I’m finally up to date on entertainment news. This installment covers the first half of March.
The most notable thing we have to talk about is that I saw “The Batman”. In this particular incarnation we get a little closer to the roots of the original comic book character in that he actually does some detective work. This is almost like a buddy cop movie between Batman and Lieutenant (not yet Commissioner) Jim Gordon who in this installment is African-American played by Westworld’s Jeffrey Wright. Gordon invites him to survey crime scenes much to the dismay of the uniformed officers who don’t trust a masked vigilante.
For the early portion of the three hour film we don’t see much of Bruce Wayne which I found a bit disappointing. Let’s face it is Michael Keaton said when he took on the role, “I work the suit” when playing Batman but the real role is portraying Bruce Wayne.
Our main villain is The Riddler and is unlike any portrayal you have ever seen of that character. Throughout first 80% movie we only see him in a full leather mask and I was disappointed that he was totally unlike the character I knew. His real creepiness however comes out in the final scenes when he is finally unmasked. Although this is the Riddler you know, I think you will come to appreciate him eventually.
The chemistry between Catwoman and Batman is everything you hope to see.
There is a post-credit scene of about 10 seconds but it doesn’t really tell you anything. Mostly it gives a brief flash of the URL of a website that has been known to fans prior to the release of the film. If you are really curious, look for a YouTube video explaining postdated scenes from any of a variety of fan sources.
Overall I really liked it. It is long two hours 55 minutes and while some action films that are long don’t feel very long, this one did but not prohibitively so. I recommend it mostly to fans only. I’m not sure this one will please a wider audience but I could be wrong. If you miss it in theaters, it is expected on HBO Max in late April.
In other news, Star Trek: Discovery just wrapped up its fourth season today in a way that could have been a series finale. Unlike some previous season finales, there was no big cliffhanger. However it has been renewed for season 4. There is a surprise cameo at the end of this episode. Georgia politician Stacy Abrams appears as the president of United Earth.
Meanwhile, Star Trek: Picard has released three episodes of season 2. The first one sets up where all of our characters are now. The second one is absolutely amazing and action packed as Picard and friends end up in an alternate timeline thanks to Picard’s old nemesis Q. We then go back in time the year 2024 and episode 3 and it feels like a bad reboot of Star Trek IV. We will have to see what happens next.
Renewals, Coming Soon, and Casting News
- AMC announced a “The Walking Dead” spinoff series starring Maggie and Negan to be set in New York City titled “Isle of the Dead”.
- CBS has renewed soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful” through 2024.
- Jennifer Hudson will host a syndicated daytime talk show starting in the fall of 2022
- Nigel Lythgoe will not be returning as a judge for season 17 of “So You Think You Can Dance”.
- NBC is canceling “Ordinary Joe” after just one season. We are greatly disappointed not only because it featured a disabled character but because it was a quality show.
- Freeform has renewed “grown-ish” for season 5
- Netflix has renewed “Vikings: Valhalla” for seasons 2 and 3.
- HBO Max has ordered “The Penguin” spinoff series from the latest movie “The Batman” but will not be going forward with prequel series. See link below.
- Starz has renewed “Power Book IV” for season 2.
- CBS has renewed “Survivor”, “The Amazing Race” and “Tough As Nails” for additional seasons.
- Nick Cannon syndicated talk show has been canceled after one season.
- Adele will headline an NBC concert special film that the London Palladium March 20
- NBC announced medical drama “New Amsterdam” will end with season 5.
- Costumed dating show “The Courtship” is moving from NBC to USA network after just two episodes because of dismal ratings.
Miscellaneous News
- Disney+ will introduce a cheaper ad supported version of its service sometime late this year.
- CNN+ streaming service will debut March 29 a cost of $5.99 per month
- Dolly Parton has requested the name be withdrawn as a nominee for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. She feels she is unworthy and plans to release a rock album sometime in the near future and will consider accepting a nomination at a later date. However the ruling body behind the award says it’s too late and voting has already begun.
In Memoriam
- William Hurt Oscar-winning actor of “Broadcast News”, “Children of a Lesser God”, “Body Heat”, “Kiss of the Spider Woman” and the MCU. Age 71. Prostate cancer
- Tim Considine who played the eldest of “My Three Sons” in the 1950s. Age 81
- Conrad Janis character actor who played in “Mork and Mindy” and other roles. Age 94
- Emilio Delgado played “Sesame Street” fix-it shop owner Luis. Age 81
- Scott Hall WBE Hall of Fame pro wrestler a.k.a. Razor Ramon. Age 63 complications of hip surgery.
Links of Interest
- Matt’s Inside Line: Scoop on This Is Us, Abbott Elementary, Magnum P.I., NCIS, Walking Dead, Reacher, Bull and More
- ‘The Batman’ Filmmaker Matt Reeves On New Dark Knight, Pic’s Sequel & Colin Farrell Penguin HBO Max Series – Hero Nation Podcast
- The Batman Prequel Series Not Moving Forward at HBO Max, Matt Reeves Says
- Warner Bros Release Dates: ‘The Flash’ & ‘Aquaman’ Moved To 2023; ‘Wonka’, ‘Shazam’ Sequel & Others Shift
- Inside Line: Scoop on NCIS Crossover, 9-1-1, NCIS: LA, Legacies, The Flash, Wheel of Time, Riverdale and More!
- Resident Alien Boss Answers Our Burning Finale Questions, Breaks Down Those Life-Changing Last Moments
Matt’s Inside Line: Scoop on This Is Us, Abbott Elementary, Magnum P.I., NCIS, Walking Dead, Reacher, Bull and More
‘The Batman’ Filmmaker Matt Reeves On New Dark Knight, Pic’s Sequel & Colin Farrell Penguin HBO Max Series – Hero Nation Podcast
The Batman Prequel Series Not Moving Forward at HBO Max, Matt Reeves Says
Warner Bros Release Dates: ‘The Flash’ & ‘Aquaman’ Moved To 2023; ‘Wonka’, ‘Shazam’ Sequel & Others Shift
Inside Line: Scoop on NCIS Crossover, 9-1-1, NCIS: LA, Legacies, The Flash, Wheel of Time, Riverdale and More!
Resident Alien Boss Answers Our Burning Finale Questions, Breaks Down Those Life-Changing Last Moments