TCA: NBC’s “Allegiance” is not “The Americans” … maybe

People who have read Nick Hornby’s novel About a Boy, and/or seen the 2002 film adaptation starring Hugh Grant, may have a sense of deja vu when watching the premiere episode of NBC’s half-hour series adaptation. The pilot episode pretty much encapsulates almost the entirety of those previous two projects. “We kind of tell the story of the movie in 20 minutes,” series star David Walton pointed out when I talked to him last month. Walton thinks that approach worked, because, “now we’re in uncharted territory. The book doesn’t really address where the series is going, and the movie doesn’t. […]

The French Open is down to the finals, with Australian Open runner-up Li Na of China taking on defending French Open champ Francesca Schiavone of Italy in the women’s match Saturday, June 4, at 9am ET on NBC. In the men’s final, Rafael Nadal continues his dominance on clay, defeating Andy Murray to reach his sixth final in seven years. Nadal will face the winner of the Roger Federer-Novak Djokovic semifinal match (taking place Friday at 11am ET on NBC), with the final scheduled for Sunday, June 5, at 9am ET. Here’s the complete release from the NBC Sports Group: […]

In “The Frank Factor,” Joy visits Earl in prison, still feeling guilty about him doing time for her. Suddenly, Earl spots a guy in prison he knows, Frank (Michael Rapaport), and it turns out they have quite a history together. Flash back to seven years ago. Earl’s parents are having their house fumigated, so Earl and Randy are homeless, sleeping outside on someone’s discarded sofa. But trash day comes, and Earl and Randy are homeless again. Earl spots an ad for a cheap room to rent, and he and Randy sublet the kitchen floor of Frank’s trailer home. Paco, Frank’s […]