lethal Weapon 2 and White Mischief) [He was 95]
Scott Alexander (America’s Got Talent Magician) [He was only 52]
Martin Amis (British Author, “Zone of Interest”)
Katherine Anderson-Schaffner (Founding Member of The Marvelettes “Please, Mr. Postman”)
Kenneth Anger (Experimental Filmmaker and Artist) [He was 96]
Selma Archerd (Actress and wife of long-time Variety columnist Army Archerd) [She was 98]
Alan Arkin (Veteran Actor TV, Film and Broadway)
Clarence Avant (Music Executive and known as the Godfather of Black Entertainment) [He was 92]

Burt Bacharach (Legendary Songwriter-Composer) [He was 94]
Robbie Bachman (Co-Founder and Drummer of Canadian rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive)
John Bailey (Former Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President and Cinematographer) [He was 81]
Rich Barancik (Last surviving member of Monuments Men and Women, who preserved European artworks and cultural treasures that Nazi Germany had looted) [He was 98]
Ady Barkan (Healthcare Activist who had ALC) [He was only 39]
Bob Barker (Legendary TV Game Show Host, Price Is Right) [He was 99]
John Barrett (Celebrity Hairdresser) [He was only 66]
Norma Barzman (Screenwriter Blacklisted During McCarthy Era) [She was 103]
John Beasley (Actor, Everwood)
Cari Beauchamp (Hollywood Historian and Author)
Jeff Beck (Guitar Master of the Rock Era)
Richard Belzer (Actor, Law & Order: SVU and Homicide: Life on the Street)
Nick Benedict (Soap Actor, All My Children and Days Of Our Lives)
Silvio Berlusconi (Italian Media Magnate and Former Prime Minister)
Tony Bennett (Legendary Singer and 20-time Grammy winner) [He was 96]
Helmet Berger (Star of acclaimed European Art Cinemas in the 60s and 70s)
Jane Birkin (British-French Actor and Singer)
Robert Blake (Actor, Baretta)
Jake Bloom (Legendary Hollywood Attorney)
Jean Boht (Beloved Actress, BBC Sitcom Bread) [She was 91]
Barbara Bosson (Actress, Hill Street Blues)
Fernando Botero (Artist of Whimsical Rotundity) [He was 91]
Michael Boyd (Artistic Director at the Royal Shakespeare Company)
Bertie Bowman (Longest-serving Black congressional staffer) [He was 92]
Howard Bragman (Veteran of Entertainment Public Relations; his clients included Cameron Diaz and Paula Abdul) [He was only 66]
Kwame Brathwaite (Celebrity Photographer and Catalyst for “Black is Beautiful Movement in the 1960s)
Andre Braugher (Emmy-winning Actor, Homicide: Life on the Street and Brooklyn Nine-Nine) [He was only 61.]
George Brown (Founding Member, Kool & The Gang)
Jim Brown (NFL Great and Actor, The Dirty Dozen)
James D. Brubaker (Producer, The Right Stuff, Cobra and Rocky IV
Dick Butkus (NFL Legend and Prolific TV Star) [He was 80]
Jimmy Buffett (American Singer-Songwriter, “Margaritaville”)
Colin Burgess (Original drummer AC/DC)
A.S. Byatt (English Critic, Novelist, Poet and Short Story Writer)
John Byrne (Creator, acclaimed TV show Tutti Frutti) [He was 83]

Sergio Calderon (Actor, Pirates Of The Caribbean and Men in Black)
Wally Campo (Actor, Little Shop of Horrors) [He was 99]
Bobbie Jean Carter (Sister of Nick and Aaron Carter) [She was only 41]
Jeffrey Carlson (Actor, All My Children) [He was only 48]
Rosalynn Carter (Former First Lady) [He was 96]
Paul Cattermole (Member British pop band S Club 7) [He was only 46]
Josephine Chaplin (Actress and Daughter of Charlie Chaplin)
Bobby Charlton (Soccer Great for Manchester United, World Cup Winner) [He was 86]
Michael Chiarello (Former Food Network Star) [He was only 61]
Tyler Christopher (Actor, General Hospital) [He was only 50]
Carol Higgins Clark (Mystery Writer and daughter of Author Mary Higgins Clark)
Angus Cloud (Actor, Euphoria) [He was only 25]
Gloria Coates (Prolific Female Composer, Wrote 17 in Her Lifetime) [She was 89]
Phyllis Coates (TV’s First Lois Lane) [She was 96]
Walter Cole (aka Darcelle XV) [World’s Oldest Drag Performer) [He was 92]
Van Conner (Co-Founder and Bassist of Alternative Band Screaming Trees) [He was only 55]
Carole Cook (Protege to Lucille Ball) [She was 98]
James “Buster” Corley (Co-Founder, Dave & Buster’s)
Manny Coto (Emmy Winning Executive Producer, 24 and American Horror Story)
Noah Cowan (Former TIFF Co-Director) [He was only 55]
Rolly Crump (Early Disneyland Animator) [He was 93]
David Crosby (Singer-Songwriter-Guitarist, Bryds and Crosby, Stills & Nash)
Catherine Cyran (Prolific Film Director, The Prince & Me)
Dick Curtis (Character Actor and Straight Man to Comedian Jonathan Winters) [He was 95]

Henri Dauman (Holocaust survivor and Celebrity Photographer) [He was 90]
Sandra Day O’Connor (First Woman to Serve as Supreme Court Justice) [She was 93]
Terence Davies (Esteemed British Director)
Ann de Toth (Screenwriter)
Kamar de los Reyes (Actor, One Life to Live) [He was only 56]
Arnold Diaz (New York TV Reporter)
Melinda Dillon (Tony- and Oscar-nominated Actress, A Christmas Story and Close Encounters of the Third Kind)
Carol Duvall (DIY Trailblazer and TV’s Crafting Queen) [She was 97]

Paul Eckstein (Co-Creator of TV Series, Godfather of Harlem) [He was only 59]
Evan Ellingson (Former child star, CSI: Miami and My Sister’s Keeper) [He was only 35]
Daniel Ellsberg (Analyst who leaked The Pentagon Papers) [He was 92]
Andrea Evans (Soap Veteran, One Life to Live)
Joan Evans (Veteran Actress, On the Loose, Skirts Ahoy! and Edge of Doom) [She was 89]

Sharon Farrell (Actress, The Young and the Restless) [She was 82]
Benjamin Ferencz (Last Surviving Prosecutor of Nuremberg Trials) [He was 103]
Senator Dianne Feinstein (Oldest Member of the Senate) [He was 90]
Shirley Anne Field (Actress, The Entertainer and Alfie)
Shirley Jo Finney (Actress “Wilma” and Theatre Director)
Frederic Forrest (Actor, Apocalypse Now and The Rose)
Andrew Freedman (Veteran News and Entertainment Publicist) [He was only 67]
Edward Fredkin (Influential Professor at MIT)
Gerald Fried (Composer, original Roots mini-series, Star Trek and Gilligan’s Island) [He was 95]
William Friedkin (Director, The Exorcist and The French Connection) [He was 87]
Andrea Fay Friedman (Actress with Down Syndrome, Life Goes On) [She was only 53]
Terry Funk (WWE Hall of Fame Wrestler)

