"Dateline" a man is accused of pushing & then beating his wife at bottom of staircase

DATELINE on NBC. Did you watch last night's episode called, "Reversal of Fortune?." Did jurors convict a man with pushing & beating his wife at the bottom of the stairs? Or did they convict because he was a bi-sexual who hired male escorts? Or was there misconduct from an expert witness who was used to get a murder conviction? This episode is really a made-for-TV movie filled with drama, lies and deep suspicion. It's also sad because a woman lost her life surrounded by what-is-truth? (This episode surprised me & confounded me).

Click photo for TV recap over at Examiner News.

"48 Hours" FBI agent says wife lunged at him with a knife. He shoots her 4 times

49 HOURS on CBS. Did you watch last night's episode called, "Eliminating the Threat?." After two dead-locked Juries & a bench trial with only a judge to deliver a verdict. Art Gonzales is found "Not Guilty" of murdering his wife Julie. He is an FBI agent who claimed that his estranged wife lunged at him with a knife. He had no choice but to shoot her 4 times in the chest. 

Art claimed Julie was an alcoholic, he filed for divorce & got temporary custody of their kids. He also met a young blonde named Cara with whom he fell in love. The issue was did Julie take a knife & try to kill her husband? Why did one bullet go threw her body & hit the floor? How come Art's white shirt wasn't bloody after giving CPR to his dying wife? Why was there no vomit on the floor after he called 911 sounding like he was throwing up? All good questions, but there will never be complete answers because a judge set Art free. 

Cara hooked up with another male FBI agent & is pregnant with his child. Art lost his job with the FBI agency permanently. No one will hire him & is unemployed. He is about to lose his expensive home too. Did he get away with murder?

Click photo for TV recap over at Examiner News.

(Julie & Art Gonzales)

BOSCH a violent gun shootout at bank leaves many dead

BOSCH on AMAZON. This is based on the best selling novels by Michael Connelly. Harry Bosch & his partner Jerry Edgar run straight into a gun shootout at the First National Bank. It's all over the money from Anthony Allen's estate. He was murdered on Mulholland Drive which is Bosch's homicide case. Anthony was a porn film producer who stole $4 million from his cousin Joey Marks. 

Anthony's widow Veronica Allen went to that bank to withdraw from a safety deposit box just as soon as probate cleared it. She found no money, but only a photo of Anthony & his mistress Lela. Outside the bank, Joey waits for Veronica & so does her lover Carl. He has his corrupt LAPD officers with him. Veronica walks out of that bank with an empty suitcase. They all want that supposed $4 million. 

Bosch & Jerry get to that bank right when all guns are pointed at each other. Veronica is about to be kidnapped when the bullets fly. It is a shootout to end all shootouts with most of the gunmen shot dead. Bosch & Jerry wound Carl Nash who takes a hostage & flees in a van. Veronica is unscathed who is held by police for questioning. Chief Irvin Irving gets to the shootout late. Carl killed his son George in contract hit. 

(I've watched that shootout numerous times & it is all about greed & power. Those involved pay a hefty price for it too. There is a lot going on in this episode other than what I wrote here. So, check it out. Episode 8 is very, very good.). 

Click photo for BOSCH website.

(Bosch & Jerry run straight into a gun fight)

OREGON: 2 young men shot on Umatilla Indian Reservation

NEWS FROM MY HOME STATE OF OREGON. The BADD Tournament was held back a few hours on its' first day because of shootings at Mission, Oregon on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. (The annual tournament stands for Basketball Against Alcohol and Drugs). Early Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m. at Mission. One young man was shot & killed. Another was seriously injured. Several have been detained for questioning with the shootings. Two other young men were arrested on outstanding warrants not related to the shootings. 

Click photo for MISSION shooting.

(Umatilla Indian Reservation in blue. Mission is 5 miles 

from city of Pendleton, Oregon).

"Ben-Hur" 1959 Classic Film starring Charlton Heston

The 2016 remake of BEN-HUR just released their first movie trailer. Does the CGI effects stand up to the realistic 1959 classic film version? Take a look at the BluRay trailer below of the 1959 epic which starred Charlton Heston & Stephen Boyd. It was directed by William Wyler & the film stayed in U.S. theaters for one full year. It was also a remake of the 1925 Silent Film classic that starred Roman Navarro.

Charlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur in 1959

Chariot Race

Roman Navarro as Judah Ben-Hur in 1925

Chariot Race

"Dateline" There is no voice on the 911 calls from a murdered woman

DATELINE on NBC. Did you watch last night's episode called, "Smoke and Mirrors?." Unbelievable! But, there are young men out there who hate women even when they want to be "Players." How the heck did this guy con someone into letting him drive their Bentley? I guess the word is "con." The guy gets what he deserves while crying at his sentence hearing, "I'm not a monster, I'm not a monster."

