Author: Francine Brokaw

Bring home ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

In what could be the ending of the Downton Abbey saga, Downton Abbey: A New Era immerses viewers in the drama, love, and family that has graced the screens since the series began in 2010. The Crawley family and their staff are each on their own paths and together they all bring back the charm of their characters and the stories.

This latest movie in the franchise has two main plots unfolding simultaneously in two different locations. A mystery man has bequeathed his French villa to Violet and most of the family travels to the beautiful French Riviera to get to the bottom of this generous gift and to inspect their new property. Meanwhile a film company is making a movie in Downton with the close supervision of Mary.

While in France, the characters make some rather interesting discoveries about none other than the Dowager Countess herself. Yes, we all have pasts and Violet has one as well. Will this discovery change the dynamics of the family?

And back in England the film has now turned from a silent movie to a talkie. After all, talkies are becoming the new way of movie making. But with shades of Singin’ in the Rain, the actress in the starring role does not have the voice talent to go with her “acting.” So one of the Crawley’s will have to step in for voice-overs in order to keep the production alive. Downton needs a new roof, which costs money, which is why the family is loaning out their domicile.

This movie has it all: love, engagements, death, marriage, new babies, conniving, mystery, secrecy, and some comedy as the characters make their way through this year of changes. As Mary says, ‘Marriage is a novel, not a short story.”

The Blu-ray disc includes many looks behind the scenes and discussions with the actors who have become a second family to each other. Plus there is a delightful tribute to Maggie Smith, the Dowager Countess of Grantham.

With this possibly being the swan song for the franchise fans definitely need to add this to their video libraries. The show and the characters are now well ensconced in pop culture. With this latest film, they demonstrate how their personal lives are growing and they are becoming more independent, although everyone will always carry Downton in their hearts.

Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Phyllis Logan, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Allen Leech, Tuppence Middleton, Imelda Staunton, Laura Carmichael, Penelope Wilton and Maggie Smith delight fans of this series in a heartfelt and heartening story that wraps up many storylines for several characters.

Downton Abbey: A New Era is now available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital. It is rated PG for some suggestive references, language, and thematic elements.

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, 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 preschool show ‘Bugs Bunny Builders’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Bugs Bunny Builders Breaks Ground July 25 on Cartoonito on Cartoon Network
and July 26 on Cartoonito on HBO Max

First-Ever Educational Looney Tunes Series Unlocks Preschoolers’
Wild Imaginations with Building and Design Curriculum“Filled with the big ideas and idiosyncratic humor of classic Looney Tunes, we think this will be one of the looniest building shows geared towards preschoolers out there,” said Amy Friedman, head of kids & family programming, Warner Bros. “This show will serve as a great entry point for little ones to observe that anything is both possible and hilarious — and with Lola front and center, this is built equally for girls and boys.”

“Like so many of us, Looney Tunes was a predominant part of my childhood.  These iconic characters were a major influence on my personal style of comedy that I have applied throughout my career,” said Abe Audish, supervising producer, Bugs Bunny Builders. “It’s an honor to foster the next generation of Looney Tunes fans and offer them a new series that stays true to the core of each character while adding a fresh, modern spin.”

In Bugs Bunny Builders, Bugs and Lola are managers of the Looney Builders construction crew comprised of Daffy, Porky, Tweety, and more familiar Looney faces. Together, the team helps their fellow citizens of Looneyburg with zany building projects. Whether building a thrilling new racetrack or creating an out-of-this-world ice cream sundae, no job is too big or wild for the Looney Builders when they work as a team and utilize their super-looney tools and souped-up vehicles.

The show offers parents the chance to share their favorite Looney Tunes characters with their preschooler while also teaching little ones about the technical, creative, social, and emotional rewards of the building and design process. By watching the Looney Builders imagine, build, and fix their extraordinary creations, girls and boys will be inspired to create their own imaginative builds offscreen.

