At your service TNT debuts the James Bond-esque ‘Agent X’
By Jacqueline Spendlove TV MediaThe name’s Case. John Case. OK, the title character in “Agent X” isn’t quite 007, but he’s certainly drawing comparisons to the smooth-talking, tuxedo-swaddled Brit.
TNT’s action-packed new series sees big-screen icon Sharon Stone (“Casino,” 1995) making a rare departure from film to star in a television show. She portrays the newly elected vice president of the United States, Natalie Maccabee, who is landed with a very particular set of responsibilities — and more importantly, one exceptional employee — that only a handful of people know about. “Agent X” premieres Sunday, Nov. 8, on TNT.
At last month’s New York Comic Con, series creator William Blake Herron explained his inspiration for the concept of “Agent X.” In a sentiment echoed in the first episode by Malcolm Millar (Gerald McRaney, “House of Cards”), the vice president’s chief steward, Herron was intrigued by the fact that the second most important executive position in the American government doesn’t appear to have any set duties. From that came the speculation that perhaps those duties are just unseen and kept from the public.
After she’s sworn into office, Maccabee returns to her new digs only to discover a secret passage behind the fireplace, which she follows to the end and promptly has her mind blown when she’s filled in on one of the nation’s biggest secrets.
As Millar explains, Maccabee is about to be heavily involved in a program she never knew existed. An extra section in Article Two of the Constitution — the original document is housed in the hidden chamber in which she’s now standing — states that “an agent of unknown identity is hereby authorized to serve at the discretion of the vice president for the purpose of aiding the republic in times of dire peril.”
And so she’s introduced to John Case, also known as Agent X.
Jeff Hephner (“Chicago Fire”), who plays Agent X, described the
character in an interview for Blastr as a “taller-than-average, really handsome bad-ass” who’s deployed on missions that the government needs to accomplish on the down-low.
Bond,” added Herron, “so he goes on missions like any super spy would do.”
has no shortage of butt-kicking, gun-toting, glass-breaking and other fancy maneuvers; Agent X pulls it all off while looking terribly dapper, with never a hair out of place.
weapon himself. Case is Special Ops-trained, CIA-tested, cunning, tough and quick as a whip. He’s also fiercely patriotic with a strong moral compass — qualities that all come together to make him the ideal man to be protecting his country when no one else can. His charm and good looks don’t hurt, either.
has some recognizable faces
Stone spoke with “Extra” about the timing of finally taking a major television role: “I waited for the good thing. I knew that I wanted to do something that had a woman in a sort of political situation, in a way that talked about politics but also in a way that was fun.”
The current political situation in the U.S. also played a role in Stone, a supporter of Hillary Clinton, taking the part.
“For me, to play vice president during this prescient moment when women are in so many powerful positions politically, and when we’re very apt to have a woman as president, it’s a very exciting time in the world to be playing something that is really in that moment, in that historical moment,” she added.
Maccabee is certainly an admirable character. She went from law professor to senator to the country’s first female vice president, and bore the tragic death of her husband with a strength that showed her to be capable in times of crisis, and a qualified commander of a top secret program requiring clarity and careful discretion.
Of course, she’ll still have guidance in her new position, and not only from the dry-witted Millar, who will become her right-hand man and trusted adviser. Chief Justice Caleb Thorne is played by another Hollywood heavyweight, three-time Emmy winner James Earl Jones (“Field of Dreams,” 1989), and is one of the few people who is in on the Agent X program. The iconic actor can do no wrong in roles requiring a voice of guidance and reason, and Thorne will prove invaluable to Maccabee as she dives head first into crisis management.
Also privy to Case’s role is President Thomas Eckhart, played by Emmy-winning actor John Shea (“Mutant X”). As the former vice president, Eckhart is Case’s previous boss, and it wasn’t so long ago that he was standing right where Maccabee is now.
If two dozen James Bond movies are any indication, audiences love to see a hunk in a suit throwing punches and taking names. “Agent X” promises just that and more. Don’t miss the actionpacked premiere when it airs Sunday, Nov. 8, on TNT.
ACROSS
1 “Oh, well, what can you do...”
5 “Club Tropicana” is a tune by what pop duo?
9 “Long Island Medium” channel
12 Puccini aria: “_ __ Babbino Caro”
13 “_ __... _ Said” by Neil Diamond
14 Scandinavian rug
15 Actor, Sir Ian __
16 ‘60s TV series from Britain starring Roger Moore as
Simon Templar: 2 wds.
