Author: Francine Brokaw

‘Midsomer Murders’ returns for its 21st season on Acorn TV

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


It is hard to believe but this British drama is now on its 21st season. Acorn TV is showing the series and with the new season viewers are whisked back to the fictional county of Midsomer, along with the gang. Midsomer Murders continues on Acorn TV.

The series began with Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) and when Tom retired his job at the end of season 13, it was taken over by his cousin DCI John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon). Having gone through several Sergeants throughout the 21 seasons, returning for this latest season is DS Jamie Winter (Nick Hendrix), with a much shorter hairstyle. This season marks Hendrix’ third season and Dudgeon’s eighth, although he did appear as a guest star in season 13. And the series has also gone through its share of coroners. Returning as Dr. Fleur Perkins is Annette Badland for her second season.

Barnaby’s wife Sarah (Fiona Dolman) is back along with their young daughter Betty.

It is interesting to think about how many more seasons of Midsomer Murders will be made, however fans still enjoy watching the episodes that always include an interesting murder or two or three, and the ingenuity of DCI Barnaby. He is kind of like a British Colombo. The stories are slow-paced but nevertheless intriguing.

So, if you have been anxiously waiting for the next episodes of this British crime drama, your wait is over. Just subscribe to Acorn TV for the next season of Midsomer Murders intrigue. All four episodes of Season 21 will drop December 1, 2019. And if you haven’t seen the series before, you can catch up on all the past 20 seasons. Just make sure you have a lot of popcorn.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

Rapunzel Baby Doll and Crib Gift Set

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The newest addition to the Disney Animators’ Collection is the Rapunzel Baby Doll and Crib Gift Set. This is just in time for the holidays and makes an amazing gift with everything included in the set and the beautiful presentation of the box.

The set includes baby Rapunzel, her crib, a blanket, a mattress, bedskirts, and the mobile that swings above the crib. The box is stunning and any little child would be delighted unwrapping this on Christmas or Chanukah. The only downside is removing everything from the box, so there is the option of parents removing every item (which takes several minutes because the set is very well packaged) and putting the set together so the child can see it all set up. Either way, it is a fabulous addition to the collection and something that will be treasured by little ones for years.


The bed is a sturdy plastic that looks like wood. It is adorned with designs from her kingdom and the sides include bedskirts that are attached to the bed. And of course there is a soft mattress for the baby. Above the headboard is a rod that holds a mobile. The mobile has five little toys that are free swinging so Rapunzel can play with them. There is, of course, Pascal, a duck, a horse, a bird, and an angel.

Rapunzel herself is similar in size and composition to the Animators’ Origins Collection. She is 13” from head to toe. Like the other dolls in the Origins collection, she is meant to lie down or sit up, however with the right stand she can be positioned to stand on a shelf. But baby Rapunzel is happiest sitting on lying on her bed.

Even as a baby, Rapunzel has a headful of soft hair. Her blonde locks are rooted and fall in soft curls. She has big green eyes and an open mouth with a little tongue. Her nightgown is lilac with deeper purple accents. She also has lilac underpants.

The crib is 15” high and 16” long. It is a substantial bed that is sturdy enough to take a few knocks by some overly attentive child. The colors of the materials for the bed are purple and pink.

The assembly for the set requires an adult. The entire set is designed for ages 3+ because of the small pieces in the mobile, however the doll itself is suitable for ages 2+. She has a soft but her head, arms, and legs are soft plastic.

If you have a Rapunzel fan in your family, don’t wait to order this. It is bound to sell out well before the holidays. Just one look at this little baby will put a smile on anyone’s face.

Due to the presentation, the sturdy construction of the bed, and the doll herself, I think this is one of the best selections this holiday season!

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

IdealShape – products for healthy lifestyles

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

There are some great shakes from IdealShape that not only help with hunger control, but also add protein to your diet.They utilize Slendesta, a protein that controls hunger for up to three hours, which is great when you feel like grabbing a candy bar but want something healthier. With vitamins and minerals, these products help with weight loss as well as simply providing a healthy alternative to sugary and high-caloric snacks. The shakes can be used as meal substitutes or as healthy snacks.

There are plenty of flavors from which to choose. They can be blended with water although they taste better when blended with milk (any kind) and if you want to throw in a banana or strawberries, or whatever, that is fine. With the hunger suppression, these are a great way to make a healthy, vegetarian (some are vegan), and fast meal. It’s perfect for busy parents on the go.

And for these cold days and nights, there is Ideal Boost hot chocolate. It’s the perfect 10-calorie drink for cold evenings when you’re watching TV. If you mix it with warm milk, it will add to the calorie count, but it’s still better than sugary hot chocolate mixes. And it contains vitamins and minerals! B vitamins are important for a healthy body and the hot chocolate IdealBoost contains B3, B6, and B12.

