Category: TV

“The Quatermass Xperiment” aka “The Creeping Unknown” (1955) starring Brian Donlevy / Z-View

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“The Quatermass Xperiment” aka “The Creeping Unknown” (1955)

Director: Val Guest

Screenplay:  Richard Landau, Val Guest; based on the 1953 tv series The Quatermass Experiment by Nigel Kneale

Stars:  Brian Donlevy, Richard Wordsworth, Jack Warner, David King-Wood, Margia Dean and Maurice Kaufmann.

Tagline: It’s coming for YOU from Space to wipe all living things from the face of the Earth! CAN IT BE STOPPED?

The Plot…

The first manned rocket ship into space was was a success thanks to Professor Bernard Quatermass.  He was the scientific genius behind the design, manufacture and launch of the ship.  While in space contact with the three man crew was lost.

When the ship returns Quatermass finds that two of the three astronauts are gone.  The only thing left of them is their empty space suits.  The third astronaut is in shock and unable to speak. Quatermass discovers that an alien organism killed the other two astronauts and is now in the third… mutating his body into something deadly.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Jane Asher plays the little girl trying to befriend the astronaut as he is mutating.  Asher would grow up to be one of Paul McCartney’s fiancées.

The film’s title spells Experiment as Xperiment as a way to draw attention to the fact that The British Board of Film Censors gave the film an X rating meaning the film had themes that might be too strong or intense for persons under the age of 16.

The Quatermass Xperiment was released as The Creeping Unknown in the US.

“The Quatermass Xperiment” aka “The Creeping Unknown” (1955) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Mobland” Season 2 starring Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan and Hellen Mirren – The Trailer is Here!

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Season 1 was awesome.  From the looks of the trailer for Mobland Season 2, looks like we’re in for more of the same.

Deal me in.

Season 2 of MobLand premieres September 18 only on Paramount+.

The Harrigans struggle to show a unified front as rising rivals threaten their criminal empire. Harry Da Souza, their street-smart and formidable ‘fixer’, must walk a dangerous tightrope when tensions within the family intensify. As violence spills into every corner of their lives, loyalties snap, safety proves temporary and the battle for power leaves no room for mercy.

“The Paper” Season 2 – The Poster & Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for The Paper Season 2 is here.

I enjoyed the first season and will check out the second.  Any other fans?

The Paper Season 2 is streaming September 9 on Peacock, plus catch up on Season 1 streaming now: https://pck.tv/45hBP6q

Synopsis: The documentary crew that immortalized Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch in the Emmy Award-winning series “The Office” find a new subject when they discover a historic Midwestern newspaper and the publisher trying to revive it.

In season two, after sweeping the Ohio Journalism Awards, Ned searches for a journalistic crusade, coming for a local private club and jeopardizing the paper, while he and Mare try to figure out their attraction, Esmeralda struggles to find her place, and the staff gradually mature as reporters.

The series stars Domhnall Gleeson, Sabrina Impacciatore, Chelsea Frei, Melvin Gregg, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Tim Key, Ramona Young, Eric Rahill, Duane Shepard Sr., Alex Edelman, and Oscar Nuñez.

Greg Daniels and Michael Koman serve as co-creators and executive producers. Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Howard Klein, Ben Silverman, and Banijay Americas (formerly Reveille) also executive produce.

“The Paper” is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

“Widow’s Bay” Season 1, starring Matthew Rhys, Kate O’Flynn and Stephen Root / Z-View

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Widow’s Bay: Season 1 (2026)

Created by: Katie Dippold 

Director:

  • Hiro Murai (eps. 1-3; 9-10)
  • Sam Donovan (eps. 4; 7)
  • Andrew DeYoung (eps. 5; 8)
  • Ti West (ep. 6)

Screenplay:

  • Katie Dippold (eps. 1; 10)
  • Kelly Galuska (ep. 2)
  • Neil Casey (ep. 3)
  • Mackenzie Dohr (ep. 4)
  • Colton Dunn (ep. 5)
  • Alberto Roldán (ep. 6)
  • Dave Harris (ep. 7)
  • Emma Ketchum (ep. 8)
  • Bobak Esfarjani (ep. 9)

Stars:  Matthew Rhys, Kate O’Flynn, Kevin Carroll, Dale Dickey, Kingston Rumi Southwick and Stephen Root.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Tom Loftis is Mayor of the small island town called Widow’s Bay.  Tom, now a widower and single parent, moved to the island to marry his wife.  As mayor, Tom’s major goal is to turn Widow’s Bay into a tourist town.  Some of the residents are all for the idea.  There are others who feel the island is cursed and bringing more folks to the island will create major problems.

Tom sees the naysayers as silly and superstitious.  But when strange things begin to happen, Tom tries to find rational reasons for them.  Soon enough Tom and the islanders are dealing with ghosts, a killer clown, time warps, a Sea Hag, a serial killer and more.

Welcome to Widow’s Bay!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Widow’s Bay received 19 Prime-Time Emmy award nominations.  Results will be announced September 4th.

