“Grimm”: “Tarantella” episode airs tonight
Amy Acker as Lena in "Grimm" - NBC Photo
In tonight’s episode of “Grimm,” Amy Acker guest stars as Lena, a Spinnetod, which is billed as the “black widow” of the creature world.
Lena is spinning her web of death on unsuspecting men in Portland and Nick (David Giuntoli) and Hank (Russell Hornsby) are assigned the task of tracking her down.
With Monroe’s (Silas Weir Mitchell) assistance, Nick is introduced to a Spinnetod who has gone the straight and narrow route in life like Monroe, and she is able to give Nick important information about the creature.
“Grimm” fans should enjoy this episode immensely.
Acker, who reunites with her former “Angel” executive producers David Greenwalt and Jim Kouf on this show, is mesmerizing as the tortured Spinnetod with secrets, and the story has all of the right elements to intrigue and thrill viewers.
Giuntoli is reliably good as Nick and the rapport he shares with Mitchell remains such a fun element to the series.
“Grimm” airs at 8 p.m. Fridays on NBC.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
From left, Silas Weir Mitchell and David Giuntoli in "Grimm" - NBC Photo
Miranda Lambert makes her acting debut on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” Wednesday
Miranda Lambert - Provided Photo
Tishomingo resident and country music star Miranda Lambert is making her acting debut on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, on NBC.
Lambert’s guest-starring role is a brief but solid performance on the show, which, according to a news release, is one of her favorite series.
In this episode, an aspiring actress is found unconscious in Central Park with drugs in her system and evidence of sexual trauma after she has auditioned for a reality show producer.
When New York Police Detectives Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Nick Amaro (Danny Pino) arrive to speak to the producer (Michael McKean), they catch him on the casting couch with another actress (Lambert) and prevent him from assaulting her.
After the producer is arrested, the story turns into a situation where his son (Cameron Monaghan) resorts to drastic measures to try and get his father out of jail.
Hargitay’s portrayal of Benson using her extensive skills to handle this crisis is commendable, and the chemistry between her and Harry Connick Jr. as ADA David Haden is appealing as the pair finds they work well together during this event.
Also starring in “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” are Ice-T, Dann Florek, Richard Belzer and Kelli Giddish.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
Mariska Hargitay of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" - NBC Photo
“The River”: Thriller not so thrilling
Bruce Greenwood stars in "The River" - ABC Photo
After Dr. Emmet Cole (Bruce Greenwood), wildlife expert and host of “The Undiscovered Country” television show, goes missing in the Amazon, his family, friends and crew set out on a mission to find him in the new ABC thriller “The River.”
His wife Tess (Leslie Hope) and estranged son Lincoln (Joe Anderson) lead the group into unexplored territory on the Amazon River while the journey is filmed as a documentary by Dr. Cole’s ex-producer Clark (Paul Blackthorne) in order to fund the trip.
The crew includes family friend Lena (Eloise Mumford), mechanic Emilio (Daniel Zacapa), his daughter Jahel (Paulina Gaitan) and bodyguard Captain Kurt Brynildson (Thomas Kretschmann).
“The River” has an impressive pedigree: It’s from Amblin’s Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks Television’s Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey, and showrunner/executive producer Michael Green (“Heroes, “Kings”) and is also executive produced by Oren Peli (creator of “Paranormal Activity”, Zack Estrin (“Prison Break”) – who also serves as showrunner – Jason Blum (“Paranormal Activity 1, 2 and 3″) and Steven Schneider.
“The River” was created by Oren Peli and Michael R. Perry, with a teleplay by Michael Green and Michael R. Perry and story by Oren Peli and Michael R.
Perry.
Unfortunately, the pedigree isn’t enough to help this show rise above being the corny, clichéd, unscary program that it is.
Although the actors seem to be giving it their best shot, scenes in the beginning of the series involving Dr. Cole’s spirit inhabiting one of the crew members, the “disappearance” of Tess and a teddy bear that doesn’t want to stay in the position that it’s been left in are much more humorous than frightening.
If you want to give this show a try, you’ve been forewarned to at least lower your expectations.
“The River” debuts with a two-hour premiere at 8 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 7, on ABC.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
“The Walking Dead” returns with “Nebraska” episode Feb. 12
From left, Andrew Lincoln, Sarah Wayne Callies and Jon Bernthal of "The Walking Dead" - AMC Photo
At the end of the first half of the second season of “The Walking Dead,” Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and his group of survivors had made a discovery at Hershel’s farm that brought about a violent, shocking event – the killing of the walkers who had been secretly kept in the barn, which included Carol’s (Melissa Suzanne McBride) missing daughter Sophia (Madison Lintz).
