An All New "American Gothic" Wednesday Aug. 24, 2016

AMERICAN GOTHIC on CBS. (S01E10). The next episode is called, "The Veteran in a New Field" that will air this Wednesday at 10/9 p.m. 

Now that there is a different accomplice to the "Silver Bells Killer" other than Garrett Hawthorne. Secrets cannot stay buried. Who is the accomplice and who will he/she kill next? Madeline Hawthorne cut off the air supply to her husband in the hospital to stop him from telling the truth. She's a murderer. Garrett smothered his backwoods friend who had cancer and wanted to die. It was a mercy killing. It is anybody's guess now with only 4 episodes left. (My wild guess is the current mayor who this female reporter was following. She was strangled to death live-on-air). Watch TV Promo below for next episode.

"Rush Hour" nabs extra 1 Million TV viewers for Season Finale

"Rush Hour" (CBS) can be seen each Saturday evening at 8/7 p.m. It aired at 7 p.m. (central time) in Albuquerque, NM on KRQE 13. Last night's final episode on Aug. 20, 2016 was called, "FamiLee Ties." In the overnight TV ratings it jumped to 2.53 million TV viewers overall. It reached 0.5 million TV viewers in the all important 18 to 49 adult demographic. "Summer Olympics" (NBC) grabbed 14.55 overall & 3.5 with adults (8-11 p.m.). "Last man standing" (ABC) nabbed 2.56 & 0.5 with adults (repeat).

"Rush Hour" stars, Justin Hires (Detective James Carter), Jon Foo (Lee), Aimee Garcia (Didi Diaz), Page Kennedy (Gerald), Wendie Malick (Captain Lindsay Cole).

“FamiLee Ties” reunites Lee with his sister who went undercover as an NAS agent. She tried to infiltrate a notorious Chinese gang in Los Angeles. Lee believed that all this time she went to the criminal side. Carter and Lee track down money to the Chinese gang lord. Both detectives give up their badges to find the real truth after CIA stone-wall's the LAPD. Is it too late to help Lee's sister? Or is she in too deep?

You can watch “Rush Hour” over at CBS. Click photo.

(Carter in middle, and Lee on right, catch up with sister on left)

"Dateline" Josh Mankiewicz chooses compelling episode set at Albuquerque

DATELINE on NBC. All TV programs have been pre-empted by the Summer Olympics. Josh Mankiewicz reports on "Somebody's Daughter" which covers the killing of young women at Albuquerque, NM. You can watch his most interesting choice streaming online.

NBC says, "During the three weeks Dateline is off the air this August, our correspondents are sharing some of their most memorable episodes. Josh Mankiewicz shares his choice revolving around a sinister force that seemed to be snatching women off the streets of Albuquerque."

Click Photos below for SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER online at NBC.

(Josh for Dateline on NBC)

(Investigator trying to save young girls on the streets of Albuquerque)

1957 classic "Witness for the Prosecution" possible remake with Ben Affleck

It is being reported that Ben Affleck (Batman, Argo) will direct and star in a remake of "Witness for the Prosecution." The 1957 movie was directed by Billy Wilder and starred Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton. The production was made for $3 million and grossed a hefty $9 million at the time. It was also a critical success and went onto grab 6 Oscar Nominations. 

It is based on an Agatha Christie novel and surrounds the murder of an elderly lady who left her estate to a handsome playboy (Tyrone Power). The courtroom drama has several twists and turns only Christie can write. It's a classic film and it will be yet another remake coming out of Hollywood. (Just my opinion. I would cast Cate Blanchett in the Dietrich role).

Click photos below for DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD news.