  • Nominee for Outstanding Comedy Series
  • Nominee for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series – Matthew Rhys
  • Nominee for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Stephen Root
  • Nominee for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Kate O’Flynn
  • Nominee for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series – Hiro Murai, For episode “Welcome to Widow’s Bay!”
  • Nominee for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series – Katie Dippold, For episode “Welcome to Widow’s Bay!”
  • Nominee for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Dale Dickey
  • Nominee for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) – David Fleming (composer), For episode “Our History”
  • Nominee for Outstanding Music Supervision – Toko Nagata (music supervisor), For episode “Beach Reads”
  • Nominee for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation – Matt Yocum (co-supervising sound editor), Sang Jun Kim (co-supervising sound editor), Goeun Everett (sound effects editor), Ryan A. Sullivan (sound effects editor), Nate Underkuffler (music editor), Leslie Bloome (foley artist). Shaun Brennan (foley artist), For episode “What to Expect on Your Trip”
  • Nominee for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation – Tim Hoogenakker (re-recording mixer),  Larry Benjamin (re-recording mixer),  Kevin S. Parker (production mixer),  Scott Michael Smith (scoring mixer), Judah Getz (ADR mixer),  Leslie Bloome (foley mixer), For episode “What to Expect on Your Trip”
  • Nominee for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series – Hamish Linklater (as Richard Warren), For episode “Seasickness”
  • Nominee for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series – Betty Gilpin (as Sarah Westcott Warren), For episode “Our History”
  • Nominee for Outstanding Picture Editing for a Single Camera Comedy Series – Isaac Hagy (editor), For episode “Our History”
  • Nominee for Outstanding Picture Editing for a Single Camera Comedy Series – Kyle Reiter (editor), For episode “Welcome To Widow’s Bay!”
  • Nominee for Outstanding Picture Editing for a Single Camera Comedy Series – Jen Bryson (editor), For episode “What To Expect On Your Trip”
  • Nominee for Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series – Allison Jones (casting by), Emily Buntyn (casting by), Lisa Lobel (location casting), Angela Peri (location casting)
  • Nominee for Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (Half-Hour) – Christian Sprenger (director of photography)
  • Nominee for Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour) – Steve Arnold (production designer), Peter Borck (supervising art director),  Jennifer Engel (set decorator), For episode “Lodging”

As you can tell from the award nominations above, critics and viewers overwhelming like Widow’s Bay.  I enjoy it, but not as much as most folks.  I feel a bit of inconsistency due to the monster of the week format.  There are overarching storylines, but they take a back seat to dealing with each week’s ghost/sea hag/serial killer, etc.

Congrats to Matthew Rhys, Kate O’Flynn and Stephen Root for their well deserved Prime-Time Emmy acting nominations.

As always your mileage may vary, but for me Widow’s Bay rates a three.

Widow’s Bay: Season 1 (2026) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam” starring Joel Kinnaman – The Poster & Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam are here.  This limited series stars Joel Kinnaman.  It premieres September 13th.

Inspired by the memoir DEBRIEFING THE PRESIDENT by CIA Analyst John Nixon, the eight-episode political thriller chronicles one man’s relentless pursuit of truth amid a nation’s complicated quest for justice. The series is co-written and directed by Emmy Award-nominee Leslie Greif and produced by AR Content, who optioned Nixon’s book, and Big Dreams Entertainment.

The first two episodes of HIGH VALUE TARGET: THE HUNT FOR SADDAM will debut Sunday, September 13 at 9pm ET/PT, followed by episode three on Monday, September 14 at 9pm ET/PT on TNT. New episodes will premiere on subsequent Sunday and Monday evenings at 9pm ET/PT, culminating with the finale on Sunday, October 4 on TNT.

For the first time, HIGH VALUE TARGET: THE HUNT FOR SADDAM brings to television screens the story of John Nixon (Joel Kinnaman), the first CIA officer to interrogate Saddam Hussein (Waleed Zuaiter, The Girlfriend) following his capture in December 2003.

Set against the backdrop of one of the most consequential military operations in recent history, the pulse-pounding series explores the high-stakes exchanges between Nixon and Hussein. As Nixon seeks answers from the former Iraqi leader in his search for weapons of mass destruction, he is forced to confront the far-reaching consequences of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the ramifications that would reverberate around the world for decades to come.

“Famous Last Words: Eric Dane” (2025) / Z-View

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Famous Last Words: Eric Dane  (2025)

Director:  Ivan Dudynsky

Stars:  Eric Dane, Brad Falchuk

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Eric Dane knew he was dying.  In April 2025, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Since the diagnosis, Dane’s health rapidly declined.  Three months before his death, Dane sat with Brad Falchuk for a final interview.

The interview took place in a closed studio room.  Camera operators were outside the set and couldn’t hear what was being said.  Falchuk guided the conversation which touched on topics such as living in the present; choosing friends wisely, finding your passion/joy and dealing with hardships with grace.

Then Falchuk left the room.  Dane was given the time to speak his final last words.  Dane’s last message would not be heard by anyone until after his death and the interview aired.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The interview was filmed secretly in November 2025.  Dane died on February 19, 2026.  The interview premiered the next day.

I was an Eric Dane fan thanks to the series The Last Ship.  I became a bigger fan after watching this interview.  He approached his end with positivity, dignity and self-reflection.  His final message was to his fans and daughters.

Famous Last Words: Eric Dane  (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Carrie” from Mike Flanagan – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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A poster and teaser for Mike Flanagan’s series adaption of Stephen King’s Carrie have arrived.

I like King’s novel and am a huge fan of Brian DePalma’s movie adaptation.  Since I’m also a Flanagan fan, and the trailer works, I’m looking forward to this.  The fact that the entire series drops on October 7th is a plus.

Deal me in.

She just wanted a friend. They gave her a fight.

All episodes of Carrie, a new series from Mike Flanagan, premiere October 7 on Prime Video.