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Dark Matter, on Syfy

When a golden opportunity arises, the gang is forced into a tough predicament. As a result, they must team up with another crew as they struggle to complete a dangerous assignment. Roger Cross, Marc Bendavid and Jodelle Ferland star in this sci-fi series.

Roger Cross stars in "Dark Matter"
Roger Cross stars in "Dark Matter"

Q: I'm trying to find the name of an old horror movie starring Ben Affleck. It was based on a Stephen King book or something, and it was about a town that had hundreds of people going missing because of some weird entity.

Author: 
Adam Thomlison / TV Media

The movie you're looking for is 1998's "Phantoms," and you may have had trouble finding it because the book wasn't penned by Stephen King but by his horror-writing colleague Dean Koontz.

Ben Affleck may have gotten most of the press for the film, having burst on to the film scene a year earlier with his Oscar-winning hit "Good Will Hunting," but "Phantoms" actually featured a strong ensemble cast.

Married, on FX

When it comes time to plan a family vacation, Russ (Nat Faxon) and Lina (Judy Greer) go all out. Now in its second season, this comedy chronicles the lives of a husband and wife struggling to find romance in the day-to-day struggle of raising a family.

Paul Reiser stars in "Married"
Paul Reiser stars in "Married"

This is real life: HBO's new miniseries examines the fight to desegregate 1980s Yonkers

Author: 
Jacqueline Spendlove / TV Media
Oscar Isaac stars in “Show Me a Hero”

Oscar Isaac stars in “Show Me a Hero”

It’s not always easy being the man in charge. While it’s true that being a leader gives a person a fair amount of power, it can be a tough thing to wield -- and keeping everyone beneath you happy is a near-impossible task.

Mr. Robinson, on NBC

Craig (Craig Robinson) is determined to inspire his students, who think his high school music class will be an easy "A." Peri Gilpin co-stars as Christine, the strict principal who doesn't appreciate Mr. Robinson's unconventional teaching style.

Craig Robinson, Tim Bagley and Peri Gilpin as seen in "Mr. Robinson"
Peri Gilpin as seen in "Mr. Robinson"

Q: For the past few weeks, "American Odyssey" hasn't been on. The story was not over, so I can't believe it would be taken off without explanation. Could you please tell me why?

Author: 
Adam Thomlison / TV Media

Actually, the first season's story was over -- the final episode you saw was the season finale -- however, you're right that the show's larger story was not.

It's part of the cruelty of serialized storytelling on TV that it left you hanging at the end of the first season, without knowing if it would get a chance to rescue you from the cliff with a second. And NBC decided not to give it the chance -- "American Odyssey" has been canceled.

Face Off, on Syfy

Real-life couples are transformed into whimsically undead duos in this special 100th episode. Then, recently ordained, McKenzie Westmore marries the couples who recite their vows in front of friends and family.

McKenzie Westmore hosts "Face Off"
McKenzie Westmore hosts "Face Off"

American Ninja Warrior, on NBC

Former NFL player Akbar Gbaja-Biamila brings viewers the action as competitors tackle one of the world's most challenging obstacle courses in this two-hour edition. This season, more than 700 contestants will test their mettle against the course in the hopes of bringing home $500,000.

Akbar Gbaja-Biamila from "American Ninja Warrior"
Akbar Gbaja-Biamila from "American Ninja Warrior"

Q: Whenever an actor from a nighttime drama is on a talk show, they lament having to work six days a week, 12-plus hours each day to complete their one weekly show. Whereas, shows like "The Young and the Restless" produce five such shows each week. My que

Author: 
Adam Thomlison / TV Media

"We have to be better and more efficient. That's the way it is, we work as smart as we can." That's the short answer, provided by former "Young and the Restless" supervising producer and director Noel Maxam in a 2008 interview posted on the Directors Guild of America website.

Weekly shows, as you point out, devote more time to fewer episodes, which means multiple takes, and lots of time spent on setting, lighting and all the rest of the setup.

Late Laughs for the week of August 9 - 15, 2015

Conan: Conan O'Brien

Comic-Con has banned selfie sticks and e-cigarettes. Which is too bad, because now when I see someone smoking an e-cigarette, I have nothing to beat them with.

 

Big show tonight, we have the cast of "Game of Thrones." I just went to say hi to them in the green room and they're all dead.

 

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