As the series returns with the “Nebraska” episode Feb. 12, everyone tries to pick up the pieces from this event and decide how to move on, and there is debate about Shane’s (Jon Bernthal) role in the resolution of the situation.
Shane himself remains convinced he’s always doing the right thing to protect his fellow survivors and has a surprising supporter for the way he handled the barn walkers.
Hershel (Scott Wilson) deals with his devastation over the barn walker deaths by disappearing and taking up an old habit, so Rick and Glenn (Steven Yeun) have to go into town to try and find him when his medical expertise is needed at the farm.
Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) later decides to search for the three and an unfortunate incident results .
Lincoln is especially strong in this episode as his character tries to persuade Hershel to come back home, as well as in the way Rick handles a pair of threatening newcomers.
In addition, Bernthal’s portrayal of Shane continues to make his character one of the most compelling to watch on this gripping show.
The second season of “The Walking Dead” resumes at 8 p.m, Sunday,. Feb. 12 on AMC.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
“Smash” lives up to the hype, hopefully ratings will also
From left, Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty of "Smash" - NBC Photo
The first few episodes of NBC’s plentifully promoted new musical drama “Smash” prove that the series is worthy of the hype.
I was immediately drawn into this story of the making of a Broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe due to the super-talented cast, impressive musical numbers and just the right amount of soapy personal drama mixed into the plot.
Based on an idea of executive producer and multiple Academy Award and Emmy winner Steven Spielberg and with a pedigree that also includes a pilot written by playwright/screenwriter Theresa Rebeck (“NYPD Blue”) and original songs from Tony and Grammy winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (“Hairspray”), who also serve as executive producers, “Smash” delivers on every level.
The series begins as songwriting duo Julia Houston (Debra Messing) and Tom Levitt (Christian Borle) become enamored with the premise of creating a musical based on Marilyn’s famed life after Tom’s new assistant mentions how he’s fascinated with the iconic actress.
Although Julia is supposed to be taking time off from work so that she and her husband Frank (Brian d’Arcy James) can devote their attention to adopting a baby, she is able to persuade him that she can handle the demands of both matters.
Then producer Eileen Rand (Anjelica Huston) decides to get behind the musical project in full force, despite being in the middle of a bitter divorce from her wealthy, unfaithful husband.
She brings in Derek Wills (Jack Davenport), who is a brilliant Hollywood director, but one who also has a reputation as a narcissistic womanizer – and he has past issues with Tom.
Of course there has to be someone who can carry the show as Marilyn and there are two aspiring stars who establish themselves as the favorites for the role: Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty), a seasoned veteran of the Broadway chorus, and Karen Cartwright (Katharine McPhee), a waitress trying to get her big break into show business.
McPhee’s performance as the ambitious, naive yet strong Karen is right on target and Hilty’s portrayal of the even more ambitious Ivy, particularly when displaying her diva characteristics as well as her vulnerability, is outstanding.
Davenport plays Wills with the perfect amount of egotism, genius and just a bit of sleaziness, while Huston adds humor in the scenes where she’s bickering with her husband.
I found “Smash” to be highly entertaining and I hope lots of other viewers do, too.
The series, which also includes David Marshall Grant (“Brothers & Sisters), Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (“Chicago”) and Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey (“United States of Tara”) as executive producers, premieres at 9 p.m., Monday, Feb. 6 on NBC.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
Jack Davenport of "Smash" - NBC Photo
“Blue Bloods”: Emotional episode involving 9/11 airs Friday
Tom Selleck as New York City Police Commissioner Frank Reagan in "Blue Bloods" - CBS Photo
“Where were you on 9/11?”
Frank (Tom Selleck) poses this question to Dr. Leon Goodwin (played by Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham) in this weeks’s episode of “Blue Bloods” entitled “The Job” as he seems to be trying to deal with his feelings about being one of the rescue workers on that infamous day in New York City.
Frank has been losing sleep struggling with why he made it through 9/11 physically unscathed while a friend of his that was with him at Ground Zero is very ill, as well as the magnitude of the terrorist attack itself, missing being a police officer, worrying about his family and the daily stress of his current job as police commissioner
Meanwhile, Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) has his hands full with his unsettled wife and one particularly frightened son after he hit a man with his car who was running away from a gunman
His family was in the car with him and they were caught in the crossfire after Danny had gotten out of the vehicle to try to help the victim and fired his weapon at the suspect.
The identity of the man Danny hit with his car is surprising, but it doesn’t hinder Danny’s desire to catch the person responsible for pursuing the accident victim and endangering his family.
Standout scenes in this episode are an especially good heart-to-heart talk between Frank and his father Henry (Len Cariou) and Danny expressing his love for his wife Linda (Amy Carlson) and his sons with a touching gift.
