Tag / The Equalizer

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You Ought To Be In (21) Pictures

Many years ago, using the weekly TV guide that came with the Sunday Chicago Tribune, I started keeping track of all of the movies I had seen over the course of my lifetime.  The guide would list the two main stars for each movie, and that is a tradition that I’ve carried on in my database ever since.  Given those guidelines, it is time once again to look at the now 111 actors that have starred in at least 10 films that I have seen, as of August 1.

We continue today with the two actors that have starred in exactly 21 movies that I have seen, a decrease of one from three years ago.

Samuel L. Jackson

29 years ago, I first made the acquaintance of Samuel L. Jackson in two polar opposite films, Pulp Fiction and National Lampoon’s Loaded Weapon 1.  After 1994, I also saw multiple Jackson films in 2000, 2006, 2019, and 2020.  There was a six-year break between Lakeview Terrace, which I saw in 2010, and Kingsman: The Secret Service, which I saw in 2016.  He racked up five films between 2019 and 2021, the last of which was Death To 2020.

Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington first appeared in my life in a starring role as Tom Hanks’ homophobic attorney in Philadelphia.  There have been four years, starting in 2000, where I have seen two of his films.  2002 started a five-year run where I saw seven of his films.  After a six-year absence, he returned to my screen in 2020 and appeared twice in 2024, thanks to 2014’s The Equalizer and 2023’s The Equalizer 3.

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CBS Upfronts

We wrap up our looks at the network upfronts with CBS, who released their entire 2025-2026 plans.  The week starts with Monday’s familiar comedy block, starting with The Neighborhood followed by DMV, a new comedy starring based on a short story by Katherine Heiny.  That is followed by the OG FBI and its latest spinoff, CIA, starring Tom Ellis.  Tuesday gets turned over to the NCIS franchise, with the original version leading off the night, followed by NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney.

Wednesday continues as all reality, with extra-long episodes of Survivor followed by The Amazing Race.  Thursday has another hour-long comedy block, with Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage followed by Ghosts.  The new version of Matlock and another installment of Elsbeth finish out the night.  Friday starts with Sheriff Country, an expansion of the Fire Country universe starring Morena Baccarin, followed by the original Fire Country and Boston Blue, a spinoff of Blue Bloods, continuing the adventures of Donny Wahlberg’s Danny Reagan.  Sunday kicks off with 60 Minutes, followed by Tracker, and The Road, giving viewers a “backstage pass into the gritty and unforgiving life of a touring artist.”

On tap for midseason on Wednesdays are game shows The Price is Right at Night and Hollywood Squares, followed by Harlan Coben’s Final Twist, a true crime series hosted by the best-selling author.  America’s Culinary Cup is a new cooking competition series hosted by Padma Lakshhi.  Y: Marshalls, a spinoff of the Paramount+ series Yellowstone sees Luke Grimes’ Kayce Dutton put the ranch behind him and join an elite unit of U.S. Marshals.  Last, but not least, is the second season of Watson.

Gone and never to be seen again are Blue Bloods, The Equalizer, FBI: International, FBI: Most Wanted, Poppa’s House, The Summit, and S.W.A.T.

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2024: The Year In Movies

The return of my annual long December vacation helped push up a weak first eleven months of the year, giving me my lowest total since 2021.  I managed to watch 52 movies last year, my fourth consecutive year under 100, despite being home all day and not needing to bother with pesky things like a commute.  Or exercise.  Reading 62 books and watching game shows all day probably didn’t help either.

Here’s a look back at the first 50 movies I watched last year and what recollection, if any, I have of them. The films are listed in the order I saw them.

The Assistant (2019)
A day in the life of an assistant to a film producer, who quickly realizes that abuse is all around her.

The Holdovers (2023)
A tight-assed teacher and a troublesome student bond when they are left alone at their boarding school over winter break.

May December (2023)
An actress starts to come between a couple who, twenty years ago, had a notorious tabloid relationship.

The Equalizer 3 (2023)
The latest entry in the Denzel Washington series.

Wrong Turn (2021)
A group of friends hiking the Appalachian Trail come across a community none too happy to see them.

The Equalizer (2014)
When a young girl is kidnapped by Russian pimps, a former commando comes out of retirement to rescue her.

Plus One (2019)
Longtime friends agree to be each other’s plus one at the various weddings they get invited to.

Pearl (2022)
A young woman tries to become a star to escape from her overbearing parents and living on an isolated farm.

Thanksgiving (2023)
A killer attacks on Thanksgiving.

Upgraded (2024)
An intern at an auction house misrepresents herself to impress a man.

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CBS Upfronts

We wrap up our looks at the network upfronts with CBS, who released their entire 2024-2025 plans.  The week starts with Monday’s familiar comedy block, starting with The Neighborhood followed by Poppa’s House, a new comedy starring Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr.  That is followed by two entries in the NCIS franchise: the OG and the new NCIS: Origins, a prequel narrated by Mark Harmon.  Tuesday remains the same, with different iterations of Dick Wolf’s FBI running all night.

Wednesday continues as all reality, with extra-long episodes of Survivor followed by The Summit, a new show featuring a team of strangers trying to climb a remote mountain in New Zealand.  Thursday has another hour-long comedy block, with Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage taking over for its parent series Young Sheldon, followed by the returning Ghosts.  A new version of Matlock, starring Kathy Bates, follows, and the night finishes with a second installment of Elsbeth.  Friday remains the same, starting with S.W.A.T., followed by Fire Country and the final season of Blue Bloods.  Sunday kicks off with 60 Minutes, followed by Tracker, The Equalizer, and re-runs to protect against football overruns.