Click photo for TV recap over at Examiner News.

(The beautiful life & death of Nailah Franklin)

The 2016 "Ben-Hur" trailer was just released & it's all CGI Effects

BEN-HUR 2016. Well, it was bound to happen with the CGI effects on an epic story. The 1959 film starred Charlton Heston & won 11 Oscars including Best Picture. Even that was a remake of the great 1925 Silent Film version starring Roman Navarro. All are stories surrounding the Tale of the Christ. Today, the new version doesn't have a real movie star playing the lead. In fact, he's an unknown that's a Minus right there. The other Minus is the CGI Effects that might ruin a perfectly good story, especially during the chariot race. Movie audiences are craving for realistic action scenes when every other film is loaded with CGI.

My problem with the new trailer is when he says, "I'm Ben-Hur." Instead, he should say, "I am Judah Ben-Hur."

BOSCH Irvin asks Harry to help find his son's killer

BOSCH on AMAZON. (S02E07). Carl Nash is the fired LAPD cop who works for Veronica Allen whose husband was murdered. Nash runs a group of renegade cops who rob drug dealers in LA. George Irving was an undercover cop who infiltrated Nash's group. Nash found out about him & hires a contract hit on him. He is killed & Bosch attends George's funeral. 

Irvin is George's father who is line for Chief of Police. He asks Bosch to help him find his son's killer outside of their regular jobs. They secretly go to George's partner & it is a shock to Bosch that Nash is involved. They both worked homicide at the same time, a few years ago. Veronica is sleeping with Nash who works as her head security guard. Bosch believes that Nash might be connected to both George's murder & Anthony Allen's murder. The latter has been his homicide case. 

Meanwhile, Irvin's wife blames him for their son's murder. Their marriage quickly begins to fall apart. (There is a lot going on in this episode other than what I wrote here. So check it out).

Click photo for BOSCH website.

(AMAZON PRIME VIDEO)

Larry Drake dies. A Real Throwback to Thursday Night's on NBC

NBC's Thursday night line-up was a TV ratings boom during the late 1980's & early 1990's. Alas, those days are gone now. (Damn you Internet). But, sometimes it's good to go back & remember a TV show called, "LA Law" 1986-1994. It ran an astounding 8 seasons with TV ratings not seen in this day & age. Larry Drake (Benny) has passed away & he played that role beginning in the 3rd TV season & stayed all the way to the end. He won 2 Emmy awards for that role too. RIP.

Click photo for DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD news.

 (Larry Drake "Benny" dies. NBC Universal Photo.)

"Hawaii Five-0" will be pre-empted because of NCAA Basketball

HAWAII FIVE-0 on CBS. It will not be shown this week because of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. See you all next week with a TV recap of the latest episode for Examiner News. (Below is the introduction theme for Season 6).

An all new "48 Hours" on Saturday March 19, 2016

48 HOURS on CBS. I was wrong. There will be a brand new episode coming Saturday March 19 at 10/9 p.m. It will follow the NCAA basketball tournament & let's hope it isn't pre-empted because of the game. 

The episode is called "Eliminating the Threat." CBS says, "An elite FBI agent shoots his wife after he says she came after him with a knife -- was it self-defense or murder? Susan Spencer investigates."

CBS This Morning has a preview for tomorrow night's episode.

BOSCH the FBI throws a wrench into Harry's murder investigation

BOSCH on AMAZON. This is based on the best selling novels by Michael Connelly. Episode 6 made my mouth drop to the floor in shock. Bosch & Jerry find out that Lucky Rykov has been an undercover FBI agent who followed Joey Marks until he was arrested. Rykov thought Bosch planted the murder weapon to frame him for Anthony Allen's murder. Bosch denies it. Marks is still on the loose & the FBI wants him badly.

The lead FBI investigator is a ruthless bastard too. He goes to Bosch's ex-wife & asks her to spy on him. If she does, the FBI will expunge her record. She was fired from the agency a few years back. She tells Bosch & he asks her to do it. He'll provide a file on his investigation & she gets a job inside the FBI. 

Meanwhile, Irvin's son George is working for Internal Affairs & he gets in too deep. The corrupt cops are onto him & there is an ambush inside a convenience store. Let me tell you, it is intense & ugly & nasty. There is a man behind this hatred for the LAPD. 