Also of note, “Blue Bloods” is the first scripted drama to shoot at the 9/11 Memorial in New York.
“The Job,” written by Brian Burns and directed by Nick Gomez, is another fine episode for a consistently solid show.
“Blue Bloods” airs at 9 p.m. Fridays on CBS.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
Donnie Wahlberg and Amy Carlson as Danny and Linda Reagan in "Blue Bloods" - CBS Photo
“The Good Wife”: Grand jury showdown exceptional
"The Good Wife" cast: from left, Archie Panjabi as Kalinda Sharma, Matt Czuchry as Cary Agos, Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart, Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick, Josh Charles as Will Gardner, Chris Noth as Peter Florrick and Alan Cumming as Eli Gold - CBS Photo
In this week’s episode of “The Good Wife” entitled “Another Ham Sandwich,” Will (Josh Charles) faces off against Special Prosecutor Wendy Scott-Carr (Anika Noni Rose) in front of a grand jury as she tries to get him indicted for bribery.
Other members of the Lockhart-Gardner law firm are forced to appear before the grand jury, as well as a judge, in this intense episode that also features Eli Gold (Alan Cumming) once again tangling with nemesis Stacie Hall (Amy Sedaris).
As usual, Alicia (Julianna Margulies) is as composed as possible under fire, in this case as she’s grilled by the special prosecutor, who is played with absolute ruthlessness by Rose.
The scenes with Cumming and Sedaris add some levity to the seriousness of the grand jury hearing story line, and the way the indictment situation is handled is pure genius.
“Another Ham Sandwich” was written by Leonard Dick and directed by Frederick E.O. Toye and continues the show’s tradition of overall excellence.
“The Good Wife” airs at 8 p.m. Sundays on CBS.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
“Luck”: Quality of new HBO drama should ensure satisfaction for viewers
From left, Dennis Farina and Dustin Hoffman in "Luck" - HBO Photo
If you’re drawn to character-driven drama, you’re bound to be enamored with the HBO series “Luck,” which focuses on the many personalities involved with horse racing.
“Deadwood” creator David Milch and acclaimed director Michael Mann have collaborated on a series that has as much talent in the cast as it does behind it.
As the series begins, Dustin Hoffman stars as Chester “Ace” Bernstein, who has just been released from federal prison and has bought a horse that his driver and bodyguard, Gus Demitriou (Dennis Farina) fronts as the owner for.
The horse’s proficient but disreputable trainer is Turo Escalante (John Ortiz), whose girlfriend, Jo, (Jill Hennessey) is the track veterinarian.
Nick Nolte plays trainer-turned-owner Walter Smith, who is haunted by a past event, but has a horse with serious potential.
Four degenerate gambling buddies, Marcus (Kevin Dunn), Renzo (Ritchie Coster), Jerry (Jason Gedrick) and Lonnie (Ian Hart) pool together what money they have to bet Jerry’s hunch on the day’s long shot, a high-stakes Pick Six winners contest.
Other key roles include jockey agent Joey Rathburn (Richard Kind); beginner jockey Leon (Tom Payne); exercise girl Rosie (Kerry Condon); and veteran jockey Ronnie Jenkins, played by real-life racing Hall of Famer Gary Stevens.
Guest stars such as Joan Allen, Bruce Davison, Mercedes Ruehl, Patrick J. Adams and Sir Michael Gambon also appear throughout “Luck.”
The first episode, directed by Mann and written by Milch, sets the tone for a show that is deliberately paced (with the exception of the horse races), is beautifully shot, and is absolutely intoxicating in its ability to get viewers caught up in the lives of all of these diverse characters.
Hoffman’s restrained and principled Ace is fascinating to watch, especially as he interacts with Gus.
Nolte’s performance as agonized and honorable horse owner Smith is commendable as well; while Condon’s portrayal of Rosie, who has dreams of becoming a jockey, makes you cheer for her.
In addition, Kind plays stuttering agent Rathburn in a dignified way that invokes sympathy for his down-on-your-luck character.
“Luck,” abounding in rich characters, absorbing acting by the entire cast and a story that involves all walks of life, is a good risk for television viewers to take.
“Luck” premieres at 8 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 29 on HBO.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
Nick Nolte in "Luck" - HBO Photo
James Tupper: Actor hopes to reap sweet “Revenge”
James Tupper - Photo by Jeff Berlin
(This story was published in the Life section of The Oklahoman Jan. 17, 2012.)
Although Canadian actor James Tupper’s role as wronged father David Clarke is only seen in flashbacks, his character is still a pivotal part of the ABC drama “Revenge.”
