Category: TV

“The Wire” Season 4 created by David Simon / Z-View

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The Wire: Season 4 (2006)

Created by: David Simon

Teleplay by:

  • (eps. 1,13) David Simon from a story by David Simon, Ed Burns;
  • (ep. 2) David Mills from a story by Ed Burns, David Mills
  • (ep. 3) Richard Price from a story by Ed Burns, Richard Price
  • (ep. 4) Dennis Lehane from a story by Ed Burns, Dennis Lehane
  • (eps. 5, 11) Ed Burns from a story by David Simon, Ed Burns
  • (ep. 6) Eric Overmyer  from a story by Ed Burns, Eric Overmyer 
  • (ep. 7) William F. Zorzi from a story by Ed Burns, William F. Zorzi
  • (ep. 8) Richard Price from a story by Ed Burns, Richard Price
  • (ep. 9) Kia Corthron from a story by Ed Burns, Kia Corthron
  • (ep. 10) Eric Overmyer from a story by Ed Burns, Eric Overmyer
  • (ep. 12) George Pelecanos from a story by Ed Burns,  George Pelecanos

Directed by: Joe Chappelle (eps. 1, 12); Christine Moore (ep. 2); Seith Mann (ep. 3); Jim McKay (ep. 4); David Platt (ep. 5); Dan Attias (ep.6); Anthony Hemingway (ep. 7); Agnieszka Holland (ep. 8); Alex Zakrzewski (ep. 9); Ernest Dickerson (ep. 10, 13); Brad Anderson (ep. 11)

Stars: Aidan Gillen, Jim True-Frost, Domenick Lombardozzi, Reg E. Cathey, Jamie Hector, Wendell Pierce, Lance Reddick, Sonja Sohn, John Doman, Clarke Peters, Robert Wisdom, Seth Gilliam, Corey Parker Robinson, Frankie Faison, Dominic West, Deirdre Lovejoy, Andre Royo,  J. D. Williams, Chad Coleman, Glynn Turman, Robert F. Chew, Method Man, Hassan Johnson, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Felicia Pearson, Michael Kostroff, Isiah Whitlock, Jr., Delaney Williams, Amy Ryan, Paul Ben-Victor  and Michael K. Williams.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

With Stringer Bell dead, Marlo has expanded his crew to take over the Barksdale territory.  The police are surprised that Marlo’s expansion hasn’t led to dead bodies.  It has, but Marlo has figured a way to keep them under cover.  Chris and Snoop continue taking bodies but they never turn up.

Herc, on the Mayor’s security detail figures it will be an easy way to promotion.  Then Herc accidentally learns something that may cost him his job.

Councilman Carcetti continues his efforts to become Baltimore’s new Mayor.  Carcetti’s rise in the polls forces Mayor Royce to take stern actions.  Dirty tricks and questionable ethics are par for the course.

Michael’s willingness to do what it takes to control his corner impresses Marlo.  Omar bids his time until he is ready to make his move against Marlo’s organization.

Former Major Crimes Unit Officer Roland ‘Prez’ Pryzbylewski takes a teaching job at a local high school.  Ex-con Cutty, trying to stay out of trouble with his parole officer begins working as a truant officer.  Bubbles is repeatedly beaten and robbed by a street thug.  His police friends are no help.  When Bubbles has reached his limit, he plans revenge that backfires in a way that will haunt him for life.

Deputy Commissioner Rawls sees the shifting political sands as an opportunity for advancement. Former Baltimore Police Major Howard “Bunny” Colvin accepts a position supported by a government grant to work with the most disruptive high school students.  The plan isn’t supported by district or state guidelines, but seems to be working.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Wire was a Nominee for a 2005 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series –  George Pelecanos (writer/story by), David Simon (story by) for the Middle Ground episode

Each season of The Wire builds upon the last. The series continues to be well written, well directed and well acted.

The series spends as much time with the criminals as the cops. This season we get political intrigue, the impact politics has on police work and a local at students headed in the wrong direction and their impact on school settings. Kudos to the writers for making each character and storyline important.

I cannot wait to start season 5.

The Wire: Season 4 (2006) earns 5 of 5 stars.