18 New limited series on Starz about the grittier side of the world of professional ballet: 3 wds.
20 Freezes
21 __ _ good deed
22 Pulled-by-horses transport in a Western 24 CBS mil. drama
28 Bedlam
29 Singer of “Chasing Pavements”
30 Place for a faucet in the kitchen
31 Districts
32 ‘Electron’ suffix
35 Family tree member
36 Country singer whose hits include “Smoky Mountain Rain” and “(There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me”: 2 wds.
41 Vernon Presley or Joseph Jackson, for example: 2 wds.
42 Jabba the __ (George Lucas character)
44 Dignitary, for short
45 “The Martha __ Show” of
‘50s television
46 “_ __ to You” by Lady Antebellum
47 Message regarding health or safety, e.g.
48 Gave _ __ (Approved non-verbally)
49 Greek alphabet letters
DOWN
1 Music scale’s fifth note [var. sp.]
2 “__ __ two minds...”
3 Island inhabitant on a classic ‘60s comedy series
4 Valerie Bertinelli’s show on The Food Network, “Valerie’s __ __”
5 “Dancing __ the Stars” and “Keeping Up __ the Kardashians” ...what’s missing from those show titles?
6 “That’s funny.”
7 Make better
8 Err
9 Peter, Paul & Mary, for example
10 Ms. Redgrave of “House
Calls”
11 Ms. Blanchett
17 Captain’s command after all else has failed!: 2 wds.
19 D.C. politicians, e.g.
22 Hollywood legend Mr. Fields, et al.
23 Sushi tuna
25 Half man/half horse creatures of ancient mythology
26 Suffix to ‘Tact’
27 French language possessive
29 Blue, in Barcelona
33 Cutlass __ (Oldsmobile model, formerly)
34 Kind of car
35 Helped
36 Acronym on an invitation
37 Mr.
Sunday, Nov. 8
Noon (9) KMSP (15) KVRR NFL Football St.L at Min. (Live) (3:00)
ESPN Championship Drive (Live)
(0:30)
ESPN2 NCAA Volleyball Women’s Mich. St. vs. Wisc. (Live) (2:00)
FSN DFL Soccer Ber. at Han. (2:00)
GOLF Golf Central Pre-game (Live)
(0:30)
NBCSN NASCAR America (Live) (0:30)
12:30 p.m. (11) KARE Countdown to Green (Live) (0:30)
ESPN College Football Final (1:00)
GOLF PGA Golf Final Round Sanderson Farms Championship. (Live) (3:00)
NBCSN Lucas Oil Motorsport Hour
(1:00)
1:00 p.m. (5) KSTP Sports Gone Wild (1:00)
(11) KARE NASCAR Auto Racing Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500. (Live)
(4:00)
1:30 p.m. ESPN Championship Drive
(0:30)
NBCSN Lucas Oil Motorsport Hour
(1:00)
2:00 p.m. (29) WFTC FIA Auto Racing Formula E Championship. (1:00)
ESPN MLS Soccer Conference Semifinal Leg 2 Playoffs. (Live) (2:00)
ESPN2 Poker World Series. (0:30)
FSN UFC Unleashed (1:00)
2:30 p.m. ESPN2 Poker Main Event World Series. (1:00)
NBCSN Ironman World Championship (1:00)
3:00 p.m. (5) KSTP World of X Games (1:00)
(9) KMSP (15) KVRR The OT (Live) (0:30)
FSN UFC Ultimate Submissions (1:00)
3:25 p.m. (7) KCCO NFL Football Den. at Ind. (Live) (3:05)
3:30 p.m. (9) KMSP FOX 9 Post Game (Live) (0:30)
(15) KVRR FIA Auto Racing Formula E Championship. (1:00)
ESPN2 Poker World Series. (1:00)
GOLF CHAMPS Golf Final Round Charles Schwab Cup Championship. (Live) (2:00)
NBCSN Track & Field IPC World Championship. (1:30)
4:00 p.m. (8) WDSE Wisconsin Deer Hunt (1:00)
ESPN MLS Soccer Conference Semifinal Leg 2 (Live) (2:30)
FSN UFC Fight Flashback (0:30)
4:30 p.m. ESPN2 Poker Main Event World
GOLF PGA Golf Final Round Sanderson Farms Championship. (3:00)
NBCSN Rallycross Global. (1:30)
7:00 p.m. FSN Equestrian Los Angeles Masters. (1:00)
7:20 p.m. (11) KARE NFL Football Phi. at Dal. (Live) (3:15)
7:30 p.m. ESPN Poker World Series. (Live) (2:30)
ESPN2 30 for 30 (1:30)
8:00 p.m. FSN WPT Poker Five Diamond Classic. (1:00)
9:00 p.m. ESPN2 ESPN FC (1:00)
