TEST1 2018

IN TWEET: AN INTRIGUING PREMISE AND MEXICAN ACTOR DEMIÁN BICHIR ARE STAND-OUTS IN THE “THE BRIDGE,” AN UNEVEN BUT PROMISING NEW ORIGINAL FROM FX. In the opening moments of THE BRIDGE , a new crime drama that debuted last week on FX, a serial killer disrupts electronic surveillance on the Bridge of the Americas long enough to leave a chilling calling card: the lifeless body of a woman placed directly on the border line between the United States and Mexico. When authorities from both countries show up to investigate, El Paso police detective Sonya Cross ( Diane Kruger ) immediately stakes her claim because the victim, a judge, is from the U.S. Her Mexican counterpart, Det. Marco Ruiz ( Demián Bichir ), has no desire to add another crime to an already full plate back in Juárez and happily lets Cross take the reins. Things get ugly and more complicated when Cross and her colleagues make a shocking discovery while attempting to move the body: there are actually two victims. The killer...

IN TWEET: IT’S A BIRD! IT’S A PLANE! IT’S A MESS! “MAN OF STEEL” NOW RANKS AS THE BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR. I sat on this review for a few days just to make sure I felt as let down by MAN OF STEEL as I did when I left the theater. Yep, it’s as much of a loud, depressing and confoundingly messy train wreck today as it was when I saw it this past weekend. What the hell happened here? Let’s dispense with the good stuff. This will be quick because there is so little of it. Henry Cavill is not only beyond hot, he was born to play Superman. He looks the part and has the requisite masculine physicality. Cavill is also incredibly warm and appealing, despite every effort by the filmmakers to suck the fun out of any scene he is in. If there is goodwill to be had here, Cavill is the reason for most of it. The supporting cast is filled with great actors who try their damndest to do something with the scraps they are given. God bless Kevin Costner , Diane Lane , Amy Adams , Lauren...

IN TWEET: MARC CHERRY’S FOLLOW-UP TO “DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES” LANDS ON LIFETIME…WITH A RESOUNDING THUD. There’s been more than a little anger directed at DEVIOUS MAIDS , which debuts on June 23rd. Most of it has come from Latino journalists and bloggers who, it should be noted, passed judgment on the series before they actually saw a full episode (note: basing your entire opinion of a series on a teaser trailer is not responsible journalism). I’m not going to jump into a debate that will be a losing battle for a white guy, no matter how I weigh in. I will say, however, that this new Lifetime original is a major disappointment on just about every level. It’s simply too dull and lifeless to be offensive to anyone. I was one of those viewers who stuck with DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES from pilot through series finale (yes, even that dreadful second season for which Alfre Woodard is owed an eternity of apologies). When the show was firing on all cylinders, it was a smart, brutally funny ple...

IN TWEET: THE FULL PROMO REEL FOR THE NEW SERIES “MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.” COMING TO ABC THIS FALL. In advance of tomorrow’s full CLIPPED/SE dedicated to the new Fall series on ABC, here’s the extended trailer for what is already the most anticipated series of the 2013/14 season: MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. It’s got all of the signature Joss Whedon touches and big-screen quality production values. Funny, action-packed and Couslon-centric . Right now, it looks like must see stuff. Enjoy! NOTE: YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO VIEW THIS VIDEO FROM ANY DESKTOP OR LAPTOP BROWSER. SOME MOBILE BROWSERS, HOWEVER, DO NOT SUPPORT VIDEO PLUG-INS. IF THAT IS THE CASE, CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO THE VIDEO AND OPEN IN YOUR YOU TUBE APP.

IN TWEET: IT’S ANOTHER SPECIAL UPFRONTS EDITION OF “CLIPPED” FEATURING EXTENDED TRAILERS FOR NEW SERIES COMING THIS FALL. UP TODAY IS FOX. This is one of the shakiest slates I’ve seen from FOX in awhile. There’s one buzzy re-imagining here that might generate some numbers (hint: it’s pictured above) and a surprisingly funny rip-off of…er…I mean, homage to STRIPES but the rest of the lot runs the gamut from utterly conventional to outright wretched . Again, because networks will continue to tweak and refine their new offerings, I am not going to include much specific schedule information. Like the NBC post yesterday , this list includes only new Fall series. We’ll cover the FOX midseason newbies at a later date. ALMOST HUMAN ALMOST HUMAN looks like castoff bits of ROBOCOP, DOLLHOUSE and “insert name of mismatched partners cop show here” were thrown into a blender and then reconstituted by the JJ Abrams TV assembly line. It’s clear that Abrams’ attentions are more on the big scre...

IN TWEET: A SPECIAL EDITION OF “CLIPPED” FEATURING EXTENDED TRAILERS FOR SIX OF THE NEW SERIES COMING TO NBC THIS FALL. It’s Upfronts Week! The annual dog and pony show where West Coast network execs fly to New York City, series stars in tow, in order to convince East Coast media buyers that the new shows they just picked up don’t suck out loud. The mission: book as many ad dollars as you can in advance of the upcoming Fall season. Sound fun? It’s not. The only people who like it are the newbies who enjoy a free lunch and presentations devoid of any spontaneity. Alas, like going to a wake for that strange uncle you never really felt comfortable with, it’s just something you gotta do. Why? Ah, sweet mystery of media life! As the broadcast networks release promos and footage of their new series for this Fall, I will be posting them in special editions of CLIPPED . I’m not going to get too hung up on schedule information at this point because networks juggle and tweak quite a bit dur...

IN TWEET: IT’S TOM HANKS VS. SOMALI PIRATES IN “CAPTAIN PHILLIPS.” ONE OF THE MOST INTENSE TRAILERS I’VE SEEN IN MONTHS. The Summer movie season is barely underway and, already, studios are promoting their tentpole Fall releases. Makes sense, of course. Strike while the people are in seats and packing theaters across the country. When I went to see THE GREAT GATSBY (click for my review) , the last thing I expected was a trailer this intense for a movie starring Tom Hanks. It came straight out of left field. CAPTAIN PHILLIPS is based on the true story of the Maersk Alabama hijacking by Somali pirates in 2009. The trailer is particularly strong. Check it out below. NOTE: YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO VIEW THIS VIDEO FROM ANY DESKTOP OR LAPTOP BROWSER. SOME MOBILE BROWSERS, HOWEVER, DO NOT SUPPORT VIDEO PLUG-INS. IF THAT IS THE CASE, CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO THE VIDEO AND OPEN IN YOUR YOU TUBE APP. CAPTAIN PHILLIPS opens October 11, 2013.