Stars Earn Stripes, on NBC Global
General Wesley Clark (ret.) and Samantha Harris co-host as eight celebrities tackle military-style challenges in "Stars Earn Stripes." Each competitor is paired with a member or former member of the armed forces or law enforcement who will act as coach.
Q: My husband and I were watching "Spider-Man 3" the other night and a question came up about one of the actors. Who played the editor of the newspaper that Peter Parker worked for? Is he the same man who plays the chief in "The Closer" and also does an i
That is indeed J.K. Simmons in all three cases. And you could've picked a lot more.
He's rapidly emerged as a go-to character actor in Hollywood these days, since he appeared on the scene with his recurring role as Dr. Emil Skoda on the original "Law & Order" series in 1997. He'd only done bit parts before that, such as a nameless federal marshal in "The First Wives Club" (1996) and a coach in the 1994 baseball movie "The Scout."
Hell on Wheels, on AMC
Anson Mount returns as Cullen Bohannon, a former Confederate soldier still struggling to leave his past behind. Set in post-Civil War America, the drama follows the construction of the country's first transcontinental railroad.
New Releases for the week of Aug. 12 - 18
The Hunger Games
The post-apocalyptic American nation of Panem is divided into 12 districts, which are governed by a rich and opulent Capitol. Each year, representatives from the Capitol tour the districts to collect "tributes," children who will compete in a nationally televised fight-to-the-death known as The Hunger Games. When 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen from the destitute District 12 volunteers to take her sister’s place in the 74th Annual Hunger Games, the fight is for her life and a win will enable her to provide for her family. While Katniss uses her well-honed hunting skills to make it through the game, the Capitol recognizes her potential and begins to stack the odds against her. It will take true grit and perseverence to get through the Games, but with a little help from the outside and fellow tributes such as Peeta Mellark, Katniss becomes the face of hope for all of the downtrodden citizens of Panam and begins a journey that will change the nation forever.
Director: Gary Ross. Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth. 2012. 142 min. Action/Adventure
Breathless
When a Texas woman reaches her boiling point with her husband’s criminal acts, she enlists her friend to plan a good old-fashioned Texas revenge. But when too much alcohol and the sheriff get involved, the situation deteriorates and the sheriff and the women find themselves thinking about not only revenge, but their very own survival.
Director: Jesse Baget. Stars: Val Kilmer, Ray Liotta, Gina Gershon. 2012. 91 minutes. Thriller
The Raid: Redemption
A Jakartan SWAT team is tasked with accomplishing the impossible: to infiltrate an untouchable criminal safe house that is feared by both criminals and the police. Controlled by crime lord Tama Riyadi, the safe house is a haven for Jakarta’s most dangerous killers and murderers. But when the operation goes sour, the SWAT team survivors find themselves at the mercy of the buildings’ notorious residents, who are all vying for the chance be granted free rent if they kill the intruders.
Director: Gareth Evans. Stars: Iko Uwais, Ananda George, Ray Sahetapy. 2012. 101 min. Action.
August
Two former lovers reunite after years of separation in a seemingly harmless rendezvous. Troy tries to revive former passions with his former partner, but with a new lover in the picture, the affair quickly spirals into a love triangle.
Director: Eldar Rapaport. Stars: Murray Bartlett, Daniel Dugan, Adrian Gonzalez. 2012. 100 min. Drama.
NYC 22, on CBS
Terry Kinney stars as Daniel (Yoda) Dean, a veteran New York cop. The hard-nosed field-training officer shows the rookies the basics in an effort to keep the city streets safe.
Randy to the Rescue, on TLC
Randy enlists the help of makeover experts as he strives to help Erika deal with her body image issues, and helps tomboy Molly by giving her a fashion intervention.
Wipeout, on ABC, Global
Another round of contestants tackle such obstacles as the Bar Crawl, Hill-Bullies and the Petrified Forest. Co-hosts John Henson and John Anderson provide commentary as eager contestants compete for the grand prize.
Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, on TLC
Six-year-old pageant beauty Alana invites viewers to tag along as cameras chronicle her life with her family in rural Georgia. The youngster first charmed fans with her vibrant personality on TLC's "Toddler's & Tiaras."
Shipping Wars, on A&E
New cast members Chris and Robbie join Marc, Jarrett, Jennifer and the rest of the gang for more high-stakes, heavy-duty moving. Cameras follow the shippers as they bid to transport items that traditional carriers refuse to touch.
Daily Planet, on Discovery
Co-hosts Ziya Tong and Dan Riskin travel to NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab to bring viewers the scoop on how scientists aim to land the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) known as Curiosity on the surface of the Red Planet.
