Today, I'm starting this little thing - and I do mean little - called New York Minute reviews, that'll basically take a very quick look at some new series that'd otherwise fly under the radar, including your's. Idea here is to throw a spotlight on something worthwhile, or to flag a beast, so that your precious time (or TiVO capacity) isn't wasted. There are about a million new/returning summer series out there, so without further babble, let's float straight over to...
"Live from Abbey Road" (Sundance, 10). This guy's gotten a little bit of advance attention thanks to the clever name; anything with the words "Abbey Road" attached merits a look, I suppose, and this certainly does too. But don't expect some sort of Beatles tie-in, even if AR Studios are hitting their 75th anniversary (the reason for the series in the first place.) Airing over twelve episodes, "LFAR" is a pure music show,
highlighting three first-rate acts per edition (so be sure to check listings to see if your favorite act is on.) Tonight - John Mayer, Richard Ashcroft, Norah Jones - with Snow Patrol, Shawn Colvin, Iron Maiden (!), Dave Matthews, and Muse showing up in the future.
To watch or not watch: Sure! By all means. Nice production, great acts (and again, pick and choose your faves) but the only Beatles tie-in here is the occasional clip interstitials (and umm, it's taped, not "live." Truth in advertising!) Still, this is Abbey Road, after all, the most holy shrine in rock 'n roll history...
"American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals." (CNBC, 10.) Ah, now there's a title to get the blood racing - plus it's alliterative, whatever that means. You're probably sick (and tired) of all big league network investigation-type stories that promise the moon and deliver Paris Hilton. This CNBC series "examines the dark side of the American dream" (Paris Hilton?!) and starts off with a look at a real-life scam artiste named Barry Hunt who rolls innocent (and greedy) by-standers with promises of instant wealth. Instead, he's a master check kiter and Ponzi scheme crook - and a garden variety one at that. What's amazing is his marks' gullibility along with the fact that he's a dead ringer for Ned Beatty (but thankfully is not.) He also looks a lot like John Locke's crooked father in "Lost"... Tonight also has a fascinating story on a Maxwell Parrish art heist in L.A. – how the crooks tripped an alarm over and over until even the cops ignored it.
To watch or not watch: I say yes - give it a try. It tells its stories well, and offers a moral to boot (that which glitters is not necessarily gold, and greed is not, repeat not, good, even if this is CNBC).
In this not entirely flattering shot, Stace looks a little like the bad guy in the first story on tonight's "American Greed;" do not be fooled - Keach only narrates and, as usual, does a fine job as well.