Streamed & Screened: Movie and TV Reviews and Interviews

Ready. Set. Binge! "The Bear" is back for season 3, with all 10 episodes dropping on June 27. 

Co-host Bruce Miller has already previewed the season, and offers spoiler-free insights (other than we get to see more of Chicago).

Miller also has an interview with Lily Gladstone, who talks about her "new" movie "Fancy Dance." No, this isn't the result of her success in "Killers of the Flower Moon." Just like the Fx/Hulu series "Under the Bridge," this was one of several projects filmed in a short period of time, and "Fancy Dance" premiered at Sundance on Jan. 20, 2023.

He also share an interview with writer/director Erica Tremblay and offers up some other independent films to watch for: "Thelma" and "A Sacrifice."

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This week we seem to have something for everyone. 

First, co-hosts Terry Lipshetz and Bruce Miller talk about the return of "House of the Dragon," which recently began Season 2 of the "Game of Thrones" prequel on HBO/Max. And yes, we're off to a bloody start.

The Emmy nominations will be out soon, and one interesting possibility will be the documentary series "Telemarketers," which aired on HBO in 2023. We have an interview with directors Adam Bhala Lough and Sam Lipman-Stern, who dive into the dark side of the telemarketing industry.

Finally, Apple TV+has a new animated series coming June 28 that stars Jeanine Mason and Teri Hatcher. We have interviews with both stars.

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The Television Critics Association announced the nominees for the 40th annual TCA Awards and one of the shows with a lot of nominations and buzz is the Netflix limited series "Baby Reindeer."

The show is based on a real-life stalking situation comic, creator and star Richard Gadd lived through and leads co-hosts Bruce Miller and Terry Lipshetz into a discussion about the price of fame.

Disney+ released its latest "Star Wars" series "The Acolyte," and the hosts have mixed thoughts about the program starring Carrie-Anne Moss, who is no stranger to sci-fi franchises having starred in "The Matrix" films.

Finally, we look at some of the shows highlighting the TCA Awards nominations beyond "Baby Reindeer," including "The Bear," "Hacks," "Reservation Dogs," "Ripley" and "Shogun." We also talk about how FX (16 nominations), Netflix (16) and HBO/Max (13) continue to dominate the various awards as network programming continues to struggle.

Speaking of HBO, "House of the Dragon" season 2 drops Sunday, June 16. More on that soon!

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Andrew McCarthy and the Brat Pack are back, but no, they're not getting back into the coming of age movies of the 1980s that made them famous.

"Brats" is the new McCarthy-directed documentary that looks back at the actors that were labeled the "Brat Pack." McCarthy reaches out to the actors and talks with Brat Pack actors like Demi Moore, Rob Lowe and Emilio Estevez, as well as Brat Pack adjacent actors like Jon Cryer.

"Brats" premieres June 13 on Hulu, and in this episode co-hosts Bruce Miller and Terry Lipshetz talk about the two 1985 films that featured three of the Brat Pack actors that led to the name, "The Breakfast Club" and "St. Elmo's Fire."

They also discuss the films of John Hughes, who directed most of the movies of the era that featured Brat Pack actors of the time. The Hughes films, notably "Sixteen Candles," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "The Breakfast Club," "Pretty in Pink" and "Some Kind of Wonderful," were iconic of the era and gave an opportunity for young actors to shine.

Would you see a musical adaptation of "The Notebook" or "Back to the Future"? Maybe "Water for Elephants" or "The Great Gatsby" is more your thing.

These are just some examples of how movies are now being adapted into musicals, rather than the other way around. Co-host Bruce Miller talks about his recent trip to New York where he spent a week seeing some of the hottest shows on Broadway, plus he shares his experience getting an autograph from Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, after a performance of "Merrily We Roll Along."

Documentaries can put viewers into situations they'd never encounter, such as rock climbing in "Free Solo" or big-wave surfing through the HBO series "100 Foot Wave."

"The Blue Angels" brings you inside the cockpit of a U.S. Navy jet and tells the story from the perspective of those that are members of the team.

Co-host Bruce Miller talks about the documentary and shares an interview he had with Greg Wooldridge, the only three-time Boss of the Blue Angels, and director Paul Crowder.

"Garfield" is coming for the kids and action fans will get "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" for Memorial Day weekend, but there are some concerns about the summer lineup. "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" has done well so far but has not exploded in the way other early blockbusters like last year's "The Super Mario Bros. Movie."

We also talk about "The Jinx: Part Two," which updates the story of real estate heir and convicted killer Robert Durst, "Back to Black," the story of Amy Winehouse, and the latest season of “Bridgerton.” 

