With so many genre-bending films and series on the market across streaming platforms and cable television, it may be surprising to learn that comedy is the second most “in-demand” television genre, after drama (according to a 2023 Statista survey). Those who are not surprised may, themselves, be comedy fans. Should that be the case, good news: a new sitcom, “Shifting Gears,” premieres Wednesday, Jan. 8, on ABC. The series will also be available to stream on Hulu.
Starring Tim Allen of “Home Improvement” fame, “Shifting Gears” follows aging Indiana-based widower Matt (Allen), who must adjust to life when his estranged adult daughter and her teenage kids move in with him following a separation with her partner. Soon, Matt’s quiet life as the owner of a classic car shop is turned topsy-turvy, reminding him that he must take the bad with the good when it comes to repairing broken family relationships.
Kat Dennings, best known to comedy lovers as Max Black
up for comedy: Tim Allen, Kat Dennings renew
from the CBS sitcom “2 Broke Girls,” takes on the role of Matt’s daughter, Riley. The actress, who somewhat recently saw silver screen fame as researcher Darcy Lewis in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Thor franchise, returns to her sitcom daughter roots some 23 years after she landed her first recurring role as Sarah in the 2001-2002 series “Raising Dad.”
The series, which aired on the WB network (now The CW) for one season, co-starred a post-”Full House” Bob Saget as Dennings’ on-screen father and Dennings’ fellow MCU co-star Brie Larson (“Captain Marvel,” 2019) as her sister, Emily. Interestingly enough, Sarah and Emily’s father shares a name with Allen’s “Shifting Gears” character — making this the second time Dennings has been cast as the daughter of a divorced father named Matt.
“Shifting Gears” also plays host to a reunion between Dennings and her “Dollface” co-star Brenda Song, who plays Caitlyn, a former classmate of Riley’s who is now the assistant prin-
January 11 – January 17, 2025
cipal (presumably the one overseeing Riley’s kids during school hours). While not much information has yet been released as of writing, we do know that Song and Dennings’ is not the only reunion on set.
Dennings and Song are both reunited with “Dollface” writer and showrunner Michelle Nader, who also previously worked with Dennings on “2 Broke Girls” and who has taken on writing and executive production duties for the new ABC series.
Allen also gets a reunion of his own, working once more with his “Galaxy Quest” (1999) co-star Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, who plays Ed in “Shifting Gears.”
Meanwhile, Seann William Scott (“Welcome to Flatch”) adds some star power to the series as Gabriel, a “family friend of Matt and Riley who works in the shop with Matt” (per Variety).
Don’t miss the release of “Shifting Gears,” the new ABC comedy premiering Wednesday, Jan. 8.
Horoscopes
The luckiest signs this week:
PISCES, ARIES AND TAURUS
ARIES
Get ready to shine as the ultimate party planner. You’ll arrange one of the most memorable events for your loved ones. Your enthusiasm will be contagious, especially when you get involved in the entertaining.
TAURUS
Feeling lucky? You may want to consider buying a lottery ticket with your family — you might just hit the jackpot! You’ll solidify plans with your loved ones, quite possibly going on a spontaneous journey.
GEMINI
If family tensions arise, you’ll be the master of defusing them with your creativity and problem-solving skills. You’ll earn the title of family hero with your organizational finesse.
CANCER
You’ll succeed in uniting family and friends, overcoming the challenge of bringing together two families that are sometimes at odds with one another. Your attention to detail and generous nature will work wonders in easing tensions.
LEO During your next gathering, whether you’re hosting or attending, your nurturing nature will shine through. You have a strong urge to be helpful, from serving to tidying up, you’ll be the ultimate helper.
VIRGO
Gatherings, big or small, will be your stage to shine. Get ready to steal the spotlight with your captivating remarks. You’ll be surprisingly charismatic this week.
LIBRA
Someone from a different background will join one of your gatherings. They’ll stimulate your curiosity to learn about their culture and share more about yours. You’ll introduce exotic tastes and music to spice things up.
SCORPIO
You’ll be the life of the party, lighting up the atmosphere and getting everyone in the mood to celebrate. Be smart on your late-night adventures; don’t get behind the wheel after indulging in certain vices.
SAGITTARIUS
Now isn’t the best time to overspend, but your generosity will warm hearts, even those of strangers. You’ll also spoil yourself a bit.
CAPRICORN
Parties and gatherings will be your playground because you’ll feel the need to move, dance and relax. You’ll come up with creative ideas and stimulating games to get everyone involved and participating in the festivities.