(Tyrone Power on the witness stand)

(Marlene Dietrich being questioned by Charles Laughton)

(Ben Affleck set to possibly direct and star in remake)

"American Gothic" Garrett Hawthorne could not be "Silver Bells Killer" accomplice

“American Gothic” (CBS) can be seen each Wednesday evening at 10/9 p.m. It aired at 9 p.m. (central time) in Albuquerque, NM on KRQE 13. Last night's episode on Aug. 18, 2016 was called, “The Oxbow.” In the overnight TV ratings it garnered 2.37 million TV viewers overall. It reached 0.4 million TV viewers in the all important 18 to 49 adult demographic. "Modern Family" (ABC) grabbed 2.02 overall & 0.6 with adults (repeat). "Summer Olympics" (NBC) nabbed 20.68 overall & 5.8 with adults (8-11 p.m.).

“American Gothic” stars, Juliet Rylance (Alison Hawthorne-Price), Antony Starr (Garrett Hawthorne), Justin Chatwin (Cam Hawthorne), Stephanie Leonidas (Sophie Hawthorne) & Virginia Madsen (Madeline Hawthorne).

“The Oxbow.” Garrett Hathorne sits in jail charged with helping the “silver bells killer” (SBK). His nephew Jake found a white knife in Garrett's cabin. It matches the knife with the first victim of the SBK back in 1999. He supposedly helped his father on the killing spree. The news reporter who bugged the Hawthorne home is being forced to spy on Alison's competitor for mayor. That current mayor has been secretly meeting with detective Cutter who is the lead investigator of the SBK. The reporter is kidnapped, but goes on air “live” to say she knows who the SBK accomplice is and it isn't Garrett.

Click photo for AMERICAN GOTHIC streaming online at CBS.

The second episode "48 Hours" Saturday on August 20, 2016

48 HOURS on CBS. The second in the back-to-back 2-hour episodes is called, "The Preppy Killer" which airs Saturday at 10/9 p.m. This is a repeat episode from 2003. Jennifer Levin was strangled to death in 1986 and Robert Chambers only received 15 years in prison. 

CBS says, "To mark the 30th anniversary of a case that made national headlines, "48 Hours" broadcasts the only interview with "Preppy Killer" Robert Chambers."

Click 1988 People Magazine for THE PREPPY KILLER Sneak Peek.

The first episode "48 Hours" on Saturday Aug. 20, 2016

48 HOURS on CBS. The first in the back-to-back 2-hour episodes is called, "Eliminating the Threat" which airs Saturday at 9/8 p.m. This is a repeat episode and it will make you angry.

CBS says, "An elite FBI agent shoots his estranged wife after he says she came after him with a knife -- was it self-defense or murder? "48 Hours"' Susan Spencer investigates."

Click photo for Sneak Peek of ELIMINATING THE THREAT.

(CBS Photo)

"Dateline" Dennis Murphy chooses his most interesting episode

DATELINE on NBC. The Olympics have pre-empted all NBC programs. "Dateline" will return next week. Dennis Murphy chooses his favorite episode called, "Angels and Demons." 

NBC says, "During the three weeks Dateline is off the air this August, our correspondents are sharing some of their most memorable episodes. Dennis Murphy reports on the mysterious deaths inside a traveling commune, and an investigation that would span over a decade."

Click NBC logo for ANGELS AND DEMONS streaming online.

(NBC Logo)

Shaunae Miller literally hits finish line beating Allyson Felix for Gold Medal 2016

2016 SUMMER OLYMPICS in RIO. I've been reading all the comments on social media and everyone is Split. Some think Shaunae Miller (Bahamas) dived across the finish line deliberately to win the Gold Medal in the women's 400 meter final. Others believe Miller fell because she was tired and Allyson Felix (U.S.) was gonna beat her. I watched the video numerous times over at "nbcolympics." 

Miller was dead tired because she started too fast and was struggling for that finish line. Allyson planned her race and she is a strong finisher. She always finds that "strength gear" in the last 40 meters like she did at the Olympic Trials. That's her strategy, but Miller was too far ahead and Allyson said she couldn't find that gear to win. Look how close she was to passing Miller who knew Allyson was right next to her. That's why they call it the Olympics. Anything can happen when you race for the Gold Medal. Allyson was awesome in my view. She's a great competitor.

Click photo for complete 400 meter race over at NBC OLYMPICS.