(There is more in this episode than what I wrote here. So, check it out. Episode 6 is the best so far & it just might get better). - Wahoo!

Click photo for BOSCH website.

(Irvin Irving & Harry Bosch)

"48 Hours" will follow NCAA Basketball & might be pre-empted Saturday

48 HOURS on CBS. It's March Madness & that means the NCAA Basketball Tournament. A game will be played this Saturday beginning at 8/7 p.m. It will run however long competition goes which might push or pre-empt the scheduled "48 Hours" at 10/9 p.m. So, check you local listings for showtimes. CBS has not yet announced if they will air a repeat episode or a new one. Considering that it might lose TV ratings. It might be a repeat episode. 

Click photo for 48 HOURS website.

(CBS Logo)

Producers of BOSCH talk to "Indiewire" about TV crime show

BOSCH on AMAZON. It is based on the mystery books written by Michael Connelly. He serves as a producer on the TV crime drama that is getting critical raves as well as large TV ratings for AMAZON. At least that's what executives are telling producers about those ratings. They're like NETFLIX where they say they're drawing big TV audiences, but won't give any exact numbers. Connelly & other TV producers talk to "Indie-Wire" about BOSCH.

Click photos below for INDIE-WIRE interview.

(Author, Michael Connelly who created Harry Bosch)

CBS "Elementary" Preview for Sunday March 20, 2016

ELEMENTARY on CBS. The TV Crime Show moves to Sunday March 20, 2016 at 10/9 p.m. It follows "The Good Wife." This week's episode is called, "You've Got Me, Who's Got You?" 

(Some fans are saying Sunday nights are the kiss of death for a TV show. I disagree. It follows two very good shows that have a built-in audience, "Madam Secretary" & "The Good Wife." Besides, "Elementary" was moved for "Rush Hour" to premiere. We'll see how that show does in the TV ratings. If it goes south, "Elementary" might go back to Thursday nights come Fall 2016.).

BOSCH has Harry's wife & daughter kidnapped

BOSCH on AMAZON. (S02E05). This is based on the best selling novels by Michael Connelly. Bosch & Jerry get a visit from a former LAPD detective Carl Nash. He is a security guard for Anthony Allen who was murdered. He tells Bosch that he witnessed an intense argument between Anthony & Joey Marks inside Anthony's home. The security cameras never capture Marks who was upset over money. Remember, Anthony was a rich porn film producer. Nash picks Carl Marks out of a set of suspect pictures.

Marks decides to kidnap Bosch's former wife Eleanor & daughter Maddie. He wants to exchange them for Rykov who is in custody for killing Anthony. Bosch & Jerry think that Rykov might flip on Marks so he can go free. Someone planted the gun that killed Anthony inside Rykov's home. Bosch tells Jerry he's going after the men who took his family, but doesn't trust Las Vegas police or the FBI. 

Bosch & Jerry look at security cameras & see the two men who grabbed the family. They also track Maddie's iPhone from where she last called from. The phone is found smashed on a deserted road. Bosch goes to Rykov & shows him the security camera's of Mark's thugs. Bosch & Jerry grab some semi-automatic guns. It is intense & exciting how good a detective Bosch really is. 

(There is more going on in this 5th episode other than what I wrote here. So, check it out because this is probably the best TV crime show to come along in years). 

Click photo for BOSCH website. 

(Bosch & Jerry go after kidnappers)

"Person of Interest" ends after 5th TV season 2016

PERSON OF INTEREST on CBS. The 13 episode order for its' 5th season will finally air beginning May 3, 2016. It will run two episodes each week on Mondays & Tuesdays until the season finale on June 21. 

I'm a big fan of this show & am truly disappointed, but there obviously was no room for it on the CBS schedule in 2015-16. It was removed from it's time slot for brand new TV shows last Fall & we haven't seen it since last May 2015.

I am bummed out big time. But, I will TV recap each of the 13 episodes for Examiner News.

Click photo for PERSON OF INTEREST news.

(CBS)

"Dateline" Saturday Night Mystery March 19, 2016

DATELINE on NBC. The upcoming episode is called, "Reversal of Fortune."

NBC says, "When Kathleen Peterson is found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her North Carolina mansion, authorities wonder if her death was a terrible accident or something much darker. Dennis Murphy reports Saturday March 19 at 8/7c."

 Click photo for DATELINE preview.

(NBC Logo)

An all new "Dateline" on Friday March 18, 2016.

DATELINE on NBC. The new episode coming up is called, "Smoke and Mirrors."

NBC says, "Keith Morrison reports on a Chicago woman from a large family missing for several days. As the whole city joins in the search, detectives begin to suspect that a man in her life has many secrets. Airs Friday March 18 at 10/9c."