AQUARIUS
Avoid staying up too late so you don’t spoil your enjoyment of the festivities. Take time to catch up on your sleep or get rid of a nasty cold or flu bug.
PISCES Prepare for unexpected visits that might require extra effort and planning. You’ll be fully committed to making it a memorable time for your loved ones. Remember to take care of yourself too!
New Streaming Movies & Shows
“On Call” - Season 1 (Jan. 9)
This adrenalized and visceral police drama follows a rookie (Brandon Larracuente) and veteran officer (Troian Bellisario) duo as they go on patrol in Long Beach, California. Shot with a mixture of handheld cameras, bodycam and dash-cam footage to create a cinema verité effect, the innovative series explores the morality of protecting and serving a community. Additional cast includes Lori Loughlin, Rich Ting and Eriq La Salle.
Word Search
Inspired by a true story, this biographical drama follows Antwone Fisher (Derek Luke), a young navy man, who is forced to see a psychiatrist (Denzel Washington) after a violent outburst against a fellow crewman. During the course of Antwone’s treatment, a painful past is revealed and a new hope begins.
Where all the top choices can be found in one place!
“American Primeval” (Jan. 9)
America, 1857. Peace is the shrinking minority and very few possess grace — even fewer know compassion. There is no safe haven in these brutal lands, and only one goal matters: survival. A fictionalized dramatization of the birth of the American West, this six-episode series stars Taylor Kitsch, Betty Gilpin, Dane DeHaan, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Derek Hinkey, Joe Tippett, Jai Courtney, Preston Mota, Shawnee Pourier and Shea Whigham.
“Goosebumps:
The Vanishing”
Season 2 (Jan. 10)
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Fraternal twins Devin (Sam McCarthy) and Cece (Jayden Bartels) are adjusting to life with their recently divorced dad, Anthony (David Schwimmer). When the duo discovers a threat stirring, they quickly realize that dark secrets are among them, triggering a chain of events that unravel a profound mystery. As they delve into the unknown, Devin, Cece and their friends — Alex (Francesca Noel), CJ (Elijah M. Cooper) and Frankie (Galilea La Salvia) — find themselves entangled in the chilling tale of four teenagers who mysteriously vanished in 1994.
Q: Why haven’t I seen Jim Parsons much since “The Big Bang Theory” ended? It seems like everyone else on the cast got big new roles, why not him?
A: Stars who play exaggerated, iconic characters generally have a harder time fi nding their next big thing after their shows end. They also often take breaks from the screen, sometimes returning to the work they did before to rediscover their love of showbiz Jim Parsons, best known for playing the outrageously nerdy Sheldon Cooper in “The Big Bang Theory,” has followed this pattern to the letter.
Though he did a few small screen roles prior to breaking out in CBS’s mega-hit sitcom “The Big Bang Theory” in 2007, he was mostly a stage actor. And he’s returned to the stage now. He recently appeared in a Broadway revival of the classic play “Our Town.” And, he earned a Tony Award nomination earlier in 2024 for his role in another Broadway show, “Mother Play.”
Wills and Dying without a Will;
and Distribution
and Avoiding Probate; and
and Financial Powers of Attorney & Living Wills.
If you are interested and have at least 15 meeting attendees, Call Glenn at (803) 418-0800; ext. 108 for Details
Glenn Givens is an Attorney and Experienced Speaker who is offering free speaking programs to local social, historical, civic, military, religious, school and business organizations with 15 or more meeting attendees. Is your organization looking for an upcoming speaker? Glenn is offering speaking programs for Sumter, Clarendon and Lee Counties on the following topics:
Action
BY JAY BOBBIN
Whatever you do, don’t go under 50 mph.
Many movie fans will recognize that immediately as one of the edicts of “Speed,” the 1994 action blockbuster that holds up extremely well. A current Hulu streaming run of the film is reaffirming that — and it also reaffirms the star power of Keanu Reeves, which got a considerable boost from the picture.
“Speed” can actually be deemed three movies in one, starting with the set-up that sees police partners Jack and Harry (played by Reeves and a wonderfully sardonic Jeff Daniels) foil an extortion plot by the story’s villain (Dennis Hopper, doing everything but twirl a mustache in the part, but that’s what it calls for). That lays the groundwork for the second and main portion of the story, set largely aboard a Los Angeles transit bus that the bad guy has rigged with a bomb. Jack is informed that once activated, the explosive will detonate if the speed of the bus drops below 50 mph. Desperate to save the initially unaware people on board, Jack manages to get on the vehicle, which ends up being commandeered by a plucky passenger (Sandra Bullock, in a star-making role after several years of TV and movie work) while the police try to figure out how to resolve the situation without alerting the taunting enemy.