(Shaunae Miller wins by a sliver over Allyson Felix)

Enthralling Documentary "Ingrid Bergman: In her own words"

INGRID BERGMAN: IN HER OWN WORDS. The documentary came to "The Guild" here at Albuquerque and I watched it. If anybody knows me. I am a classic film buff. I read Ingrid's autobiography "Ingrid Bergman: My Story" several times. Her life was acting.

This documentary shows that she saved everything, home movies, pictures and a diary. Her life is all here from early childhood to theatre, to movies, to scandal and back to movies again. It was a passionate life to say the least and she never acted like a movie star. She was real and honest. I've seen all of her movies and my favorites are, "Joan of Arc", "Casablanca", "Saratoga Trunk", "Intermezzo" (both versions), "Gaslight", "Spellbound", "For whom the bell tolls" and "Anastasia." My absolute favorite is "Notorious" directed by Alfred Hitchocok.

"Indiewire" tracks the cat in "The Night Of"

THE NIGHT OF on HBO. If you cannot get enough of this murder mystery. Well, "Indiewire" goes in depth on the cat which was owned by Andrea. She was brutally murdered in her bedroom and "Naz" is the main suspect. Andrea put her cat outside on the night she was killed and her gate is broken. "Naz" claims he blacked out and woke up on the kitchen table when Andrea was stabbed 22 times. Did someone walk in the broken gate and kill her? Did the cat see the killer? John Stone saved that cat from being put to death. He is allergic, but plays with its' paws under the door. "Indiewire" walks through everything about what the cat means to the characters in this murder mystery.

Click HBO photo for INDIEWIRE in-depth article.

 

(HBO Photo. John Stone and the cat)

Season Finale will mark end of "Rush Hour" Saturday Aug. 20, 2016

RUSH HOUR on CBS. (S01E13). The finale episode is called, "Familee Ties" that will air this Saturday at 8/7 p.m. The "season finale" really is the "season finale" forever. It's over after episode 13 because CBS cancelled it because of low TV ratings. The network then moved it to Saturday night's which is the graveyard of TV ratings. "Hour" nabbed 5 million TV viewers overall when it first premiered last Spring 2016. It has dragged hardcore TV fans with them down to 1.74 million TV viewers overall. Lee actually began to loosen up around Carter during the 12th episode. It's too late...,

An All New "American Gothic" Wednesday Aug. 17, 2016

AMERICAN GOTHIC on CBS. (S01E09). The next episode is called, "The Oxbow" which will air this Wednesday night at 10/9 p.m. Detective Brady finds a pocket knife that matches the one in the home of an elderly lady who was killed. She knew something about the "silver bells killer" (SBK) and that knife was grabbed by Jake inside Garrett Hawthorne's cabin. Did he kill the old lady? Or is there another SBK?

"The Night Of" Naz smokes crack cocaine & gets tattoos before his trial

THE NIGHT OF on HBO. The Limited-Series part 5. Last night's episode on Sunday Aug. 14, 2016 was called, “Samson and Delilah.” The main characters are, “Naz” (Riz Ahmed) John Stone (John Tuturro). HBO will run repeat episodes after original airing. Check your listings.

“Samson and Delilah.” As the murder trial of “Naz” begins. He has gone convict by getting tattoos and smoking crack cocaine. Detective Box discovers that “Naz” threw another high school teen down a flight of stairs. Is he a murderous and violent man? Box isn't really investigating other possible suspects though. Chandra visits the male mortician who saw Andrea on the night she died. He hates all women. Period..., Also, John finds out that Andrea's stepfather will inherit her $6 million home. Plus, he preys on elderly women as a fitness trainer. Is his greed a motive for murder?

John finally found a cure for his infected feet. He gets to wear shoes again before the trial. He sat in front of his “afflicted” group of men with a smile on his face. (That was funny and I laughed out loud). “Naz” is obviously giving up behind bars. When he inhaled that cocaine. It looked like he had a flashback to the night Andrea was killed. He cannot remember the moments when he blacked out. Meanwhile, his hard working parents take menial jobs to pay for his defense.