The company IdealShape offers meal replacement shakes (vegetarian and vegan), bars, and refreshing drink mixes.

Select from chocolate, chocolate peanut butter, pumpkin spice, vanilla, salted caramel, cookies ‘n cream, strawberry, mint chocolate chip, mocha, chocolate coconut, key lime pie, or snickerdoodle. These shakes sound like ice cream flavors and deliver great taste as well as nutrition. Mix them up, put them in your to-go tumbler, and you have a delicious meal on the go while you’re off to a soccer game or taking your kids to a play date. These meals-on-the-go are alternatives to fast food when you’re in a hurry.

If you want to lose weight, the company has bundles for their weight loss plans. Check them out at their website.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

‘Cheat’ makes its U.S. debut on Sundance Now

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

If you’ve been awaiting for Season 2 of Liar (SundanceTV) since November of 2017, you can certainly fill the void with Cheat, a new British psychological thriller from Harry & Jack Williams. Both Liar and Cheat share the tone, vibe, and actor Katherine Kelly, but there the similarity ends. While Liar, created by the Williams brothers, deals with a ‘he said/she said’ riddle searching for the truth, the new four-part miniseries Cheat examines a deadly ‘tit-for-tat’ game played by two fiercely intelligent women trying to outsmart each other.

Dr. Leah Dale (Katherine Kelly), a university lecturer, aspires to get a permanent position. When Rose Vaughn (Molly Windsor), a non-participating average senior, turns in a suspiciously brilliant essay, Leah calls her out. As Rose fails to prove that the essay is truly an expression of her own thinking, Leah stands firm about ‘getting things done properly in her section of the world.’ Little does she know, that failing Rose would trigger Pandora’s box to break open and put Leah’s relationships to the test. There is more to Rose than meets the eye.

Gaby Hull created Cheat to “explore our closest relationships and and how they construct and deconstruct our characters in the most fundamental, exciting, and in this case, extreme ways.” You will be spoon-fed with bits and pieces of the tangled pairs’ background and upbringing and their deep-rooted issues of betrayal, abandonment, and distrust.

You’ll no doubt keep wondering who is eventually put behind bars throughout the series. Every time you think you figure things out, you’ll be challenged with more twists and turns as if they’re saying “Not so fast!” This meticulously crafted thriller is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat till the last minute.

I’ve wasted my precious time watching psychological thrillers that left me hanging and blamed myself for wanting the whys and wherefores. You can be rest assured that the perpetrator’s motive and agenda will be made crystal clear; Cheat is quite a satisfying roller coaster ride you won’t want to miss.

Cheat premieres Thursday, November 21, 2019 on Sundance Now, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service, with a new episode added every Thursday.

About the Author

Meg Mimura is a TV critic who actually watches shows zealously in search of thought-provoking and paradigm shifting human drama worth our precious time. She is a member of Television Critics Association. Follow her on Twitter.

Make a Snowman in a Jar

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

It’s winter and that means ice skating, hot chocolate, and of course snowmen. The people at Little Passports have an activity for families to create their own snowman in a jar. It’s fun, fizzy, and does not require snow boots or mittens.

Materials

  • Water (about 1 cup)
  • Baby oil
  • Glitter
  • Alka-Seltzer
  • White paint
  • Blue food coloring (optional)
  • Mason jar
  • Stir stick

 

Instructions

  1. Fill your jar about three-fourths full with baby oil. In a separate bowl, blend water and a few tablespoons of white paint.
  2. Add as much glitter and blue food coloring to the oil as you’d like, and then top off the jar with your water and paint mixture.
  3. Drop your Alka-Seltzer tablet into the jar, and take a step back.

The Science Behind This Experiment

This experiment works for a few reasons. Because oil is less dense than water, the water will naturally sink to the bottom of the jar. When the Alka-Seltzer is dropped into the jar, its interaction with the water creates pressure in an upward direction, and the oil pushes it back down. This pressure back and forth is part of what creates the snowstorm. The other element is the interaction between water and sodium bicarbonate in the Alka-Seltzer, which generates carbon dioxide gas. The combination of these factors creates a blizzard every time!

Whether the temperature is plummeting outdoors or you just want to bring a bit of winter fun to a summer day, your snowstorm in a jar is a foolproof way to get kids interested in science. With under $10 in ingredients, a whimsical lesson plan awaits!

Inspire Your Child With a Science Expeditions Subscription!

Every month, your child will receive a package full of science experiments and STEM-related activities with themes like rockets, forensics, caves and crystals, slime and so much more!

 

 

 

 

 

‘Frozen 2’ surpasses expectations

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


There is something Disney Animation does better than everyone else. That is to produce sequels that are equal or better than the original films. This is true for Frozen 2. This film is even better than the Frozen, which is a major feat. With new songs and a beautiful new dress for Elsa (as if her iconic blue dress could be surpassed), Frozen 2 is an instant classic for the studio that has a history of creating instant animated classics. The story explains what happened to Elsa and Anna’s parents and why Elsa was born with her magical powers.

Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf are living fun and fulfilling lives in the castle. But Elsa is being haunted by a mysterious sound. She follows the sound and accidentally awakens a mysterious enchanted forest that has been locked in a mist for decades. Elsa and Anna heard about this mysterious place from their parents when they were little girls. Now they get the full understanding of what happened in the past and how their parents are entwined with this enchanted forest. Suddenly the fate of Arendelle is precarious and it is up to Elsa and Anna to save their country.

The group takes off to uncover what is happening to Arendelle and the forest, and along the way they learn about the histories of their parents. All along the way Kristoff tries to find the best moment to propose to Anna.

The story introduces many new characters as well as two new animals: a sweet and fun-loving little salamander that steals the hearts of audiences, and the Nokk, a beautiful water spirit iridescent horse that helps Elsa in her quest for the truth. The lost Arendelle guard, led by Mattias, and a whole new culture of people named the Northuldra. They care for the elements of fire, water, air, and earth. But there is one more element and that is what Elsa must discover.

There is also a wind spirit named Gale and a group of Earth giants. And let’s not forget about the herd of reindeer that also inhabit the enchanted forest. Along with the original five, all of these characters join together for a fun-filled journey through an enchanted land.

Kristen Bell returns to voice Anna, Idina Menzel returns as the voice of Elsa, Josh Gad recreates his beloced Olaf, and Jonathan Groff returns as the voice of Kristoff. Sterling K. Brown voices Mattias.

The visuals in this film are outstanding. The scenery is beautiful and the creativity by the filmmakers even exceeds that of the first film that was produced in 2013. The folks at Disney took their time to get it right, and they succeeded. This movie is an exceptional sequel that will delight and enchant all ages.

Frozen 2 opens in theaters November 22, 2019.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

‘Dora and the Lost City of Gold’ on Blu-ray Combo Pack

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Dora and the Lost City of Gold is a fun film for everyone who loves the brave explorer and who grew up with Dora. It is a live-action story with Isabela Monor starring as the effervescent Dora.

The story begins when Dora and Diego are six years old. They are living in the Amazon jungle with Dora’s explorer parents (Eva Longoria and Michael Pena) and of course, Boots. Diego moves to Los Angeles with his parents and the cousins are separated.  Fast forward ten years and Dora’s parents send her to live with Diego (Jeff Wahlberg) when they go exploring for the lost city of gold.

Dora is a fish out of water in the big city but that doesn’t stop her from being her friendly self. It does bother Diego who is a typical high school student just wanting to fit in. Well, Dora definitely does not fit in.

Then one day Dora’s parents go missing. Soon treasure hunters, who want Dora to lead them to her parents, kidnap Dora and some of her high school friends. They know the explorers have found the lost city and they want the treasure.

Well, Dora, Diego, and two of their friends find themselves in the Amazon. A friend of Dora’s parents soon rescues the foursome. Together they search for the lost couple.

Along the way the teens must learn to work together as they encounter one dangerous situation after another. But Dora is always positive and even ready to cheer them up with a song. Boots (CGI’d into the film) joins the group. Everyone’s favorite little monkey doesn’t disappoint viewers. He’s as loveable and helpful as always. His eyes are very expressive and viewers will enjoy seeing the little guy in a non-2D version.

There are fun moments in the movie. There is one scene in which Dora and Diego breathe hallucinogenic spores and see themselves as animated characters.

The Blu-ray combo pack includes plenty of bonus features. There are bloopers and deleted scenes. There is a look at Isabela Moner stepping into the famous character of Dora the explorer. A bonus about the stunts is cute and it looks like the cast had a lot of fun filming this movie. There is a great bonus about how Dora’s jungle house was created. This is a residence that will be admired and coveted by many viewers. It’s really interesting and, well, very cool. The movie was filmed in Australia.

Dora and the Lost City of Gold is a fun adventure for Dora fans. It shows the little girl as a teen and leaves the door open for future films. The movie is rated PG for action and some impolite humor.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

‘A Reindeer’s Journey’ for the whole family

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


If all you know about reindeer is Rudolph and Sven, then this is a great way to learn about the lives of reindeer in the frozen Lapland of Finland. A Reindeer’s Journey is the story of one reindeer’s first year as he learns about how to survive.

Donald Sutherland narrates this tale of Ailo, a newborn reindeer that learns to navigate the ups and downs of life with the help of his mother. He was born about a day or two early so his start in life was a little difficult. But once he and his mother joined the herd things got a little easier.

The herd migrated down the mountain for the summer months where they grazed in the meadow. During those months Ailo saw many new things, including foxes, wolves, bears, and other potential threats as well as potential friends. Life in this cold region is difficult but the animals have been there for thousands of years and they know instinctively how to survive.