Click photo for DATELINE Preview. 

(NBC Logo)

BOSCH the stakes are raised in Las Vegas & Los Angeles

BOSCH on AMAZON. (S02E04). This is based on the mystery books by Michael Connelly. Bosch is awakened by Las Vegas Police right before they arrest Rykov in his home. Bosch realizes LVPD wants Rykov's boss whom they have been chasing for years. They don't care what Bosch wants & he's ticked off by that. He finds the gun that might have killed Anthony Allen back in L.A. He thinks someone planted it to get to Rykov's boss. 

Bosch goes back to L.A. to test the ballistics on that gun & it matches the bullets that killed Anthony. FBI comes to Bosch & Jerry with evidence to arrest Rykov. They're being too nice about it. Bosch is again followed by someone. Even Veronica Allen wants her security guards to keep tabs on Bosch & Jerry. They both think the arrest was too easy. 

Meanwhile, Irvin has made his decision to endorse district attorney Richard O'Shea as mayor in the next election. The sitting mayor, Hector Ramos isn't too happy about that & arranges traffic problems for Irvin. He asks Lieutenant Grace Billets to watch his back on a political level. If Irvin becomes chief of police, then Grace might get bumped up too. The stakes are raised & it is getting nasty.

There is more going on in this 4th episode which I haven't covered here. So, check it out & it may intrigue you. (This is getting good).

Click photo for BOSCH website.

(Bosch & Jerry)

 

AMC "Better Call Saul" renewed for 3rd TV season

BETTER ALL SAUL on AMC has been renewed for 3rd TV season. The show is filmed entirely at Albuquerque, NM. It has jumped from a 2.0 overall TV rating in its' first TV season to a 4.0 TV rating in its' second TV season premiere last February. 

Click photo for DEADLINE news.

"Ingrid Bergman: In her own Words" comes to Guild Cinema at Albuquerque

The documentary on movie legend Ingrid Bergman will screen inside the Guild Cinema at Albuquerque March 22-30, 2016. It's called, "Ingrid Bergman: In her own words" & it looks fascinating. If you want to know more about her life story. Check out the 1983 autobiography called, "Ingrid Bergman: My Story" which she co-wrote.

1946 film NOTORIOUS with Cary Grant on left

 

BOSCH gets to Las Vegas & runs into a surprise

BOSCH on AMAZON. (S02E03). It is based on the best selling books by Michael Connelly. Harry Bosch travels to Las Vegas to investigate what porn producer Anthony Allen was up to before he was murdered. He is given help by LVPD & orders search warrants of the casino hotel Anthony attended. He calls his partner Jerry back in LA & tells him he is being tailed. Someone is watching him, but Bosch has a job to do. He shows pictures of Anthony & Lela around. He is led to a strip club where Anthony frequented & Lela worked as a stripper. Bosch is "tased" & beaten by the club body guard.

Back in LA - Jerry was asked by Bosch to question a film director who worked with Veronica Allen a few years back. She was a total "bitch" who cared only about herself & married Anthony as a meal ticket. He got her out of porn & into a beautiful home with money.

Bosch looks at security camera footage of Anthony playing poker. Sitting next to him is Bosch's former wife. It is a surprise because he hopes she isn't involved with Anthony & his Armenian underworld. (There is a lot going on in this episode which I haven't wrote about here. So, check it out. I know that fans have already binge watched this.).

Click photo for BOSCH website.

 (Harry Bosch & Jerry Edgar)

CBS "Rush Hour" will premiere Thursday March 31, 2016

RUSH HOUR on CBS. This new TV crime show is taking the place of "Elementary" on Thursday nights at 10/9 p.m. It is a continuation of the 3 popular movies that starred Jackie Chan & Chris Tucker. The premise is the same when an LAPD cop has to work with a Chinese martial arts expert. (I'm thinking about writing a TV recap for Examiner News).

AMC "Preacher" will premiere May 22, 2016, was filmed in New Mexico

PREACHER on AMC. The new TV show was filmed entirely at New Mexico. It will premiere on Sunday May 22, 2016 at 10/9 p.m. An encore presentation of the TV pilot will be May 29th. Then, it will move to it's regular time slot on Sunday June 5th at 9/8 p.m. It's based on the comic books about a priest who is sometimes inhabited by other spiritual forces.

The TV show employed 175 New Mexico crew members & also used background extra talent. AMC ordered 10 episodes for Season 1 which has already finished filming. (My next door neighbor said he auditioned for the TV show. I hope he got an acting role).