 

Meet the Looney Builders below:

  • Bugs (Jobs: Crew Co-Leader, Digger; Vehicle: Excavator)—Bugs isn’t the kind of Bunny who’s afraid of getting his hands dirty; rabbits are natural diggers after all. He’s a natural born leader with a knack for improvising and still enjoys a good carrot.
  • Lola (Jobs: Crew Co-Leader, Architect, Mover; Vehicle: Bulldozer)— Lola is the perfect mix of dreamer and doer. She’s also the reason The Looney Builders are always in demand. Thanks to Lola’s artistic eye and trusty tablet, everything the Looney Builders build is an instant landmark.
  • Daffy (Job: Hauler; Vehicle: Dump Truck)— Daffy is excitable, impulsive, easily distracted, and well… Daffy! Of all the Looney Builders, Daffy is probably the least worried when things go wrong. In fact, he kinda likes it because it makes things more exciting! But when push comes to shove, he can put his bill down and feather up to see the job through.
  • Porky (Job: Flattener; Vehicle: Steamroller)— Porky is a reliable, well-meaning perfectionist who wants everything to be “Porky Perfect.” He loves following the rules and thinks from a “safety first” perspective. Porky is also a great listener and always has his crew’s backs.
  • Tweety (Job: Lifter; Vehicle: Crane)— Tweety often asks questions to help clarify things, all while being totally adorable! But don’t let his sweet demeanor fool you, Tweety is just as determined as the rest of them.  This canary is always looking out for the little guy, has a cute giggle, and really looks up to Bugs and Lola.
  • Sylvester (Job: Master Painter; Vehicle: Aerial Lift)— Sylvester is an ornery artist who prefers working alone. He is easily agitated and often keeps to himself. Despite being sthuper confident in his abilities, Sylvester is afraid of heights, which he has to face regularly operating his aerial lift.
  • Petunia (Job: Mechanic; Vehicle: Tool Truck)— The Looney Builders’ extraordinary construction vehicles need an extraordinary mechanic. Lucky for them, Petunia Pig is at their vehicle service! Petunia is spunky with an infectious snort-laugh. She is a grease-stained gearhead who enjoys making dramatic entrances and departures.
  • Wile E. Coyote (Job: Inventor; Vehicle: Jetpack)— A self-proclaimed super genius, Wile E. Coyote is always inventing the next gadget to help the Looney Builders with their build. He is always serious, often with deadpan delivery, and irritated by many things, including the pesky Road Runner.
  • Taz (Job: Demolition; Vehicle: Himself)— If you know Taz, then you know his unique skills aren’t right for every job. But when you need something knocked down, destroyed, or wrecked – he’s the Tasmanian Devil to call!

The series premieres July 25, 2022.

‘Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile’ comes to the big screen

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Based on the best-selling book series by Bernard Waber, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is a live-action/CGI musical comedy that brings this beloved character to a new, global audience.

When the Primm family (Constance Wu, Scoot McNairy, Winslow Fegley) moves to New York City, their young son Josh struggles to adapt to his new school and new friends. All of that changes when he discovers Lyle – a singing crocodile (Shawn Mendes) who loves baths, caviar and great music-living in the attic of his new home. The two become fast friends, but when Lyle’s existence is threatened by evil neighbor Mr. Grumps (Brett Gelman), the Primm’s must band together with Lyle’s charismatic owner, Hector P. Valenti (Javier Bardem), to show the world that family can come from the most unexpected places and there’s nothing wrong with a big singing crocodile with an even bigger personality.

The movie hits theaters October 7, 2022.

Check out the trailer below:

Brad Pitt’s new movie

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

In Bullet Train, Brad Pitt stars as Ladybug, an unlucky assassin determined to do his job peacefully after one too many gigs gone off the rails. Fate, however, may have other plans, as Ladybug’s latest mission puts him on a collision course with lethal adversaries from around the globe – all with connected, yet conflicting, objectives – on the world’s fastest train…and he’s got to figure out how to get off. From the director of Deadpool 2, David Leitch, the end of the line is only the beginning in a wild, non-stop thrill ride through modern-day Japan.

The movie will be released August 5, 2022.

This film is rated R so it is not intended for kids.

 

A sneak peek at the final season of ‘Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous returns for a final season on Netflix July 21, 2022! The final season has returning guest stars including Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Haley Joel Osment, Glen Powell and Jameela Jamil.

“At this final chapter in the story, our campers are at a crossroads,” states Executive Producer Scott Kreamer. “On the one hand, they have never been closer to getting home, but on the other, they have never been in more danger of never seeing their families again. There is no clear path forward. They must simultaneously battle to survive the dinosaurs, as well as those that threaten these same creatures’ existence.” Check out the fifth season trailer below!

Trailer for ‘Hocus Pocus 2’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


After 29 years they’re back!

It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century sisters, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before dawn on All Hallow’s Eve.

