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Television Highlights: What’s New and Noteworthy
The Conners
The story began in 1988 with the groundbreaking sitcom Roseanne, which captured the essence of a working-class family in America. After a successful nine-season run and a two-decade break, the show was revived, but faced controversy leading to the firing of its lead actress, Roseanne Barr, following her infamous social media comments. This created space for The Conners, a spinoff that continued the narrative without its central character, who was written off as having succumbed to an opioid overdose. As the series reaches its conclusion with a two-part finale, widower Dan, portrayed by John Goodman, grapples with a legal battle against pharmaceutical companies linked to his wife’s death. Meanwhile, sisters Darlene and Becky, played by Sara Gilbert and Lecy Goranson respectively, navigate their own romantic lives, and Aunt Jackie, portrayed by Laurie Metcalf, prepares to reclaim her position in the police department. The series has been lauded for its authentic portrayal of the challenges facing working-class families.
Celebrity Jeopardy!
The grand finale pits comedians W. Kamau Bell and Robin Thede against entrepreneur David Friedberg in an exhilarating trivia showdown, with a $1 million prize on the line for their chosen charities. The excitement continues on Fox’s The Floor as only nine contestants remain to battle it out on a 100-square grid in hopes of securing additional territory and, ultimately, a $250,000 prize.
Bullet Train Explosion
Not to be confused with the 2022 Brad Pitt film, this thrilling Japanese remake directed by Shinji Higuchi revitalizes the classic 1975 film The Bullet Train, which inspired the American blockbuster Speed. The high-stakes narrative unfolds aboard a bullet train heading to Tokyo, where maintaining a speed above 100 kph is vital; failing to do so sets off a deadly explosion, endangering the lives of all passengers onboard.
Battle Camp
This innovative reality competition series brings together 18 contestants from a variety of popular Netflix shows—such as Love Is Blind, Cheer, and Too Hot to Handle—to endure a summer camp filled with intense challenges. Divided into teams named Wolves, Bears, and Eagles, these competitors must navigate extreme tests while avoiding elimination via collective voting and confronting the ever-present threat of the spinning wheel of misfortune.
The Studio
The cringe factor intensifies when head of a studio Matt, played by Seth Rogen, attends a charity gala for pediatric cancer with his girlfriend, a medical professional. His artistic integrity comes under fire as he defends the significance of cinematic art amidst derision from snarky attendees who dismiss film in favor of televised content. In a bid to prove his worth, he risks embarrassing himself further, showcasing the inherent tensions between art and commerce.
INSIDE WEDNESDAY TV:
Wild Cards (8/7c, The CW): Ellis investigates the circumstances surrounding his brother’s demise at a jazz club, while Max dons a disguise to uncover truths about her family.
Survivor (8/7c, CBS): Tensions rise as tribal members suspect foul play when one contestant sneaks away under the cover of night. Following this, The Amazing Race (9:30/8:30c) sends competitors racing through the landscapes of Bulgaria in pursuit of an Express Pass.
Chicago Med (8/7c, NBC): A clash brews between Goodwin and Maggie as they navigate nurses’ union negotiations, crucially testing their professionalism and friendship. This is followed by Chicago Fire (9/8c), where Severide investigates a lingering house fire from Kidd’s past, and Chicago P.D. (10/9c), highlighting Cook’s initial experience with an informant regarding a high-profile athlete’s case.
Travel Queens (8/7c, BET Her): The duo of Lex P and Drea Nicole embark on a vibrant adventure, kicking off their travels in Cartagena, Colombia.
Andor (10/9c, ABC and FX): The highly anticipated second season of this Star Wars prequel debuts with an exclusive linear broadcast.
Changing Planet: River Restoration (10/9c, PBS): This environmental series returns to highlight the restoration efforts of California’s Klamath River and the cleanup of the Seine in Paris as preparations begin for the upcoming Olympics.
ON THE STREAM:
The Children of October 7 (streaming on Paramount+): Focusing on social media activist Montana Tucker, a descendant of Holocaust survivors, this documentary connects with youth impacted by the recent attack in Israel.
Everybody’s Live With John Mulaney (10/9c, streaming on Netflix): This quirky talk show features paleontologist Dr. Luis Chiappe discussing the accuracy of dinosaur fossil reconstructions, alongside special appearances from guests like Rita Moreno and Conan O’Brien.
The Quincy Avery Effect (streaming on Hulu): An uplifting profile of Quincy Avery, who transformed his life from homelessness to become a mentor for budding Black quarterbacks in the NFL.
Carlos Alcaraz: My Way (streaming on Netflix): This captivating docuseries follows the promising young tennis star through a pivotal season.
Source
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