We look at the career of Jeff Daniels, who has another new series in “A Man in Full,” and chat about the recent end to the 49th season of "Saturday Night Live."

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The curtains eventually fall on every popular television program. Sure, "The Simpsons" is still going strong at 35 seasons and more than 750 episodes, but that's the exception rather than the rule.

"M*A*S*H" closed with a TV movie. "Newhart" was a dream of Dr. Robert Newhart. "How I Met Your Mother" ended on its own terms, but it's spinoff, "How I Met Your Father" was left unresolved.

Not long after "Curb Your Enthusiasm" wrapped, "Young Sheldon" is another popular program to close this season. We talk about that, have an interview with Montana Jordan who will continue in his role as Georgie Cooper in a spinoff series, and discuss other programs such as "Deadwood," "Mindhunter" and "Cobra Kai."

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"The Fall Guy" with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt underwhelmed at the box office despite favorable reviews and audience scores. Is it a sign of a poor upcoming summer for blockbusters at the box office?

"Unfrosted," Jerry Seinfeld's fictional look at the history of Pop Tarts, is the No. 1 movie on Netflix but has not faired well with viewers or critics.

So maybe the biggest thing to come is the latest series of "Doctor Who," which debuted in 1963 but now finds itself as the newest, biggest show on Disney+. As an added treat, co-host Bruce Miller has an interview with co-stars Ncuti Gatwa, who stars as the Fifteenth Doctor, and Millie Gibson, who plays Ruby Sunday. Miller also talks with showrunner Russel T Davies.

We also look ahead to summer, where "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" is expected to rule.

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Zendaya has come a long way since becoming a favorite of tweens thanks to "Shake It Up" and "K.C. Undercover" on the Disney Channel.

She has starred in the not-PG HBO hit "Euphoria" and has appeared in a pair of "Spider-Man" movies, the two "Dune" films and "The Greatest Showman." Now, Zendaya is starring in the sports drama "Challengers," which has quickly become a hit.

In this week's episode, we talk about the film as well as other movies about tennis, which don't necessarily stack up with other sports features.

Also, would you head into space if given the chance?

Co-host Bruce Miller also has an interview with Dr. Cady Coleman, a former astronaut, and her son, Jamey Simpson. They talk about the problems of separation for astronauts and their families. They’re featured in “Space: The Longest Goodbye,” which airs May 12 on PBS.

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Dulé Hill returns to television after the cancelation of 'The Wonder Years' in a new four-part documentary on PBS, "The Express Way with Dulé Hill." Bruce Miller has an interview with Hill and they talk the arts, including his background in tapdancing.

Elisabeth Moss is back, but not in "The Handmaid's Tale," which remains on hiatus before its final season. Instead, she stars in a new FX/Hulu miniseries, "The Veil." And Jean Smart is also back for the third season of the Max series "Hacks."

Finally, Terry Lipshetz talks about a new show from HGTV that also airs on Max called "Lakefront Empire." It's an oddly addictive show that feels like a mashup between the Netflix drama "Ozark" and the HGTV reality series "House Hunters."

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Things had been relatively quiet, but there are now plenty of options coming to streaming services and in theaters, especially as we get closer to the summer movie season.

In this week's episode, co-host Bruce Miller shares an interview he had with Quinn Shephard and Samir Mehta, producers of "Under the Bridge," a new limited series on Hulu staring Lily Gladstone. It's the first big project for Gladstone, fresh off her Oscar nomination for "Killers of the Flower Moon."

Also on Hulu is a new four-part documentary called, "Thank You Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story." The series looks at the history of the band and includes interviews with Jon Bon Jovi, current and former band members, and Bruce Springsteen. Co-host Terry Lipshetz, who grew up in Jon Bon Jovi's hometown of Sayreville, New Jersey, shares some fun facts including a Star Wars connection.

Another new series is the Amazon Freevee comedy "Dinner with the Parents." The cast includes Carol Kane and Henry Hall, who is the son of Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Brad Hall.

And the show wraps with a discussion of the buzz surround "Civil War," the new film where the nation has fractured and a team of journalists is covering the war. Kirsten Dunst stars as a photojournalist and Nick Offerman plays the president. And of course, there's Dunst's husband Jesse Plemons stealing the show in an uncredited role.

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Dev Patel's breakthrough as an actor came in "Slumdog Millionaire." He now gets a chance to make his mark as a director with the new action film "Monkey Man" that was also produced by Jordan Peele, another actor-turned-director.

