Ed Martin's Top 25 Programs of 2023 (Part Two)
Science fiction is well represented on my best of the year list, which continues below. (Click here to read Part One.) At the top of that genre subset are the latest seasons in two franchises that have spanned seven decades on television (and other media) and show no signs of coming to an end.
"Mrs. Maisel," "The Mandalorian" and More! Five Shows You Should Be Watching
With seemingly endless options to watch on broadcast, cable and streaming, it can be overwhelming to know which ones are worth your time. Here are five returning, and in some cases ending, series that you should definitely be watching. Warning: Spoilers ahead!
HBO's "The Last of Us" Might Be the Best of Them Yet
Modern-day gaming has become an increasingly immersive experience, and with fanbases that rival that of even the most popular movie franchises, it was inevitable that the line between the video game and television industries would continue to blur. Because of this, AAA games (high-budget, high profile games, usually made by well known publishers) and major streaming providers are a killer combo (on paper, at least). One such combo is HBO Max's newest entry in the game-turned-TV series arena: The Last of Us.
Is 2023 the Breakthrough Year for Video Game Transmedia in TV and Film?
While 2023 is officially the Year of the Rabbit, there's a strong chance Hollywood will look back on it as the Year of Video Game Shows. It is jam packed with major TV and film releases based on popular game franchises. And while history has shown that there's no guarantee that the majority of them will prove lucrative, two shows debuting early in 2023 suggest it could be a standout year.
D23 Expo Recap: Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios and 20th Century Studios Reveal Exclusive Content
Anaheim, CA -- While day one of the D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center focused on content from Disney Animation, Pixar and Disney Live Action, the inner (and outer) nerd in all of us was especially excited for what was to come from the studio presentations the following day: Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios and 20th Century Studios. While some Disney-affiliated networks and streaming platforms had interactive exhibits, like the Disney Bundle Pavillion featuring Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN content, some of the biggest spaces were dedicated to Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm -- and for good reason. Both studios combined released nearly two dozen titles since the last D23 Expo in 2019 and will release almost as many before the next expo in 2024.
Critics Choice Tonight! The CW Presents the First Annual Super Awards
Award season is about to begin, and with it the usual accolades for the most impressive motion pictures and the best programs on broadcast, cable and streamers (though not necessarily in that order). While there are many high-profile award shows, including the Golden Globes, the SAG Awards, the BAFTAs, the Independent Spirit Awards, the Oscars and the Critics Choice Awards (and, much later in the year, the Emmys), it seems there is never very much room to honor genre content -- that is, movies and television shows in the science-fiction, horror, action, animation, comic-book and fantasy arena. Obviously, certain big-budget break-out shows from this category -- especially on HBO, home of Watchmen, Game of Thrones, Westworld and Lovecraft Country -- and the occasional feature film (think Night of the Parasite) have been singled out for certain of these honors.
