Screentime April 9 – 15, 2023

By Jay Bobbin

Some people stay in their neighborhoods for a long time ... and as the show’s 100th episode affirms, that’s also true of those in television’s “The Neighborhood.”

Directed by star and executive producer Cedric the Entertainer, the CBS sitcom’s milestone story airs Monday, April 10, as the series nears the end of its fifth season.

While Calvin (Cedric) tries to find the perfect birthday gift for wife Tina (Tichina Arnold) — which he has failed miserably at doing the past — neighbor Gemma (Beth Behrs) tries to get Jerry O’Connell (appearing as himself) to donate tickets to his CBS show “The Talk,” for a fundraiser where she’s the

CoVer sTory

principal and his children are students.

Max Greenfield, Sheaun McKinney, Marcel Spears and Hank Greenspan also are regular cast members in “The Neighborhood,” which already has been renewed for a sixth season. The show has endured through multiple changes of executive producers (including series creator Jim Reynolds), and Cedric acknowledges that reaching 100 episodes is “very rare in the business of television these days, so we don’t take it for granted.”

Though humor is the main suit of “The Neighborhood,” the show gets topical reasonably frequently. “In order to really get to the show that we were intending to do,” Cedric explains, “(we had to) show the

contentious nature of what happens when people just assume somebody is different from you because of skin color, religion, background, whatever. We kind of live in a culture where, ‘If somebody is different from me, I don’t like them.’

“It takes you back to the early Norman Lear shows ... ‘All in the Family,’ ‘The Jeffersons.’

That was very intentional in the way we wanted to approach the show, especially me.” However, Cedric notes that as the casting and the overall work process continued, that helped shaped what “The Neighborhood” has become:

“We enjoyed each other. We laughed a lot. We got each other’s sense of humor, and so it’s harder to act that (tension)

when you have this kind of natural connection.”

Co-star Behrs agrees, reflecting, “There is a certain camaraderie here and a certain amount of fun. There’s never a day where I wake up and I’m bummed to go to work. No matter what’s happening in my personal life, I come here and I laugh all day long with these people.” The on-air result makes actor Greenfield wistful about the atmosphere the series promotes, since he notes, “I grew up in a neighborhood where we definitely knew our neighbors. You were able to walk around the town, and it felt like I had a lot more freedom back then.

And now, I know none of my neighbors. And I care not

Learn Something News Every Day

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The STREAM Scene

“ The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” Jumps back and forth in time and the return of past guest stars mark the fifth and final season of creator Amy ShermanPalladino’s critically lauded dramedy, which finds Midge (Rachel Brosnahan) closer than ever to the success she’s dreamed of, only to discover that that means she still has a long way to go Alex Borstein, Tony Shalhoub, Michael Zegen and Marin Hinkle are among cast returnees. (ORIGINAL)

In Focus

“Dead Ringers” (Prime Video — limited series premiere, April 21)

This original limited series stars Rachel Weisz (“Disobedience”) as dual lead characters in this modern-day update of David Cronenberg’s 1988 thriller about twin siblings who push the boundaries of medical ethics to challenge antiquated practices and bring women’s health care to the forefront. Britne Oldford, Poppy Liu, Michael Chernus and Jennifer Ehle also star.

WebLinks

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Golden Globe-winning actress and cookbook author Valerie Bertinelli modernizes favorite recipes that have been passed down through her family over the years and shares them with her closest friends in “Valerie’s Home Cooking,” airing new episodes Sundays on Food Network. Find comforting recipes at www. foodnetwork.com/ shows/valeries-homecooking

Where all the top choices can be found in one place! 2 x 3” ad

“Movie: Oh Belinda”

From Turkey comes this comedy series about an actress whose seemingly perfect life takes a crazy turn when she agrees to star in a commercial and is suddenly transported into her character’s world. Neslihan Atagul, Serkan Cayoglu, Necip Memili and Meral Cetinkaya head the cast. (ORIGINAL)

Sports Zone

sunday

9:00 a.m. USA Premier League Soccer Leeds United vs Crystal Palace. Leeds United plays Crystal Palace at Elland Road in Premier League matchround 30. The Eagles have lost seven consecutive away games versus the Whites in all competitions, since a 1-0 win in the Championship on March 21, 2006 (goal by Jobi McAnuff). (N) (Live) Å

1:00 p.m. ESPN NBA Basketball Teams TBA. (N) (Live) Å MSG NBA Basketball Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks. (N) (Live)

1:30 p.m. ROOT MLB Baseball Chicago White Sox at Pittsburgh Pirates. (N) (Live)

SNY MLB Baseball Miami Marlins at New York Mets. (N) (Live) Å

2:00 p.m. WIVB-4 WSEE-35 2023 Masters Tournament Final Round. (N) (Live) Å

3:00 p.m. WKBW-7 XFL Football Houston Roughnecks at San Antonio Brahmas. (N) (Live) Å