“aka Charlie Sheen” (2025) / Z-View

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aka Charlie Sheen (2025)

Director:  Andrew Renzi

Stars: Charlie Sheen, Sean Penn, Jon Cryer, Denise Richards, Chris Tucker and Heidi Fleiss.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Charlie Sheen bares all in a two-part documentary that covers his life from a small child to now.  Sheen discusses his childhood, movie career, being the highest paid actor on television ($2 million per episode) as well as repeatedly bottoming out several times along the way due to drug and alcohol abuse.

Sheen along with Sean Penn (childhood friend), Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men co-star), Chris Tucker (movie co-star), Denise Richards (ex-wife), Heidi Fleiss (famous Hollywood Madam to the Stars) and others tell of Sheen’s highs and lows.  Nothing is off limits and Charlie discusses many topics for the first time.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charlie Sheen had it all.  And lost it several times due to his self-destructive and addictive personality.  It is amazing that Sheen was able to come back so many times.  He seems to be in a good place now and perhaps it is due to his willingness to open up about his life.  Sheen has been clean for seven years at this point.  Hopefully he won’t relapse.

aka Charlie Sheen (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Landman” Season 2 starring Billy Bob Thornton, Ali Larter, Michael Peña, Jon Hamm & Demi Moore – The Trailer is Here!

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Landman: Season 2 – The Trailer is Here.

I cannot wait!

Landman Season 2 Returns Nov. 16 on Paramount+

Set in the boomtowns of Texas, Landman (starring Billy Bob Thornton) is a modern tale of fortune seeking amongst roughnecks and billionaires in the world of oil.

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Ali Larter, Michael Peña, Jon Hamm, Demi Moore

“Tulsa King” Season 3 starring Sly Stallone – The Trailer is Here!

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The trailer for Tulsa King: Season 3 is here and it is lit, slaps, fire, cool and, well, you get the idea.

Deal me in.

Only Tulsa is fit for this king. 👊

The new season of #TulsaKing premieres September 21 on Paramount+!

After serving 25 years in prison, Dwight Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) is unceremoniously exiled by his mob boss to set up shop in Oklahoma. Dwight slowly builds a new criminal empire in a place that to him might as well be another planet: Tulsa.

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Andrea Savage, Jay Will, Martin Starr & Max Casella

RIP: Graham Greene

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It was announced that Graham Greene died today after a long illness. Mr. Greene was 73.

Graham Greene was born in in Ohsweken, Ontario on the Six Nations Reserve.  Before he began his career as an actor Mr. Greene worked as a draftsman, steelworker, welder and audio technician for rock bands.

In the 1970s, Graham Greene began appearing professionally in plays in both Canada and England.  In 1979, Mr. Greene made his television debut appearing in the Canadian series The Great Detective.  In 1983, Graham Greene appeared in the feature film Running Brave starring Robby Benson.

Graham Greene’s career included multiple awards for his work.  Examples include awards for his work in…

  • … theater (1989 Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Leading Role – Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing)

 

  • … television (1994 Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Children’s or Youth Program or Series – The Adventures of Dudley the Dragon and 2004 Gemini Lifetime Achievement Award)

 

  • …film (1991 nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor – Dances with Wolves)

Some of the television projects that feature Graham Greene include: The Great Detective; Read All About It!; Adderly; Street Legal; Captain Power and the Soldiers of Fortune; Spirit Bay (2 episodes); The Campbells (3 episodes); 9B (5 episodes); L.A. Law; Cooperstown; North of 60; The Wild West; Northern Exposure (5 episodes); Spirit Rider; Murder, She Wrote (2 episodes); Lonesome Dove: The Series (3 episodes); 500 Nations (3 episodes); Happily Ever After; Liberty Street; Jake and the Kid; Heritage Minutes; The Outer Limits; Poltergeist the Legacy; Dead Man’s Gun; The Adventures of Dudley the Dragon (17 episodes); PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal; Safe Harbor; First Wave; Trial by Fire; Big Wolf on Campus; Christmas in the Clouds; Cover Me: Based on the True Life of a F.B.I. Family (4 episodes); Canada: A People’s History (3 episodes); Wolf Lake (10 episodes); The New Beachcombers; Skinwalkers: The Navajo Mysteries (2 episodes); Mister Sterling; A Thief of Time; Coyote Waits; Freedom: A History of the U.S. (3 episodes); Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion (2 episodes); A Beachcombers Christmas; The Collector; Into the West; Numbers; The Red Green Show (27 episodes); The War that Made America; This is Wonderland; Tales of an Urban Indian; Living in Your Car; Being Erica (5 episodes); Caution: May Contain Nuts; Family Tree; Defiance (28 episodes); Longmire (12 episodes); Riverdale; Detour (3 episodes); Project Blue Book; Goliath (8 episodes); American Gods (2 episodes); 1883; The Last of Us; Reservation Dogs (3 episodes); Bones of the Crows: The Series; Echo (5 episodes) and Tulsa King.

