DATELINE on NBC. The weekend episode is called, "Smoke and Mirrors" that will air this Saturday at 9/8 p.m.
"When a Chicago pharmaceutical representative stops returning calls, her large and loving family begin to worry. Keith Morrison reports."
OLD HENRY from HIDEOUT PICTURES. This Western will open in limited movie theaters on Friday Oct. 1, 2021. It will also go on sale in DVD & BluRay formats this November 9, 2021.
The film screened at the 78th Venice film festival to good reviews. Potsy Ponciroli (director) and Tim Blake Nelson (Old Henry) were interviewed during the festival. Check it out below.
APACHE JUNCTION from HILLIN ENTERTAINMENT. I decided to pay for video-on-demand at Prime Video ($6.99). I should've waited to check-out the DVD at the public library.... I watched it because this Western was filmed right here at New Mexico. I even recognized several local actors in the cast.
It began as a story about a female news reporter. She travels to "Apache Junction" to write a story on the real "Wild West." She gets there and her character disappears into the background. What do we get? All of the old cliche's used in every Western. You know them.... The bar fight, the killing at a poker game and the damsel in distress. (Boring). Why is this news reporter there at all? What happened to "her" story?
The mixed to bad reviews are coming in. Country singer - Trace Adkins has nothing to do in this either. He is receiving good reviews though for his next Western, "Old Henry." It opens in movie theaters this Friday Oct. 1, 2021. (I'll be walking into a theater to watch this one.).
The "Apache Junction" writer and director, Justin Lee, is interviewed by "Cowboys & Indians" Magazine. It's online if you want to check it out... Lee's last western, "Badland" won numerous awards at the 3rd annual, "Cowboys & Indians" movie awards.
DATELINE on NBC. The 30th TV season has begun. The show's correspondents choose their most interesting and compelling episodes over the last 30 years.... You can listen to these podcast segments on your favorite internet channels. (I listen over at "Tune-In").
Click photos below of the first 3 "Dateline" podcasts from 30 episodes at TUNE-IN.
The 48 HOURS (CBS) episode called, "What Happened to Gabby Petito" aired last Saturday night (9/25/2021) at 10/9 p.m. In the overnight TV ratings. It garnered 3.17 million TV viewers overall. It reached 0.4 million TV viewers in the all important 18-49 adult demographic. "College Football" (ABC) grabbed 4.01 overall & 1.0 with adults (8-11 p.m.). "Saturday Night Live" (NBC) nabbed 1.55 overall & 0.2 with adults.
Click photo below for 48 HOURS on CBS.
TOP BOX OFFICE / WEEK-ENDING / SEPT. 26, 2021 / ESTIMATED
The DATELINE (NBC) episode called, "The Evil That Watches" aired Friday night (9/24/2021) at 9/8 p.m. In the overnight TV ratings. It garnered 3.05 million TV Ratings Overall. It reached 0.4 million TV million viewers in the all-important 18 to 49 adult demographic (9-11 p.m.). "20/20" (ABC) grabbed 2.27 overall & 0.3 with adults (9-11 p.m.). "Blue Bloods" (CBS) 2.28 overall & 0.2 with adults.
The offical NBC website is not repeating this episode. If you signed-up with "Peacock." The segment will run online. Check it out.
Click photo below for DATELINE on NBC.
APACHE JUNCTION from HILLIN ENTERTAINMENT. It was filmed right here at Santa fe, New Mexico. If you cannot find it in a movie theater near you. It's online over at Prime Video for $6.99. Written and Directed by Justin Lee.
I found two movie reviews and both were not "glowing." The trailer looks promising. I'm not sold yet because of the western cliche's. Justin Lee's "Badland" was an internet streaming hit during the pandemic. However - the bad reviews over at the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) scared me away.
If anyone knows me. I love westerns and have seen them all dating back to the silent movie era. I try to find something new that westerns haven't done before. The problem with independent westerns is..., The filmmakers try too hard to be "westerns."
I'll take a chance on renting APACHE JUNCTION at Prime Video. Only because it was filmed right here in New Mexico.
"For years, music creators have struggled to receive fair compensation for their work. But the bipartisan American Music Fairness Act seeks to remedy this."
"New York Congressman and Chairman of the musicFIRST coalition Joe Crowley and SAG-AFTRA General Counsel Jeffrey Bennett join hosts Gabrielle Carteris and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland to discuss the bill, the challenges it faces, and why this time might be different."
