It's the Fourth of July weekend, and in some parts of the country, the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down many of the outdoor activities we usually associate with Independence Day. There will still be indoor and backyard celebrations, and the weekend…

Two for the Fourth: 'Hamilton' and 'Liberty's Kids'

So, Warrior Nun has landed on Netflix. What to say? First, I didn’t hate it (and I expected to). Second, I was deeply disappointed.
(Warning: some spoilers.)
What’s the Origin Story of Warrior Nun?
The series, created by Simon Barry (Continuum) is…

Netflix’s ‘Warrior Nun’: Well, That Was Disappointing

Mike Rowe hasn't done any Dirty Jobs for Discovery Channel since 2012, but with America slowly emerging from months of lockdowns and quarantine -- except for people doing some of society's dirtiest and most essential jobs, who've still been at work…

Back to Work With Discovery's 'Dirty Jobs: Rowe'd Trip' in July

For crab fisherman Josh Harris, his life as a son, a brother and, now, a father, has played out in front of the millions of dedicated fans of Discovery’s Deadliest Catch, airing Tuesdays.
16 Seasons for Deadliest Catch (and Me)
I’ve been writing…

‘Deadliest Catch’s’ Josh Harris on Being a Son and a Father

Slowly, in fits and starts, the U.S. and the world are starting to emerge from a months-long lockdown to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. It’s indeed been a spring like no other — or at least no other that most of us remember.
It’s also one…

‘Springwatch’: BBC Two, BritBox and YouTube Bring Nature to a Quarantined World

At home, in the car, commuting or out for a walk, Catholic radio -- whether over the airwaves or online -- has become a valuable tool for talking and teaching about the Faith, and for evangelization.
One of Catholic radio's top personalities is…

Relevant's Drew Mariani on the State of Catholic Radio

Almost 135 years after his death on July 23, 1885, brilliant general and troubled President Ulysses S. Grant finally gets his full due.
There’s an old saying that history is written by the winners, but then there’s the Civil War.
With Gone With the…

‘Grant’: A Necessary Corrective to a Civil War History Not Written by the Winners

In this post, I welcome guest blogger Father Vince Kuna, C.S.C., a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a 2016 USC film-school graduate, and a lover of all things comic-books and cinema. Here, I’ve asked him to watch some TV instead — but it…

‘Snowpiercer’ Travels Far From Graphic Novel to Film to TNT Series, Launching Sunday

Over the last week or so, I plowed through both seasons of the NBC drama Manifest, which ended its second season back in April.
The show is available at NBC.com (with ads), and on Hulu (subscription), Amazon Prime Video (fee) and YouTubeTV…

NBC's 'Manifest' Asks Good Faith Questions ... Now and Then

This Sunday, May 17, EPIX’s Belgravia concludes its run. Based on an online book by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, it tells a story of secrets and family intrigue among society elites and social climbers in a (still) swanky new (in the 1840s,…

‘Belgravia’/’Downton Abbey’ Creator Julian Fellowes Will ‘Think About’ a Story on English Catholicism

It's a rare moment these days that Catholic priests are portrayed in a positive light on TV, or even just as a simple human being. Fortunately, we have the BBC's Father Brown to give us both.
The series, which launched in 2013, is loosely based on…

'Father Brown': Faith, Crime and Solid Stories Make for a TV Hit

Airing Tuesday on PBS, Inside the Vatican shows us a version of Holy See that we may not see again for a while.
By their nature, documentaries record a moment in time. In the case of the BBC-produced Inside the Vatican, airing April 28 at 9 pm. ET/PT…

PBS’ ‘Inside the Vatican’ Shows Us the Holy See — and Holy Week — As They Once Were

On April 15, 2019, images of Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral on fire transfixed the world. On Thursday, April 16, at 7 p.m. ET/PT, National Geographic Channel broadcasts Saving Notre Dame, a 10-month chronicle of efforts to raise the medieval church from…

'Saving Notre Dame': NatGeo Channel Documents the Cathedral's Resurrection

CBS has announced the cancellation of its Sunday-night drama God Friended Me, which will now end with the two-hour April 26 season finale.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the producers — including Greg Berlanti, Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt…

CBS Cancels ‘God Friended Me,’ Producer Promises a ‘Fitting and Satisfying’ End

Comedian, actor, game-show host and producer Wayne Brady wanted to help youngsters develop their comedy chops, much as he did as a teen in Orlando, Florida, doing community theater and performing with an improv troupe. He needed a broadcast partner…

'Wayne Brady's Comedy IQ' Found a 'Safe Space' on BYUtv

The Passion of the Christ was a huge hit in 2004 and is required Holy Week viewing for many Christians, but director Mel Gibson's film didn't tell the whole story of Easter.
True to its title -- inspired by medieval Catholic "passion plays" -- it…

'The Passion of the Christ': When Will We See 'Resurrection'?

While you’re waiting on the next Downton Abbey movie or musing on how PBS’ Sanditon was largely Austen in name only, EPIX brightens Easter night with Belgravia, the latest costumed British saga from Downton creator Julian Fellowes.
He originally…

EPIX’s ‘Belgravia’ May Fill That ‘Downton’ or Austen-Shaped Hole in Your Heart

For Catholics, Holy Saturday is a time of waiting, ending with the glorious Mass of the Easter Vigil. This year, in the mist of COVID-19 shutdowns, that won’t happen in many places. But cablenet Lifetime still offers a joyful noise unto the Lord on…

Sing to the Lord: ‘The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel’ Comes to Lifetime on Holy Saturday

Steven Spielberg began making 8mm home movies at 12, starting with filming wrecks of Lionel toy trains. For young filmmaker Joshua Carroll, it's not trains, but LEGOs, and instead of wrecks, he's looking to build up the Body of Christ.
The child of…

'The Passion: a Brickfilm' & 'Exodus: A Brickfilm': The Bible, But With LEGOs

Plenty of cable channels love to program for Christmas, but Lent and Easter are usually reserved for sketchy Christian-themed documentaries of questionable accuracy, and the occasional faith-centric movie, special or miniseries.
Also, it's usually…