Yesterday my Parents were laid to rest.

Yesterday my parents were laid to rest. I do not know what is next, but with my brother’s love, prayers and support as well as the love and prayers of my Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and Friends as well as Acquaintances, I hope my brother and I will navigate this difficult time bravely and with grace. Perhaps my parents are looking out for us and pulling some strings? Regardless, thank you all for everything.

Arrow: The Complete Eighth And Final Season Blu-Ray Disc Overview Review

After eight remarkable seasons, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC mark the end of an epic era with its final installment of the suspenseful and action-packed series with the release of Arrow: The Eighth and Final Season. The show is the longest running DC Extended Universe series to air on The CW. Some might have assumed it was Smallville, but in actuality Smallvillebegan at the tail end of what was The WB before it merged with CBS’ now defunct UPN to form The CW, hence that is the reason Arrow is the longest running DCEU TV series on The CW and the series spawned numerous spinoffs including The Flash, Supergirl, Legends Of Tomorrow, Black Lightning and Batwomanand hope The CW continues to be the home of DC Comics inspired and adapted live action television series on free over the air broadcast television because no genre TV fan should be forced to buy multiple subscriptions to see their favorite TV Superheroes interact on television. 

Arrowhad an edgier look and feel to it when the show premiered in 2012, which gave it a theatrical quality that other TV shows of that time lacked. Over timeArrowdid loose a bit of that edge that I liked as the show moved toward the fantastical much like Gotham’sfirst season was my favorite because it had a more reality based tone before it got a bit more camp in the seasons that followed. I am happy to report that the final season of Arrowwraps up Oliver’s Queen’s Story inna bittersweet, but never the less uplifting way that reboots what has been the Arrowverse until the greater acknowledgement of the multiverse combines practically everything, including a surprise meeting between a theatrical version of a character and the TV counterpart in the spectacular crossover event Crisis On Infinite Worlds,which is included in it’s entirety on a Blu-ray Disc within the set and the fourth part is included on the limited time only digital copy of the season for which an insert with the code is included within the set.

Other extra value features include, but are not limited to the 2019 Comic-Con Panel, the broadcast special Arrow: Hitting the Bullseye and deleted scenes. The digital copy has a two and a half minute sizzle reel too. The Blu-ray release also presents all ten final season episodes in 1080p Full HD Video with DTS-HD Master Audio for English 5.1. The Crisis On Infinite Earthsbonus disc also included the bonus materials Crisis Past and Present: Kevin Conroy Bat Legend, Crisis on Infinite Earths: The Architects Return, Crisis Past and Present - Superman vs. Superman, Characters in Crisis: Pariah, Crisis Management and Character in Crisis: The Anti-Monitor. English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired are included for all episodes on disc and the Digital Copy too. 

Arrow: The Eighth and Final Season is available on Blu-ray Disc now at retailers on and offline courtesy of Warner Brothers Home Entertainment.

(C) Copyright 2020 By Mark A. Rivera

All Rights Reserved.

With regards to Covid 19...

I apologize to anyone who will find this account disturbing or graphic, but I feel it is important that anyone and everyone needs to know the truth about how insidious and dangerous Covid-19 is. First off, no one is safe. To my frustration I see young people and for some reason Immigrants walking around without a mask and gloves from outside my bedroom window as if they have some kind of protective shield around them. Covid-19 does not discriminate on who it kills. There are people online, especially on YouTube claiming the virus does not exist or that they had it and magically survived with some tea and meditation alone and meanwhile they were never tested. From what little I can state about this virus, Covid-19 seems to hit people quite suddenly. In the cases with family members they were fine the night before and the next morning they woke up sick. I mean hitting like a ton of bricks. Within a day my mother and father were rushed to NYU - Brooklyn Hospital and both did not last even a week. In some cases it has been confirmed that people developed dementia in the hospital as a side effect and organ damage can occur such as kidney failure as an example. This is regardless of whether or not a pre-existing condition was present. The behavior of the virus is so unlike anything we have encountered before that there is no exact uniform set of symptoms I could tell you. What I can tell you is there is no cure. All doctors can do is give you things to help battle symptoms, but in the end the battle is up to the body and perhaps will of the individual and if you believe in a higher power regardless if it is personal or impersonal, God and for the record I am NOT an atheist. Now the tragedies don’t stop with death. I can only speak from my limited experience here in Brooklyn, New York that the bodies are contagious with the virus that the clothes they die in are left on. They are probably bagged and put on ice and held at the hospital for a maximum of three days before going to the morgue for another five days. After that they are put in a coffin that appears though I cannot confirm to be made out of cardboard and buried in mass graves on some island like a scene from an apocalyptic film or holocaust program whether it is the Shoah or later holocausts that occurred in Africa, Asia as well as the former Soviet Union since sadly there is no shortage of evil people seeking power for power’s sake on this planet and willing to kill millions for infamy. 