Best ELVIS PRESLEY MOVIES
BY JAY BOBBIN
“Love Me Tender” (1956):
Presley’s first movie role turned an average Civil War story into an event - and also got the picture’s title altered, thanks to one of the tunes he crooned.
“Loving You” (1957): Mirroring Presley’s own rise to stardom, this rags-to-riches drama boasts one of his most sensitive performances, before he entered the phase of having his songs hung on threadbare plots.
“Jailhouse Rock” (1957): The famous scene with Presley singing, and gyrating to, the title tune says it all about this classic. This is among the features Turner Classic Movies will show in a marathon marking what would have been Presley’s 90th birthday on Wednesday, Jan. 8.
“Flaming Star” (1960): Guided by director Don Siegel, who later turned Clint Eastwood into Dirty Harry, Presley puts real effort into playing a man of two cultures that clash, putting him in a bind.
“Wild in the Country” (1961): Presley and playwright Clifford Odets weren’t a typical combination, but credit was due the still-early movie star for being ambitious enough to tackle sophisticated material that would challenge even the most experienced actor.
“Blue Hawaii” (1961): You couldn’t hope for the islands to look lovelier than in this combination of Elvis showcase and travelogue, also intriguing for Presley raising his acting game opposite a veteran talent by the name of Angela Lansbury.
“Kid Galahad” (1962): Presley is sincere as a boxer who succeeds in the ring, though he desires a quieter life.
“Fun in Acapulco” (1963): Presley in his prime; Ursula Andress, fresh from being the first “Bond girl”; Mexican locations. What’s not to like?
The plot’s devices for diverting the bus and keeping it moving at a safe speed are quite clever, and one of the best involves an unfinished highway that actually was in that condition at the time of filming. Mid-’90s technology is also used neatly to trick the embittered ex-cop played by Hopper, who’s secretly using the surveillance camera mounted in the bus to monitor what’s happening.
The third and final element of “Speed” details what happens beyond the bus peril, once Jack and others think that situation is over — ultimately involving a train ride that’s harrowing in its own way, providing for a very satisfying final showdown between hero and villain. That’s a lot to pack into a two-hour movie, but “Speed” manages it seamlessly ... thanks also to Jan de Bont, who moved very confidently from cinematography into the director’s chair for the first time.
Other cast notables include Joe Morton (“Scandal”) and Alan Ruck (“Succession”), but “Speed” falls principally on the capable shoulders of Reeves, who had “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” behind him and “The Matrix” and “John Wick” ahead of him while he made this. After just over three decades, “Speed” still puts the pedal to the metal.
“Viva Las Vegas” (1964): Presley’s ultimate star vehicle gave him an ideal partner in Ann-Margret and pretty much set the blueprint (he races cars!) for numerous other Elvis movies.
“Roustabout” (1964): This arguably was the best of Presley’s efforts once he got into more of a cookie-cutter mode (he’s a cycle-riding carnival worker!) with his movies.
“Charro!” (1969): Commendably, Presley tried to turn his screen career around - but pretty late in the game - by not singing a note in this mature Western.
“Elvis: That’s the Way It Is” (1970): It’s ironic that one of Presley’s final movies offers one of his most dynamic screen appearances, before, during and after a Las Vegas concert performance.
Family matters: ‘7 Little
Johnstons’ Season 15 brings abundant ups and downs
Doctor’s order: Scott Wolf returns to series work in Fox’s ‘Doc’
BY DANA SIMPSON
Scott Wolf has played doctor before, but not in the way he does in a new series.
The veteran of such shows as “Party of Five” and “Nancy Drew” was a medical man in the then-WB’s “Everwood” and NBC’s “The Night Shift,” and he returns to that profession — and weekly TV work — as a physician with his own agenda in “Doc,” a Fox drama premiering Tuesday, Jan. 7. Based on a fact-inspired Italian series “Doc – Nelle tue mani,” it casts Molly Parker (“Lost in Space”) as Dr. Amy Larsen, a Minneapolis hospital’s no-nonsense internal medicine chief who suffers a brain injury in a car accident, erasing the past eight years of her memory.
She’s shocked by how much she suddenly can’t remember, including her divorce from the facility’s chief medical officer, Dr. Michael Hamda (Omar Metwally, “The Affair”). Her colleague Dr. Richard Miller (Wolf) knows she has damaging information on him that could end his career, though she can’t remember it now; as he assumes her job while she fights to remain a doctor, he worries that she might eventually recall what she knew.
