Extra treats: Food Network's 'Halloween Wars' is bigger than ever
Sean Gunn, Todd Tucker, Shinmin Li and Jonathan Bennett in "Halloween Wars"
A Halloween tradition is back for even more scares, and this year it's brought friends. Every fall, "Halloween Wars" spooks audiences with its incredibly sugary creations, and this year's competition, which premieres Sunday, Sept. 30, on Food Network, promises to deliver.
New Releases for the week of Sept. 30 - Oct. 6
Sicario: Day of the Soldado
After a suicide bomber kills numerous people in an attack in Kansas City, CIA agent Matt Graver (Brolin) is authorized to use extreme measures to take down Mexico's powerful drug cartels. He comes up with a plan to turn the most powerful cartels against each other, and recruits agent Alejandro Gillick (Del Toro) to assassinate a lawyer affiliated with one of the cartels, while he kidnaps the daughter of a rival cartel's leader. Soon, corruption and betrayal throw the plan off the rails, and the two men find themselves at odds when one of them goes rogue and defies orders.
Director: Stefano Sollima. Stars: Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Isabela Moner, Jeffrey Donovan, Catherine Keener. 2018. 122 min. Action.
The First Purge
As a way to combat rising tension and social unrest, the government announces a trial program to take place on Staten Island. For one 12-hour period, all crimes will be made legal, and the government offers a financial incentive for people to stay on the island during the test. When drug addict Skeletor (Paul) commits the first murder of the purge, video of his act is uploaded and goes viral across the nation, sending many of the people who remained on Staten Island into a panic, but as the streets become increasingly violent, the architect of the experiment becomes suspicious about the motives behind some of the killers.
Director: Gerard McMurray. Stars: Y'lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, Rotimi Paul, Joivan Wade, Marisa Tomei. 2018. 98 min. Action.
Leave No Trace
Veteran Will (Foster) suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and has withdrawn from society to live a hidden life in a public park with his 13-year-old daughter, Tom (McKenzie). The two are happy in their isolation, but when Tom is spotted by a passerby, the two are picked up by social services and given a home, giving Tom her first real taste of civilization in years. Although her father longs to leave it all behind and return to the wilderness, Tom begins warming up to her new life.
Director: Debra Granik. Stars: Ben Foster, Thomasin McKenzie. 2018. 109 min. Drama.
God Friended Me, on CBS
Brandon Micheal Hall stars as Miles Finer, an atheist whose life is turned upside down when he receives a friend request from God in this premiere. As he and a journalist investigate God's friend suggestions, they end up helping those in need.
Phantom Thread, on HBO
Daniel Day-Lewis stars as a renowned dressmaker who falls for a strong-willed working class woman (Vicky Krieps) in this period drama. As their relationship develops, his highly structured life begins to unravel.
The Cool Kids, on Fox
When Margaret (Vicki Lawrence) moves into a retirement community, she muscles her way into a group of friends, whether they like her or not, in this premiere. The ragtag group of rebels are willing to break the rules to have fun.
Comedy with a purpose: It's a beautiful day in 'The Neighborhood'
The cast of "The Neighborhood"
At the end of the day, it's nice to kick back and enjoy a few laughs. Watching a TV comedy is a great way to unwind, but some sitcoms are more than just a string of snappy one-liners. A new series takes a humorous look at a serious issue as it tackles racism in America.
Q: Who did "True Detective's" theme song? I loved it and thought it was perfect for the show.
It depends which season you mean. Given that each season follows a completely different cast of characters in a completely different setting, it makes sense that each one has had a different theme.
The first season's horn-accompanied country ballad was a song called "Far From Any Road" by The Handsome Family, a husband-and-wife alt-country duo. It appears on their 2003 album "Singing Bones."
Murphy Brown, on CBS
Candice Bergen reprises her Emmy-winning sitcom role in the return of this premiere. Determined to return to the airwaves, she recruits her old team: Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford), Frank Fontana (Joe Regalbuto) and Miles Silverberg (Grant Shaud).
Chicago Med, on NBC
Former Navy flight surgeon Dr. Ethan Choi (Brian Tee) works in Chicago's busiest ER alongside attending physician Dr. Will Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss) in this season premiere. The medical drama also stars Oliver Platt and S. Epatha Merkerson.
Q: Can you please find out if Animal Planet plans to have new episodes of "Animal Cops: Houston"?
I can tell you that they haven't announced any plans, but that doesn't mean much in this case -- "Animal Cops" can sneak up on you.
The Houston edition is just one of many in the "Animal Cops" franchise, which has also included shows in Philadelphia, Detroit and, just for a change, South Africa.