Michael Gambon (Legendary Actor, Dumbledore of Harry Potter franchise) [He was 82]
Walt Garrison (Dallas Cowboys Running Back and Rodeo Cowboy)
Julie Garwood (Author)
Bill Geddie (Co-Creator of The View) [He was 68]
Bob George (Producer on Films like Newness, Zoe and Endings, Beginnings) [He was 51]
Astrud Gilberto (Brazilian Singer, “Girl From Ipanema”)
Louise Gluck (American Poet and Nobel Prize for Literature Winner) [She was 80]
Mark Goddard (Actor, Original TV Series Lost in Space) [He was 87]
David Lance Goines (Iconic Berkeley Printmaker)
Bert I. Gordon (Cult Filmmaker) [He was 100]
Bob Goldman (Oscar-Winning Writer, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest) [He was 90]
Jim Gordon (Drummer for Eric Clapton and Co-Writer of “Layla”)
Bill Granger (Top Chef and Entrepreneur) [He was only 54]
Bud Grant (Hall of Fame Football Coach for Minnesota Vikings) [He was 95]
Shecky Greene (Legendary Las Vegas Standup Comedian) [He was 97]
Haydn Gwynne (Actor, The Crown and The Windsors) [She was 66}

Brett Hadley (Actor, The Young and the Restless) [He was 92]
Marlene Bauer Hagge (LPGA golf Champion)
Todd Haimes (Leader of New York’s Roundabout Theater Company)
Peter Hardy (Actor, McLeod’s Daugthers and Chopper)
Sheldon Harnick (Broadway Lyricist, Fiddler on the Roof) [He was 99]
Don Harold (Vintage Train Cars Collector, helped create the New York Transit Museum) [He was 91]
CJ Harris (American Idol Season 13 finalist) [He was only 31]
Steve Harwell (Former Lead Singer of Smash Mouth) [He was only 56]
Willie Hernandez (Baseball Player)
Maurice Hines (Tap Dancer in The Cotton Club, Choreographer and brother of Gregory Hines)
Stuart Hodes (Legendary Dancer, Danced with Martha Graham) [He was 98)
Elizabeth Hoffman (Veteran Actress, Sisters) [She was 97]
Dave Hollis (Former President of Worldwide Distribution at Disney) [He was only 47]
Ellen Holly (First Black Actor to Star in Daytime TV on One Life to Live) [She was 92]
Elizabeth Hubbard (Emmy-winning Actress, As the World Turns)
Hugh Hudson (Director, Chariots of Fire)
Bobby Hull (Legendary Hockey Player)

Rudolph Isley (Singer and Songwriter for the Isley Brothers, “Shout”)

Chuck Jackson (Singer, “Any Day Now”)
Glenda Jackson (Oscar, Tony and Emmy winning Actress)
David Jacobs (Creator, Knots Landing, Dallas and Paradise)
Kyle Jacobs (Husband to Country Singer Kellie Pickler) [He was only 49]
Al Jaffee (Creator, Mad Magazine) [He was 102]
Ahmad Jamal (Pianist who inspired generations of jazz musicians) [He was 92]
Dave Jolicoeur (aka Trugoy the Dove) [Co-Founder De La Soul) [He was only 54]
Scott Johnson (Composer and Guitarist)
Dean Jones (Director, Britain’s Got Talent) [He was only 56]
Rebecca Jones (Mexican American Actress, Popular Telenovelas)
Ron Cephas Jones (Acclaimed Actor, This Is Us) [He was only 66]

Ted Kaczynski (aka the Unabomber)
Bernard Kalb (Veteran Correspondent and Former CBS News Journalist) [He was 100]
Victor J. Kemper (Cinematographer, Dog Day Afternoon and National Lampoon’s Vacation) [He was 96]
Darren Kent (Actor, Game of Thrones and Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) [He was only 36]
Lance Kerwin (Actor, James at 15 and Salem’s Lot)
Charles Kimbrough (Actor, Murphy Brown)
Terry Kirman (Singer, Songwriter and Founding Member of Folk-Rock Band The Assocation, known for the song “Cherish”) [He was 83]
Henry Kissinger (Former Secretary of State) [He was 100]
Bobby Knight (Legendary Basketball Coach)
Jean Knight (Singer, “Mr. Big Stuff”) [She was 80]
Marty Krofft (Creator, H.R. Pufnstuf and Land of the Lost) [He was 86]
Milan Kundera (Novelist, “The Unbearable Lightness of Being”) [He was 94]

Paul La Farge (Inventive Novelist) [He was only 52]
Jim Ladd (Veteran Rock DJ and SiriusXM Host)
Denny Laine (Cofounder of The Moody Blues and longtime member of Paul McCartney’s group Wings)
Lewis Largent (Influential MTV VJ and KROQ DJ) [He was 58]
Milt Larsen (Co-Founder Magic Castle and TV Game Show Writer) [He was 92]
Michael Latt (Strategist on Social Justice Marketing Campaigns) [He was only 33]
David LaFlamme (Founder of San Francisco band It’s a Beautiful Day, who was at the forefront of the Haight-Ashbury acid-rock explosion) [He was 82]
Piper Laurie (Veteran Actress and 3-Time Oscar Nominee) [She was 91]
Norman Lear (Legendary Sitcom Creator and Producer) [He was 101]
Coco Lee (Hong Kong-Born Singer-Songwriter) [She was only 48]
Sun-kyun Lee (Actor, Parasite) [He was only 48]
Eugene Lee (Award-Winning Production Designer, Saturday Night Live)
Michael Lerner (Actor, Barton Fink)
Gina Lollobrigida (Actress and Italian Bombshell) [She was 95]
Erik Lomis (Veteran MGM Film Distribution Executive)
Cody Longo (Actor, Days of Our Lives) [He was only 34]
Lisa Loring (Former Child Actress, The Addams Family)
Laura Lynch (Founding member of the Dixie Chicks) [She was 65]
Lisa Lyon (Bodybuilding Pioneer and inspiration for Marvel’s Elektra)

Shane MacGowan (Singer-Songwriter and Frontman, The Pogues) [He was 65]
George Maharis (Actor, Route 66 and Fantasy Island)
Mark Margolis (Veteran Actor, Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad) [He was 83]
Eddie Marks (Emmy-Winning President of Western Costume company)
Ben Masters (Actor, Passions)
Thomas Kenneth Mattingly II (Astronaut, Help Apollo 13 crew return safely to Earth) [He was 87]
Burny Mattinson (Walt Disney Animation Studios Animator, Director, Producer and Story Artist)
James McCaffrey (Actor, Max Payne) [He was only 65]
David McCallum (Legendary Actor, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and NCIS) [He was 90]
Cormac McCarthy (Author, “No Country for Old Men”)
Tim McCarver (Award-Winning Broadcaster and Former World Series Champion)
Pat McCormick (4-Time Olympic Diving Champion) [He was 92]
Michael McGrath (Tony-Winning Actor, ‘Nice Work If You Can Get It) [He was only 65]
Randy Meisner (Eagles Co-Founder and Singer)
Joanna Merlin (Broadway Actress, Fiddler on the Roof then Renowned Casting Director) [She was 92]
Billy Miller (Actor, General Hospital and The Young & The Restless) [He was only 43]
Mildred Miller (Mezzo-Soprano at the Metropolitan Opera) [She was 98]
Walter Mirisch (Former President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)
Richard Moll (Veteran Actor, Night Court) [He was 80]
Gordon E. Moore (Co-Founder, Intel, the California chip maker) [He was 94]
Max Morath (Pianist) [He was 96]
Ted Morgan [formerly Sanche de Gramont, the son of a French count] (Journalist and Author) [He was 91]
Jerry Moss (Co-Founder of A&M Records) [He was 88]

