by Damian Holbrook
TV Guide Magazine
Cheers to Roots
for its fine-feathered find. As showy cock-fighting slave Chicken George in History’s remake, Zimbabwe-born newcomer Regé-Jean Page’s star-in-the-making performance rivaled Ben Vereen’s original turn in the iconic role.
Cheers to Ellen Barkin
for being the queen of Animal Kingdom. TNT’s gritty new drama may boast a manly menagerie of crime-family bros (including Ben Robson, Shawn Hatosy and Scott Speedman), but it’s Barkin as hot, hard-ass mama bear Smurf who reigns supreme.
Jeers to The View
for another empty seat. After months of reduced appearances at the Hot Topics table, ABC has canned Michelle Collins in its latest futile effort to extinguish a daytime Dumpster fire that has claimed countless other cohosts.
Jeers to Game of Thrones
for cutting the wrong dead wood. Deadwood vet Ian McShane’s Ray, the kindly leader of a country commune, lasted barely an episode, yet the infuriating High Sparrow is still squawking around like he’s not the biggest d-bag in the Seven Kingdoms? Shame!