Click photo for THE NIGHT OF over at HBO.

"Rush Hour" gains a tick in TV ratings as series ends its' run

"Rush Hour" (CBS) can be seen each Saturday evening at 8/7 p.m. It aired at 7 p.m. (central time) in Albuquerque, NM on KRQE 13. Last night's episode on Aug. 13, 2016 was called, "The Dark Night." In the overnight TV ratings it garnered 1.74 million TV viewers overall. It reached 0.3 million TV viewers in the all important 18 to 49 adult demographic. "Summer Olympics" (NBC) grabbed 23.99 overall & 6.3 with adults (8-11 p.m.). "Last man standing" (ABC) nabbed 2.63 & 0.6 with adults (repeat).

Next week is the final episode of this TV series. It was cancelled by CBS after one TV season.

"Rush Hour" stars, Justin Hires (Detective James Carter), Jon Foo (Lee), Aimee Garcia (Didi Diaz), Page Kennedy (Gerald), Wendie Malick (Captain Lindsay Cole).

“The Dark Night.” Captain Cole assigns detective Carter and Lee to the case of Father Walter Brighton. He was caught on camera with two hookers and cocaine on the table. It was a prank 911 phone call sent to Walter's home by someone he doesn't know. He gives a sermon to his followers and is shot dead on the spot. The man who pulled the gun is captured and is also shot dead by a sniper in the parking lot.

You can watch “Rush Hour” over at CBS. Click photo.

CBS Photo

"Ben-Hur" opens in US theaters Aug. 19, 2016

BEN-HUR for MGM 2016. This is yet another remake of the epic story on the Tale of the Christ. MGM produced the 1925 version with Roman Navarro as Judah Ben-Hur. It is a classic silent film. MGM then dusted off the story and retold it with Charlton Heston as Judah in 1959. It was directed by the great William Wyler and won 11 Academy Awards. (A record at the time). It is 2016 and MGM has taken it down off the shelf again, but this time adding CGI effects. 

DREAM-WORKS even created a good animated story called, "The Prince of Egypt" in 1998. Val Kilmer was Judah and Ralph Fiennes was Messala. The musical numbers were great too.

If I can look past Morgan Freeman in those dreadlocks. I can try and enjoy something new. I have to look past the face of Jesus too. The 1959 version never showed his face and when people looked at him. They saw something spiritual and God-like. Also, in this new version, Judah has a brother when he only had a sister (Tirza) in 1959. Messala was a boyhood best friend who was like a brother. This probably won't win any Oscars, but I'm sure MGM will make some money. The production budget climbed to $100 million.

"Jack Reacher: Never Go Back" Trailer 2 released

JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK for PARAMOUNT PICTURES. (Opens in U.S., Theaters Oct. 21, 2016). The 2nd trailer has been released. Tom Cruise is filling Jack Reacher's action shoes really well. Even though Jack is a tall man in the mystery novels. I am reading "One Shot" which the first movie is based on and am loving it. I have to read the next novel for the next film. - Wahoo!

"Making a Murderer" Brendan Dassey conviction overturned

MAKING A MURDER on NETFLIX. Brendan Dassey was sentenced to life in prison as an accessory to the murder of a female photographer back in 2005. The documentary raised a lot of questions and reasonable doubt on Brendan's guilt. He was coerced into a confession so easily by police because of his really low, low, IQ. You can see the coercion by police in the complete documentary and it makes you angry. That teen didn't know how to defend himself to anyone. His mother was also helpless and their recorded phone calls were sad to hear. A judge has overturned Brendan's conviction. His uncle Steven Avery was also convicted and still remains behind bars. If you haven't watched this powerful documentary over at "Netfix." Check it out if you can...,

"Longmire" Returns for 5th TV season on Sept. 23, 2016

LONGMIRE on NETFLIX. Is set in Absaroka County near an Indian Reservation at Wyoming. It was filmed entirely at New Mexico and is entering its' 5th TV season. The date is set for release, streaming online, over at "Netflix." You can also watch all of the first 4 TV seasons at "Netflix."

