Kansas City Star: Aaron Barnhart

Television honors those who serve

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Veterans Day is Wednesday, and for the first time in years our young men and women serving in the military have the country’s full attention. Tragically, it is for the wrong reason.

Not a fan? You really should be

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

There’s a lot we see as professional TV watchers that we don’t write about. And the shows that usually get overlooked are ones we’ve already covered, those long-running series that we assume our readers have already made up their minds about. This column is devoted to four of those.

For Verizon users, Droid fills a void

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Droid, the so-called iPhone killer that uses the Android 2.0 operating system from Google, goes on sale this morning at Verizon Wireless stores. Among iPhone nation, the reaction to Verizon’s in-your-face marketing campaign for the Droid — those “iDon’t” commercials that mock the supposed shortcomings of America’s favorite smartphone — has ranged from bemusement to irritation to litigation.

Back from bankruptcy, Willie Aames looks to make change

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

In our last episode of “Willie Aames Confidential,” the onetime star of TV’s “Eight Is Enough” and “Charles in Charge” was holding a yard sale in front of his foreclosed home in Olathe. Eight months have passed since then, and the 49-year-old Aames has since begun an extreme makeover — not of his house, but of his life. He’s training to be a financial adviser.

‘CityBall,' one year later

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

One year ago, a Metro Sports producer named Stephen Spiegel put the “league” in “beleaguered.” With his documentary “CityBall,” Spiegel introduced cable viewers — who are accustomed to watching the games of Olathe North, Bishop Miege, Blue Springs and other suburban athletic powerhouses on Metro Sports — to the realities of high school sports inside the cash-strapped, crisis-riddled Kansas City School District.

TV preview | ‘V' for very familiar

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

“V,” the last of the new TV shows to premiere this fall, imagines a takeover of Earth by an alien race, with Earthlings as their eager accomplices. For all of its science fiction markings — the visual effects, the otherworldly politeness of the visitors, the action scenes in which the predator reveals its true nature — this is at its heart political drama, not sci-fi.

‘By the People' gives behind-the-scenes view of Obama's rise

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

Remember when 9/11 was supposed to have changed everything? Well, it did for Amy Rice and her brother Andrew after their older brother David, an investment banker, went to work at the World Trade Center and never came home. “Andrew and I woke up to the political world that day,” Amy Rice recalled.

This 'League' is strictly for juveniles

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

If I tell you that “The League” is a reprehensible show, I’m not really telling you that much.

KC participants try to drop weight in challenge for TV's ‘Dr. Oz'

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

Nicole Garner didn't even want to be on television. She was just looking for the ladies room at Marshalls in Zona Rosa when she crossed paths with a producer for the “Dr. Oz” show.

The state of the late: With Leno off ‘Tonight,' is there a new king of the night?

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

When Americans are looking to soothe their frazzled nerves after a long day, late-night TV shows have always been happy to oblige. But these days, the world of late night is as topsy-turvy as the real world we’re trying to tune out. Just one year ago, Jay Leno was cruising along as the undisputed king of late night. Five million faithful watched the “Tonight” show host, as reliable as his restored Model T, night after night delivering A-list guests, John McCain jokes and wacky headlines.

TV's best new drama, 'White Collar,' is on cable

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

Here we are in mid-October, when the commotion caused by all the new fall premieres ought to be settling down. Instead, it feels like September was just a warm-up.

Monty Python: A six-night documentary for the 'Circus' that never ends

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

If there was a Mount Rushmore of comedy, you'd need two of them: one for the Marx Brothers and one for “Monty Python's Flying Circus.”

‘30 Rock' is too poor, ‘Million' too rich, Joan Baez just right.

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

We are devoting this column to the finer things in life — because isn’t that what television is supposed to be, an escape from the recessions of our humdrum existence, a stimulus package for the cost of a monthly cable bill? Let’s start with “30 Rock,” airing 8:30 p.m. Thursday on KSHB. Winner of three straight Emmys, it can fairly be called the finest sitcom on the air today. But after 58 episodes, 580 rave reviews from critics and 5,800 Judah Friedlander trucker caps, even a devoted “30 Rock” watcher like me will admit it is not always on its “A” game.

What to watch this week

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

Two pieces of good news for fans of the Canadian import “Flashpoint”: The show was just picked up for 13 more episodes, which will air later this season. And in case you missed this summer CBS series focusing on a tactical response unit and co-starring Hugh Dillon and Enrico Colantoni, the first season is out today on DVD. WEDNESDAY

St. Louis sales executive to head KCTV

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

Robert G. Totsch, a 21-year veteran of the St. Louis CBS affiliate KMOV-TV, is moving across the state to run KCTV and KSMO-TV.