3:30 p.m. ESPN NBA Basketball Teams TBA. (N) (Live) Å

4:00 p.m. ESPN2 College Softball Kentucky at Ole Miss. (N) (Live) Å

6:00

Laguna vs Pachuca. (N) (Live) Å 8:30 p.m. TNT NHL Hockey Colorado Avalanche at Anaheim Ducks. (N Subject to Blackout) (Live) Å

p.m. FS1 Mexico Primera Division Soccer Juárez vs Atlas. (N) (Live) Å

Monday

6:30 p.m. ROOT MLB Baseball Houston Astros at Pittsburgh Pirates. (N) (Live)

7:00 p.m. GOLF College Golf 2023 Western Intercollegiate, First Round. (N) (Live) Å MSG NHL Hockey Buffalo Sabres at New York Rangers. (N) (Live) SNY MLB Baseball San Diego Padres at New York Mets. (N) (Live) Å

9:00 p.m. ESPN NHL Hockey Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks. (N) (Live) Å

Tuesday

3:00 p.m. WIVB-4 WSEE-35

UEFA Champions League Soccer Teams TBA. (N)

(Live) Å

7:00 p.m. ESPN NHL Hockey Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning. (N) (Live) Å ESPN2 College Softball Oklahoma at LSU. (N) (Live)

Å

GOLF College Golf 2023 Western Intercollegiate, Second Round. (N) (Live) Å

SNY TBS MLB Baseball San Diego Padres at New York Mets. (N) (Live) Å

7:30 p.m. ROOT NHL Hockey Chicago Blackhawks at Pittsburgh Penguins. (N) (Live) Å TNT NBA Basketball (N Subject to Blackout) (Live) Å 8:00 p.m. FS1 CONCACAF Champions League Soccer Violette Athletic Club vs León. Quarterfinal, 2nd Leg. (N) (Live) Å

9:30 p.m. ESPN NHL Hockey Edmonton Oilers at Colorado Avalanche. (N) (Live) Å

10:00 p.m. FS1 CONCACAF

Champions League Soccer Los Angeles FC vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Quarterfinal, 2nd Leg. (N) (Live) Å TNT NBA Basketball (N Subject to Blackout) (Live) Å Wednesday

12:30 p.m. ROOT MLB Baseball Houston Astros at Pittsburgh Pirates. (N) (Live)

1:00 p.m. SNY MLB Baseball San Diego Padres at New York Mets. (N) (Live) Å

3:00 p.m. WIVB-4 WSEE-35

UEFA Champions League Soccer Teams TBA. (N) (Live) Å MSG College Softball St. John’s at Fordham. (N) (Live)

4:00 p.m. GOLF College Golf 2023 Western Intercollegiate, Final Round. (N) (Live) Å

7:00 p.m. GOLF LPGA Tour Golf LOTTE Championship, First Round. (N) (Live) Å

7:30 p.m. ESPN NBA Basketball Teams TBA. (N) (Live) Å TNT NHL Hockey Dallas Stars at St. Louis Blues. (N Subject to Blackout) (Live)

Å

10:00 p.m. ESPN NBA Basketball Teams TBA. (N)

(Live) Å

FS1 CONCACAF Champions League Soccer Club Atlas vs Philadelphia Union. Quarterfinal, 2nd Leg. (N) (Live) Å TNT NHL Hockey San Jose Sharks at Calgary Flames. (N Subject to Blackout) (Live) Å Thursday

2:00 p.m. GOLF PGA Tour Golf RBC Heritage, First Round. (N) (Live) Å

3:00 p.m. ESPN2 Women’s College Gymnastics NCAA

Solution is on page 6.

BY GEORGE DICKIE

Soto looks to make 2023 a big year in San Diego

If ever there was a player with something to prove in 2023, it’s Juan Soto.

After being acquired at last year’s trade deadline for a haul of prospects, the former Washington Nationals slugger proceeded to underwhelm in his first two-plus months with the San Diego Padres. In 52 games, the 24-year-old native of the Dominican Republic batted .236 with six home runs, 16 RBIs, an on-base percentage of .388 and an OPS of .778. And in the postseason, it was more of same – .239, 2, 7, .314, .727. Not awful stats but certainly not those befitting a player widely considered to be a “generational talent” who is also seeking a nine-figure, multi-year contract. So the pressure is on, not only for Soto to perform up to his career numbers and get his big payday but also for the Padres to lock up long term a superstar for whom they gave up so much. For his part, Soto appears up to the challenge. Playing for the Dominican Republic in last month’s World Baseball Classic, the sweet-swinging lefty looked his usual self, batting .400 with a 1.500 OPS and two homers, one a monster 448-foot blast in the Dominican’s elimination loss to Puerto Rico.