Some of Graham Greene’s feature film appearances include: Running Brave; Powwow Highway; Where the Spirit Lives; Dances with Wolves; Clearcut; The Last of His Tribe; Thunderheart; Maverick; Die Hard with a Vengeance; The Education of Little Tree; Grey Owl; The Green Mile; Lost and Delirious; Skins; Punch and Judy; Transamerica; Breakfast with Scott; Seattle’s Loch Ness: The Lake Washington Sea Monster; Corner Gas: The Movie; Te Ata; Wind River; Molly’s Game; The Performance; The Great Salish Heist; The Birds Who Fear Death; Sweet Summer Powwow; The Protector; Protectors of the Land and Paige Darcy: Reluctant Detective.

I first saw Graham Greene is his Academy Award-nominated performance in Dances with Wolves.  What an impact he made.  From that point on whenever Mr. Greene appeared on screen, there was added gravitas.  I loved Graham Greene in everything.  Some of my favorite performances besides Dances with Wolves include those on Longmire; Die Hard with a Vengeance; Thunderheart; The Last of Us and of course Tulsa King.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Graham Greene’s family, friends and fans.

Dwight Manfredi is the “Tulsa King” by Wilfredo Torres!

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In 2012, I went to MegaCon and my main purpose was to get a sketch from Wilfredo Torres.  I was lucky enough to be first on his sketch list.  Wilfredo opted to draw Stallone as Cobra.

Finally, in 2025, the stars aligned and I was able to get on Wilfredo’s advance sketch list for HeroesCon.  I asked for Stallone from Tulsa King and Wilfredo came through royally.

“The Wire”: Season 3 (2004) created by David Simon / Z-View

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The Wire: Season 3 (2004)

Created by: David Simon

Teleplay by:

  • (eps. 1, 12) David Simon from a story by David Simon, Ed Burns;
  • (ep.2, 8) Richard Price from a story by David Simon, Richard Price
  • (ep. 3) Dennis Lehane from a story by David Simon, Dennis Lehane
  • (ep. 4, 11) George Pelecanos from a story by David Simon, George Pelecanos
  • (ep. 5, 10) Ed Burns from a story by David Simon, Ed Burns
  • (ep. 6) Rafael Alvarez  from a story by David Simon, Rafael Alvarez
  • (ep. 7) Joy Lusco from a story by David Simon, Joy Lusco
  • (ep. 9) David Simon from a story by David Simon, George Pelecanos

Directed by: Ed Bianchi (ep. 1); Steve Shill (ep. 2); Rob Bailey (ep. 3); Ernest Dickerson (eps. 4, 12); Dan Attias (ep. 5); Leslie Libman (ep.6); Tim Van Patten (ep. 7); Agnieszka Holland (ep. 8); Alex Zakrzewski (ep. 9); Christine Moore (ep. 10); Joe Chappelle (ep. 11)

Stars: Dominic West, Idris Elba, Lance Reddick, Sonja Sohn, Robert Wisdom, Wood Harris, Clarke Peters, Seth Gilliam, Domenick Lombardozzi, J. D. Williams, John Doman, Frankie Faison, Deirdre Lovejoy, Andre Royo, Jim True-Frost, Wendell Pierce, Corey Parker Robinson, Robert F. Chew, Method Man, Michael Potts, Hassan Johnson, Isiah Whitlock, Jr., Jamie Hector, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Felicia Pearson, Glynn Turman, Callie Thorne, Chad Coleman, Maria Broom  and Michael K. Williams.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The towers are razed for new development.  This leaves the Barksdale drug organization without territory.  Councilman Tommy Carcetti begins a run for Mayor of Baltimore.  Since it is an election year, crime becomes a campaign issue.  Pressure is put on the Baltimore PD to get crime statistics down… even if they have to massage them.

