Brioux.tv

Gloria Steinem was always more of a feminist icon than a TV personality. Still, her appearance at a memorable Television Critics Association press tour gathering in July of 2011 packed a Beverly Hilton ballroom. The social movement advocate, who passed away Sept. 2 at 92, was at TCA to promote Gloria: In Her Own Words, an HBO documentary.

If you saw Season Three of Shrinking on AppleTV, you probably got a kick out of seeing Michael J. Fox return to regular series television. Fox plays Gerry, a Parkinson’s patient Harrison’s shrink character Dr. Paul Rhoades meets at an appointment. In a release Tuesday it was explained that the “candor and chemistry” between the two actors has led to a “Be a Friend” Parkinson’s brand awareness campaign from the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

I want to believe in the revised AppleTV series Ted Lasso. Four episodes in, I’m still going on faith. There are, however, some positive signs. Expectations are admittedly huge for this new variation of this Emmy Award-winning series, which soared in its initial run of three seasons. It became the show out of COVID where rattled viewers cozied up to a very likeable cast of characters and happily sheltered in place.

Question: if you lose Jelly Roll, have you lost a huge chunk of American voters? The country music singer-rapper, who collected three Grammy Awards earlier this year, completed his fourth and final appearance Thursday as guest host of Jimmy Kimmel Live. This is the second summer in a row he’s been tapped to work the late shift, and judging by the ovation he got at the start of Thursday night’s monologue, he’s won over a lot of new fans.

Dolly Parton was such a welcome part of all of our lifetimes, no matter how old or young you are, that the announcement of her passing Tuesday at 80 feels like a death in the family. I will never forget meeting her in person at a well-known Los Angeles restaurant. Yamashiro Hollywood, located in the hills up behind the Chinese theatre. This was 40 years ago, in 1986. I was there with then wife Cathy and another couple, friend and TV Guide Canada colleague Ray Bennett, and his wife Renee Rich.

The Television Critics Association, of which I am a long time member, has named the Crave drama Heated Rivalry and AppleTV’s Widow’s Bay as among the best shows of the past season. Heated Rivalry, also seen stateside on HBO Max, won for Program of the Year at the 42nd annual TCA Awards.

Maybe AI can be an instrument of good if only it will become how children are portrayed in the future on TV or in movies. While no official cause has been announced, news Monday of the death of Hayden Panettiere within days of her 37th birthday seems linked to her constant life before cameras. While still learning to crawl, thanks to her mother, she was doing TV commercials. At four, Hayden was embarking on a five year run on the soap opera One Life to Live.

This week on brioux.tv: the podcast, meet a former child star who continues to impress — Kathy Garver, best known for playing oldest sibling Cissy on Family Affair. The series premiered on Sept. 12, 1966 — 60 years ago next month. It ran for five seasons and 138 episodes and starred Brian Keith as Uncle Bill, a Manhattan bachelor. With the help of his gentleman’s gentleman Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot), he was suddenly tasked with raising three kids.

Wednesday on TCM, they celebrated “Summer Under the Stars” with a 24-hour celebration of the Marx Bros. It is mid-August, but for me it seems like Christmas. At a time when new comedy films — especially those starring Will Ferrell or Kevin Hart — offer no joy in an unfunny world, along come Groucho to say the secret words: funny is timeless. I’ve seen some of their films 25 times.

For Part Two of my conversation with “Programming Insider” Marc Berman, we continue with the back half of the Critics Quiz. What was the scariest thing you ever saw on television? Do you think the era of the late night TV talk show is about done? What was your most memorable Television Critics Association press tour moment?