Barry Newman (Broadway and Film Actor, Vanishing Point) [He was 92]

Sinead O’Connor (Irish Singer, Musician and Grammy Winner) [She was only 56]
Paul O’Grady (Popular British Presenter of The Paul O’Grady Show and Blind Date)
Ryan O’Neal (Oscar Nominated Actor, Peyton Place, Love Story, Paper Moon) [He was 82]
Gail O’Neill (Former Fashion Model and The Early Show Correspondent)
Horace Ove (Pioneering Black British Filmmaker)

Jansen Panettiere (Child Actor and Brother of Actress Hayden Panettiere)
Hersha Parady (Actress, Little House on the Prairie)
Lara Parker (Actress, Dark Shadows) [She was 84]
Michael Parkinston (Legendary U.K. Talk Show Host) [He was 88]
Tatjana Patitz (Supermodel of the 1980’s and 1990’s) [She was only 56]
Anne Perry (Best-selling Crime Writer)
Matthew Perry (Actor, Friends) [He was only 54]
Gordon Pinsent (Canadian Actor, Due South and Away From Her) [He was 92]
Lisa Marie Presley (Singer and Daughter of Elvis Presley) [She was only 54]
Edward Pressman (Independent Producer, Wall Street, Conan the Barbarian and Badlands)

Phil Quartararo (Former Head of Warner Bros. and Virgin Records)

Paco Rabanne (Iconic Fashion Designer and Perfume Maker)
Taraja Ramsess (Stunt Performer and Set Dresser, Fast & Furious, Avengers and Black Panther) [He was only 41]
Betsy Rawls (Golf Champion and Golf Executive) [She was 95]
John Refoua (Film Editor, Avatar franchise) [He was only 58]
Keith Reid (Lyricist for British group Procol Harum and Co-Writer of 1960’s hit “A Whiter Shade of Pale”)
Paul Reubens, aka Pee-wee Herman (Actor)
Adam Rich (Actor, Eight Is Enough) [He was only 54]
Bill Richardson (Former Governor of New Mexico and Champion of Americans Held Overseas)
Lance Riddick (Actor, The Wire and John Wick franchise)
Bobby Rivers (TV Personality and Movie Critic)
Dave Robb (Veteran Hollywood Labor Reporter and Variety Alum)
Pat Robertson (Controversial Televangelist and Longtime 700 Club Host) [He was 93]
Robbie Robertson (Guitarist-Songwriter-Singer-Leader of the Canadian-American rock group The Band) [He was 80]
Rodriguez (Singer-Songwriter and Subject of 2012 Documentary Searching For Sugar Man) [He was 81]
Haim Roet (Holocaust Survivor, who read out the names of people murdered by the Nazis, starting the practice that has become a part of memorial ceremonies around the world) [He was 90]
Stan Rogow (Veteran Producer and Writer, Fame and Lizzie McGuire)
Owen Roizman (Oscar-Nominated Cinematographer, The Exorcist and The French Connection)
John Romita, Sr. (Marvel Comics Icon and Co-Creator of Wolverine) [He was 93]
Cari Ross (Communications Chief at Gersh) [She was only 59]
Gary Rossington (Last Surviving Original Member of Lynyrd Skynyrd)
Windham Rotuna aka Bray Wyatt (WWE Wrestler) [He was only 36]
Richard Roundtree (Veteran Actor, Shaft and Roots) [He was 81]
Andy Rourke (Bassist, The Smiths) [He was only 59]

Ryuichi Sakamoto (Oscar-Winning Composer, Last Emperor)
Julian Sands (Actor, A Room With a View)
Carlos Saura (Spanish Auteur) [He was 91]
Hedda Kleinfeld Schachter (Built Bridal superstore Kleinfeld’s) [She was 99]
Lynn Seymour (International Star and British Ballet Dancer)
Ruth Seymour (Former KCRW General Manager, Public Radio Pioneer, Integral Part of NPR)
Mark Sheehan (Lead Guitarist, Irish rock band The Script) [He was only 46]
Suzanne Shepherd (Actress, The Sopranos and Goodfellas) [She was 89]
Wayne Shorter (Jazz Titan and Saxophonist)
Elliot Silverstein (Director, Cat Ballou) [He was 96]
Sylvia Sims (British Films Actress, Ice Cold in Alex and Victim)
Tom Sizemore (Actor, Saving Private Ryan)
Shelley Smith (Model and Actress, The Associates and For Love and Honor)
Tom Smothers (Part of Smothers Brothers Comedy Duo) [He was 86]
Suzanne Somers (Actress, Three’s Company and Step By Step)
Jack Sonni (Guitarist, Dire Straits) [He was only 68]
Arleen Sorkin (Actress, Day of Our Lives and Original Voice of Harley Quinn) [She was only 67]
Seymour Stein (Legendary Music Executive at Sire Records; He Signed Madonna, The Ramones and Talking Heads)
Norman Steinberg (Screenwriter, Blazing Saddles and My Favorite Year)
Frances Sternhagen (Veteran Actress, Cheers and ER) [She was 93]
Stella Stevens (Actress, Girls! Girls! Girls! with Elvis Presley, The Nutty Professor and The Poseidon Adventure)
Ray Stevenson (Actor, Divergent and Thor franchises) [He was only 58]
Pedro Suárez-Vértiz (Peruvian Rock Icon) [He was only 54]
Robert Swan (Actor, The Untouchables and Hoosiers)
Inga Swenson (Actress, Benson) [She was 90]

Yukihiro Takahashi (Electronic-Music Pioneer)
The Iron Sheik (aka Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri) (Greco-Roman Wrestler and WWE Legend)
D.M. Thomas (English Novelist, “The White Hotel”)
Chaim Topol (Film and Stage Actor, Fiddler on the Roof)
Camden Toy (Actor, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel) [He was only 68]
Dorothy Tristan (Actress, Klute and End Of The Road)
Robert Trotman (Trainer, Competitive Swimming)
Shawna Trpcic (Emmy-nominated Costume Designer, The Mandalorian and Ahsoka) [She was only 56]
Lawrence Turman (Oscar-Nomination Producer, The Graduate) [He was 96]
Tina Turner (Legendary Singer, the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” and Actress)