Police Major Covin comes up with an unauthorized and controversial plan to actually lower the crime stats by forcing drug dealer to move to low population areas of the city where they can freely sell drugs. Covin knows that higher ups and the mayor would never approve of his idea, but he moves forward anyway.

A new and ruthless drug dealer begins to encroach on Stansfield territory.  Omar continues to steal cash and drugs from dealers.  Omar is becoming a legend. Brother Mouzone, a ruthless killer, is brought in to find and eliminate Omar.

Meanwhile the major crimes unit deals with political demands and personal issues as they work to bring down the city’s drug traffickers.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Each season of The Wire builds upon the last. The series continues to be well written, well directed and well acted.

The series spends as much time with the criminals as the cops. This season we get political intrigue and the impact politics has on police work. Kudos to the writers for making each character and storyline important.

New recurring characters introduced in The Wire Season 3 that are amazing include Jamie Hector (Marlo Stanfield), Gbenga Akinnagbe (Chris Partlow), and Felicia Pearson (Snoop).

I cannot wait to start season 4.

The Wire: Season 3 (2004) earns 5 of 5 stars.

“WWE: Unreal” – Season 1 (2025) / Z-View

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WWE: Unreal – Season 1 (2025)

Director: (Eps. 1-5) Terrell Riley, Steve Trout

Stars: Demi Bennett (Rhea Ripley); Mark Calaway (The Undertaker); John Cena; Jacob Fatu; Dominik Gutiérrez (Dominik Mysterio); Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson; Paul Levesque (‘Triple H’); Darren Matthews (William Regal); Stephanie McMahon; Bruce Prichard; CM Punk; Cody Rhodes; Jesse “The Body” Ventura; Joshua Samuel Fatu (Jey Uso); Paul Heyman; Colby Lopez (Seth Rollins); Logan Paul; Dusty Rhodes; Michael Seitz (Michael Hayes); Jade Cargill; Ashley Fliehr (Charlotte Flair); Brian ‘Road Dogg’ James and Ric Flair.

Tagline: It’s More Real Than You Think

The Plot…

WWE Unreal gives fans unprecedented access behind-the-scenes at how professional wrestling works.  Cameras are allowed into the writers’ room as the executives on the creative team prepare for the WWE Netflix premiere and events leading up to Wrestlemania 41.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

When I was a kid everyone involved in professional wrestling worked to make sure that it was thought of as “real”.  Then in 1989, Vince McMahon announced professional wrestling  wasn’t a legitimate sport, but instead was sports entertainment.  The bumps and injuries are real, but the match outcomes are predetermined.  Pro wrestling fans didn’t care.

I haven’t watched pro wrestling in years, but I was interested in the behind-the-scenes access.  I wasn’t disappointed.  In fact, WWE Unreal got me interested in watching again.

WWE: Unreal – Season 1 (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars

“The Lowdown” starring Ethan Hawke – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I’m diggin’ the look and feel for the poster and trailer for The Lowdown.

Deal me in.

Ethan Hawke stars in FX’s The Lowdown.

Premieres 9.23 on FX. Stream on Hulu

#TheLowdown #FX

FX’s The Lowdown from Creator Sterlin Harjo and starring Executive Producer Ethan Hawke, follows the gritty exploits of citizen journalist “Lee Raybon” (Hawke), a self-proclaimed Tulsa “truthstorian” whose obsession with the truth is always getting him into trouble. When the publication of Lee’s latest exposé – a deep dive into the powerful Washberg family – is immediately followed by the suspicious suicide of “Dale Washberg” (Tim Blake Nelson), Lee knows he’s stumbled onto something big.