"SAG-AFTRA and its industry partners updated the COVID-19 safety protocols. Hosts Gabrielle Carteris and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland discuss which policies are new and which remain the same. They also address some of the questions and concerns they’re hearing from members."
48 HOURS on CBS. The next episode will air this Saturday at 10/9 p.m.
Preview: What Happened to Gabby Petito?
48 Hours - goes inside the disappearance of Gabby Petito and the hunt for Brian Laundrie. CBS News' Jericka Duncan reports."
UNSOLVED MYSTERIES on PODCAST. The classic TV show was been rebooted into Podcast format.
The first episode, "The Haunting of Ball Cemetary" aired last Feb. 17, 2021. Unsolved mysteries will come from the original show. Each segment runs 30 minutes and will air each week.
I am binge listening right now. Most of them are murder mysteries never solved.
The creators of the show keep the theme music playing. It is nostalgic and fun to recall.
Click logo below for UNSOLVED MYSTERIES at AUDACY.
The 48 HOURS (CBS) episode called, "The Online Life & Death of Bianca Devins" that aired on Saturday night (9/18/2021) at 10/9 p.m. In the overnight TV ratings. It garnered 2.40 million TV viewers overall. It reached 0.3 million TV viewers in the all important 18-49 adult demographic. "College Football" (ABC) grabbed 6.59 overall & 1.5 with adults (8-11 p.m.). "America's Got Talent" (NBC) nabbed 1.29 overall & 0.2 with adults (9-11 p.m.).
Click photos below for 48 HOURS on CBS.
TOP BOX OFFICE / WEEK-ENDING / SEPT. 19, 2021 / ESIMATED
The DATELINE (NBC) episode called, "What Happened to Amy?" aired Friday night (9/17/2021) at 10/9 p.m. In the overnight TV ratings. It garnered 2.11 million TV Ratings Overall. It reached 0.3 million TV million viewers in the all-important 18 to 49 adult demographic. "20/20" (ABC) grabbed 2.61 overall & 0.3 with adults (9-11 p.m.). "Blue Bloods" (CBS) 2.24 overall & 0.1 with adults.
Click photo below for DATELINE on NBC.
NIGHTMARE ALLEY from 20TH CENTURY FOX (1947). It starred that studio's biggest star Tyrone Power (He died of a heart attack in 1958 at age 44.). He portrayed Stanton "Stan" Carlisle who is a con-artist and carnival barker. The role was a departure from his romantic leading parts that made him an international star. Power had stated that Stan was his favorite role in all of the films he made.
It was a box office flop in 1947. Movie audiences just didn't want to see Tyrone as an evil character. Nonetheless - the movie was re-released in Europe for 7 years from 1947 to 1954. It has now become a Cult Classic among film "Noir" fans. It looks fantastic on DVD and in glorius "Black & White." Power is absolutely convincing as this seedy character in the carnival world.
It would be one of three movie roles where Tyrone was "evil." The first was as a Cad with, "In Old Chicago" (1938), Stan in "Nightmare Alley" (1947) and a handsome killer in, "Witness for the Prosecution." (1958).
74 years later - Guillermo del Toro (director) will release his version of "Nightmare Alley" with Bradley Cooper (Dec. 2021).
48 HOURS on CBS. This Saturday at 10/9 p.m.
"The Online Life & Death of Bianca Devins"
"How did images of a 17-year-old girl’s murder go viral? CBS News' Jericka Duncan reports in the season premiere of - 48 Hours.
TV Preview will begin after Commercial Ad.
MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) was a movie studio who claimed that they had more "stars" than there are in heaven. Jane Powell was under contract to MGM from the 1940's and into the 1950's. She was a singer and dancer who performed mainly in musicals. Her most popular roles were, "A Date with Judy" (1948), "Royal Wedding" (1951) and "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers." (1954).
"Brothers" was a box office smash and Jane's most enduring role. The musical was nominated for 5 Oscars including Best Picture. It won only for "Best Scoring of a Musical Picture." The American Film Institute ranked, "Brothers" at number #21 of the 25 Best Musicals of all Time (2006). It was also entered into the "National Film Registry of the Library of Congress" (2004).
