Henry Winkler: The Fonz writes books!

May 11, 2008July 26, 2022 Jae-Ha Kim

Three decades ago, Henry Winkler was best known for his role as the Fonz on “Happy Days.” These days, the actor has a whole new generation of fans, thanks to his Hank Zipzer: The World’s Greatest Underachiever series of children’s books. Hank, an irrepressible fourth-grader, deals with dyslexia, bullies and a potential love interest in the latest installment — The Life of Me: Enter at Your Own Risk ($5.99, Gosset & Dunlap) — which just hit book stores.

“What Happens In Vegas”

May 9, 2008May 11, 2016 Jae-Ha Kim

“What Happens in Vegas” is a comedy waiting to happen. It takes an old premise (drunk strangers regretting their decision to get married in Las Vegas) and adds in a dilemma (a $3 million slot machine win) that could’ve been easily resolved.

“Two and a Half Men”: Season 3

May 8, 2008January 2, 2011 Jae-Ha Kim

In the third season of “Two and a Half Men,” the usually sensible Alan (Jon Cryer) ends up dating someone young enough to be his daughter, as well as a senior citizen old enough to be his mother.

“Just Add Water”

May 8, 2008May 10, 2016 Jae-Ha Kim

A quirky independent film featuring some strong acting by an eclectic cast, “Just Add Water” captures the desolate spirit of a group of trailer park inhabitants who have little hope of ever escaping their mundane lives.

“Crossing Jordan” — Season 1

May 6, 2008December 12, 2010 Jae-Ha Kim

Jill Hennessy stars as Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh, a brilliant medical examiner with issues. Still haunted by her mother’s unresolved death and enabled (to a certain extent) by her police detective father’s drive to solve crimes, Jordan spends as much time outside of the lab with the police officers as she does dissecting her dead clients.

“Friday Night Lights” — Second Season

April 22, 2008July 29, 2023 Jae-Ha Kim

Friday Night Lights is deeply entrenched in the world of football and teamwork, but the series transcends sports and delves into rich, human relationships that at times are heartbreakingly real. A compelling drama, the show also features one of the strongest (and best looking) ensemble casts. The second season fulfills the promise of its debut. Full of drama, heart, and superb acting, the series is set in fictional Dillon, Texas–a town where everyone lives and breathes football.

An organized, healthy lifestyle is the key to Marilu Henner’s positive attitude

April 13, 2008August 9, 2011 Jae-Ha Kim

Phoning from her California home after her stint on “Celebrity Apprentice” was completed, Marilu Henner is in a chatty mood. Born and reared in Chicago, the actress best known for her work on “Taxi” gives a verbal high-five to her interviewer, whose accent she immediately recognizes as one from her hometown.

“Sense & Sensibility”

April 8, 2008October 17, 2010 Jae-Ha Kim

Lush, dramatic, and beautifully acted, the BBC’s three-part miniseries “Sense & Sensibility” captures the languid urgency that resonates throughout the Jane Austen novel on which it is based. The miniseries begins with a seduction scene: As a young girl cautiously gives herself to a man, she asks, “But when will you come back?” He answers ominously, “Soon… very soon,” and gallops off into the night.

“Wings” — Season Six

March 25, 2008October 17, 2010 Jae-Ha Kim

Set in Nantucket, “Wings” focuses on a group of people who work at the same small airport and like each other so much (or are so bored) that they are constantly meddling in each other’s business. The sixth season of the sitcom includes preparations for not one, but two weddings. Not to be outdone by Joe (Tim Daly) and Helen’s (Crystal Bernard) engagement (finally!), busybody Roy (David Schramm) decides that he, too, wants to get married and sends away for a Russian mail-order bride.

“Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns”

March 21, 2008July 1, 2016 Jae-Ha Kim

With his name prefacing each movie, Perry has developed a franchise that doesn’t fail to deliver what his fans are accustomed to: some variation of a dysfunctional family comedy and the appearance of his most famous character Madea–a cranky grandmother played by Perry himself that manages to draw laughs, even when her inclusion sometimes is superfluous.

