Tuesday Cable Ratings 5/4/21: Star Wars May the Fourth Marathon Solid on TBS as Chad Slides, Cruel Summer and Mayans MC Rise

Below are the top 25 programs on cable on Tuesday, 5/4/21. Items of note include Cruel Summer on Freeform, Star Wars: May the Fourth Marathon on TBS, and Mayans MC on FX.

(Note: Click any show with its name in green or blue to be taken to its page in the TV Ratings Guide Cable Ratings Database.)

Monday Cable Ratings 5/4/20: Spring Baking Championship Rises for Finale, My Brilliant Friend Finale and American Dad! Drop, Creepshow Starts Decently

Below are the top 25 programs on cable on Monday, 5/4/20. Items of note include the finale of Spring Baking Championship on Food Network, the cable premiere of Creepshow on AMC, and American Dad! on TBS.
(Note: Click any show with its name in yellow or blue to be taken to its page in the TV Ratings Guide Cable Ratings Database.)

A Tribute to Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, A Pair of Icons

It hurts to write these words. We lost Carrie Fisher on December 27, 2016. The next day, we lost her mother, Debbie Reynolds. Here is my tribute to one of the funniest, most talented, and coolest people to ever live, and her talented, lovely mother. 

In what was a downright awful year for celebrity deaths, this one hit me harder than all of the others. This was the first celebrity death of the year that made me cry. When I heard about Carrie's heart attack, I was very upset. I didn't know just how serious it was, but I thought she'd pull through. This loss was tremendous for me. I couldn't believe it when I heard about her passing. I thought it was a cruel joke. Unfortunately it was not, and one of my heroes was truly gone. It truly shocked me that someone so young, so full of life, and so on top of her game would be gone so quickly. Carrie was truly brilliant, and there's a little less brilliance in the world right now.

I, like many others, became captivated with Carrie Fisher after I saw her in Star Wars. Princess Leia was always my favorite character. I didn't see Star Wars until years after it was released. But immediately when I saw it, I fell in love with it. Part of the reason for that was Carrie Fisher, who was fantastic as Princess Leia, and really made the movie for me.

Obviously, Carrie's legacy extends far beyond Star Wars. She was a skilled author, a talented comic, and she appeared in numerous other TV and film roles. My favorite non-Star Wars role of Carrie's would have to be on my favorite TV show, 30 Rock. Rosemary's Baby remains one of my favorite 30 Rock episodes. Even her appearances on talk shows were always wonderful, and I'll miss them.

Farewell Carrie. You may be gone, but we will never forget you. Thanks for the laughs and the memories. I just wish that we had more time with you. Goodbye to a wonderful, hysterical, talented, and downright awesome person. You will be sorely missed. And, let's not forget. In her own words, Carrie "drowned in moonlight, strangled by my own bra." 

Carrie Fisher, 1956-2016

May the Force Be With You

Unfortunately, just a day later, Debbie Reynolds, Carrie's mom, passed away. Both Debbie and her daughter Carrie were heroes of mine. I looked up to Carrie because of Star Wars, and Debbie because of Halloweentown, one of my favorite Halloween movies. I was lucky enough to have received Debbie's autograph before she died. I treasured it before, and I certainly will now.

Debbie has left behind an incredible legacy. Not only did she appear in numerous movies, she also appeared on television, wrote books, and had a wonderful family. She will be missed greatly.


It's hard to believe that they are both gone, but unfortunately they are. This news has left me incredibly numb and sad. My heartfelt condolences go out to their families at this difficult time.

Rest in Peace, Debbie. You're with Carrie now.

Debbie Reynolds, 1932-2016

Film Review - Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

Star Wars – The Force Awakens (2015)

** Minor spoilers below **

It’s been ten years since the last new Star Wars film.  Episode III – Revenge of the Sith was the last in the trilogy of prequels which introduced Annakin Skywalker and followed his journey to the dark side.  Many slated these films, with characters such as Jar Jar Binks geared towards a much younger audience.  But now in December 2015, The Force Awakens is the first of yet another planned trilogy and takes place three decades after the events of the 1983 film, Return of The Jedi.

Luke Skywalker, the last Jedi, is missing and the Republic, led by Leia Organa, is searching to find him.  Resistance pilot extraordinaire Poe is sent to Jakku to meet a trusted contact who has a map with Luke’s location.  Just as the map exchanges hands, Stormtroopers from the First Order land and launch an attack.  Before Poe is captured, he stores the map in his BB-8 droid, who is found by junkyard scavenger Rey.  Meanwhile Poe escapes with the help of Finn, a Stormtrooper with a conscience.  They crash land back on Jakku where Finn stumbles into Rey and they escape following an attack by the First Order.  Their journey then sees them encounter familiar characters and battles leading to a rollercoaster of emotions and revelations.

There is an intensely familiar feel to the film, right from the opening credits, with the golden words setting the scene and disappearing in to the distance.  The music is again scored by John Williams and has the same orchestral signature pieces that fans know and love.  Taking place thirty years after the last of the original trilogy, the visual style is in the same vein, which is fantastic news for fans.  It is also blatantly apparent that the narrative borrows heavily from the original 1977 Star Wars film, now known as A New Hope.

Rey has no family, is scavenging on Jakku and proves to have an uncanny connection with The Force.  BB-8 is the new R2-D2; just as sweet and funny, with his own personality traits.  BB-8 also carries a hologram map to Luke’s location, and arch enemy Snoke is only ever seen as an enormous hologram, which adds to the threat of an enemy unseen.  Han Solo and Chewy make a welcomed appearance, and there are several key scenes, both involving Han, with one taking place in a cantina, where Han meets his contact Maz Kanata.  And to top it all, there is a new death star, capable of destroying multiple planets.

But of course there are plenty of twists and turns.  Without giving too much away, Kylo Ren is Snoke’s apprentice.  He is desperate to prove himself to his master and to show he is better than his idol, Lord Vader.  He has the powers of the force and yet feels himself drawn to the light side.  There is the fiercely independent Rey, who contrasts with the strong yet uncertain Finn, the Stormtrooper who has defected and continues to run away from the First Order.

What The Force Awakens has going for it though, is most clearly being made in the same vein as the original trilogy.  This is a film that appeals to the purists, those of us that grew up on the first three films and were grossly disappointed with the second trilogy.  There is sheer childish delight at hearing the classic theme tune, smiling faces when Han Solo and Chewbacca appear for the first time and relief that R2-D2 and C-3PO make an appearance.  The Millennium Falcon can still fly at lightspeed, there are space and light sabre battles, explosions and plenty of comedic moments.

The characterisations are spot on, with the sassy one liners from Han, the slightly snarky comments between Han and Leia and the looks between characters that require no words.  There is also enough mystery generated with the new leads to keep the interest.  Why can Rey use the force with such instinct?  Who are the parents she’s waiting for?  Who is Snoke, and how did Kylo Ren become his apprentice?  There is much that remains a mystery, even after the final credits roll, enough to make us want to come back for more when the next instalment is released.  Overall, if you love Star Wars, you’ll love this revival.

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Trailer for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'

Now we don't really delve into movies that much (or at all) on The TV Ratings Guide, but with the hype surrounding the trailer I figured that I would post the trailer below. See for yourself, and leave a comment about whether or not you plan on seeing it in December!