Red Bluff Daily News - Select TV
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8 The Daily News and North Valley Community Papers November 24 - 30, 2018 By Shona Dustan TV Media BINGE THIS: As streaming services become the norm, and audiences get used to binging their favorite series a season or more at a time, the phenomenon known as appointment television is becoming increasingly rare. But that's exactly what "Body- guard" was for BBC One last fall — the nail-biting thriller enthralled British audiences and became the most-watched U.K. drama in the history of ... well, in the history of the current rat- ings system. You can stream the entire first season now on Netf- lix. David Budd, our titular hero, is played by Richard Madden ("Game of Thrones"), whose Scottish brogue and ever-fur- rowed brow are reasons enough to watch the series. When we first meet him, Budd proves to be impressively calm under pressure as he tries to convince a suicide bomber to abandon her deadly plans. It's this act of heroism that lands him his next big job: bodyguard to the home secretary (Keeley Hawes, "Line of Duty"). His charge's politics and outspoken nature make Budd's job increasingly difficult, and we soon learn that neither the home secretary, nor Budd himself, is quite what they seem. It's a pleasantly relentless ride, and the tension, drama, action and intrigue will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. This thrilling British series has already been renewed for a second season, and you can catch the first now on Netflix. WHAT'S NEW: If you're looking for a new action-packed spy series, con- sider checking out "Patriot" — season 2 just dropped on Amazon Prime. But don't expect a run-of-the-mill thriller from writer Steven Conrad, who has made a name for himself penning offbeat films that tug on your heartstrings, such as "The Weather Man" (2005), "The Pur- suit of Happyness" (2006) and "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" (2013). "Patriot" stars Michael Dorman ("Wonderland") as John Tavner, an intelligence officer tasked with preventing Iran from developing nuclear capabilities. While there is plenty of action and intrigue, the serious subject matter is played for laughs; Tavner is not your standard stoic strongman, but a sensitive fam- ily man who has a penchant for writing and performing his own music. When his lyrics get a little too autobiographical, or his top- secret missions go off the rails, his loving father (Terry O'Quinn, "Lost") sends his adoring brother (Michael Chernus, "Manhattan") to reel him back in. It's been a while since a series truly sur- prised and delighted me, but this weird show has done both. Catch the first two seasons of "Patriot" now on Amazon Prime. While I'm gushing about the quirky humor of Steven Conrad, let me recommend another of his masterpieces: "Wonder" (2017) landed on Hulu this month, and you can stream this inspiring tear-jerker now. The film is based on the R.J. Palacio book of the same name and stars Jacob Trem- blay ("Room," 2015) as August Pullman, a fifth-grader with a medical deformity that affects his face. As August and his family struggle with life's many chal- lenges, we're treated to excellent, heart-wrenching, triumphant per- formances by Tremblay and his supporting cast — support that includes the likes of Julia Roberts ("Pretty Woman," 1990), Owen Wilson ("Zoolander," 2001) and Mandy Patinkin ("Homeland"). Catch "Wonder" now on Hulu. Richard Madden stars in "Bodyguard" By Andrew Warren TV Media L ow and slow: any barbecue lover can tell you that those are the key ingredients to perfect, mouthwatering barbecue. Whether it's Carolina-style pulled pork or brisket in the Kansas City tradition, it's that combination of a long cooking time and a low, steady heat that makes barbecue so incredible. The third ingredient, though, might be the most im- portant of all: the fire. It isn't just barbecue that draws Roger Mooking in Cook- ing Channel's "Man Fire Food," but any foods being cooked using fire, whether it's over a campfire or in a custom-made smoker. A new season of the meaty favorite premieres Wednesday, Nov. 28, and this season the host is head- ed all around the country to dis- cover all the creative ways in which people put the most primal of cooking methods to use. In this week's premiere, smoke signals pull Mooking to the Southwest, where a smokehouse in Chandler, Arizona, serves up Tennessee-style barbecue. The joint's founders show off their piping-hot brick pits and get the host to lend a hand loading them up with more than 300 pounds of pork before sharing some of their fall-off-the-bone ribs tossed in a barbecue sauce with more than a hint of spicy cayenne. Mooking's in Las Vegas for his second stop, and at The Kitchen at Atomic he checks out a porta- ble cooking rig called "the swing set"; but this multipurpose cook- ing contraption isn't child's play. He and chef Justin Kingsley Hall use it to hang Mediterranean spice-rubbed legs of lamb over a low heat, bury beautiful butter- nut squash in a bed of coals, and even hang a swinging basket that is used to grill veggies — sounds safe! Next week, on Wednesday, Dec. 5, Mooking's journey contin- ues as he checks out two chefs blending international tech- niques and flavors with Ameri- can-style barbecue. In North Car- olina, he hangs out with a chef who's infusing Puerto Rican fla- vors into his pit-smoked hogs, and in Virginia he meets a classi- cally trained French chef who's also a champion pitmaster who builds his own cooking rigs. Whether it's low-heat coals or big, dancing flames, fire is the oldest and most basic way to cook food — but there's nothing basic about what these chefs are doing. The new season of "Man Fire Food" premieres Wednesday, Nov. 28, on Cooking Channel. Roger Mooking hunts for creative ways to cook with fire Roger Mooking hosts "Man Fire Food" Stream Team Pre-Order your Holiday Hams, Turkeys, Turducken, Prime Ribs, Old Fashion Meat Counter • Fresh Deli Sandwiches Domestic & Wild Game Processing We have many to choose from Plus receive $50.00 worth of accessories with the purchase of a new grill from 12-1-2018 to 12-24-2018 and More