Robin Wagner (Broadway Set Designer, Hair, A Chorus Line and Angels in America)
John Warnock (Co-Founded Adobe Systems, best known for inventing PDF) [He was 82]
Andre Watts (Groundbreaking Classical Music Pianist)
Nicholas Lloyd Webber (Composer and Son of Andrew Lloyd Webber) [He was only 43]
Cynthia Weil (Songwriter, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” “Make Your Own Kind of Music” and “On Broadway”)
Raquel Welch (Legendary Actress and International Sex Symbol) [She was 82]
Ans Westra (Famed Photographer)
Paxton Whitehead (Stage Veteran and Sitcom Character Actor, Camelot, Friends and Mad About You)
Tom Wilkinson (British Actor, The Full Monty and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel)
Cindy Williams (Legendary Actress, Laverne & Shirley)
Mars Williams (Saxophonist, Psychedelic Furs and the Waitresses) [He was only 68]
Treat Williams (Legendary Film and TV Actor, box office movie Hair and TV series Everwood and Chesapeake Shores)
George Winston (Titan of soothing Piano Instrumental Music)
Myrtle Witbooi (Domestic Servant in South Africa turned International Activist)
Oliver Wood (English Cinematographer, original Bourne trilogy and Die Hard 2)
Gary Wright (Singer, “Dream Weaver”)
John Wright (Oscar-nominated Film Editor, The Hunt for Red October and Speed)

Mike Yarwood (Comedian and Impersonator) [He was 82]
Burt Young (Actor, Rocky Franchise) [He was 83]

Benjamin Zephaniah (Acclaimed Poet and Actor, Peaky Blinders) [He was only 65]
Zeus (the Texas Great Dane who held the Guiness World Records title of World’s Tallest Living Male Dog, standing at 3 feet and 5.18 inches) [He was only 3 years old]

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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2023 Year-End Round-Up: And the Award Goes To

Posted in Awards, Music, Television, Year End Round Up on December 26, 2023| 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 – despite the pandemic – is just some of the top winners over the course of this year:

GOLDEN GLOBES (January)

Best Picture, Drama: The Fabelmans
Best Picture, Musical or Comedy: The Banshees of Inisherin
Best Director, Motion Picture: Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans
Best Actor, Motion Picture, Drama: Austin Butler, Elvis
Best Actress, Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy: Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Best Supporting Actor, Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy: Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Best Supporting Actress, Motion Picture, Drama: Angela Bassett,Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Best Television Series, Drama: House of the Dragon
Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy: Abbott Elementary
Best Actor TV Drama: Kevin Costner, Yellowstone
Best Supporting Actress, Television Drama: Julia Garner, Ozark
Best Limited TV Series: The White Lotus

CRITIC’S CHOICE (January)

Best TV Drama: Better Call Saul
Best Actress, TV Drama: Zendaya, Euphoria
Best Supporting Actor, TV Drama: Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul
Best Actress, TV Comedy: Jean Smart, Hacks
Best Supporting Actor, TV Comedy: Henry Winkler, Barry
Best Supporting Actress, TV Comedy: Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary
Best Limited TV Series: The Dropout
Best Foreign Language Series: Pachinko

GRAMMY AWARDS (February)

Record of the Year: About Damn Time by Lizzo
Album Of the Year: Harry’s House by Harry Styles
Song of the Year: Just Like That by Bonnie Raitt
Best New Artist: Samara Joy
Best Pop Solo Performance: Easy On Me, Adele
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Higher, Michael Bublé
Best Alternative Music Album: Wet Leg
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media: Encanto
Best Music Video: All Too Well: The Short Film, Taylor Swift
Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording: Finding Me, Viola Davis

NOTE: This makes Viola Davis the latest EGOT (winner of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) alum.

NAACP AWARDS (February)

Entertainer of the Year: Angela Bassett
Outstanding Motion Picture: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: Will Smith, Emancipation
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: Viola Davis, The Woman King
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture: Jalyn Hall, Till
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: Angela Bassett, 9-1-1
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special: Morris Chestnut, The Best Man: The Final Chapters

PRODUCERS GUILD (February)

Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures: Everything Everywhere All at Once
Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures: Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: The White Lotus
Outstanding Producer of Televised or Streamed Motion Pictures: Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television: Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy
The Award for Outstanding Short-Form Program: Only Murders in the Building: One Killer Question

SAG AWARDS (February)

TV, Drama Ensemble: The White Lotus
Actress, TV Drama: Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus
Female Actor, TV Movie or Mini Series – Jessica Chastain, George & Tammy
Male Actor, TV Movie or Mini Series – Sam Elliott, 1883
Male Actor, Leading Role: Brendan Fraser, The Whale
Stunt Ensemble: Top Gun: Maverick

WRITERS GUILD (March)

Original Screenplay: Everything Everywhere All at Once
Adapted Screenplay: Women Talking
Drama Series: Severance
Daytime Drama: Days of Our Lives

SPIRIT AWARDS (March)

Best Lead Performance, New Scripted Series: Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Best Breakthrough Performance: Stephanie Hsu, Everything Everywhere All at Once

RAZZIE AWARDS (March)

Worst Picture: Blonde
Worst Actor: Jared Leto, Morbius
Worst Supporting Actor, Tom Hanks, Elvis
Worst Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel: Disney’s Pinocchio

OSCARS (March)

Best Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
Best Lead Actress: Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Best Lead Actor: Brendan Fraser, The Whale
Best Sound: Top Gun: Maverick
Best Adapted Screenplay: Women Talking, Sarah Polley
Best Costume Design: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ruth E. Carter
Best Supporting Actress: Jamie Lee Curtis, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Best Supporting Actor: Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once

MTV MUSIC & TV AWARDS (May)

Best Movie: Scream VI
Best Show: The Last of Us
Best Performance in a Movie: Tom Cruise, Top Gun: Maverick
Best Performance in a Show: Jenna Ortega, Wednesday
Best Hero: Pedro Pascal, The Last Of Us
Best Villain: Elizabeth Olsen, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Best Breakthrough Performance: Joseph Quinn, Stranger Thing

TONY AWARDS (June)

Best Play: Leopoldstadt
Best Musical: Kimberly Akimbo
Best Revival of a Musical: Parade
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play: Sean Hayes, Good Night, Oscar
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play: Jodie Comer, Prima Facie
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical: Alex Newell, Shucked

NOTE: This is the first time a nonbinary has won a Tony Award

BET AWARDS (June)

Best Actor: Damson Idris
Best Actress: Angela Bassett
Young Stars Award: Marsai Martin
Best Movie: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Best New Artist: Coco Jones

TELEVISION CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARDS (August)

Individual Achievement in Drama: Rhea Seehorn, Better Call Saul
Individual Achievement in Comedy: Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face
Outstanding Achievement in Family Programming: Ms. Marvel on Disney+
Outstanding Achievement in Drama: Succession

MTV VMA’S (September)

Video of the Year: Taylor Swift, Anti-Hero
Best New Artist: Ice Spice, 10K Projects
Group of the Year: Blackpink
Best Rock Video: Måneskin, The Loneliest
Video for Good: Dove Cameron, Breakfast
Show of the Summer: Taylor Swift

COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS (November)

Entertainer of the Year: Lainey Wilson
Single of the Year: Fast Car, Luke Combs
Male Vocalist of the Year: Chris Stapleton
New Artist of the Year: Jelly Roll

NEW YORK FILM CRITICS AWARDS (November)

Best Director: Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
Best Actress: Lily Gladstone, Killer of the Flower Moon
Best Supporting Actor: Charles Melton, May December
Best Support Actress: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers
Best International Film: Anatomy of a Fall

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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2023 Year-End Round-Up: Box Office Movies

Posted in Movies, Year End Round Up on December 25, 2023| Leave a Comment »

It was an interesting year at the movieplex this year with a very wide array of movies available, especially the juggernaut movies Barbie and Oppenheimer that caused quite the sensation this summer.