It is said that Jane Powell was one of the last remaining stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood. She was certainly one of the last "contract players" under the Hollywood studio system. It was where and when "stars" were made. It is an era long gone.... RIP Miss Powell.
Below is a scene from "7 Brides for 7 Brothers" with Jane Powell.
NEWS OF THE WORLD from UNIVERSAL. According to "Box Office Mojo" which tracks box office receipts. This Western grabbed $12.6 million and is now streaming On-Demand across internet platforms. It is also on Blu-Ray and DVD.
The movie was filmed at Santa Fe, New Mexico (2019). 200 crew members were employed and 25 local actors were hired. That included numerous back-ground extras which consisted of Kiowa Indians.
"World" tells the story of Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Tom Hanks) who served in the Civil War. It is now five years later in 1870. He was employed as a newspaper printer in a business that was destroyed. He goes on the road across the southwest to read newspapers to settlers... On this journey - Jefferson discovers a lost 10-year-old German girl Johanna. She was kidnapped by Kiowa Indians who only speaks their language. Jefferson ends up deliverying her to the only living relatives she has. The aunt and uncle.
Their journey is perilous. The Civil War changed the southern U.S. states drastically. Slavery is over and Americans are still expanding west to California. Jefferson and Johanna can barely speak to each other because she only knows Kiowa. They face off with men who want to sell her into prostitution. Buffalo hunters want to kill Jefferson because he doesn't read their self-aggrandizing newspapers. Johanna's parents were killed by Indian raiders and the Kiowa people have to relocate. She screams for them even though they have to leave her behind - for their own survival. Both of them end up on foot with no food or water. They finally face the dust storms of the southwest. This journey changes both of their lives and they realize that they might need each other.
If anyone knows me. I love a good Western. I've seen this twice now. (Once in a movie theater and now on Blu-Ray). It's based on a book by Paulette Jiles and the movie never steers away from it. The feel of the American Southwest is so authentic and true. The cinematography is great. I was transported back to 1870... Check it out if you can.
Click on photos for NEWS OF THE WORLD.
The 48 HOURS (CBS) episode called, "The Delivery-Man Murders" that aired on Saturday night (9/11/2021) at 10/9 p.m. In the overnight TV ratings. It garnered 1.87 million TV viewers overall. It reached 0.2 million TV viewers in the all important 18-49 adult demographic. "College Football" (ABC) grabbed 4.06 overall & 1.0 with adults (8-11 p.m.). "America's Got Talent" (NBC) nabbed 1.32 overall & 0.2 with adults (9-11 p.m.).
Click photos below for 48 HOURS on CBS.
TOP BOX OFFICE / WEEK-ENDING / SEPT. 12, 2021 / ESTIMATED
The DATELINE (NBC) episode called, "Heroes: The Story of Flight 93" aired Friday night (9/10/2021) at 10/9 p.m. In the overnight TV ratings. It garnered 2.13 million TV Ratings Overall. It reached 0.3 million TV million viewers in the all-important 18 to 49 adult demographic. "20/20" (ABC) grabbed 3.15 overall & 0.4 with adults (9-11 p.m.). "Blue Bloods" (CBS) 2.31 overall & 0.2 with adults.
Click photo below for DATELINE on NBC.
OLD HENRY from SHOUT FACTORY. This is a western Clint Eastwood would've made. It opens in movie theaters on October 1. The movie has screened at the Venice Film Festival 2021.
You can pre-order a Blu-Ray copy over at "Shout Factory."
I'm gonna walk into a movie theater to watch this. Way cool.
The 48 HOURS (CBS) episode called, "The Black Swan Murder?" aired on Saturday night (9/8/2021) at 10/9 p.m. In the overnight TV ratings. It garnered 1.95 million TV viewers overall. It reached 0.2 million TV viewers in the all important 18-49 adult demographic. "20/20: Women of 9/11" (ABC) grabbed 3.13 overall & 0.5 with adults (9-11 p.m.). "Chicago PD" (NBC) nabbed 1.62 overall & 0.2 with adults.
"48 Hours" is now online over at "Paramount+."
DATELINE on NBC. The next episode is called, "Heroes: The Story of Flight 93" that will air this Friday at 10/9 p.m.
NBC says, "Lester Holt interviews family members, including the now-grown children of some of the passengers and crew of Flight 93, as they honor the lives and courage that inspired the world on 9/11."