FSN WPT Poker Alpha8. (1:00)
NBCSN EPL Soccer (1:00)
Monday, Nov. 9
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ESPN SportsCenter (0:30)
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GOLF Golf Central (1:00)
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9:00 p.m. NBCSN Truck Racing Battle of the Bluegrass. (0:30)
9:30 p.m. FSN Wolves Live Post-game (Live) (0:30)
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10:00 p.m. ESPN2 Poker Final Table World Series. (2:00)
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NBCSN Men in Blazers (0:30)
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10:30 p.m. FSN Minnesota
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NBCSN EPL Soccer (2:00)
10:45 p.m. HBO Boxing Timothy Bradley vs. Brandon Rios (2:15)
11:00 p.m. FSN UFC Embedded (1:00)
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7:00 p.m. ESPN 30 for 30 (1:30)
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8:00 p.m. SHOW Inside the NFL (1:00)
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11:30 p.m. ESPN2 NBA Tonight (0:30)
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Wednesday, Nov. 11
Noon (9) KAWE Classical Stretch: The Esmonde Technique (0:30)
ESPN SportsCenter (0:30)
ESPN2 First Take (2:00)
GOLF Golf Channel Academy (0:30)
NBCSN FLW Outdoors (1:00)
12:30 p.m. ESPN Outside the Lines (Live) (0:30)
GOLF Inside the PGA Tour (0:30)
9:30 p.m. (23) WUCW The Sports Show With Mike Max (0:30)
GOLF CHAMPS Golf Final Round Charles Schwab Cup Championship. (2:00)
10:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:30)
ESPN2 Poker Final Table World Series. (Live) (2:00)
FSN Wolves Weekly (0:30)
10:30 p.m. FSN Twins Season Review (0:30)
NBCSN NASCAR Victory Lap (1:00)
10:35 p.m. (9) KMSP Fox 9 Sports Now (0:30)
11:00 p.m. FSN WPT Poker Five Diamond Classic. (1:00)
11:05 p.m. (9) KMSP Vikings: Beyond the Gridiron (0:30)
11:30 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:30)
GOLF PGA Golf Final Round HSBC Champions. (5:00)
1:00 p.m. ESPN2 College Football Live (Live) (0:30)
FSN NHL Hockey T.B. at Min. (2:00)
NBCSN NASCAR 120 (3:00)
1:30 p.m. ESPN NFL Insiders (Live) (1:00)
ESPN2 First Take Re-Take (0:30)
2:00 p.m. ESPN2 His & Hers (1:00)
2:30 p.m. ESPN NFL Live (Live) (1:00)
3:00 p.m. ESPN2 SportsNation (Live) (1:00)
FSN Monster Jam (1:00)
3:30 p.m. ESPN Highly Questionable (0:30)
4:00 p.m. ESPN Around the Horn (0:30)
ESPN2 First Take Re-Take (0:30)
FSN WPT Poker Alpha8. (1:00)
NBCSN NASCAR America (Live) (1:00)
4:30 p.m. ESPN Pardon the Interruption (0:30)
NBCSN FLW Outdoors (1:00)
6:30 p.m. ESPN2 Pardon the Interruption (0:30)
FSN Wolves Live Pre-game (Live) (0:30)
7:00 p.m. ESPN2 Poker Final Table World Series. (Live) (3:00)
FSN NBA Basketball Min. at Atl. (Live) (2:30)
GOLF Golf Channel Academy (0:30)
NBCSN FLW Outdoors (1:00)
USA WWE Monday Night Raw (3:05)
7:10 p.m. ESPN NFL Football Chi. at S.D. (Live) (3:10)
7:30 p.m. GOLF Golf Channel Academy (0:30)
8:00 p.m. GOLF PGA Golf Final Round HSBC Champions. (5:00)
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8:30 p.m. NBCSN Deer and Deer Hunting TV (0:30)
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NBCSN Fantasy Football Live (Live) (0:30)
6:00 p.m. ESPN2 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards (Live) (1:00)
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GOLF Inside the PGA Tour (0:30)
1:00 p.m. ESPN College Football Live (Live) (0:30)
FSN UEFA Soccer Champions League. Ars. vs. Mun. (2:00)
GOLF Playing Lessons (1:00)