His daughter, Amanda, seeks vengeance when Clarke dies in prison after being framed for a crime he didn’t commit.
About the show
This is the plot of “Revenge,” which airs at 9 p.m. Wednesdays and stars Emily VanCamp as Amanda Clarke, aka Emily Thorne, a daughter exacting an elaborate plan to avenge her father’s framing for a heinous crime. When Amanda was only 9 years old, her father was arrested after being set up by Clarke’s lover, Victoria Grayson, played by Madeleine Stowe, and her husband, Conrad, played by Henry Czerny.
Tupper’s credits include roles on “Grey’s Anatomy, “Men in Trees” and “Mercy.”
The 46-year-old actor, who has a son Atlas, 2, and stepson Homer, 9, with wife, actress Anne Heche, discussed the show, which also features Tulsa native Amber Valletta, in a recent phone interview.
Q: What’s ahead on “Revenge?”
A: Emily’s past begins to catch up with her and certain people find out secrets, and then I think the whole thing is just teetering. … The whole thing is gonna just come tumbling down, like any time you live in a lie.
Q: The plot of the show is something a lot of people probably relate to even though it’s questionable, of course, whether one should actually attempt to exact revenge.
A: Aren’t we just all dying to get revenge? Everybody wants revenge on somebody. I like to joke around like, yes, we don’t recommend revenge unless there’s no other choice.
Q: What’s it like working on the series?
A: The show feels like a little family. They’ve been really excellent to me and, of course, Madeleine Stowe has been nominated for a Golden Globe award, and she is one of my main scene partners, so I feel like I’m really blessed and lucky, just lucky to be on the show. I feel like I made my comeback as an actor, and it’s as a dead man (laughs).
Q: Is there any chance that David Clarke is actually still alive?
A: Well, the dead don’t tell.
Q: How is working with Madeleine Stowe, who plays the icy Victoria Grayson?
A: Well, it’s funny that you call her icy. I don’t really have that relationship with her. When she was with me, we were in love and a lot of what we’re going for is really hot, passionate, deep, connected love.
(In person) she’s sexy and doughy and sweet. When you look at her, you float in another world kind of. I feel like I’m in a movie. She’s very sweet, obviously, kind.
Q: Amber Valletta, who grew up in Tulsa, is also a cast member on “Revenge,” and although you’re in the flashback scenes, have you gotten to work with her at all?
A: I do. We have readings each week, so we all get together, and it turned out that a very close friend of my wife’s works for her, is a partner with her, and on top of that, every week since I started the show, I’ve bumped into her somewhere.
We were in a dentist’s office, she was there. We were at a clothing store, she was there. And I just bumped into her again at a costume fitting or something, and it was like, what, this is crazy. So, yeah, we’ve established a friendship.
Q: Any other Oklahoma connections?
A: I love Oklahoma. I drove my truck across the country, and I stayed in Tulsa. I’m a country boy. I grew up in a place that was really wild and open, so when I got to Oklahoma, I felt at home there. It was a real place with some great people.
Q: How long did you stay in Tulsa?
A: Just for a few weeks.
Q: And what was the purpose of this trip?
A: I was coming up to Hollywood in the year 2000. I lived in New York as an actor, and I packed my stuff in the back and I just drove across country. It was fun.
It’s good to hit the open road like that, especially after being in a city.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
James Tupper - Photo by Jeff Berlin
“American Horror Story” thrills with first season finale
Dylan McDermott and Connie Britton as Ben and Vivien Harmon
Kudos to FX’s “American Horror Story” for a splendid first season finale, as full of thrills and chills as each episode of this Golden Globe-nominated series has been.
SPOILER ALERT! Don’t read any further if you haven’t seen the finale.
Although it wasn’t too much of a stretch to guess that most of the Harmon family would not end up getting out of the house alive, I was glad Ben (Dylan McDermott) didn’t take the suicide route – but his demise was super shocking.
And, remarkably, instead of having the finale end with just a set-up for next season’s new family moving in, the writers went ahead and explored that territory and showed the Harmon family’s proactive moves to save the new family from their own fate.
Moira’s (Frances Conroy) allegiance with Vivien (Connie Britton), Violet (Taissa Farmiga) and Ben was a bit poignant, and the scene where they decorated the Christmas tree to the “Little Drummer Boy” music was especially clever, interesting and creepy all at once.
The final scenes, though again not unforeseeable, were frightening nonetheless, particularly due to the amazing performance of Jessica Lange as Constance. Lange also has been nominated for a Golden Globe, and deservedly so. She has been absolutely sublime in this role.
I’m looking forward to many more thrills and chills next season!
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
Jessica Lange as Constance
From left, Connie Britton and Frances Conroy in "American Horror Story" - FX Photos
