Entertainment NOW

TV Media Weekly | May 20 - 26, 2017 By Adam Thomlison TV Media Q: The new AMC series "The Son" supposedly spans 1849 to 1915, but this makes no sense. When lead charac- ter Eli is first taken by the Comanches in 1849, he looks to be about 15; when the show goes to 1915, he looks to be in his late 60s, yet if he was 15 in 1849 he would be about 81. Is there any expla- nation for this seemingly big error? A: Oddly enough, you're the only one to pick up on this. Be- ing a new drama on AMC, "The Son" was reviewed in every ma- jor entertainment publication, and though the reviews weren't exactly positive, none faulted the ages. The problem is, as you say, with the appearance of the ac- tors — nothing is said in the show, or the novel it's based on, that suggests it isn't possible that the character, Eli Mc- Cullough, was old enough to be kidnapped in 1849 and young enough to still be a business ty- coon in 1915. The problem, it seems, is in the casting. And the problem is actually worse than you say. Jacob Lo- fland ("Mud," 2012), who plays Eli's younger self, is actually 20. And Pierce Brosnan ("Golden- Eye," 1995), the older Eli, is just 63. So they're 43 years apart, while their characters are sup- posed to be 66. Of course, we now run into an old complaint about film and television: Young characters are always cast with older actors, and older characters with younger actors. There are concrete reasons for the former — actors under the age of 18 are required to work shorter hours, and the studio has to provide a high school (or grade school) tutor on set. For the latter problem — older characters played by younger actors — it's possible this is just Hollywood's ageism problem showing through. Have a question? Email us at questions@tvtabloid.com. Please include your name and town. Personal replies will not be provided. Hollywood Q&A By Andrew Warren TV Media F our culinary contestants, a secret ingredient, a panel of judges and a big cash prize. It's a formula that works, and it works well. But for one Food Network baking competi- tion to stand out from the crowd, it needs a distinct little twist. Season 2 of "Bakers vs. Fakers" premieres Wednesday, May 24, on Food Network, with its familiar format and an all-new host. Eng- lish TV cook Lorraine Pascale takes the reins from last season's Buddy Valastro, with some new judges and a whole host of talent- ed new contestants all fired up for some healthy competition. Like so many cooking and bak- ing shows, "Bakers vs. Fakers" features four talented contestants prepping delicious confections us- ing a secret ingredient for a pair of judges. The big twist here — and it's a good one — is that only two of the four bakers are profession- als: the other two are just home baking enthusiasts. No one knows who's who: not the judges, not the other contes- tants, not even the audience. If one of the professionals beats the competition and impresses the judges the most, he or she wins a sweet $10,000. On the other hand, if one of the "fakers" man- ages to outbake the pros, then he or she earns a bundle of extra cash, getting a whopping $15,000 prize. In the premiere episode, two bakers and two fakers face off in a fruit tart battle, but in an ingredi- ent twist, they must use pista- chios in their confections. Then, once one contestant has been sent packing, the three remaining bakers and fakers are given a vari- ety of mustards to incorporate into their sweet treats — a chal- lenge, even for a seasoned pro. Folks who keep an eye on Food Network programming have probably noticed that "Bak- ers vs. Fakers" is awfully similar to the network's "Cooks vs. Cons" — so similar, in fact, that it's essentially the same show but features baking instead of cooking. That's no mistake: cook- ing and baking are two sides of the same coin, and this is far from the first (and almost cer- tainly not the last) time that Food Network has carbon copied one of its cooking competitions and reworked it into a baking one. "Cooks vs. Cons" has been a hit for Food Network, and with a second season starting this week, "Bakers vs. Fakers" is likely to do well, too. Lorraine Pascale takes over for the season 2 pre- miere Wednesday, May 24, on Food Network. Lorraine Pascale hosts "Bakers vs. Fakers" Amateurs and pros face off in 'Bakers vs. Fakers' 10 | Cooking this week Friendship Haven 2 x 2.5" Noah's Ark 2 x 2" 2nd Shift Plumbing 2 x 1.5" 24/7 Complete Sewer & Plumbing Service Call Someone Who Gives a Shift! callsomeonewhogivesashift.com PC#10500764 (765) 863-8522 ! NO EMERGENCY FEES!

• Cover