NBCSN Charlie Moore: No Offense (0:30)
1:30 p.m. ESPN NFL Insiders (Live) (1:00)
NBCSN Bass 2 Billfish (0:30)
2:00 p.m. ESPN2 His & Hers (1:00)
GOLF Inside the PGA Tour (0:30)
NBCSN George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing (0:30)
2:30 p.m. ESPN NFL Live (Live) (1:00)
GOLF Champions Tour Learning Center (0:30)
NBCSN Lucas Oil Motorsport Hour (1:00)
3:00 p.m. ESPN2 SportsNation (1:00)
FSN NHL Hockey Wpg. at Min. (2:00)
GOLF Masters Highlights (1:00)
3:30 p.m. ESPN Highly Questionable (0:30)
NBCSN Global Rallycross Lites (0:30)
4:00 p.m. ESPN Around the Horn (0:30)
ESPN2 First Take Re-Take (0:30)
GOLF Golfing World (0:30)
NBCSN NASCAR America (Live) (1:00)
4:30 p.m. ESPN Pardon the Interruption (0:30)
ESPN2 Highly Questionable (0:30)
GOLF European Tour Weekly (0:30)
5:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:30)
ESPN2 Around the Horn (0:30)
FSN Rudy & Neal Go Fishing (0:30)
GOLF Golf Central (0:30)
NBCSN Pro Football Talk (Live) (0:30)
5:30 p.m. ESPN2 Pardon the Interruption (0:30)
FSN Due North Outdoors (0:30)
GOLF Golf Central (0:30)
NBCSN Fantasy Football Live (Live) (0:30)
6:00 p.m. ESPN2 Fantasy Football Kickoff (0:30)
FSN The Game 365 (0:30)
GOLF School of Golf (1:00)
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6:30 p.m. ESPN NBA Countdown (Live) (0:30)
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FSN Gopher Football With Jerry Kill (0:30)
NBCSN NHL Hockey Mtl. at Pit. (Live) (2:30)
7:00 p.m. ESPN NBA Basketball L.A. C. at Dal. (Live) (2:30)
ESPN2 NCAA Football (Live) (3:00)
FSN UFC 160 (3:00)
GOLF Masters Highlights (1:00)
8:00 p.m. GOLF Masters Highlights (1:00)
9:00 p.m. GOLF EPGA Golf Round 1
BMW Masters. (Live) (5:00)
NBCSN NHL Overtime (Live) (0:30)
9:30 p.m. ESPN NBA Basketball S.A. at Por. (Live) (2:30)
NBCSN NFL Turning Point (0:30)
10:00 p.m. ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN Rudy & Neal Go Fishing (0:30)
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10:30 p.m. FSN Gopher Football With Jerry Kill (0:30)
NBCSN Boxing Kevin Bizier vs. Fredrick Lawson Premier Champions. (2:00)
11:00 p.m. ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN WPT Poker Five Diamond Classic. (1:00)
SHOW A Season With Notre Dame Football (0:30)
Thursday, Nov. 12
8:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN Gopher Football With Jerry Kill (0:30)
GOLF EPGA Golf Round 1 BMW Masters. (3:30)
NBCSN The Dan Patrick Show (Live) (3:00)
8:30 a.m. FSN Sled Head 24/7 (0:30)
9:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
ESPN2 First Take (Live) (2:00)
FSN DFL Soccer Sch. at Dor. (2:00)
10:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
11:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
ESPN2 His & Hers (Live) (1:00)
FSN NHL Hockey Wpg. at Min. (2:00)
NBCSN Charlie Moore: No Offense (0:30)
11:30 a.m. GOLF Golf Central Pregame (Live) (0:30)
NBCSN Americana Outdoors (0:30)
Noon (9) KAWE Classical Stretch: The Esmonde Technique (0:30)
ESPN SportsCenter (0:30)
ESPN2 First Take (2:00)
GOLF PGA Golf Round 1 OHL Classic. (Live) (3:00)
NBCSN Babe Winkelman (0:30)
12:30 p.m. ESPN Outside the Lines (Live) (0:30)
NBCSN Seasons on the Fly (0:30)
1:00 p.m. ESPN College Football Live (Live) (0:30)
FSN #VikingsConnected (0:30)
NBCSN Whitetail Diaries (0:30)
1:30 p.m. ESPN NFL Insiders (Live) (1:00)
FSN Vikings: Beyond the Gridiron (0:30)
NBCSN Fisher’s ATV Adventures (0:30)
2:00 p.m. ESPN2 His & Hers (1:00)
FSN Minnesota Timberwolves: Track the Pack 2015-16 (0:30)
NBCSN Outlaw Pulling Series (0:30)
