Go Away With … Telvin Griffin

“Every summer growing up, my little brother and I would go to Dallas to spend time with our aunt and uncle,” said “Babylon” actor Telvin Griffin. “They didn’t have kids at the time so in a cool way, they were getting practice with us. We thought it was a whole new world because compared to Texarkana, Dallas was a huge place full of more fun things.”

“Weak Hero Class 1” (약한영웅 Class 1)

Park Ji-hoon is almost unrecognizable from his Wanna One days. Leading this cast, which also includes Choi Hyun-wook (Twenty Five Twenty One) and Hong Kyung (D.P.), Park is so intensely good as a bullied boy who uses classical conditioning (Pavlov’s Dog) and Newton’s Laws of Motions to fight back against his tormentors.

“Behind Every Star” (연예인 매니저로 살아남기)

Based on the French series “Call My Agent,” this K-drama actually reminds me more of the U.S. show “Entourage,” but from the viewpoint of combative entertainment agents. “Behind Every Star” focuses on a team of elite agents whose clients include top stars who need to have their egos stroked on a regular basis

Don’t believe the K-dramas: Look to “Return to Seoul” for a more realistic view on Korean adoptees

In the superb “Return to Seoul” – which is Cambodia’s Oscar entry for the Best International Film category – French Cambodian filmmaker Davy Chou (“Golden Slumbers”) takes a look at what it means to be an adoptee who unexpectedly is reunited with her birth parents.

“Under the Queen’s Umbrella” (슈룹)

“Under the Queen’s Umbrella” is my top pick of 2022. If you’re looking for a fantastic series to watch, this sageuk/사극 (or historical drama) is difficult to beat. Kim Hye-soo is magnificent as a queen whose sons’ lives (and her own) are in danger if the Crown Prince dies. She is whip smart and almost always one step ahead of her enemies, who want to destroy her family to elevate their own.

The 11 Best K-Dramas of 2022 to Watch Immediately

The best K-dramas of 2022 were bookended by a pair of brutal teen-centric dramas that premiered at the beginning of the year (“All of Us Are Dead”) and the end (“Weak Hero Class One”). They frame a year of superb Korean dramas, so many that it was difficult to narrow it down to just 11 top picks.

Go Away With … Jaicy Elliot

Most people have nothing nice to say about airline meals, but “Grey’s Anatomy” star Jaicy Elliot loves them. “I know most people hate it,” said the actress. “But I eat healthy all year long, so when I travel I enjoy some heavily-processed airplane food with a twist.”

“The Golden Spoon” (금수저)

If you could change places with a wealthy acquaintance, with the condition that you have to give your family to do so, would you? That’s the moral question behind “The Golden Spoon,” which stars BtoB’s Yook Sung-jae (“Goblin,” “Mystic Pop-up Bar”).

ATEEZ Do It All for the Fans

At their Chicago concert, ATEEZ had mentioned that they’ve now experienced the first snowfall of this tour. In South Korea, there is a romantic notion that who you spend the first snowfall with is someone who will remain in your future. It feels right that for ATEEZ, this snowfall landed on a day they spent with their fans. My exclusive interview for Rolling Stone.

Go Away With … Elly Griffiths

“Bleeding Heart Yard” novelist Elly Griffiths said that living on the south coast of England is the perfect place for a crime writer such as herself. “Brighton has the reputation for being a little bit wicked,” the British author said. “The writer Keith Waterhouse said it has the air of a town that is helping the police with their inquiries.”

“Love in Contract” (월수금화목토)

Sang-eun (Park Min-young) is a stunning young woman who has carved out a niche for herself marrying men. Nope, she’s not a gold digger. Her relationships with her clients are platonic and are based on a meticulously-worded love contract. Well educated and discreet, she is the perfect girlfriend/bride for men who need a well-heeled partner to show off.

Go Away With … Kevin Frazier

“My wife is a public defender who now works for the ACLU,” said Kevin Frazier of “Entertainment Tonight.” “I have a job that’s on TV. I remember one day I was in New Orleans and I had to wait two hours for Britney Spears, and then I had to get on a plane and go somewhere else. And I said to my wife (on the phone), “Yeah, it’s just another tough day,” and she said, “Actually, I’m standing outside of a dry cleaner, looking in a dumpster at a murdered woman.” And I was like, “OK, I’m going to shut up now.”

“The Law Cafe” (법대로 사랑하라)

“The Law Cafe” is a cute K-drama centering on a couple that has always been in love with each other, but doesn’t realize it. Or, rather, is unwilling to acknowledge it. Jeong-ho is a former prosecutor who quit his job after a scandal was covered up. Yu-ri is his fearless childhood friend — also an attorney — whose passion lies in helping powerless people get justice.

Go Away With … Ion Zanca of Dallas String Quartet

“We played hundreds of weddings before, but to be a part of the wedding of a couple of music legends [Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton] was truly special,” said Dallas String Quartet violist Ion Zanca. “You feel like every note that you play is heard by people who truly know music.”