Patel is the latest in a long line of actors that have made the jump into directing. We look at many of the notable actors who have moved behind the camera. In some cases like Warren Beatty, their clout as an actor can help passion projects get made. Clint Eastwood has been a successful evertything, earning acclaim as both an actor and director. Ron Howard left acting to focus on directing. Greta Gerwig and Jon Favreau have both had solid acting careers, often in supporting roles, but have found their footing as writers and directors. 

Besides Patel, John Krasinksi, Jerry Seinfeld and Kevin Costner are among the actors with directing efforts on the way.

Co-hosts Bruce Miller and Terry Lipshetz talk about the history of actors who have become directors and review some of the success stories.

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You can't escape artificial intelligence these days. From Chat GPT to debates over the use of A.I. to bring deceased actors back into movies or de-age older characters like Harrison Ford in the most recent "Indiana Jones" movie, the technology is here to stay.

What do you think of when A.I. comes to mind? What would you do with it when it comes to the entertainment in your life? In this week's episode, co-hosts Bruce Miller and Terry Lipshetz talk about A.I. in movies in TV, and how it could be used in the future as a pair of new shows on the topic: “A.I. Revolution” and a “A Brief History of the Future” drop for viewers.

The program then moves into the 1960s pop act The Cowsills and Miller's recent interview with Bob Cowsill, which includes a discussion of the link between the band and The Partridge Family.

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Jim Henson may have died in 1990, but his memory lives on through a variety of projects, whether it's "The Muppets," "Sesame Street" or the work done through Jim Henson's Creature Shop.

Another popular Henson creation, "Fraggle Rock" is again, this time with the second season of  "Fraggle Rock" Back to the Rock" dropping March 29 on Apple TV+.

Co-hosts Bruce Miller and Terry Lipshetz discuss the series, share an interview with three people behind the program and discuss the Henson legacy. Also, we share an interview Bruce had with Cookie Monster several years ago. 

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We are past the Oscars, which means it's time to turn our attention to what's new and coming soon. And there are a lot of options available.

Up first, we have an interview with Jonathan Sanger, producer of the new film "Cabrini," which is drawing solid reviews from critics and moviegoers alike.

We also catch up with correspondent Miles O'Brien, who talks about the new PBS documentary "NOVA: A.I. Revolution," and what advancements in medicine helped him after he had to have an arm amputed.

Also up for discussion: A very Nebraska-centric teen comedy called "Snack Shack" that should resonate with Gen Xers growing up in the early 1990s. There is also a new program for Apple TV+ starring Kristen Wiig, Carol Burnett and Ricky Martin called "Palm Royale" that debuted March 20.

The 94th Academy Awards capped off a huge year for Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" as it won best pitcture, best director (Nolan), best actor (Cillian Murphy), best supporting actor (Robert Downey Jr.) plus three more for seven total Oscars.

But two other films that were expected to be the biggest challengers fell flat, with "Barbie" and "Killers of the Flower Moon" combining for a single Oscar.

In this special episode of Streamed & Screened, Bruce Miller and Terry Lipshetz break down the surprises and snubs, talk about host Jimmy Kimmel and the pacing of the show, and even take a slight glance ahead to next year.

94TH ACADEMY AWARDS WINNERS

BEST PICTURE

“Oppenheimer”

BEST ACTRESS

Emma Stone, “Poor Things”

BEST ACTOR

Cillian Murphy, “Oppenheimer”

SUPPORTING ACTOR

Robert Downey Jr., “Oppenheimer”

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers”

DIRECTOR

Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer”

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

“The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar”

SOUND

“The Zone of Interest,” Tarn Willers and Johnnie Burn

ORIGINAL SCORE

“Oppenheimer,” Ludwig Göransson

ORIGINAL SONG

“What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie”

VISUAL EFFECTS

“Godzilla Minus One”

FILM EDITING

“Oppenheimer,” Jennifer Lame

DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM

“The Last Repair Shop”

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

“20 Days in Mariupol”

CINEMATOGRAPHY

“Oppenheimer,” Hoyte Van Hoytema

ANIMATED SHORT FILM

“WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko”

ANIMATED FILM

“The Boy and the Heron”

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

“Anatomy of a Fall,” Justine Triet and Arthur Harari

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

“American Fiction,” Cord Jefferson

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

“Poor Things,” Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier and Josh Weston

PRODUCTION DESIGN

“Poor Things,” James Price, Shona Heath and Zsuzsa Mihalek

COSTUME DESIGN

“Poor Things,” Holly Waddington

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

“The Zone of Interest” (United Kingdom)

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On Sunday, an awards season that lumbers to the finish line after 9 months of "Barbenheimer" discussion is expected to end with Christopher Nolan's atomic epic "Oppenheimer" crushing the competition. But will it?

