Showtime’s Bracing ‘Time of Death’
Few would expect, from the fun-loving production company Magical Elves, the group behind shows from "Project Runway" and "Top Chef" to "Braxton Family Values," the kind of dignity and empathy…
Also On Friday: ‘Moby Dick,’ The Opera
Ahoy! San Francisco Opera's production of "Moby-Dick" makes its TV premiere on "Great Performances" (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings). The new opera from Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer based…
Report from Halloween, 2013
Through some stroke of fate, I was a judge of a neighborhood kids costume contest and though I hardly ever had to weigh tough decisions of winners and losers, I…
Thursday TV: Subtle Zombies in ‘The Returned’
Halloween isn't the greatest occasion for subtlety. But when a good chill is required, here comes a French import that takes such an understated start on the zombie thing, you…
Wednesday TV: Devil’s Night Fare
Scary movies are plentiful this week, of course, but what happens when Halloween is over? Time to turn to ghoulish special effects men like Greg Nicotero from Pittsburgh, who dropped…
Theater Review: Delightful ‘Cabaret Macabre’
Delightful is probably not the expected adjective for a show called "Cabaret Macabre," except probably for those who have seen earlier editions of the show by Happenstance Theatre. At a…
Tuesday TV: Reliving the Panic Broadcast
Faking out audiences is something that broadcasters do routinely these days. But 75 years ago, when that was less widespread, thousands were taken in by Orson Welles' Halloween Eve 1938…
Only Technical Knockouts on ‘The Voice’
The weird combat terms on "The Voice" have moved this week from battle rounds to knockouts (maybe to be followed by sucker punch- and piledrive-rounds if they want to further…
Monday TV: Baldwin Begs: Funding Films
Movies may still be one of the strongest U.S. exports, but that doesn't mean they're any easier to make. In fact, a lot of the hard work comes in raising…
Before Iran, Carrie Deals with Dana
One of the most frustrating episodes of "Homeland" on Sunday also became the one of most grave personal danger to Carrie Mathison. The business of the quite short episode -- 46 minutes…