“The Wire: Season Two” created by David Simon / Z-View

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The Wire: Season 2 (2003)

Created by: David Simon

Teleplay by: (eps. 1-3, 6, 9, 12) David Simon from a story by David Simon, Ed Burns; (ep.4) Joy Lusco from a story by David Simon, Joy Lusco; (ep. 5, 10) Ed Burns from a story by David Simon, Ed Burns; (ep. 7) Rafael Alvarez from a story by David Simon, Rafael Alvarez; (ep. 8, 11) George Pelecanos from a story by David Simon, George P. Pelecanos.

Directed by: Ed Bianchi (eps. 1-2); Elodie Keene (eps. 3-4); Steve Shill (eps. 5-6); Thomas J. Wright (ep. 7); Dan Attias (ep. 8); Tim Van Patten (ep. 9); Rob Bailey (ep. 10);  (ep. 11); Ernest Dickerson (ep. 11); Robert F. Colesberry (ep. 12)

Stars: Dominic West, Chris Bauer, Paul Ben-Victor, John Doman, Idris Elba, Wood Harris, Deirdre Lovejoy, Clarke Peters, Wendell Pierce, Lance Reddick, Amy Ryan, Sonja Sohn, Seth Gilliam, Domenick Lombardozzi, Jim True-Frost, Andre Royo, James Ransone, Pablo Schreiber, Al Brown, Frankie Faison, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Bill Raymond, Hassan Johnson, Delaney Williams, Maria Broom, Callie Thorne, Michael K. Williams, Charley Scalies, Melanie Nicholls-King and Robert Hogan.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

When one woman is found dead floating in the in the Port of Baltimore, the investigation turns up a shipping container full of dead women.  Human traffickers are bringing in young girls on cargo ships along with drugs and weapons.  This wouldn’t happen without support from dock workers.

The major crimes unit, is told to change their focus from bringing down the Barksdale crime family to solving the murders on the docks.

But maybe they can work on both… if they don’t mind working out of the chain of command.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Wire continues to look and feel real. In fact some of the smaller roles (both police and criminals) are played by real-life police and criminals.  Some of the characters are based on real-life people and events.

The series is well written, well directed and well acted.  So many of the unknown actors (when the series started) went on to have great careers.

I love that the series spends as much time with the criminals as the cops.  It’s interesting to see both groups struggling to stay one step ahead of the other.

Chris Bauer as Frank Sobotka is a great addition to the cast.  If Rocky was remade in 2003, Bauer could have played Paulie.

When I saw that the docks were going to be a major location, I was worried.  I loved the city beat and the team working to take down the Barksdale family.  I shouldn’t have been concerned.  The story just got bigger without losing it’s focus.  Kudos to the writers for making each character and storyline important.

I cannot wait to start season 3.

The Wire: Season 2 (2003) earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Splinter Cell: Deathwatch” – Two Teasers & One Poster Are Here!

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Here we have two trailers and one poster for Splinter Cell: Deathwatch coming to Netflix on October 14th.

Deal me in.

Get your first look at Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, a new animated series from Netflix and Ubisoft Film & Television coming soon. #GeekedWeek

From the creator of the “John Wick” franchise comes Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, a new animated series from Netflix and Ubisoft, inspired by the iconic video game franchise.

Liev Schreiber is Sam Fisher, only on Netflix on October 14th.

“Black Rabbit” starring Jason Bateman & Jude Law – The Trailer is Here!

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The trailer for Black Rabbit did it’s job.

Deal me in.

When the owner of NYC’s biggest hotspot (Jude Law) allows his troubled brother (Jason Bateman) to return to the family business, trouble multiplies.

Make a Reservation for BLACK RABBIT here: https://www.netflix.com/blackrabbit

BLACK RABBIT is a limited series created and executive produced by Zach Baylin and Kate Susman for Youngblood Pictures.

Executive producers include #JasonBateman, Michael Costigan and Roxie Rodriguez for Aggregate Films; #JudeLaw and Ben Jackson for Riff Raff Entertainment; Brian Kavanaugh-Jones from Automatik; Andrew Hinderaker, Zac Frognowski, Justin Levy, David Bernon and Erica Kay.