Movies/TV Shows

If You Get PBS on Channel KQED: Midsomer Murders Marathon

May 27, 2012

Alfred sent me a letter telling me about a special “marathon running” of Midsomer Murders on the PBS channel KQED. It starts June 1:

“Danna Just wanted to give you an early warning that the entire month of June starting June 1st Midsomer Murders will be on KQED plus from 8 to 10pm The first one they will be showing is Tainted Fruit, part one at 8pm and part 2 at 9. Just wanted to let you know so you can do some research on it.”

Thank you, Alfred! I did do some research, and found that Midsomer Murders will be airing on the PBS station KQED during the months of June and July of this year (2012).

Lucky you if you get this PBS channel in northern California! (Takes me back to when the A&E channel ran these types of shows!)

Jesse Stone’s Benefit of the Doubt – Sunday, May 20, 2012 on CBS

May 16, 2012

I know it’s only Wednesday, but I want to make sure all of you Jesse Stone movie fans get the word: Tom Selleck will be back this Sunday night (on CBS) as Jesse Stone. The newest of the Jesse Stone movies is called Benefit of the Doubt. (The Jesse Stone movies are based on Robert B. Parker‘s Jesse Stone Mystery Series.)

My husband and I are Jesse Stone movie fans, and I have already set up our DVR (equivalent) form of taping. Can you tell we are looking forward to this latest Jesse Stone addition?

This will be the eighth Jesse Stone movie in the series. For those of you who might be “arriving late to the dance” >>> Jesse Stone is the police chief of a town called Paradise. He “left” his big-city job because of his heavy drinking, and has done a great job as the police chief… except in the eyes of a few higher-ups of the town, who have put him on administrative leave (I can’t remember if it was permanent, or not). Benefit of the Doubt has Jesse trying to get his job back.

The even better news is that a lot of the “regulars” will be back, also. Kathy Baker (Rose), Kohl Sudduth (Suitcase), Saul Rubinek (Hasty Hathaway), William Devane (Jesse’s psychologist), William Sadlerd (an underworld-type mobster), and Stephen McHattie (a homicide commander for the state.)

Here are all of the earlier Jesse Stone movies.

Here are some of my previous Jesse Stone entries:

Jesse Stone Entry from May 22, 2011

Entry from April 1, 2010

Robert B. Parker Entry from January 22, 2010

Jesse Stone Entry from February 26, 2009

Jesse Stone Entry from July 10, 2007

In Plain Sight is Back!

March 16, 2012

The USA channel show In Plain Sight is going to be returning tonight! Yes, tonight – March 16, 2012. Mary (Mary McCormack) will be back after maternity leave, and Brandi (Nichole Hiltz), … well, I’m assuming she will still be single after last season’s cliff hanger. I sure hope we get to see more of Jinx (Lesley Ann Warren) this season, and I also hope this show is not in its last season! (It’s going to be bad enough losing The Closer after this summer’s run!)

In Plain Sight is one of my favorite shows. It ranks (for me) right up there with TNT’s The Closer. Both of these shows are on “non-major” networks, which may have something to do with how women are portrayed on the major networks, and perhaps because they aren’t major network shows, the writers try harder. (I don’t know of any really good shows that feature strong, female leads on the major networks. – I’m sure though, that I will hear from people who know of such shows, they just aren’t shows that have “hooked me” into watching them.)

And, the writers have managed to make the male characters on the show interesting, also. I love Marshall Marshall Mann (Frederick Weller), Mary’s long-suffering boss Stan (Paul Ben-Victor), and think Brandi made a terrible mistake with Peter (Joshua Malina). As for Raphael (Cristián de la Fuente), well… what’s to say? I guess Mary just didn’t want to be burdened with absolute perfection!

If you haven’t already watched In Plain Sight, I strongly recommend that you do. (I would definitely watch it chronologically, though.) If you are a fan (as I am!): Get over to your DVR right now, or make sure you are watching tonight as Albuquerque’s Witness Protection marshalls do their thing!

Father Brown Television Series…

December 30, 2011

I will start out by admitting that I have not read any of G. K. Chesterton‘s Father Brown mystery books. So I cannot compare between the two media, nor can I tell you how similar the shows are to the mystery books.

The Father Brown television episodes star Kenneth More as the curate sleuth. He reminds me a lot of Joan Hickson’s Miss Marple. He is extremely observant, seems to fade into the background, and also is very inquisitive. Because of this Catholic priest’s ability to be over-looked, he is able to garner a lot of information which would normally not be shared by people – especially the culprits!

The Father Brown series takes place during the 1920s, and I found the production sets to be very believable. (Of course, I don’t know the era personally!) But, I must warn you, if you’re looking for the razzle-dazzle of today’s television productions, you will not be impressed. These shows seem to have been filmed using video tape rather than film. (I could be wrong about this, though.) I, on the other hand, am more interested in the acting and the actual mysteries… and this show does not fall short on either of these things.

Kenneth More makes these Father Brown mysteries a delight to watch. He portrays the curate as a slightly out-of-touch-with-reality individual, which of course makes people underestimate him. Father Brown’s sidekick is Hercule Flambeau (Dennis Burgess). Hercule isn’t involved in every case, but their paths seem to overlap quite a bit. Hercule is the more serious of the two and lacks the mischievousness playfulness and wink-at-the-audience attitude of Father Brown.

My husband and I have enjoyed the Father Brown television episodes… but, again, if you’re looking for today’s film productions, pass on these really good, Cozy Mystery shows.

If you would like to see more TV and Movies suggestions, click here.

« Previous Page