The Little Mermaid was finally released, bringing with it a great and different version of Ariel (that caused, in my opinion, unnecessary criticism from certain factions within the world). The faith-based movie Sound of Freedom made a lot of headway in terms of hitting the top 10, but also caused controversy for misleading and sensationalized depictions as well as sexual misconduct allegations.

Both Beyonce and Taylor Swift had concert films released during the latter part of the year with the Taylor Swift hitting the top 15. And, while it’s been 8 years since the last The Hunger Games movie in the franchise was released, the prequel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes really packed a punch at the box office.

Also, one of the best moments in film was the revelation monologue in Barbie given by America Ferrera’s character Gloria, as you can see below:

Due to my work schedule, I didn’t get to see as many movies this year as I would have liked, but I truly enjoyed Barbie, The Marvels, Fast X, Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One and the special release of Waitress The Musical, but I have to admit I was disappointed by Shazam! Gods of Fury.

Now let’s take a look at the top 30 box office winners from this year (up through Saturday, December 16 that is):

1. Barbie – 636 million
2. The Super Mario Bros. Movie – 575 million
3. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – 381 million
4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – 359 million
5. Oppenheimer – 326 million
6. The Little Mermaid – 298 million
7. Avatar: The Way of Water – 283 million
8. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania – 215 million
9. John Wick: Chapter 4 – 187 million
10. Sound of Freedom – 184 million
11. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour – 179 million
12. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny – 175 million
13. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One – 172 million
14. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts – 157 million
15. Creed III – 156 million
16. Elemental – 154 million
17. Fast X – 146 million
18. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes – 139 million
19. Five Nights at Freddy’s – 137 million
20. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – 130 million
21. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem – 119 million
22. Scream VI – 108 million
23. The Flash – 108 million
24. M3GAN – 95 million
25. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves – 93 million
26. The Equalizer 3 – 92 million
27. The Nun II – 86 million
28. Trolls Band Together – 84 million
29. The Marvels – 83 million
30. Meg 2: The Trench – 82 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. While several of the below were in the top 30 for ticket sales, they still weren’t very good (at least to me).

They appear in alphabetical order below:

Asteroid City
Cocaine Bear
Dream Scenario
Evil Dead Rise
Exorcist: Believer
Five Nights at Freddy’s
Insidious: The Red Door
Knock at the Cabin
Meg 2: The Trench
M3GAN
No Hard Feelings
Poor Things
Renfield
Saltburn
Saw X
Shotgun Wedding (from Amazon Prime)
Sympathy for the Devil
Thanksgiving
The Boogeyman
The Flash
The Last Voyage of Demeter
The Nun II
The Retirement Plan
Vacation Friends 2

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

TOMORROW: Awards of 2023

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

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2023 Year-End Round-Up: The Tops in Music

Posted in Music, Year End Round Up on December 24, 2023| Leave a Comment »

As I’ve shared for many years now, music has always been an important part of my life. It all started when I was a little girl, listening to music while sitting in the middle of my big brothers’ shared bedroom on the 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 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 2023:

Top Single of the Year and Most Moving Song of the Year: “What Was I Made For?” – by Billie Eilish from Barbie movie

Say what you will about both Billie Eilish and the mega hit movie Barbie (not everybody likes the singer and not everybody liked the movie), but both were a hit this summer and the single continues to receive heavy airplay on the radio.

Here is the official lyric video for “What Was I Made For?”:

Duet of the Year and Top New Country Artist: “Save Me” by Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson and Jelly Roll

Jelly Roll (aka Jason Bradley DeFord) is a singer, songwriter and rapper who transitioned to country music a few years ago, taking that genre by storm, winning New Artist of the Year this year at the Country Music Association Awards. His single “Save Me” with hit country artist Lainey Wilson was a chart topper.

Here is the duo performing the song live at the 58th ACM Awards:

Most Soulful Artist: “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims

Teddy Swims (aka Jaten Colin Dimsdale) got his start on his YouTube channel and then his debut album came out in January 2020. This soulful single hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart in June and quickly rose up the charts. Listen for yourself and tell me that this isn’t a soulful tune.

Here is the official video for “Lose Control”:

She Made History Again: Tracy Chapman

The blues rocker saw her 1988 folk hit single “Fast Car” become a hit once again after country singer Luke Combs released his version of the single, which hit number one on country airplay charts and won Song of the Year at the Country Music Awards, making Chapman the first BLack songwriter to ever win that award.

Here is Luke Combs performing the song live in concert:

And, you can watch the original music video to the single by Tracy Chapman here:

Making History, Part Two: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee

This festive song was recorded back in 1958 when Brenda Lee was all of 14 years old. The now 79 year old has become the oldest artist ever to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart with this single this year, breaking several other chart records, including out-performing chart-topper “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey.

Get your holiday cheer on with Brenda Lee in this new music video of that hit single here:

Having a Big Year, Yet Again: Taylor Swift

I included Swift in my music list last year, and she is right back on the list again this year because this time around she has sold nearly one out of every 15 vinyl albums in the United States this year. Her catalog of albums have sold 2.484 million copies in 2023. She is setting some other high benchmarks with the release of “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” not only debuted at No. 1 with the biggest numbers of the year, it’s one of four albums she now has in the top 10 album charts. This is the first time a woman has done that in the entire 6-decade history of there being an album chart at Billboard. And let’s not forget about her Eras Tour that had packed audiences every night and culminated in a live concert movie that hit records in and of its own.

Stealing A Little of Taylor Swift’s Thunder: Beyoncé

The pop hip-hop artist not only accepted her record-shattering 32nd Grammy trophy this year, but this win made her the most awarded musician in Grammy’s 64-year history. Then there was her Renaissance World Tour that became a cultural movement with people all over the globe not only attending the concerts and dressed en masse in silver and rhinestones. In fact, she will have generated an estimated 4.5 billion for the American economy – about as much as what the 2008 Olympis did for Beijing.

She’s Finally Grown Up and I Can Tolerate Her Music Now: Miley Cyrus

Miley has had quite the career starting out as a Disney teen idol through the TV series Hannah Montana before moving into more “mature” territory via suggestive lyrics and dance moves that rattled a lot of cages and upset the adults in her sphere. This year, though, she released the album entitled Endless Summer Vacation, which includes the hit singles “Flowers” and “Used To Be Young” that finally – in my opinion, of course – make her someone I can now tolerate to listen to on the radio.