The live-action, long awaited sequel to the perennial Halloween classic, which brings back the delightfully wicked Sanderson sisters for more comedic mayhem, will debut on Disney+ on September 30, 2022.

Revisiting ‘Bunheads’ via HULU

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

When Bunheads first aired on ABC back in 2012, it was a story ahead of its time. While the show focused on Michelle (Sutton Foster) who quit being a Las Vegas showgirl to marry a sweet man (Alan Ruck) who ends up dying two days later and leaving her in the small town of Paradise with his mother Fanny (Kelly Bishop), a secondary part of the plot revolves around four young high school dancers as they struggle not only with their school and dancing, but also with their newly unfolding social lives and sexual awareness.

Sasha (Julia Goldani Telles) is a beautiful ballet dancer and the star of Fanny’s dance studio. Ginny (Bailey De Young), Boo (Kaitlyn Jenkins), and Melanie (Emma Dumont) make up the rest of the close-knit foursome. Each of these girls has family situations that are less than ideal yet they are happy, upbeat, and love to dance. And they are all wonderful dancers.

Something that makes this series as enjoyable as it is are the dance scenes that are woven through the series however mainly at the end of each episode for the last half of the season.

Sutton Foster is a great dancer in her own right as well as an actress and singer. She is the trifecta of entertainment, having starred in numerous Broadway plays as well as several TV shows including Younger (2015-2021).  And not only is Sutton an actor, but her brother Hunter is also an actor and appears in a few episodes in this show as, yes, her brother Scotty. When she met with the media ten years ago, Sutton acknowledged, “My brother is a Broadway performer as well.  We’ve done a handful of stuff together when we were kids, really, but we’d never really worked together.  So it was amazing.  We did two episodes together.  He stayed with me at my house here in L.A., and it was the first time we had lived together in 25 years, and that was interesting and fun.”

Watching this series for a second time, with a decade between viewings, allows for a new take on the show itself. The quick dialogue is a hallmark of the series, which is also a hallmark of most shows from Executive Producer Amy Sherman-Palladino. She has also produced The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Gilmore Girls, which are also known for their fast and clever dialogue. Others in her filmography are Veronica’s Closet and Can’t Hurry Love.

It is a wonder why this show never got a second season. In today’s market of streaming services, it is the right kind of show that beckons more. It is fun, dramatic, comedic at times, and has some wonderful dancing. Personal note: Why did I quit my ballet classes?

If you haven’t seen Bunheads HULU provides the perfect platform to experience the show for the first time or rediscover the charm of this series.

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, 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. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

 

Courtesy photo

‘The Split’ trilogy returns to explore the age-old notion of a “good divorce”

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


The Split, the gem of a TV series, has been one of my absolute favorites since its debut in 2018. It’s an unflinching and witty examination of modern marriage and the legacy of divorce as seen through the lens of the Defoes — the matriarch Ruth (Deborah Findlay) and her three daughters Hannah (Nicola Walker), Nina (Annabel Scholey), and Rose (Fiona Button) — at the heart of London’s high profile, high-end divorce circuit.

The Split final season follows the Defoe sisters as they stumble through the worst personal blows of their lives: marriage breakdowns, love affairs, divorce, betrayal, abandonment and then some. It picks up 10 months after the finale of the second season when Hannah’s marriage to Nathan Stern (Stephen Mangan) blew up in her face. Although her harbored belief that men cannot be trusted makes her the fierce yet compassionate divorce lawyer any woman would be lucky to have, now she has to suffer the unpleasant consequences of her self-fulfilling prophecy. It’s one thing to advocate for her clients — Hannah likes to say, “Let me be angry for you!” — so that they could fly out of their ‘cages’ with plenty of resources, but it’s quite another to reveal her raw emotions during her own divorce exercises.

Hannah knows all the ins and outs of divorce negotiations, including the divorce seesaw. To her own surprise, Hannah is prone to flip-flopping between getting back together and moving on. She’s heavily influenced by not only her hopes for a reconciliation for fear of change, but also by what she picks up from her clients’ mistakes and regrets. However, when Nathan applies the subtle art of truth management — an occupational hazard of lawyers — to “the full transparency on a relationship status” clause, the gloves are now definitely off. Once it’s apparent that he has moved on with a younger partner, all bets are off.