2:30 p.m. ESPN NFL Live (Live) (1:00)
FSN Wolves Weekly (0:30)
3:00 p.m. ESPN2 SportsNation (Live) (1:00)
FSN NBA Basketball Cha.H. at Min. (2:00)
GOLF LPGA Golf Round 1 Lorena Ochoa Invitational. (Live) (2:00)
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ESPN2 First Take Re-Take (0:30)
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SYFY WWE Smackdown! (2:00)
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8:30 p.m. ESPN2 30 for 30 (1:30)
FSN Wild Live Post-game (Live) (0:30)
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9:00 p.m. FSN Due North Outdoors (0:30)
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NBCSN Nitro Circus: Crazy Train (1:00)
9:30 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:30)
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NBCSN Off the Grid (0:30)
10:30 p.m. FSN Rudy & Neal Go Fishing (0:30)
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SHOW A Season With Notre Dame Football (0:30)
Multi-Policy Discounts
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GOLF PGA Golf Round 2 OHL Classic. (Live) (3:00)
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1:00 p.m. ESPN College Football Live (Live) (0:30)
FSN John Gillespie’s Waters & Woods (0:30)
NBCSN NASCAR Auto Racing Sprint Cup Series Practice Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500. (Live) (1:30)
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FSN Midwest Outdoors Magazine (0:30)
2:00 p.m. ESPN2 His & Hers (1:00)
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NBCSN NASCAR Auto Racing Sprint Cup Series Qualifying Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500. (Live) (1:30)
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ESPN2 FIFA Soccer World Cup Qualifier. USA vs. St. Vinc. (Live) (2:00)
FSN NBA Basketball Min. at Ind. (Live) (2:30)
7:30 p.m. (9) KAWE NCAA Hockey Ak.F. at Bem. (Live) (2:30)
8:00 p.m. ESPN2 NCAA Football USC at Col. (Live) (3:00)
SPIKE Boxing Card TBA Premier Champions. (2:15)
8:30 p.m. FSN Wolves Live Post-game (Live) (0:30)
GOLF Golf Central (0:30)
9:00 p.m. ESPN NCAA Basketball Tex. vs. Wash. (Live) (2:00)
FSN Gopher Football With Jerry Kill (0:30)
GOLF EPGA Golf Round 3 BMW Masters. (Live) (5:00)
TRUTV Boxing Card TBA Friday Night Knockout. (2:00)
9:30 p.m. (15) KVRR KVRR Sports Extra (0:30)
FSN Vikings: Beyond the Gridiron (0:30)
10:00 p.m. (29) WFTC Vikings: Beyond the Gridiron (0:30)
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11:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
ESPN2 NFL Live (1:00)
FSN WPT Poker Alpha8. (1:00) Saturday, Nov. 14
8:00 a.m. ESPN College GameDay (Live) (3:00)
ESPN2 SportsCenter (3:00)
FSN Rooster Tales (0:30)
1:30 p.m. NBCSN NASCAR Auto Racing Sprint Cup Series Final Practice Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500. (Live) (1:00)
2:00 p.m. (5) KSTP College Football Countdown (Live) (0:30)
(11) KARE Notre Dame Football Pregame (Live) (0:30)
ESPN ESPN2 College Football Scoreboard (Live) (0:30)
2:30 p.m. (5) KSTP (7) KCCO ESPN ESPN2 FSN NCAA Football (Live) (3:00)
(11) KARE NCAA Football Wake F. at N.D. (Live) (3:30)
NBCSN Countdown to Green (Live) (0:30)
3:00 p.m. GOLF LPGA Golf Round 3 Lorena Ochoa Invitational. (Live) (2:00)
NBCSN NASCAR Auto Racing Xfinity Series DAV 200. (Live) (2:30)
5:00 p.m. GOLF Golf Central (0:30)
5:30 p.m. (5) KSTP College Football Countdown (Live) (0:30)
ESPN ESPN2 College Football Scoreboard (Live) (0:30)
GOLF PGA Golf Round 3 OHL Classic. (3:00)
NBCSN F1 Auto Racing Qualifying Brazilian Grand Prix. (1:30)