Here is the official video for “Flowers”:

Here is the official video for “Used To Be Young”:

Top Reality Artist [TIE]: Putri Ariani and Gabriel Henrique both on America’s Got Talent

These two talented singers both earned a golden buzzer on the long-running reality series and wowed not only the judges and the in-theatre audience but the countless TV viewers with their incredible voices. Judge for yourself in the videos below:

Putri, the blind 17-year-old piano player and singer from Indonesia sang an original song that she wrote as well as Sorry Is the Hardest Word:

Gabriel is a 27-year-old Brazilian who speaks very little English but can sing like the love child of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. Check out his incredible vocal range below:

Oh, No You Didn’t: “Try That In a Small Town” by Jason Aldean

The country artist caused a major controversy this year with this single, getting vilified by liberals and Dems alike, and of course, getting a lot of support from Southern Republicians. The single also suffered a significant drop from the charts, in fact it was one of the steepest drops from the top spot in the history of the charts. Watch the video below and judge for yourself.

Here is the official video for “Try That In a Small Town”:

Group of the Year: Boygenius

This indie group includes singer-songwriters Julie Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus, who debuted their first EP in 2018 and then returned this year with their debut studio album that has become a critical and commercial success, and their six Grammy nominations prove they deserve this accolade.

Check out the video to their single “True Blue”:

Top Female Artist of the Year: SZA

While her self-released debut EP came out back in 2012, SZA (born Solána Imani Rowe) has been working hard within the music industry, and made it to the number 2 spot on the Hitmakers chart just eking past Taylor Swift for the title. I’d say that’s quite the feat, wouldn’t you.

Here is the video for her hit single “Kill Bill”:

Top Male Artist of the Year: Morgan Wallen

The former disgraced country singer, who was caught on camera using a racial slur just two and half years ago, then his supporters sent sales of his music skyrocketing so much so that he had six singles on the Hitmakers Chart.

Here is the video for his single “Last Night,” which topped the charts:

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 2023 below.

TOMORROW: Box Office Results

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2023 Year-End Round-Up: TV Hightlights

Posted in Movies, Music, Television, Year End Round Up on December 23, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Our TV viewing was greatly hampered by the writers and actors strikes which curtailed everything for half of this year. The fall TV season will start in earnest starting in January, by the way.

But despite that TV fans have been able to enjoy their favorite shows, good, bad or otherwise. There were 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 2023 (listed in no particular order):

Top Actress (TIE): Devery Jacobs in Reservation Dogs (FX on Hulu) and Laura Birn in Foundation (Apple TV+)

Devery has earned rave reviews for playing Elora Danan Postoak, one of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma in a small town in the Muscogee Nation dealing with the death of a friend and dreaming of moving to California.

Laura Birn plays the enigmatic robot Demerzel, a loyal aide to the Emperor of the Galaxy, who seems almost human, but clearly isn’t. She has had an intricate, and sometimes sordid, relationship with the multiple centuries-long versions of the Emperor.

Fresh New Face – Sadie Laflamme-Snow in The Way Home (Hallmark Channel)

This relative newcomer plays Alice Dhawan, the third generation of the Landry women, who discovers time travel thanks to a small pond on the vast property owned by her grandmother Del.

Impressive Cast of a Cancelled Show – Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies (Paramount+)

The four lead girls in this short-lived musical rom-com drama – Marisa Davila, Cheyenne Isabel Wells, Ari Notartomaso and Tricia Fukuhara – were really quite impressive not only with the moving musical numbers but also the complicated, yet timely, relationships with their families, lovers, and classmates.

Best Performances [TIE] – Arsema Thomas in Queen Charlotte (Netflix) and Freya Allan in The Witcher (Netflix)

Taking on the younger version of Lady Danbury was no easy feat, but Arsema played the role effortlessly, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at what the fair Lady had to endure in her marriage to a much older man, and the path that she took to get where she was in Bridgerton.

Playing Princess Cintra, aka Ciri, opposite Henry Cavill and Anya Chalotra cannot be an easy thing, but Freya really excelled in the episode that found Ciri transported into unfamiliar territory where she was threatened in tangible and hallucinatory ways until she stepped into her power. It was a tour de force performance by the young actress.

Best Young Actress – Jordyn McIntosh in Unprisoned (Hulu)

Jordyn plays the imaginary, younger version of Paige Alexander (portrayed by Kerry Washington) in this almost odd-couple-like streaming series. This youngster is a perfect “mini Paige” not only mirroring her attire but also her mannerism. Well done!

Honorable Mention (Young Actress) – Skywalker Hughes played Sheridan, the eldest daughter in the recently cancelled Spectrum-turned-Paramount+ drama Joe Pickett; and while the show’s first season aired in 2021, I didn’t see that season until this fall, and I have to say I was blown away by this young girl’s performance throughout the show’s debut season especially the nail biting season finale.

Surprise TV Performance in the Streaming Ratings – Suits (Netflix)

This former USA Network series debuted back in the summer of 2011, running for 8 seasons as part of the “Blue Sky” programming for which that cabler became synonymous, and also brought Meghan Markle to the attention of avid TV viewers well before she ever met (and later married) a certain royal. This year Suits crossed 3 billion minutes watched for seven weeks in a row on Netflix, the first title to ever do so on the Nielsen Streaming Top 10. But I have to ask, where were all those viewers when the show was actually airing from 2011 to 2019?

Stand Out Performance – Betty Gilpin in Mrs. Davis (Peacock)

While this series may have been heavy on the absurdity, Betty’s performance of Sister Simone was glorious as each twist and turn of the, at times, hard to follow story was nothing short of divine. Despite the far-fetched storyline – a nun battling against an unseen AI, which sent her on a quest to destroy the Holy Grail – the viewer couldn’t help but root for Simone’s journey to be fruitful.

Best Companion – Betty the dog in Will Trent (ABC)

This adorable little Chihuahua is unlike other puppy companions in police dramas, flipping the typical trope over. Betty is not a trained K-9 but rather a loyal companion, who was found by Will Trent tied up alone in his neighborhood. He was reluctant, at first, to take her in, but she has proven to not be a mighty little soul but also a wonderful little partner to the detective.

Emotional End to a Series – A Million Little Things (ABC)

After five seasons on the air and culminating in 87 episodes, this series came to an end in May with a moving, albeit heartbreaking, video being watched by a now 16-year-old Javier Mendez, interspersed with scenes of Maggie visiting Gary’s gravesite and the whole family gathered together to celebrate the young man’s birthday, finishing with the next generation of the four families together for a hockey game.

Here is the video of the final scene of A Million Little Things:

Handsome Newcomer – Brendan Sklenar in 1923 (Paramount+)

Brendan has been acting for a decade, but it was his role of Spencer Dutton, the nephew of Jacob Dutton and ancestor to modern-day John Dutton in Yellowstone that had heads turning from the pilot episode where he faced down not only a giant lion and a massive leopard to his love affair with Alexandra, a well-to-do British woman and that oh so sexy beachside honeymoon with her that had viewers swooning.