Charlotte Fountain-Jardim (“Ted”) plays the teenage daughter on whom Amy relies to help her fill
in missing pieces of her past. “Doc” cast regulars also include Amirah Vann (“How to Get Away With Murder”), Jon-Michael Ecker (“Queen of the South”) and Anya Banerjee (“The Blacklist”).
The executive producers of “Doc” include Barbie Kligman (“Private Practice”) and Hank Steinberg (“Without a Trace”), and they “made it clear that they had no interest in a sort of mustache-twirling, on-the-nose bad guy,” Wolf says. “One of the interesting things about the show is that every character in it, including the central one, is a beautiful but flawed human being. There really are no ‘good people’ or ‘bad people’ here, just people who are doing the best they can to take care of themselves and their families.
“My character happens to be a good person who has wound up in a very bad situation,” the friendly Wolf adds. “Even the most sinister characters within a story never see themselves as bad people. There’s always something guiding them to do what they believe in, and in this case, Richard is living parallel lives ... one that he can show everyone and the other that’s completely hidden from view. He has to manage himself and bear the burden of himself.”
View from the Couch
Wolf appreciates that “Doc” lets him continue pursuing the different types of parts he has long sought: “When I finished ‘Party of Five’ years ago, my biggest worry — as I think it is for any actor who comes off a series that’s lasted a significant amount of time — was, ‘Is this the only way that people are going to be able to see me?’ That character, Bailey Salinger, was an earnest person who wore his heart on his sleeve, so I worried, ‘Can I play someone who people can’t trust?’”
Shows including “V” and “The Nine” afforded Wolf such opportunities, he believes, “so I feel like I have been utilized in ways that feel interesting [to] me. What happens when you take someone who had a nice-guy face and put him in a role where you’re not quite sure how you feel about that person? I think that makes for a fun challenge, and not just for me but also for the audience.”
With “Doc,” Wolf reasons that he’s “taking that to a whole new level. The level of commitment to the secrets that Richard holds is deeper and more powerful than with any other character I’ve played up to this point. When you’re given somebody who has to be two different people from one moment to the next, it’s pretty interesting stuff to work from.”
BY JAY BOBBIN
“SATURDAY NIGHT”
The 1975 premiere night of the television institution later known as “Saturday Night Live” is dramatized energetically in director and co-writer Jason Reitman’s film, with actors portraying the original cast members — also known as The Not Ready for Prime Time Players — who would become household names. Gabriel LaBelle plays Lone Michaels, the visionary producer determined to prove skeptical NBC executives wrong about their initial doubts about the show’s viability. Among the members of the ensemble represented include Chevy Chase (portrayed by Cory Michael Smith), John Belushi (Matt Wood), Dan Aykroyd (Dylan O’Brien),
Gilda Radner (Ella Hunt) and Jane Curtin (Kim Matula). Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”) portrays comedian George Carlin, who was the first guest host; Willem Dafoe plays one of the network higher-ups who thought the program was doomed to fail. DVD extras: “making-of” documentary; audio commentary by filmmakers. *** (R: AS, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray and Digital)
“SE7EN”
The David Fincher-directed thriller that did much to cement Brad Pitt’s stardom makes its debut in the 4K Ultra HD format, marking the film’s 30th anniversary. The actor plays a relative-novice police detective partnered with a veteran cop (a customarily excellent Morgan Freeman) to pursue a serial killer who is using the Seven Deadly Sins as a blueprint for his crime. The picture’s home stretch is packed with surprises that, even now, shouldn’t be revealed beforehand to anyone who doesn’t already know them. Gwyneth Paltrow — with whom Pitt was personally involved at the time of the movie’s release — also stars as his character’s wife in the intense and constantly foreboding picture, which went a long way toward solidifying Fincher’s film-industry reputation as well. The new disc carries over many special features from earlier home-video versions, including audio commentaries featuring Fincher, Pitt and Freeman.
BY CAROLINE COLLACUTT
They’re back, and so is the drama. “7 Little Johnstons” returns with the premiere of its 15th season, airing this Tuesday, Jan. 7, on TLC.
Now entering their 10th year on air, the Johnston family has certainly changed since fans were first introduced to them back in 2015. From graduations, to secret weddings, to newborn babies, the family has grown through milestones, facing situations that both drew them together and tore them apart. Now, with Season 15 on the horizon, fans are anxiously awaiting to hear where the Johnstons stand now.