"Queens" isn't the typical wildlife documentary from National Geographic. This time, a female-led company produced a series that focuses on "female power in the natural world."

With the two Hollywood strikes in the rearview mirror, there are a lot of new programs to keep us entertained.

The latest limited series from FX, which will also stream on Hulu, is "Shōgun," which is based on the 1975 novel that was also turned into a 1980 miniseries. This week, co-host Bruce Miller talks with Cosmo Jarvis, who stars in the series.

After that, co-host Terry Lipshetz shares his thoughts on three programs: "Masters of the Air" from Apple TV+ and "True Detective: Night Country" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" on HBO.

"Masters of the Air" is the latest World War II epic limited series from Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, who previously brought us "Band of Brothers" and "The Pacific" and does not disappoint.

"True Detective: Night Country" is the fourth installment in the "True Detective" anthology series that has been a bit uneven at times, particularly season 2. But the latest season, which stars Jodie Foster and Kalie Reis, is a bit tighter with only six episodes and leaves you guessing until the end.

"Curb Your Enthusiasm" recently returned for its 12th and final season. How will Larry David wrap up a show that has stretched nearly a quarter century?

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Call it a working vacation. Bruce Miller is back from Los Angeles after a gathering for the Television Critics Association. The journey took him to a variety of sets, including "Abbott Elementary," "9/11" and "Night Court."

Miller shares his experience singing a duet with Jennifer Hudson — yes, that Jennifer Hudson — as well an an interview with Montana Jordan, who plays George "Georgie" Cooper Jr. We include some of that interview with Jordan, who talks about the role and future of the character.

Clarification

In talking about singer Bobi Wine, the subject of the documentary "Bobi Wine: The People's President," co-host Terry Lipshetz mentioned other musicians who entered into politics. Singer Youssou N'Dour was the former Minister of Tourism for his native Senegal. Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett served in a variety of government roles after being elected as a member of Australia's parliament.

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1960s civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X took different approaches in efforts to achieve the same goals. The latest installment of the National Geographic series "Genius" looks at figures in a new way.

"Genius: MLK/X" premieres two episodes each of the first four Thursdays of February for Black History Month on National Geographic. Episodes then become available the next day on Hulu and Disney+.

Bruce Miller talks with Aaron Pierre, who portrays Malcolm X, and Kelvin Harrison Jr., who plays Martin Luther King Jr., as well as producers Gina Prince-Blythewood and Reggie Rock Blythewood.

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Since the Hollywood strikes slowed production, much of what normally would've made up the fall television season has slowly been debuting since the start of the near year.

The list of returning shows includes favorites like "Grey's Anatomy," "The Good Doctor," "Young Sheldon" and "Blue Bloods."

"Masters of the Air," which recently debuted on AppleTV+, is from Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, who were the producers of "Band of Brothers" and "The Pacific."

And the latest season of "True Detective" is about halfway through its run on HBO. "True Detective: Night Country" stars Jodie Foster and Kali Reis.

Co-hosts Bruce Miller and Terry Lipshetz discuss those programs and more, including the Candian comedy "Son of a Critch" that has made its way to American audiences via The CW. Miller has an interview with star and creator Mark Critch. 

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“Oppenheimer” appears to be the movie to beat when Oscars are handed out on March 10. The film about the development of the atomic bomb earned 13 nominations for the 96^th Academy Awards, followed closely by “Poor Things” and “Killers of the Flower Moon” with 11 each. “Barbie,” an early favorite picked up eight nominations.

On this week’s episode, co-hosts Bruce Miller and Terry Lipshetz break down the nominees and discuss the biggest snubs, which includes no best director nomination for Greta Gerwig.

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The long-delayed 75th Primetime Emmy Awards finally arrived with shows like "Succession," "The Bear" and "Beef" crushing the competition. But those weren't the only highlights.

The program honored great shows from the past with cast reunions from "Cheers," "All in the Family," "Martin" and "The Sopranos."

And host Anthony Anderson enlisted his mom to keep the acceptance speeches to a minimum and the show on schedule. 

Co-hosts Bruce Miller and Terry Lipshetz break down the big night and also look ahead to the Oscar nominations that are due out on Jan. 23.

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The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards are finally here after a four-month delay caused by the actors and writers strikes. And even though the period of eligibility differs, last week's Golden Globes may have offered a glimpse at which shows will dominate when the stars arrive Monday at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles.

Co-hosts Bruce Miller and Terry Lipshetz break down the big categories and offer predictions on which shows and actors will be rewarded, although don't be surprised if "Succession" and "The Bear" lead the way. You can watch the show live on Fox at 8 p.m. Eastern or stream it on Hulu the next day.

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