He says a few tweaks to his swing have made all the difference.

“Mechanically, I was off last year, the whole year,” Soto said to a reporter. “I tried to find my mechanics, but I think I really found it again.”

Soto and the Padres can be seen in action twice this week on national television: Sunday, April 9, on ESPN, against the Atlanta Braves, and Tuesday, April 11, on ESPN, against the New York Mets.

FULL NAME: Juan Jose Soto

Pacheco

BIRTH DATE: Oct. 25, 1998

BIRTHPLACE: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6 feet, 2 inches/224 pounds

Championships: Afternoon Session. (N) (Live) Å

7:00 p.m. GOLF LPGA Tour Golf LOTTE Championship, Second Round. (N) (Live) Å MSG NHL Hockey Toronto Maple Leafs at New York Rangers. (N) (Live) ROOT NHL Hockey Pittsburgh Penguins at Columbus Blue Jackets. (N) (Live) Å

8:00 p.m. ESPN NHL Hockey St. Louis Blues at Dallas Stars. (N) (Live) Å

9:00 p.m. ESPN2 Women’s College Gymnastics NCAA Championships: Afternoon Session. (N) (Live) Å

10:00 p.m. FS1 CONCACAF Champions League Soccer Tigres UANL vs Motagua. Quarterfinal, 2nd Leg. (N) (Live) Å

10:30 p.m. ESPN NHL Hockey Vegas Golden Knights at Seattle Kraken. (N) (Live) Å

Friday

2:00 p.m. GOLF PGA Tour Golf RBC Heritage, Second Round. (N) (Live) Å

3:00 p.m. FS1 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race at Martinsville, Qualifying. (N) (Live) Å MSG College Baseball George Washington at Fordham. (N) (Live)

5:00 p.m. FS1 NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series Call 811 Before You Dig 250, Qualifying. (N) (Live) Å

7:00 p.m. ESPN2 Professional Fighters League PFL 3: Welterweights & Lightweights (Early Card).

(N) (Live) Å GOLF LPGA Tour Golf LOTTE Championship, Third Round. (N) (Live) Å

7:30 p.m. FS1 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race at Martinsville. (N) (Live) Å TNT NBA Basketball (N Subject to Blackout) (Live) Å

TEAMS: Washington Nationals (2018-22), San Diego Padres (2022-present)

POSITION: Right field

NO.: 22

HONORS AND ACHIEVEMENTS: All-Star

8:00 p.m. ROOT MLB Baseball Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals. (N) (Live)

9:30 p.m. SNY MLB Baseball New York Mets at Oakland

Athletics. (N) (Live) Å

10:00 p.m. ESPN NBA Basketball Play-In Tournament: Teams TBA. (N) (Live) Å saTurday

7:30 a.m. USA Premier League Soccer Aston Villa vs Newcastle United. (N) (Live) Å

10:00 a.m. USA Premier League Soccer Tottenham Hotspur vs AFC Bournemouth. (N) (Live) Å

12:00 p.m. SNY Women’s College Lacrosse Brown at Princeton. (N) (Live)

12:30 p.m. WGRZ-2 WICU-12

Premier League Soccer Manchester City vs Leicester City. (N) (Live) Å

WKBW-7 XFL Football Vegas Vipers at Houston Roughnecks. (N) (Live) Å

1:00 p.m. WIVB-4 WSEE-35 Fishing The Catch. Coverage of the saltwater fishing tournament featuring top celebrity talents. (N) (Live) Å

FS1 Horse Racing America’s Day At the Races. The best racehorses square off in the premiere races from across the country. (N) (Live)

Å GOLF PGA Tour Golf RBC Heritage, Third Round. (N) (Live) Å MSG College Baseball George Washington at Fordham. (N) (Live)

1:10 p.m. ESPN NBA Basketball Playoffs: Teams TBA. (N) (Live) Å

2:00 p.m. ROOT MLB Baseball Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals. (N) (Live)

2:30 p.m. WNYW-5 WUTV29 PBA Bowling WSOB

XIV: USA vs. The World, Match Play. Four Americans compete against four international stars for the right to

BEST BASEBALL MOVIES

“The Pride of the Yankees” (1941) The story of Yankee Lou Gehrig’s life, career and tragic demise is a natural tearjerker and a classic. Too bad Gary Cooper looked nothing like Gehrig – or an athlete, for that matter.

“Fear Strikes Out” (1957) Anthony Perkins is excellent as Boston Red Sox outfielder Jim Piersall, whose hard-driving father (Karl Malden) contributed to problems that almost ended his baseball career.