On tap for midseason on Wednesdays are game shows The Price is Right At Night, Raid the Cage, and an updated version of Hollywood Squares, featuring Drew Barrymore as the iconic middle square. NCIS: Sydney is on tap to replace Blue Bloods after it wraps up its run in the fall.  Once football is over, Sunday re-runs will be replaced by Watson, a present day take on the literary character who returns to his medical career following the death of his partner Sherlock Holmes.  Not slotted, but still planned for midseason, is the latest installment of The Amazing Race.

Gone and never to be seen again are Bob Hearts Abishola, CSI: Vegas, NCIS: Hawaii, So Help Me Todd, and Young Sheldon.

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CBS Upfronts

Forgoing a traditional upfront presentation with an ongoing writer’s strike threatening the start of the fall season in September, CBS announced what they hope will be airing on their network this fall.  With only two new shows on the schedule, things will look very familiar to viewers.  The week starts with a stable Monday, with the comedy block of The Neighborhood and Bob Hearts Abishola followed by two entries in the NCIS franchise: the OG and NCIS: Hawaii.  Tuesday also stays the same, with Dick Wolf’s FBI running all night.

Wednesday goes all reality, with extra-long episodes of Survivor and The Amazing Race taking the entire night.  Thursday has another hour-long comedy block, with Young Sheldon and Ghosts, followed by the returning So Help Me Todd and the new Elsbeth, a spinoff of The Good Wife starring Carrie Preston.  Friday remains the same, starting with the final season of S.W.A.T., followed by Fire Country and Blue Bloods.  Sunday kicks off with 60 Minutes, followed by a new version of Matlock, starring Kathy Bates as the septuagenarian lawyer who rejoins the workforce to win cases and expose corruption from within, The Equalizer, and CSI: Vegas.

On tap for midseason are comedy Poppa’s House, starring Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr., and the Justin Hartley drama Tracker, based on the Jeffery Deaver books and which is slated to debut following the Super Bowl in February.

Gone and never to be seen again are NCIS: Los Angeles, East New York, and True Lies.

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CBS Upfronts

Things are going to be drama-heavy on CBS this fall, with comedies appearing on only two nights and no new comedies picked up for the schedule.  The week starts with a stable Monday, with the comedy block of The Neighborhood and Bob Hearts Abishola followed by two entries in the NCIS franchise: the OG and NCIS: Hawaii.  Tuesday also stays the same, with Dick Wolf’s FBI running all night.

Wednesday goes all reality, with Survivor and The Amazing Race followed by The Real Love Boat, a dating show patterned on the 70s classic.  Thursday has another hour-long comedy block, with Young Sheldon and Ghosts, followed by So Help Me Todd, a new legal drama starring Marcia Gay Harden and Skyler Astin, and CSI: Vegas.  Friday starts with S.W.A.T., followed by Fire Country, starring Max Thieriot and inspired by his life growing up in California’s fire country.  The 32nd season of Blue Bloods finishes off the night.  Sunday kicks off with 60 Minutes, followed by The Equalizer, East New York, a new police drama, and NCIS: Los Angeles.

On tap for midseason are reality shows Superfan, Lingo, the returning Tough as Nails, and Secret Celebrity Renovation.

Gone and never to be seen again are Bull, United States of Al, B Positive, Magnum P.I., Good Sam, and How We Roll.

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CBS Upfront

Everything old is new this season at CBS, which brings 3 new entries from its collection of established procedural franchises along with 1 new comedy to the air this fall.  The week starts a comedy block of The Neighborhood and Bob Hearts Abishola, followed by 2 entries in the NCIS franchise: the OG, moving from its Tuesday timeslot for the first time in 18 years, and NCIS: Hawaii, where Vanessa Lachey stars as the first female Special Agent in Charge of NCIS Pearl Harbor.  Tuesday, CBS follows NBC’s playbook by turning the entire night over to Dick Wolf for his FBI franchise, with the OG leading off the night, followed by FBI: International, the new iteration that follows the elite operatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s International Fly Team, and FBI: Most Wanted.

Wednesday night leads off with Survivor, followed by Tough As Nails and the new CSI: Vegas, the “sequel” to the original which brings back William Petersen, Jorja Fox, and Wallace Langham.  Thursday has another comedy block, starting with with Young Sheldon and United States of Al, followed by Ghosts, starring Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar as a duo who decide to convert a huge rundown country estate into a bed & breakfast, only to find it’s inhabited by the many spirits of deceased residents who now call it home, and B Positive. Bull finishes off the night.  Friday starts with S.W.A.T. for a month, before giving way to TBD unscripted programming, followed by Magnum P.I. and Blue Bloods.  Sunday kicks off with 60 Minutes, followed by The Equalizer, NCIS: Los Angeles, and, for a month, SEAL Team before giving way to S.W.A.T.

On tap for midseason is Good Sam, starring Sophia Bush and Jason Isaacs as doctors fighting for the same position, and Smallwood, based on the life of professional bowler Tom Smallwood.

Gone and never to be seen again are All Rise, MacGuyver, NCIS: New Orleans, Mom, and The Unicorn.  Evil and SEAL Team will be moving to Paramount+.