Archive for August, 2016

Lethal Weapon: Fox Reboots the ’80s Buddy-Cop Franchise

As far as film-to-TV adaptations go, recent history includes the great (Fargo!) and the not-so-great (sorry, Rush Hour). But network execs aren’t stopping the remake train anytime soon, since familiar titles often bring built-in audiences. First up this fall: Fox’s Lethal Weapon. Based on the iconic 1987 action movie starring Danny Glover and Mel Gibson, the small-screen reboot takes its own spin on what happens when by-the-book detective Roger Murtaugh (now played by My Wife and Kids’ Damon Wayans) teams with loose-cannon cop Martin Riggs (Rectify’s Clayne Crawford). “There’s a tremendous difference between these two guys,” says executive producer Matt Miller (Forever, The 100) of the bickering partners. “But like with any good relationship, the chemistry comes exactly because they don’t have the same characteristics.”

And while that chemistry brings a humorous tone, “we’re playing it dead straight,” Crawford says. “And the seriousness of those moments is where the comedy comes in, because the situations themselves are so ludicrous.”

Also in this issue:

• Fall Sneak Peek: First looks at your favorite shows, including Criminal Minds, Empire, NCIS, Chicago Fire and more.

• Harley and the Davidsons: Discovery Channel revs up the story of how Harley-Davidson became America’s motorcycle giant in a new scripted miniseries.

• Emmys: Jimmy Kimmel previews his second gig hosting TV’s biggest night.

• The Case Of: JonBenét Ramsey: CBS’s re-opens the investigation into the unsolved 1996 murder of the 6-year-old beauty queen.

• Star Trek: Celebrating the sci-fi classic’s 50-year legacy of groundbreaking TV.

• NFL Preview: Peyton’s retired, Brady’s suspended and the Rams are back in L.A. Get ready for a season of change.

• Plus: The Rizzoli & Isles series finale, Queen Sugar, Masters of Sex, Blindspot, Z Nation, The View’s Sara Haines and the best of movies, streaming, sports and more.

Fall TV Catch-Up Guide: Blindspot, Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, The Flash and More

The new TV season is almost here, but it’s not too late to catch up on all your returning favorites. This week’s issue includes a handy guide to where shows left off, where you can binge them and what to expect this season on Blindspot, NCIS, The Flash, Chicago Fire, Grey’s Anatomy, Empire and more.

Also in this issue:

• Better Late Than Never: A quartet of pop-culture icons (Henry Winkler, William Shatner, George Foreman and Terry Bradshaw) hits the road for a life-changing adventure on the other side of the world in NBC’s offbeat new travel series.

• America’s Got Talent: Host Nick Cannon gives a behind-the-scenes look at NBC’s summer sensation.

• Suits: Gabriel Macht chats about the hit USA drama’s eyebrow-raising season.

• Joy Behar: In this issue’s guest column, the feisty cohost of The View looks back on two decades at the table Barbara Walters set.

• Plus: America’s Olympic stars, Halt and Catch Fire, Zoo, The Strain, Pretty Little Liars, I Love Kellie Pickler, General Hospital’s Maurice Benard and the best of movies, streaming, sports and more.

Summer Olympics Preview: NBCUniversal Goes for the Gold Standard in Rio

Six hours a day, six days a week for more than three-and-a-half years: That’s how long an elite athlete would have to train to match NBCUniversal’s herculean output from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Viewers might also break a sweat trying to watch the record-smashing 6,755 hours of programming planned on an array of networks and digital platforms. With the addition of virtual-reality content, Olympic wannabes can almost feel the rays of the sun at the first Games in South America. The tentpoles for NBC will again be American swimmer Michael Phelps and Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, just as they were in London four years ago and, for that matter, in Beijing in 2008. These Games will be what NBCUniversal touts as “the most live Olympics ever.” With Rio just one hour ahead of Eastern time, NBC will enjoy its friendliest time zone since Atlanta 20 years ago. “A good chunk of primetime will be live, especially from the beach, the pool and the track,” NBC Olympics executive producer Jim Bell says. And 4,500 hours of streaming coverage on nbcolympics.com and the NBC Sports app make every event available live for the third straight Games.

Also in this issue:

• The Best of Comic-Con: Highlights from the annual pop-culture extravaganza, including TV Guide Magazine’s annual Fan Favorites panel.

• Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner: The gymnastics icons share their thoughts on the Olympic experience.

• Rizzoli & Isles: Series star Sasha Alexander shares her photos from her first time in the director’s chair.

• Jimmy Smits: The tireless TV vet previews his new role in Netflix’s 1970s musical drama The Get Down.

• Plus: Mr. Robot’s Grace Gummer, The Night Of, Chesapeake Shores, Fear the Walking Dead, Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry and the best of movies, streaming, sports and more.