6:00 p.m. (9) KMSP (15) KVRR College Football Pre-game (Live) (0:30)
ESPN ESPN2 NCAA Football (Live) (3:00)
FSN Gopher Football With Jerry Kill (0:30)
6:30 p.m. (9) KMSP (15) KVRR NCAA Football (Live) (3:30)
FSN Wild Live Pre-game (Live) (0:30)
7:00 p.m. (5) KSTP Saturday Night Football Pre-game Show (Live) (0:07) (9) KAWE NCAA Hockey Ak.-F. at Bem. (Live) (2:30)
FSN NHL Hockey Min. at Dal. (Live) (2:30)
7:05 p.m. (5) KSTP NCAA Football (Live) (3:15)
8:30 p.m. GOLF Golf Central (0:30)
11:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN Bull Riding Championship. (1:00) Friday, Nov. 13
8:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN Wild Live Post-game (0:30)
GOLF EPGA Golf Round 2 BMW Masters. (3:30)
NBCSN The Dan Patrick Show (Live) (2:00)
8:30 a.m. FSN Due North Outdoors (0:30)
9:00 a.m.
FSN Made for the Outdoors (0:30)
2:30 p.m. ESPN NFL Live (Live) (1:00)
FSN Outdoor Bound TV With Kurt Walbeck (0:30)
NBCSN NASCAR Auto Racing Xfinity Series Practice DAV 200. (Live) (1:00)
3:00 p.m. ESPN2 SportsNation (Live) (1:00)
FSN Deer Hunt Wisconsin (1:00)
GOLF LPGA Golf Round 2 Lorena Ochoa Invitational. (Live) (2:00)
HBO 24/ 7 Cotto/ Canelo (0:30)
3:30 p.m. ESPN Highly Questionable (0:30)
NBCSN NASCAR America (Live) (0:30)
4:00 p.m. ESPN Around the Horn (0:30)
ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Col. vs. Iowa (Live) (2:00)
FSN Due North Outdoors (0:30)
NBCSN NASCAR Auto Racing Xfinity Series Final Practice DAV 200. (Live) (1:30)
4:30 p.m. ESPN Pardon the Interruption (0:30)
FSN Minnesota Traveler (0:30)
5:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN Three Wide Life (0:30)
GOLF EPGA Golf Round 3 BMW Masters. (3:30)
SHOW A Season With Notre Dame Football (0:30)
8:30 a.m. (29) WFTC Sports Stars of Tomorrow (0:30)
FSN Lindy Fish Ed. (0:30)
9:00 a.m. FSN John Gillespie’s Waters & Woods (0:30)
9:30 a.m. FSN Midwest Outdoors Magazine (0:30)
10:30 a.m. FSN Made for the Outdoors (0:30)
NBCSN Auto Racing Sprint Cup Series Practice Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500. (Live) (1:00)
11:00 a.m. (5) KSTP (7) KCCO (23)
WUCW ESPN ESPN2 FSN NCAA Football (Live) (3:00)
11:30 a.m. GOLF Golf Central Pregame (Live) (0:30)
NBCSN NASCAR Auto Racing Xfinity Series Qualifying DAV 200. (Live) (1:30)
Noon GOLF PGA Golf Round 3 OHL Classic. (Live) (3:00)
12:30 p.m. (11) KARE Triathlon Ironman World Championship. (1:30)
1:00 p.m. NBCSN NASCAR America (Live) (0:30)
9:00 p.m. ESPN College Football Scoreboard (Live) (0:30)
ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
GOLF EPGA Golf Final Round BMW Masters. (Live) (5:00)
9:30 p.m. ESPN NCAA Football (Live) (3:00)
FSN Wild Live Post-game (Live) (0:30)
9:45 p.m. SHOW Boxing Russell Jr. vs. Escandon Showtime Championship. (Live) (2:30)
10:00 p.m. (29) WFTC Vikings Connected (0:30)
ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN Becoming Wild (0:30)
10:20 p.m. (5) KSTP College Football Post-game Show (Live) (0:08)
10:30 p.m. FSN Vikings: Beyond the Gridiron (0:30)
HBO Face Off With Max Kellerman (0:15)
10:45 p.m. HBO 2 Days: Canelo Alvarez (0:20)
11:00 p.m. (23) WUCW Ring of Honor Wrestling (1:00)
FSN WPT Poker Five Diamond Classic. (1:00)
Brainerd Daily Dispatch, MN: Sports Nov 8, 2015 to Nov 14, 2015
Anyone who feels at home in the kitchen knows that, while cooking is an art, baking is a science. Of course, only cooks who don’t love to dabble in the sweet side of things would ever think that the science of baking doesn’t also have its own artistic beauty.