“The Johnstons are back!” TLC exclaimed in a news release for the new season. “Liz and Brice’s baby girl, Leighton, has arrived home safely from the hospital, and the lively Johnston family quickly realizes that life gets even more interesting with a newborn in the mix. As Liz and Brice navigate their new roles as parents, Trent and Amber embrace their new titles as Lolly and Boppa, though not without a few growing pains.
“Amidst the joy, Trent faces mysterious health issues, adding a layer of concern to the family’s dynamic. This season also brings plenty of celebrations: Trent and Amber mark their 25th wedding anniversary, Anna and Amber graduate from college
and Emma and Alex graduate from high school. However, when Anna decides to skip Alex and Emma’s ceremony, it causes an unexpected rift in the usually jovial Johnston family,” TLC concludes.
Eagle-eyed fans of the series may have noticed that Anna has gone through plenty of ups and downs as of late. The 24-year-old has been active on her social media, explaining in an Instagram post that her relationship with family members was “horrible” (per Screen Rant).
“Additionally,” Screen Rant explains, “the ‘7 Little Johnstons’ cast member also said she broke up with her boyfriend, Darius Anderson. However, Anna recently updated her social media, posting a carousel of images of her friends, her furry babies and other behind-the-scenes pictures from ‘7 Little Johnstons’ filming. There was also a picture of Anna and Darius even though the reality star had previously stated they had split. Therefore, it will be a matter of time before viewers know what’s happening to Anna.”
From executive producers Neil Bowman (“1000-lb Sisters”), Bill Hayes (“Jon & Kate Plus 8”), Amy Doyle (“Sister Wives”) and more, “7 Little Johnstons” returns Tuesday, Jan. 7, on TLC.
**** (R: AS, P, GV) (Also on DVD and Blu-ray)
“WE LIVE IN TIME”
The title of director John Crowley and writer Nick Payne’s drama has great significance in terms of the central characters played by Florence Pugh (“Oppenheimer”) and former screen “Spider-Man” Andrew Garfield, two people brought together by a car accident. The cereal salesman and the chef embark on a relationship that undergoes numerous twists and turns from that initial point, with the film moving back and forth over a 10year period in showing how things develop for the couple. Actor Benedict Cumberbatch was the executive producer of the picture, which also features Adam James, Marama Corlett and Douglas Hodge. *** (R: AS, N, P) (Also on Blu-ray and Digital)
“THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT”
In this crime drama with a strong sci-fi bent, two estranged siblings hope the title notion will hold true for them. Played by Adam David Thompson and Riley Dandy, they possess a fortune from a robbery, and they may be able to abscond permanently via a closet that allegedly connects to an alternate reality. Once they make use of that phenomenon, things get complicated, and they’re forced to delay a return to their own place and time — with a mysterious “visitor” (Chloe Skoczen) supposedly guiding them
through steps to make things right for themselves. However, the situation also could end up getting all traces of the siblings’ existence erased. Screenwriter Michael Felker made his directing debut with the film. *** (Not rated: AS, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray and Digital)
“SANCTUM”
Executive-produced by James Cameron, who knows more than a bit about making movies in watery conditions, this 2011 melodrama comes to 4K Ultra HD for the first time. Based on an experience that co-writer Andrew Wight had, the story takes several people on an expedition into an underwater cave system, an adventure that goes awry in a very big way when a major storm strikes the region — threatening the explorers as the intensifying weather creates a succession of perils. Richard Roxburgh (“Mission: Impossible 2”), Ioan Gruffudd (who would deal with geographic hazards again in “San Andreas” several years later, and who also contributed to the music soundtrack here), Rhys Wakefield and Alice Parkinson are among the cast members; some of the cinematography innovations that Cameron created for his first “Avatar” are used here. *** (R: AS, N. P, V) (Also on DVD and Blu-ray)
“LET’S GET LOST”
Music great Chet Baker is profiled in this much-acclaimed 1988 documentary, which now gets a
Blu-ray release, and which originally came out several months after the jazz trumpeter’s death. Many of those who knew the so-called “Prince of Cool” best, professionally and personally, offer comments as a wealth of material details his career — which surely had its ups and downs, linked in part to his addiction to heroin and his turbulent relationships. Baker himself gave extensive interviews to director Bruce Weber, who shot some of the picture’s footage at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival. Composers represented by the Baker-performed musical selections here range from Cole Porter to Elvis Costello. *** (Not rated: AS, P) (Also on DVD)
Coming Home Soon
“INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS” (4K ULTRA HD) (JAN. 14)
“JO JO DANCER, YOUR LIFE IS CALLING” (CRITERION COLLECTION) (JAN. 14)