Click Photo for LONGMIRE over at NETFLIX.

"Dateline" Keith Morrison chooses his most interesting episode

DATELINE on NBC. The Summer Olympics is pre-empting all NBC programs this August 2016. "The Charleston Affair" is the online episode chosen by Keith Morrison. It is one of my favorites too.

NBC says, "During the three weeks Dateline is off the air this August, our correspondents are sharing some of their most memorable reports. Keith Morrison's choice surrounds the story of an ex-con who confesses he had been hired to kill someone in the family of a wealthy Charleston banker."

Click photo for THE CHARLESTON AFFAIR over at NBC.

Roscoe Pond continues to write Murder Mystery Screenplays

It's all about writing that great Native American murder mystery movie. Last April 2016, I had an actor table read of my latest full length screenplay "Ambush." It is my 4th mystery in three years. I always have a table read to hear the "voices" of actors and actresses, so that I can work on "dialogue." It's important to the overall screenplay along with other elements like Time, Place, Plot and Character. I'm always grateful for the actors who are willing to read for any part. Each screenplay has to have a complete story or I have to drop it and/or rewrite it. "Ambush" is where I finally got it on murder and complete mystery.

AMBUSH actor table read April 2016.

"American Gothic" A female reporter plants a bug inside Hawthorne home

“American Gothic” (CBS) can be seen each Wednesday evening at 10/9 p.m. It aired at 9 p.m. (central time) in Albuquerque, NM on KRQE 13. Last night's episode on Aug. 10, 2016 was called, “Kindred Spirits.” In the overnight TV ratings it garnered 2.38 million TV viewers overall. It reached 0.4 million TV viewers in the all important 18 to 49 adult demographic. "Modern Family" (ABC) grabbed 1.84 overall & 0.5 with adults. "Summer Olympics" (NBC) nabbed 26.45 overall & 7.7 with adults (8-11 p.m.).

“American Gothic” stars, Juliet Rylance (Alison Hawthorne-Price), Antony Starr (Garrett Hawthorne), Justin Chatwin (Cam Hawthorne), Stephanie Leonidas (Sophie Hawthorne) & Virginia Madsen (Madeline Hawthorne).

“Kindred Spirits.” A female reporter planted a bug in the Hawthorne family home. She reports their secrets to the public. Cam's son Jack is registered into a school for troubled kids. He meets a girl just as interested in extreme science as he is. They go to his uncle Garrett's cabin and he steals a pocket knife. Jack is kicked out of school for carrying that knife. The knife is also similar to the one at the latest crime scene. An elderly lady was murdered who was connected to the “Silver Bells Killer.”

Click photo for AMERICAN GOTHIC streaming online at CBS.

(Garrett, Sophie and Madeline)

2 more episodes left for TV series "Rush Hour"

RUSH HOUR on CBS. There are only two episodes left and this TV series will end after only one TV season. (S01E012). The next episode is called, "The Dark Knight" that will air on Saturday Aug. 13, 2016 at 8/7 p.m. Detective Carter's past comes back to haunt him.

"Dateline" Andrea Canning chooses "Mystery in Mustang"

DATELINE on NBC. The 2016 Summer Olympics is pre-empting all NBC programs.

NBC says, "During the three weeks Dateline is off the air this August, our correspondents will be sharing some of their most memorable reports. Andrea Canning's choice follows the story of a beloved fire chief without an enemy in the world who is shot to death in front of his wife."

Click NBC photo for MYSTERY IN MUSTANG streaming online.

"48 Hours" TV Preview "A Raging Son"

48 HOURS on CBS. The episode called, "A Raging Son" will air this Saturday on Aug. 13, 2016 at 10/9 p.m. It is the second in back-to-back episodes.

CBS says, "A Weight Watchers executive is murdered by her Wall Street lawyer boyfriend. Did his mother's neglect 30 years ago push him to kill? "48 Hours"' Troy Roberts investigates."