“Blackout”

March 19, 2008May 15, 2016 Jae-Ha Kim

Set in the summer of 2003 when parts of America experienced a severe power outage, “Blackout” focuses on the eclectic residents of a New York neighborhood who fought–and banded together–to survive the ordeal.

“Dresden”

March 12, 2008May 12, 2016 Jae-Ha Kim

A love story set amidst the chaos and horror of World War II, Dresden tells the tale of a beautiful young German nurse who falls in love with an injured British pilot.

Kimberla Lawson Roby’s flawed hero hits home

March 9, 2008August 9, 2011 Jae-Ha Kim

In 1997, Kimberla Lawson Roby couldn’t get an agent or a publishing house interested in her first novel. Today she’s a New York Times best-selling author who writes a book every year for a major distributor. Her latest juicy work of fiction is “Sin No More,” which revisits her most popular character, the Rev. Curtis Black.

“The Other Boleyn Girl”

February 29, 2008October 17, 2010 Jae-Ha Kim

A tale of two sisters competing for the same king, The Other Boleyn Girl uses historical facts as window dressing for this work of fiction that is entertaining, if not wholly believable. Anne Boleyn (Natalie Portman) is the doe-eyed vixen ordered by her power-hungry uncle to bewitch King Henry VIII (Eric Bana). Her shy sister Mary (Scarlett Johansson) has always been in Anne’s shadow; Anne is prettier, more accomplished, and desired by many men.

“Silk”

February 26, 2008October 17, 2010 Jae-Ha Kim

Set in the 19th century, when Japan was closed to the West, “Silk” offers an unusual love story revolving around Herve (Michael Pitt), wife Helene (Keira Knightley) and the young unnamed beauty to whom he has never shared a conversation (played by Sei Ashina).

“Blind Dating”

February 25, 2008May 15, 2016 Jae-Ha Kim

Hottie Chris Pine plays Danny, who has never had a serious girlfriend. His annoying but well-meaning brother Larry (Eddie Kaye Thomas) is intent on helping Danny lose his virginity by hooking him up with several inappropriate women.

“Blue State”

February 25, 2008May 15, 2016 Jae-Ha Kim

“Blue State” looks at just how far one young man will go to prove his point that the wrong candidate won the 2004 presidential elections. When John Kerry loses to George W. Bush, one of Kerry’s campaign workers makes good on his promise to move to Canada if Bush is elected president.

“Definitely, Maybe”

February 14, 2008May 12, 2016 Jae-Ha Kim

A romantic comedy that begins with a discussion about sex education and ends with a bit of an unexpected twist, “Definitely, Maybe” focuses on an engaging father and his 10-year-old daughter. Ryan Reynolds is a genial but bland leading man, but the women–including young Breslin–more than hold their own in this fun film.

“Girlfriends” — Season Three

February 12, 2008October 17, 2010 Jae-Ha Kim

Like “Living Single” and “Sex & the City,” “Girlfriends” captures the warm camaraderie (and competition) between good friends. Succinctly balancing comedy with real-life issues, the sitcom returns for a strong third season. Joan (Tracee Ellis Ross), Maya (Golden Brooks), Lynn (Persia White), and Toni (Jill Marie Jones) are all back and they are as sassy and conflicted as ever.

“General Hospital: Night Shift”

February 12, 2008December 12, 2010 Jae-Ha Kim

Spawned from the Emmy Award-winning day-time drama “General Hospital,” “General Hospital: Night Shift” ran for one season in 2007 on the cable network SOAPnet. Taking some of the young, sexy favorites from the original soap opera and adding in a few new characters, the nighttime soap focuses on Robin Scorpio (Kimberly McCullough)–an HIV-positive physician who is impeccable at her job but troubled when it comes to love.