As the months progress, little Ailo grows and eventually becomes the leader of his generation. By the time the herd migrates back up the mountain to the windy region where they can get their winter food, Ailo has successfully maneuvered through the trials and tribulations of life as a reindeer.

This is a family film and – spoiler alert – those viewers that are sensitive to animal deaths do not have to worry. Little Ailo and his mother do not get killed. As a matter of fact, no killings are shown so this fact can set your mind at ease. Yes, there are deaths of animals. After all, this is a nature film. However the actual killings are off camera.

The film is meant to be a fun way for viewers to learn about the realities of life as a reindeer and to educate them about the struggles of the environmental impact on their lives. Logging disrupts their migration routes. Sensitivity to the generations of animals that have called this land home is something people need to heed.

Viewers will definitely take little Ailo to their hearts.

A Reindeer’s Journey is available On DVD November 26, 2019. It will be in theaters November 15, 2019.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

New subscription Backstage Collection from shopDisney

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

True Disney fans will be delighted with the new subscription available from shopDisney. The Backstage Collection is filled with fun items all contained within a special canister.

Each canister contains a mystery gift with insight into the history of the studio. There are some pieces of forgotten artwork and untold stories from people who have worked at the studio through the years.

The current welcome canister contains a T-shirt with Disney artwork on it. There is also a collectible pin corresponding to the shirt, and a story card detailing some behind-the-scenes information about the studio. This all comes in a beautiful canister collectors will want to display on a shelf. Put it on a bookshelf for an added touch of Disney magic and history.

A new welcome canister will be released every 6 months. Once one of them sells out, it will be retired and not made again, making it highly collectible.

Simply go to shopDisney.com to subscribe to the Backstage Collection. You can select what shirt size you want to receive and this can be changed at any time. You then select if you want a 3-month plan (which includes 3 consecutive months in which you will receive your collectible canister with all the goodies inside), a 6-month plan, or a 12-month plan. Once the editions are sold out, they are gone for good.

If you select the 3-month plan, each delivery will be $39.99.  For the 6-month plan, each monthly canister will be $37.99. And for the year plan, each month will cost $34.99.

These products are only available through shopDisney. They are definitely collectible and make great gifts for Disney fans who want something special.

Act now to get in on the first collectibles and future products.

Some upcoming selections pay tribute to iconic Disney films. They include:

  1. 3 Caballeros 75th Anniversary
  2. Emperor’s New Groove 20th
  3. Fantasia 80th Anniversary
  4. The Haunted Mansion 50th Anniversary
  5. Toy Story 25th Anniversary

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

‘The Angry Birds 2 Movie’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


The Angry Birds Movie in 2016 was a fun trip into the world of the Angry Birds. Now The Angry Birds 2 Movie is an even wilder trip into the zany world of the birds and the pigs. Of course, the hatchlings steal the show – again.

Red (voiced by Jason Sudeikis) is now the most beloved bird on Bird Island. He keeps the birds safe from the antics of the pigs over on Pig Island, who are led by King Leonard (Bill Hader). But when a third island comes into play, the birds and the pigs call a truce and join forces to save their respective islands. This Eagle Island is a frozen place with the head eagle named Zeta (Leslie Jones) intent on destroying the other two islands so she and her fellow eagles can move to a better climate. Why should they be destined to a life on the ice?

The select team of birds and pigs sneak onto Eagle Island to stop the destruction of their islands. But they find it more difficult than they originally plan. Silver (Rachel Bloom) is one of the new characters. She is Chuck’s (Josh Gad) sister and a brainiac, not to mention a spirited gal.

While the team sets about saving their islands, the hatchlings are trying to save the new eggs that they have clumsily lost. After all, they’re just little hatchlings. One mistake after another lead the three little birds on an adventure with an interesting outcome.

There are plenty of bonus features on the Blu-ray disc including an all-new mini movie starring Silver and Red as they attempt to try Live Streaming. There are several DIY projects that kids can do with the supervision of their parents. How about making delicious popcorn balls? There is a craft lesson on making a Paper Mache volcano. And there is a tutorial on making green slimy pig snot.

Another bonus looks at the new characters introduced in this movie. The voice actors as well as a look at their characters’ traits are explored. Another bonus feature takes viewers to the Los Angeles Zoo where they see real birds that are represented in the animated film.

Several more bonus features make up this delightful edition that hits the shelves in time for holiday viewing by the entire family. Why not pop in the disc, go directly to the bonus features, make popcorn balls for everyone, and then watch the film while eating your home made delicious treats? Sounds good to me.

The Angry Birds 2 Movie is rated PG for rude humor and action. Let the birds and pigs, and especially the hatchlings, entertain the whole family. The movie is available on DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, and 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.