St. Louis sales executive to take the reins at KCTV

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:38 CDT

Robert G. Totsch, a 21-year veteran of the St. Louis CBS affiliate KMOV-TV, is moving across state to run KCTV and KSMO-TV.

Sophomore shows: How are last season's survivors doing?

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

Last week we looked at how some of this season's most promising new TV shows were faring a couple of weeks in. Now we change the channel to those shows that were among last season's most promising … and which managed to rustle up enough viewers (in some cases, barely enough) to earn a spot on this fall's schedule.

Don Imus means business at Fox

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

Wasn’t it inevitable that Don Imus would wind up on Fox? Today is the day “Imus in the Morning” signs on at FBN, also known as the Fox Business Network. (For those who are hearing those three words together for the first time, it’s probably on your digital cable lineup.) He airs from 5-8 a.m. weekdays.

What to watch this week

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

“Three Rivers” (8 p.m., KCTV) is CBS’ latest attempt at a medical drama, and wouldn’t you know, it has a little “CSI” in it. (Not necessarily a good thing — “CSI” ratings are way down.) But this one takes place at a fancy organ-transplant unit. “Moonlight” star Alex O’Loughlin plays a doc who’s part of the team that turns tragedy into triumph as organ donors’ remains are compassionately harvested and used to give others new life. CBS has been tinkering with this show all summer, and it still needs work. Alfre Woodard and “L Word” alumna Katherine Moennig co-star. MONDAY

C-SPAN on the Supreme Court: This time it's personal

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

There’s a producer at C-SPAN named Mark Farkas. You don’t know him, but I’ve been admiring his work at cable’s town hall channel for more than a decade. He’s the mind behind many of the weeklong/monthlong/yearlong projects C-SPAN commissions to fill out its schedule when the House and Senate aren’t in session.

Analysis | Will Letterman survive the scandal?

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

In a few days, David Letterman will emerge unscathed from the hullabaloo surrounding the bombshell about that extortion plot against him. His fans don't care about his indiscretions, and the notoriety will probably make his show more popular than ever.

Second look at the new fall shows

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:15 CDT

Now that premiere week is over, it's a good time to see how some of the more promising first-year series are faring since their debuts.

'The National Parks': Ken Burns' best

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:15 CDT

The National Parks: America's Best Idea,” the latest mosaic from documentarian Ken Burns, is a departure for him. This 12-hour, high-definition jaw-dropper does not involve a journey (like “Lewis & Clark” or “The West”), a conflagration of epic scale (his two war films), or a beloved American pastime (like boxing, baseball or jazz). All of those topics have lent themselves time and again to Burns' signature form of dramatic reminiscence.

Pembroke writing team Liz Craft and Sarah Fain move to �Lie to Me�

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:15 CDT

The last time I checked in with Liz Craft and Sarah Fain, the Pembroke Hill grads and Hollywood writing team I call the Murder Gals — mostly because they helped adapt “The Women's Murder Club” for TV but also because a lot of people seem to get killed violently on their shows — they had just made the leap from “Dollhouse” to another Fox series, “Lie to Me.” Lots of people were surprised the duo would leave producer Joss Whedon, but they're under contract to the studio, not to any one show, so when Fox decided they were more sorely needed at “Lie to Me,” that was that.

“Brothers”: Last of the black network sitcoms

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:15 CDT

Why visit the set of the new Fox comedy “Brothers”? Well, to paraphrase its co-star CCH Pounder — the last person I expected to see in an old-style sitcom — because I could. I wasn’t going because I thought this show might be an Emmy contender next season. Nor was my intent malicious, like seeing whether ex-NFL lineman Michael Strahan would trip over his lines while trying to make the transition to comedy actor.

'Rescue Ink': Pets, tats and guts

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:15 CDT

From the minute it was described to me, I knew that “Rescue Ink” was going to be a hit. A biker den full of burly, tattooed guys devoting themselves to extreme animal rescues? On the same channel that brought you “The Dog Whisperer?” Are you kidding?

Emmys '09: New look, but deja view for the winners

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:15 CDT

If it weren’t for Neil Patrick Harris and the freshened-up look and feel of the Emmys, I would swear this was a repeat of last year. “Mad Men” and “30 Rock” held off six other shows in their respective fields to defend their titles for best drama and comedy series. Bryan Cranston of “Breaking Bad,” Alec Baldwin of “30 Rock” and Glenn Close of “Damages” also repeated.