48 HOURS on CBS. Special Wednesday Night Mystery at 10/9 p.m.
Sneak peek: The Black Swan Murder?
"A former ballerina shoots her husband. Did she kill to save herself or was it out of spite? 48 Hours - contributor Jim Axelrod reports."
TV Preview will begin after Commercial Ad.
Saturday TV ratings at 9/8 p.m.
The 48 HOURS (CBS) episode called, "The Suspicious Death of Christian Andreacchio" aired on Saturday night (9/4/2021) at 9/8 p.m. In the overnight TV ratings. It garnered 1.58 million TV viewers overall. It reached 0.2 million TV viewers in the all important 18-49 adult demographic. "College Football" (ABC) grabbed 7.75 overall & 2.0 with adults (8-11 p.m.). "Tokyo Paralympics" (NBC) nabbed 0.84 overall & 0.1 with adults (8-11 p.m.).
The 48 HOURS (CBS) episode called, "The Tara Grinstead Mystery" aired on Saturday night (9/4/2021) at 10/9 p.m. In the overnight TV ratings. It garnered 2.10 million TV viewers overall. It reached 0.2 million TV viewers in the all important 18-49 adult demographic. "College Football" (ABC) grabbed 7.75 overall & 2.0 with adults. "America's Got Talent" (NBC) nabbed 0.92 overall & 1.0 with adults.
TOP BOX OFFICE / WEEK-ENDING / SEPT. 5, 2021 / ESTIMATED
Click logo below for "Shang-Chi" information.
The DATELINE (NBC) episode called, "The House" aired Friday night (9/3/2021) at 10/9 p.m. In the overnight TV ratings. It garnered 2.16 million TV Ratings Overall. It reached 0.3 million TV million viewers in the all-important 18 to 49 adult demographic. "20/20" (ABC) grabbed 2.68 overall & 0.3 with adults (9-11 p.m.). "Sunday Morning Project" (CBS) 1.45 overall & 0.1 with adults.
Click photo below for DATELINE on NBC.
2021 / SAG/AFTRA / NATIONAL ELECTIONS
"SAG-AFTRA members elect Fran Drescher president and Joely Fischer secretary-treasurer. Their two-year terms began immediately upon the certification of the ballot count today..."
"A total of 122,154 ballots were mailed. Of the total number of votes, 32,362 were returned, equating to a return of 26.49%. In the election for president, Drescher received 16,958 votes, followed by Matthew Modine with 15,371 votes. For the post of secretary-treasurer, Fisher received 18,547 votes, followed by Anthony Rapp with 13,593 votes."
Click logo below for complete Election results.
2021 SAG-AFTRA New Mexico Local Election Results
"On Monday, August 30, 2021, the ballot tabulation of the New Mexico Local election was conducted. Please note that some candidates ran unopposed and were declared elected without the necessity of a membership vote. Following are the results of the election...."
"The newly elected leaders will be installed in office on September 2, 2021."
Four important questions are asked of Michael Douglas. It is a series from "Deadline Hollywood" who ask filmmakers what Lit-Their-Fuse in the industry.
Michael is the son of screen legend Kirk Douglas (my favorite actor).
Click MICHAEL DOUGLAS photos below for information.
DATELINE on NBC. You can watch the episode "The Secrets of Spirit Lake" at NBC. But - you have to have a special "Key" for this special segment.
Never Fear.... The episode is now streaming over at TUNE-IN with Dateline's Podcast episodes. I am always listening to podcasts and waited for "Spirit Lake" to arrive over at TUNE-IN.
Click photos below for DATELINE episode THE SECRETS OF SPIRIT LAKE.
THE POWER OF THE DOG from NET-FLIX. I love a good Western when it breaks the boundaries of "Cliche." You have to have a good director that can go beyond those "Cliches." That's what it looks like here with Benedict Cumberbatch.... I cannot wait to see this one.
OLD HENRY from HIDE-OUT PICTURES. If anyone knows me. I love Westerns... There are a lot of them coming out "online" and are so cliche. I can't get past the first 10 minutes. Many indie films try too hard to be Westerns.
We've seen it all when comes to Westerns. I like to see something different with a powerful story. Plus, a good director who knows how to work this genre... Last year's Tom Hanks vehicle, "News of the World" is an excellent example.
I am looking forward to walking into a movie theater to watch OLD HENRY.