Most Talked About TV Death – Logan Roy in Succession (HBO)

While I personally never watched the critically acclaimed and highly awarded drama starring Brian Cox, the death of the character he portrayed for four seasons seemed to truly reverberate with viewers; and how he died (SPOILER ALERT!) – dropping dead on his private plane – seemed almost an unjust, yet fitting, end to a complex and cold-hearted man.

Best TV Season Yet – Season 3 of Sweet Magnolias (Netflix)

For viewers who have been watching the series since its beginning near the onset of the COVID pandemic (May of 2020 to be exact), this series about 3 best friends in the heart of the South has touched their hearts. The show’s third season may have been lauded by some as its best season yet (I am in that corner) while others have not been as colorful in their prose about the show, I think if you love stories about flawed yet strong women who support, cajole and even criticize each other but are always there for one another, then you’ll want to watch this show.

Best Performance in a Critically Panned Series – Kingsley Ben-Adir in Secret Invasion (Disney+)

This series within the Marvel Cinematic Universe received very mixed reviews, especially the final battle scene between G’iah (Emilia Clarke) and Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir), which left a pretty bad taste in the mouths of fans of the long-running franchise. That being said, though, Ben-Adir was the epitome of a bad guy with his vehement hatred of not only the human race but also specifically Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). He ruled every scene he was in and really stole the show.

Moving Moments [Three Way TIE] – Alexandra Breckenridge in Virgin River (Netflix) and Allison Miller in A Million Little Things (ABC) and Elizabeth Tulloch in Superman & Lois (The CW)

Alexandra Breckenridge was fantastic in season 5 of the popular Netflix series Virgin River, especially giving the nearly breaking point she reached when her character Mel Monrole suffered a miscarriage halfway through the season. Watching the devastation – once again – that Mel had to deal with all while the town of Virgin River was in danger was palpable. It was three episodes of heartbreaking scenes: Mel performing the ultrasound on herself, collapsing into Jack’s arms as she broke the news to him and then coming face to face with the reality of what happened. It was a bravura performance, to say the least.

The final season of A Million Little Things was a tearjerker to say the least, but one of the breakout moments was watching Allison Miller as Maggie Bloom Mendez deal with the impending death of her husband Gary, whose battle with cancer was coming to an end. Her pain and grief was clear as her whole body showed how raw she was. It was devastating to watch, but an amazing piece of work by a talented actress.

For a superhero series to focus on a real-life issue is quite something different, but Superman & Lois focused on a cancer diagnosis for Lois Lane deftly. Elizabeth Tulloch gave a haunting performance with vacant stares, nailing her struggle of trying to act as if nothing had changed in her life despite her world being shattered.

Top Actor – Zahn McClarnon in Dark Winds (AMC)

Zahn has been acting for over 35 years, playing quite a number of “heavys” in his time, but it has been his turn as Sheriff Joe Leaphorn in the acclaimed AMC drama that has finally garnered him some much needed, albeit long-overdue, attention. In the second season of the series, he was given the opportunity to cover so many emotions in gut-wrenching fashion that according to critics it was “a sight to behold.”

Best Guest Actor – Mark Lewis Jones in Outlander (Starz)

As much as fans of the long-running series reviled Tom Christie for his unpleasantness, his religious rigidity and his, at times, barely contained resentment of Jamie Fraser, Mark Lewis Jones portrayed Tom in refreshingly honest way when the man revealed his love for Claire, Jamie’s wife, and admitted (albeit falsely) that he was the person who killed Malva, his daughter, not Claire, who was being blamed for the wayward girl’s death. It was quite a sight to be seen.

Best New Character – Ramon Rodriguez in Will Trent (ABC)

Being the lead in a brand new TV drama can be hard work, but Ramon Rodriguez in the title role of Will Trent made it look easy. His character has a lot of quirks combined with a very heartbreaking backstory, but those quirks actually help in his work with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. He was especially impressive when he learned out the truth about his birth mother and how his boss Amanda Wagner became a surrogate mom to him.

Best Speech – Tommy Vega on 9-1-1: Lone Star (FOX)

Gina Torres has played Tommy Vega in the spin-off series since its second season, and this season Tommy dipped her toe into the dating scene for the first time after losing her beloved husband. She ended up dating the new minister (who she helped save from a torrent of falling frogs in the season opener), but when the church gossips got to be a bit too much, Tommy gave her own, powerful sermon, striking those women quite a deserved blow.

Honorable Mentions – Whitney Cummings and Stephanie Nogueras in Accused (FOX)

Whitney and Stephanie appeared in separate installments of this new anthology series and both received kudos for their performances.

Whitney played Brenda, a stand-up comedian until she was raped by a successful peer (and former “hook-up”), who took advantage of that “connection” to brutalize her. Her portrayal of Brenda was nothing short of heartbreaking, as she was let down by her pseudo boss at the comedy club, a reluctant DA and, especially, a new acquaintance.

Stephanie played Ava, a Deaf surrogate who decided to kidnap the baby she gave birth to for another couple because she suspected the couple would not let their Deaf child grow up in a signing environment. It was an ill-advised move, but one that brought to the forefront the Deaf community, and showcased her talent as she showed such passion in her signing when on the witness stand.

Worst Show – The Idol (HBO)

The creator of this show has been created with saying that this new series “would be the biggest show of the summer,” but sadly it was easily not that at all; in fact, according to some critics the show was torturous, nasty, brutish and much longer than it needed to be, making it “worthy” of the worst show of the year.

Best Couple – Chenford, Lucy Chen and Tim Bradford in The Rookie (ABC)

It took quite a while for Chenford (actors Melissa O’Neil and Eric Winter) to go on their first date – season 5, episode 10 to be exact – but it was worth the wait even though the sit-down dinner was awkwardly interrupted by their work, their do-over date was so much better, and just reconfirmed they are so right for each other.

Best Musical Performance – Sam Claflin and Riley Keough in Daisy Jones & the Six (Prime Video)

Watching Daisy Jones (Keough) and Billy Dunne (Claflin) perform as the lead singers of the fictionalized title band in this limited series was quite captivating because they made it look so effortless, but the devastating behind the scenes interactions of these two were just as thrilling to watch.

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: Music Moments

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2023 Year-End Round-Up: Observations of the Year

Posted in Messages, News, Year End Round Up on December 22, 2023| Leave a Comment »

While the global crisis of the pandemic has lessened, and good deeds have been done throughout the year, bad and shocking events seemed to be overwhelming over the last 12 months whether it was school shootings, racial tensions, horrific weather or one indictment after the other against a certain former “politician,” 2023 has been one hell of a year. But with the bad comes the good, and I know many of us try, as best we can, to focus on the good.