What to watch this week

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:15 CDT

PREMIERE WEEK Most returning shows on the big four networks are back this week. (The CW is already up and running, not that you noticed.) And because I spent much of last week telling you what NBC has on at 9 every night, in the interest of equal time here are some of Jay Leno’s new competitors:

HBO's all-schlemiel Sunday comedies

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:15 CDT

On Sunday, it’s time for that HBO comedy about that nebbishy guy who can’t stop digging himself into huge holes. Oh, and also “Curb Your Enthusiasm” is back for another season. All right, that may be a cheap comparison — what TV comedy hasn’t involved a guy, his mouth and a big shovel? But given the kind of sitcoms HBO has been unloading on its paying customers lately, the arrival of Jason Schwartzman in “Bored to Death” ought to give solace to those who would wonder if another high-concept HBO comedy would ever see the light of day.

Two from KC to star in high-profile TV shows

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:15 CDT

Kansas Citians get themselves on TV all the time. A game show here, a reality show there. They all have publicists, and all the publicists have my e-mail address. These two are different.

Emmys: Who will win? Who will watch?

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:15 CDT

E.F. Schumacher, were he still around and gave two hoots about TV, might have observed that last year’s Emmy Awards were a tribute to his axiom that small is beautiful.

Leno's return is mighty familiar

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:15 CDT

Jay Leno made his return to network television Monday night, and other than the early-bird time slot, very little about it seemed unfamiliar. NBC had promised to shake up prime time by airing a late-night talk show at 9 p.m. weeknights. Leno had promised to shake up the format of “The Tonight Show.”

What to watch this week

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:15 CDT

“The Jay Leno Show” (9 p.m., KSHB). Perhaps you heard about a slight change to NBC's schedule this fall. As I wrote in my fall preview two weeks ago, “There will be higher-rated and higher-profile new shows this season. But none stands to have a greater impact.” Leno welcomes Jerry Seinfeld to the first show in his new, earlier time slot every weekday.

Plug in to Spinal Tap, the ‘Unwigged' DVD

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:15 CDT

To a person of a certain age, one only needs to hear a couple of lines before surrendering to the laughter that is as irresistible and inevitable as a bulge in a pair of 1980s leather pants. I couldn’t wait, so as soon as the DVD arrived, I popped it in and fast-forwarded to track 27:

ABC Family and the CW are chasing women

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:15 CDT

While you weren’t paying attention, two TV networks launched their fall seasons this week. The CW and ABC Family are both aiming at the same narrow slice of the viewing audience of girls and very young women, albeit with two very different approaches to TV drama.

Get your 'Jump' on at 18th and Vine

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:15 CDT

For those of us who've sat in a mostly empty jam session at the Mutual Musicians Foundation in the 18th and Vine District, wondering what the future held for Kansas City's historic home of jazz, the arrival of the radio program “12 O'Clock Jump” has been a huge, gratifying shot in the arm.

As fall TV season looms, the hour is late

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:15 CDT

Jay Leno would like you to know that while much has changed in the world — his TV show and the landscape of network television among them — there are some constants we can count on.

Fall TV preview 2009: What's new, day by day

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:15 CDT

MONDAY “The Jay Leno Show” airs at 9 weeknights on NBC starting Sept. 14, with Jerry Seinfeld as Leno’s first guest and Jay-Z performing with Rihanna and Kanye West. Don’t listen to the naysayers: It will be an out-of-the-gate success.

Fall TV preview 2009: What's next

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:15 CDT

MOVIES AND SPECIALS Ken Burns’ latest documentary epic, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” is also one of his best. It airs over six nights, Sept. 27 through Oct. 2, on PBS, and I’ll have much more about it as the airdate approaches.

More non-cartoons coming to Cartoon Network

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:13 CST

As I reported earlier this year, Adult Swim has seen some success picking up quirky British sitcoms that didn't quite work anywhere else on cable except for brief plays on BBC America. The fact that they aren't cartoons meant little...

Droid is no iPhone ... but why does it need to be?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:14 CST

Occasionally I put on my tech hat, usually when my personal technology is at stake. Today I reviewed the Verizon Wireless Droid, which was released this morning at stores. Here's my review and below, a video I put together after...

Are just TV heartthrobs like Willie Aames bad with money?

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:12 CST

Not surprisingly, the comments section to my story on former "Eight Is Enough" actor Willie Aames' money troubles is filling up with notes of compassion and support: > "How do you start over from scratch? Being famous probably helps quite...

Who is John Christopher Turner?

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:20 CDT

John Christopher Turner found himself in the news yesterday. The Star did some reporting on his family, still living here in the area, and his apparent role in saving lives during yesterday's brazen attack on a hotel compound where UN...

Who is John Christopher Turner?

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:20 CDT

Nuevo late night: Lopez speaks Spanish, but it's Sykes who's caliente

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

“The Wanda Sykes Show” has an unhinged, Glenn Beck vibe so far, and while it’s undoubtedly compelling, I wonder what will be left once that goes away.