Here in the United States, Fox’s “MasterChef” has been a boon for amateur home cooks looking to break into the big leagues, but there just hasn’t been a show focused on baking that’s taken off in the same way — and not for lack of trying.
Across the Atlantic, though, the cards have played out differently and, as is so often the case with some of the fantastic shows coming out of the U.K., PBS has been quick and eager to bring them to our shores. Season 2 of “The Great British Baking Show” has been airing on PBS for the past few weeks, and its winner will finally be crowned in the grand finale airing Sunday, Nov. 8, on PBS.
Late to the sweet, sweet party? Not to worry, the entire season’s available to watch on the PBS website — along with the entire first season, too.
So what sets the award-winning competition apart from the
rest? It’s hard to pin down, but it’s not just the accents.
Perhaps it’s the way the challenges are laid out. Each week, the remaining home bakers are challenged to show off a different baking skill, but, as the competition goes on, the skills required become more and more difficult. This season started out with easy stuff like cakes and bread, but since then, the bakers have been faced with flaky pastries, technically challenging sweet dough and more.
The hosts definitely add to the fun nature of the contest: broadcaster Sue Perkins and comedian Mel Giedroyc are a pair of performers with quick wits and sharp
tongues, and they spice up every episode.
Then there are the judges, Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, a pair of heavyweights who know their stuff — and who don’t pull their punches. Berry is an icon in the U.K. She’s published more than 75 cookbooks and hosted a number of her own cooking shows; she sits beside Hollywood at the judges table, a man who is one of the best known and most respected artisanal bakers in the country.
Whatever the reasons for its success, “The Great British Baking Show” is a hit in the U.K., and PBS is making sure that American audiences don’t miss out.
Sunday, Nov. 8
9:30 a.m. (23) WUCW Mad Dogg and Merrill’s Midwestern Grill’n
Noon TRAV Bizarre Foods
1:00 p.m. (9) KAWE Jacques Pepin: Heart and Soul
TRAV Bizarre Foods America
1:30 p.m. (9) KAWE Barbecue University With Steven Raichlen
2:00 p.m. (8) WDSE Around the Farm Table
TRAV Food Paradise
2:30 p.m. (8) WDSE The Mind of a Chef (N)
3:00 p.m. (8) WDSE A Chef’s Life (N) TRAV Food Paradise
4:00 p.m. TRAV Food Paradise
5:00 p.m. TRAV Food Paradise
6:00 p.m. (2) KTCA (8) WDSE The Great British Baking Show (N)
11:00 p.m. (8) WDSE The Great British Baking Show
Monday, Nov. 9
10:00 a.m. TRAV Booze Traveler
11:00 a.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods America
Noon TRAV Bizarre Foods America
1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show TRAV Bizarre Foods America
3:00 p.m. TRAV Food Paradise
4:00 p.m. TRAV Food Paradise
5:00 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods
6:00 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods America
7:00 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods America
8:00
Solution on page 10.
Video releases
Terminator Genisys
The venerable Terminator franchise roars back to movie screens with this new sequel. In the not-so-distant future, intelligent machines have nearly wiped out humanity. The leader of the human resistance, John Connor (Jason Clarke), sends soldier Kyle Reese (Courtney) back in time to the year 1984 to protect his mother, Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke), who is being targeted by the machines — machines that want to kill her before she can give
birth to her son. Upon arriving in the past, though, Kyle discovers that a T-800 robot has already arrived and is acting as Sarah’s Guardian (Schwarzenegger). With the past already altered in unpredictable ways, Kyle must team up with the Guardian to stop the machines and save humanity’s future. Director:AlanTaylor.Stars:Arnold Schwarzenegger,Jason Clarke, Emilia Clarke,Jai Courtney,J.K.Simmons.2015.126 min.Action.