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

January

Kevin McCarthy voted as Speaker of the House after several failed attempts
A 6-year-old shot his elementary school teacher in Virginia
Prince Harry’s expose book “Spare” came out
Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes are fired from Good Morning America 3 after illicit romantic affair is revealed
Jeremy Renner severely injured in snowplow accident
Deadly Walmart shooting in Indiana
East Jerusalem synagogue hit by gunman
Gunman attacks Lunar New Year’s Eve Celebration in Monterey Park, California
14 citizens hurt or threatened during January 6 insurrection were honored by President Biden with high public honor

February

7.8 earthquake in Turkey and Syria killed more than 41,000 people
Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 16 years in prison after rape conviction
R. Kelly sentenced to 20 years in federal prison related to child pornography charges
Rupert Murdoch acknowledged Fox News hosts endorsed election fraud falsehoods
The Chinese balloon incident took place
Buffalo grocery store shooting
Black Hawk plane crash in Alabama with no survivors

March

South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh guilty of murdering his wife and son
A Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Donald Trump
School shooting in Nashville
Nationwide protests in France due to retirement age being raised from 62 to 64

April

Donald Trump arrested on 34 felony counts
Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard was arrested because of classified documents being leaked on the internet
The Phantom of the Opera comes to an end on Broadway after 35 years and 13,981 performances
An 85-year-old Missouri man charged in shooting a blak teenager who went to the wrong house
Fox Corporation and Donimion Voting Systems agreed to settle a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit
Don Lemon determined by CNN after 17 years
Tucker Carlson and Fox News parted ways
President Joe Biden announced his re-election bid
The Walt Disney Co. filed a First Amendment lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

May

Aerosmith announces 40-date arean farewell tour
The Writers Guild of America went on strike on May 2
Four Proud Boys convicted of sedition in January 6 case
A jury found Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation of E. Jean Carroll
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle involved in near catastrophic 2-hour car chase with paparazzi
Montana became the first state in the US to ban TikTok
Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers, sentenced to 18 years for seditious conspiracy from January 6 case
Elizabeth Holmes, the disgraced founder of the blood testing start-up Theranos, reports to prison for 11-year sentence
Actor Danny Masterson convicted on two criminal counts in his sexual assault retrial

June

Two passenger trains crashed in Odisha, India
Canadian wildfires caused bad air quality throughout much of the East Coast
Donald Trump is charged in classified documents inquiry
Pat Sajak is leaving the game show Wheel of Fortune after 41 seasons
Donald Trump surrendered himself to the U.S. marshals in Miamia
Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, was charged with two tax misdemeanors and illegally possessing a handgun
Titan submarine suffered catastrophic implosion, all 5 passengers lost

July

The Screen Actors Guild went on strike; first time in 63 years that both the writers and actors were on strike at the same time
Suspect arrested in serial killings of women near Gilgo Beach near Long Island
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared unable to speak halfway through a press conference
Actor Kevin Spacey found not guilty of sexual assault charges in UK trial
July was on track to be the hottest month globally since 1850

August

Donald Trump indicted for a third time by a Washington grand jury for his involvement with the January 6 riots
Massive wildfire in Maui County, Hawaii
Texas governor Greg Abbott was considered to have blood on his hands because of chained buoys placed in the Rio Grande that caused the death of several asylum seekers
Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin confirmed killed in plane crash
Donald Trump surrendered to authorities in Atlanta where he was required to pose for a mugshot after being indicted for a fourth time in five months
8 tornados hit the Midwest and triple digit temperatures in much of that same area
A white gunman who “hated Black people” killed several people, and then himself, in a Dollar General in Jacksonville, Florida
3 US Marines killed in an Osprey crash in Australia
A category 4 Hurricane hit the Gulf Coast
The blue supermoon was seen all around the world
Spain’s top soccer official resigned over unwanted World Cup kiss
The Nebraska women’s volleyball team played in front of 92,003 fans, making a world record in women’s sports
Fire ripped through a building in Johannesburg, causing countless deaths

September

Two more members of the Proud Boys get sentenced in the January 6 sedition case
Thousands of people stranded at the Burning Man festival due to mud from a torrential rain that closed roads
Enrique Tarrio, the ex-leader of the Proud Boys sentenced to 22 years in January 6 sedition case
Two people plowed through the Great Wall of China, leaving a gaping hole
A powerful earthquake struck Morocco, killing more than 600 people
The convicted killer, Danelo Cavalcante, was captured after he escaped prison, which prompted a 500-officer manhunt
The United Auto Workers went on strike
The Writers Guild of America finally reached an agreement with the studios after 148 days on strike
Donald Trump was found to have inflated property values on his holdings by as much as $2.2 billion
Record-breaking astronaut Frank Rubio finally returned to Earth after spending 371 days in space
New Jersey Democratic Senator Robert Menendez was indicted

October

Kevin McCarthy was ousted as Speaker of the House after a Republican rebellion
Gaza and Israel war breaks out with the Hamas launching a surprise assaults on civilians
Sidney Powell, a lawyer for Donald Trump, pleaded guilty in the Georgia Trump election case; also Jenna Ellis, another former Trump lawyer, also pleaded guilty; Ken Chesbro and Mark Meadows also pleaded guilty
A Lewiston, Maine man – Robert Card – killed 22 people in several locations, causing New Hampshire to close state lines in order to catch him
Mike Johnson was voted to Speaker of the House
The United Auto Workers union won their strike against Detroit Big Three automakers

November

New song by The Beatles “Now and Then” was released after an eventful journey that spanned five decades to be created
Lisa Franchetti is the first woman ever to be confirmed by the Senate to lead the United States Navy
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried convicted by a federal jury of fraud and conspiracy
Ohio voted to establish right to abortion
Democrats take control of Virginia Legislature
David DePape, the man who attacked Paul Pelosi, the husband of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, was convicted of his crimes
A brief pause in the war between Israel and Hamas allowed for many hostages to be freed and returned home on both sides

December

U.S. Representative George Santos was expelled from congress
Kevin McCarthy will leave Congress at the end of the year
Three Hamas hostages were shot by accident by the Israel military
Jury orders Rudy Giuliani to pay $148 million to the election workers he defamed in 2020 and then a short time later he declares bankruptcy
Prince Harry’s phone was hacked by U.K. tabloid as rules by judge in a landmark case
COVID-19, Flue and RSV Cases were on the rise
Cardinal Becciu found guilty of embezzlement in Vatican
Volcano erupts in Iceland near a power plant
The Colorado Supreme Court deems Donald Trump ineligible for 2024 ballot (first court to find that the disqualification clause of the 14th amendment applies and affirms that he engaged in insurrection)
Horrific university shooting in Prague

That is quite the list of just some of the top news items throughout the year!

I hope that you will join me through the end of this year, as I focus on the best and the worst of 2023 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: Top TV Moments

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Rueben's Ramblings

A NiceGirls Look at TV, Movies, Music and Books

Archive for the ‘Year End Round Up’ Category

2023 Year-End Round Up: Closing Out the Year

2023 Year-End Round-Up: New Faces for 2024

2023 Year-End Round Up: Faces of 2023

2023 Year-End Round-Up: TV Ratings

2023 Year-End Round Up: Condolences

2023 Year-End Round-Up: And the Award Goes To

2023 Year-End Round-Up: Box Office Movies

2023 Year-End Round-Up: The Tops in Music

2023 Year-End Round-Up: TV Hightlights

2023 Year-End Round-Up: Observations of the Year

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