“Bang the Drum Slowly” (1973) Robert De Niro hasn’t played “vulnerable” often, lending extra impact to this drama of teammates (the other portrayed by Michael Moriarty) drawn closer by illness.

“The Bad News Bears” (1976) In a terrific piece of entertainment for all ages, Walter Matthau is perfectly suited to the part of Morris Buttermaker, the unlikely coach of a team of young players. Tatum O’Neal has

arguably her best post-“Paper Moon” role as the squad’s secret-weapon pitcher.

“The Natural” (1984) The true magic of the game is stamped all over director Barry Levinson’s version of the Bernard Malamud stor y, the first movie released by Tri-Star Pictures. Robert Redford is the all-American embodiment of a seemingly washed-up player aiming for a comeback.

“Bull Durham” (1988) The star of “Field of Dreams” and “For Love of the Game” later, Kevin Costner first scored with baseball as a randy minor-league player caught in a romantic triangle.

“Eight Men Out” (1988) Screenwriterdirector John Sayles makes the saga of the 1919 Chicago “Black Sox” bribery scandal a compelling screen drama, helped to no small end by a superb ensemble cast that includes John Cusack and Charlie Sheen.

“Field of Dreams” (1989) Terrific cast,

(2021, 2022); World Series champion (2019); Silver Slugger Award (2020, 2021); All-MLB First Team (2020, 2021); NL batting champion (2020); Home Run Derby champion (2022)

the Hall of Fame Cup. (N)

(Live) Å

3:00 p.m. WGRZ-2 WICU-12 Motorcycle Racing Monster Energy Supercross: Atlanta. (N) (Live) Å WIVB-4 WSEE-35 PGA Tour Golf RBC Heritage, Third Round. (N) (Live) Å

3:30 p.m. ESPN NBA Basketball Playoffs: Teams TBA. (N) (Live) Å

4:00 p.m. WKBW-7

4 x

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great story and an ending that ... well, if it doesn’t bring at least a lump to your throat, you have no heart. One minor complaint:

Shoeless Joe Jackson, as portrayed by Ray Liotta, batted righthanded and threw lefty, while the real Joe was the opposite.

“Major League” (1989) Humor is primarily on the mind of writer-director David S. Ward, but he stays faithful to the game with his story of a ramshackle team determined to outwit their scheming new owner

“A League of Their Own” (1992) If you didn’t know “there’s no cr ying in baseball,” you will after seeing Penny Marshall’s affecting, fact-inspired comedy-drama about an allfemale team. Tom Hanks plays the coach of a colorful squad that includes Geena Davis, Rosie O’Donnell and Madonna.

“The Rookie” (2002) A school baseball coach (Dennis Quaid) gets his shot at playing in the big leagues in this true stor y.

Robert Redford from “The Natural”

BY JAY BOBBIN AND GEORGE DICKIE

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“The Neighborhood” on CBS

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Cedric (the

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Solution is on page 11.

Rebecca Herbst

BY JAY BOBBIN

OF ‘GENERAL HOSPITAL’ ON ABC

With “General Hospital” celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, and you marking your own 25th anniversary on the serial, how interesting is it for you to review the arc of your character, Elizabeth Webber?

I don’t think she has changed that much, but she has grown. She has three children to look after, and she has had many relationships that she’s learned from ... but every now and then, you see that feisty Elizabeth come back, especially recently.

It takes the right acting partner to make a love story work, and you’ve had several on “General Hospital.” How do you feel about those?

I have been very fortunate with my pairings, going back to Elizabeth and Lucky, and I was paired with Jonathan Jackson. We were kids at the time, but that was such a beautiful stor y, a sweet and innocent first love. That taught Elizabeth what true love is supposed to feel like.

Then she ended up in a relationship with Jason Morgan, who was part of the mobster group in Port Charles, and that was her first grown-up experience. She’s been married, like, five times. And she’s still trying to figure it out. She’s not with anybody currently, which I think is really great for her.

What do you think has given you such longevity as Elizabeth?

People can relate to her. She has failed at relationships, she has failed herself, and she has failed her children at times ... but she always seems to be able to pick herself back up and make things right.

For most of her life, she’s been a single, struggling mother trying to hold down a job and navigate friendships that aren’t always easy. She’s real life.

THERE IS NOW NO CONDEMNATION TO THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS, FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS HAS SET THEM FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. (ROMANS 8:1-2)

In Focus

“100 Days to Indy” (CW — series premiere, April 27)

This new series takes fans behind the scenes to chronicle the fast and sometimes furious personalities of the NTT Indycar Series as they start the 2023 season and begin their quest for racing’s greatest prize — the Indianapolis 500. From the balmy high-speed turns of St. Petersburg, Fla., to the demanding banked oval in Dallas and the sunswept streets of Long Beach, Calif., every mile is an epic moment. Start your engines!