Is there such a thing as a “good divorce”? My divorce comes dangerously close to Berger’s dumping Carrie with a Post-It-Note (Sex and the City). My ex did it with a long distance phone call. It should have been a clean break since we don’t have any children and live 2,600 miles apart; our paths would never cross again. Yet, it wasn’t a “good divorce” in any way, shape or form. The D word came out of the blue! He totally left me blindly shifting through our past searching for clues or evidence of brokenness and hoping things to be different. Apparently, he had been disengaging himself from the marriage and reality for quite some time and carried out his plan to jettison his royally messed up life in California. And that’s exactly why I was dumped unceremoniously like an old carpet.

Letting go of what might have been was the gut wrenching, most violent and intrusive experience I’ve ever had in my life. My favorite song “Where do you start?” gives language to my divorce experience: “Our lives are tangled like the branches of a vine that intertwine/So many habits that we’ll have to break/And yesterdays we’ll have to take apart.” Eventually I invented my own closure in order to forgive and move on with my life.

Do I believe in a “good divorce” in which both the adults and children emerge at least as emotionally well as they were before the negative consequences of marital dissolution? No, not really. Hannah and Nathan manage to make it happen because they are both professional lawyers who can afford to spend a lot of time and money to go through all the steps; custody of their children, spousal/child support, the division of their assets, and all other issues that need to be worked out. They find balance and common ground on which they can safely step off the divorce seesaw and move on. In other words, the couple learns to be on the same page with mature expressions of understanding about what went wrong and eventual acceptance of what wasn’t meant to be.

The first two episodes of The Split are available both on Sundance Now and AMC+ streaming services. If you don’t subscribe to the services, the six-part Season 3 of The Split returns to BBC America on Monday, June 27 with one episode weekly thereafter.

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.

‘Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight’ comes to Netflix

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Jack Black returns to Kung Fu Panda in the new series Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight. When a mysterious pair of weasels set their sights on a collection of four powerful weapons, Po must leave his home to embark on a globe-trotting quest for redemption and justice that finds him partnered up with a no-nonsense English knight named Wandering Blade voiced by Rita Ora. Together, these two mismatched warriors set out on an epic adventure to find the magical weapons first and save the world from destruction — and they may even learn a thing or two from each other along the way.

Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight premieres July 14, 2022 on Netflix.

www.netflix.com/kungfupandathedragonknight

Cars Land turns 10

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

It’s hard to believe that Cars Land at Disney California Adventure is now ten years old. To be honest, I remember the night before it opened when the media was treated to a spectacular preview of all the activities and the immersive architecture. It was just like stepping into the film. And it still is. Although there have been some changes over the past decade, Cars Land still holds a special attraction for guests.

Radiator Springs is a fun place to visit, even if you don’t go on any of the three attractions. There are many places to eat as well as a great store. I still use my Lightning McQueen sunshade for my car. It’s easy to spot in any parking lot. All I do is look for my little car sporting Lightning McQueen eyes.

The Radiator Springs Racers seem to be the most popular attraction in the land. Personally I enjoy Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree (just don’t ride this if you have a sore back). Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters is the newest attraction replacing Luigi’s Flying Tires. Having ridden both of them, I am happy they replaced the tire ride with the dancing cars. It’s a fun experience where guests end up laughing in their cars while the cars do their dance to the music. How many times have you laughed when your car dances? With the price of gas these days, this might be the only time guests can really enjoy riding in vehicles.

Between the Cozy Cone Motel, Fillmore’s Taste-In, and Flo’s V8 Café, guests can find just about anything to satisfy their food cravings.

What Cars Land did ten years ago changed the way new areas of the resorts are created. As I mentioned earlier, it is like stepping into the movie. The same thing happened in Walt Disney World when they built Pandora – The World of Avatar. If you visit that land in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you will be transported into the Avatar movie. And in Disneyland they continued that immersive experience with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. It’s like stepping into another world, the world of Star Wars. These lands create the feeling of jumping into the movies and enjoying the atmospheres as well as the characters. And let’s not overlook the great recipes the creative Disney chefs concoct to enhance the experiences.

The 12-acre land gets transformed for Halloween and Christmas. And periodically guests will run into (not literally) Lightning McQueen as he makes his way down Route 66.

It’s been a fun ten years with Mater, Lightning McQueen, and the others.

Pick up a limited Mater popcorn bucket when you’re there.

 

Click below to see a roundup of Cars Land.

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, 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.