Popspotting

For TV Tuesday, we take a look at the pilot of AMC’s latest original series, “Hell On Wheels.” Then, Jen brings us up to speed on the Food Network reality cooking show, “The Next Iron Chef.”

“Hell on Wheels” is AMC’s new original Western series that centers on former Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannon, portrayed by Anson Mount, whose quest for vengeance has led him to Union Pacific’s westward construction of the first transcontinental railroad. Other stars include rapper Common, Colm Meaney, Dominique McElligott, Phil Burke, and Eddie Spears.

“The Next Iron Chef” is now in its fourth season, a reality cooking competition show that will pick the next culinary star to preside over Kitchen Stadium. كلاب سلوقي Competitors this year are Anne Burrell, Michael Chiarello, Elizabeth Falkner, Alex Guarnaschelli, Chuck Hughes, Robert Irvine, Beau MacMillan, Spike Mendelsohn, Marcus Sameulsson, and Geoffrey Zakarian.

Leonardo DiCaprio takes on yet another larger-than-life historical figure in Clint Eastwood’s new biopic, “J. Edgar.” The film follows the career of the FBI’s first and most infamous director, J. Edgar Hoover, who held his position and influence through several presidents, from 1935 through his death in 1972. He built the agency into an investigative powerhouse, but burned many bridges along the way, surviving largely through the shrewd collection and use of secret files he kept on every powerful person in the country.

In addition to DiCaprio, “J. Edgar” stars Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, and Judi Dench. The film is also full of cameos portraying famous figures from history, including Jeffrey Donovan as Bobby Kennedy, Josh Lucas as Charles Lindbergh, Christopher Shyer as Richard Nixon, and Emily Alyn Lind as Shirley Temple.

Ambitious in scope, with clear Oscar intentions, does “J. Edgar” bring history alive? Is the combination of political intrigue with a forbidden love story a compelling one? Or is the film brought down by its a winding narrative, drab settings, and distracting old-age makeup?

This week’s Feedback Friday finds a number of fans for ABC’s “Once Upon a Time.” We also touch on “Chuck,” back with what may be its final season on NBC. From BBC, “The Fades” gets a thumbs up, and “Sons of Anarchy” hooks another addict. And from Switzerland, our friend Anna introduces a podcast devoted to “The West Wing.”

Then we move on to more favorite cover songs, from Joni Mitchell’s “A Case Of You” covered by Prince, Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” covered by Wyclef Jean, and James Taylor’s “Carolina In My Mind” covered by Alison Krauss & Union Station.

We’ll be back after a week off with more Popspotting! But the show goes on only with your help. Got a suggestion for “Wildcard Wednesday”? A strong difference of opinion on a new TV show? We really want to hear from you!

Today’s guest is W. Axel Foley (@WAxelFoley), a filmmaker, podcaster and educator. He is a frequent co-host on “The Film List” with Heath Solo, and one of the four (or more) hosts of “Podtourage.”

Axel works at non-profit public access TV station in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he shoots and edits video and teaches podcasting and video production. He has directed numerous documentaries, commercials, concerts and music videos, and he even has feature film out that is available on Netflix called “Smokers.”

Today, Axel shares his love of “The Best Show” with Tom Scharpling and Jon Wurster, a reality TV show on the Bravo network called “Work of Art,” and Arthur C. Clarke‘s “Childhood’s End.” Then, it’s trivia time!

For lovers of fantasy and horror, these are boom times on the boob tube. We’ve got everything from ghosts to zombies to wolves to wicked witches to talk about for TV Tuesday. Today we share our early takes on “American Horror Story” on FX, “Once Upon a Time” on ABC, “Grimm” on NBC, and the much-anticipated second season of “The Walking Dead” on AMC.

From the archives. Jen’s appearance on Episode 52 of “HawaiiUP” for Feb. كازينو (فيلم) 18, 2007. We discuss “This Film is Not Yet Rated” (2006) with Kimberly Peirce, Jon Lewis, and David Ansen; “Thank You For Smoking” (2005) with Joan Lunden, Eric Haberman, and Aaron Eckhart; and “The Illusionist” (2006) with Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, and Jessica Biel. اللعبة اون لاين

From the archives. Jen’s appearance on Episode 51 of “HawaiiUP” for Feb. داني ألفيس 3, 2007. We discuss “Happy Feet” (2006) with Hugh Jackman, Elijah Wood, Brittany Murphy, and Nicole Kidman; “Children of Men” (2006) with Michael Caine, Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Pam Ferris, and Peter Mullan; and “Firefly. لعبه الدواره ”