If you are lucky enough to get a funeral home to take the bodies because of the amount of related deaths out there and coordinate a burial, there is no funeral, no last Rights, the bodies are not dressed and are preserved in any fashion. Instead they go from the truck to the fridge to the casket to the cemetery and buried. No one can be present at the grave site aside from being within a sealed car with windows pulled up. Once the bodies are buried eventually you will be able to visit the gravesite, but since this virus is not going away anytime soon, you will probably have to wait until 2021 before you can have a proper funeral or memorial at the gravesite. Even people who choose cremation have similar limitations placed upon them in terms of what happens to the body before cremation and the length of time you may have to wait to receive the remains or have them interred at a facility. There are no wakes and no goodbyes save for whether or not you get a chance to FaceTime or speaker phone talk to the person before they die. These are the cold realities of Covid-19 save for perhaps those who are “wealthy” or “important” enough to warrant the best care money can buy and even then, there are no guarantees. So be compassionate instead of fearful. Don’t stigmatize those with the virus and those who are related to anyone in any way, shape or form from this disease. Don’t panic because accidents happen when we panic in a pandemic (sounds like a bad jingle). 

We will move beyond this, but it won’t be easy. A lot more people are going to die, including the possibility of myself or you who are reading this. Make no mistake, Coved-19 is real and it is an indiscriminate killer. So no matter how healthy or young or special or whatever a person thinks they are and how suburban or safe you think you are in, there is a danger and it is real so please be good to each other and pray or whatever you do and stay safe. God bless you all. Thank you.

Natalie Wood documentary coming to HBO

NATALIE WOOD: WHAT REMAINS BEHIND, An Intimate Portrait Of The Hollywood Icon Debuts May 5 From Director Laurent Bouzereau And Producer Natasha Gregson Wagner In many ways, acclaimed actress Natalie Wood’s life and career have been overshadowed by her tragic death at age 43 off the coast of Catalina Island. Yet, her extensive circle of family and friends, including daughter Natasha Gregson Wagner, have not forgotten the remarkable life she led and the legacy she left behind. In this intimate and revealing documentary, directed by award-winning filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau and debuting TUESDAY, MAY 5 (9:00 -10:40 pm ET/PT) in celebration of Mother’s Day, Gregson Wagner explores her mother’s public life and private persona through personal interviews with those closest to her, including husband Robert J. Wagner, who speaks on-camera about Wood’s death for the first time. NATALIE WOOD: WHAT REMAINS BEHIND paints a rich portrait of one of Hollywood’s greatest actresses, a woman deeply committed to her family, whose professional choices were boldly forward thinking at the time. The film had its World Premiere at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. The film will also be available on HBO On Demand, HBO NOW, HBO GO and partners’ streaming platforms. This revealing film skillfully weaves excerpts from Wood’s filmography with a treasure trove of archival material, including extensive family photos, diaries, never-before-seen home movies and audio recordings. Born to Russian immigrant parents in San Francisco, Wood was not yet five years old when she appeared in her first films, starring opposite Orson Welles in “Tomorrow is Forever” and Maureen O’Hara in “Miracle on 34th Street.” She received three Academy Award nominations before the age of 25 for “Rebel without a Cause,” “Splendor in the Grass” and “Love with the Proper Stranger,” and she won over audiences in her role as Maria in “West Side Story.” Throughout the documentary, we hear from friends, colleagues and family members who knew Wood best. Wood and Wagner were married for four years initially, and after divorcing, each married and had a child with someone else, before eventually reconciling several years later. They formed a large blended family and each of their children speak fondly of the happiness the two actors rediscovered in their second marriage to one another. Robert Redford, who owes his first big film break to Wood with “Inside Daisy Clover” (1965), and actor George Hamilton speak to her kind professionalism. Mia Farrow remembers that there was nothing more important to Wood than being a mother. Yet, Wood also struggled along the way, juggling career commitments and personal challenges while contending with her formidable, ambitious mother and navigating other familial conflicts. Wood began to have more agency in choosing her roles at an early age, beginning with 1955’s “Rebel Without a Cause,” where her portrayal of an angry teenager striving for connection felt deeply personal to her. Her turbulent relationship with her mother may have drawn her to the characters she played in “Splendor in the Grass” (1961) and “Gypsy” (1962), and her growing fascination with social issues attracted her to “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice” (1969). A product of the studio system, Wood nonetheless learned to use her power wisely when taking on Warner Bros. studio head Jack Warner, ultimately gaining more control over her own career. In NATALIE WOOD: WHAT REMAINS BEHIND, a portrait of Natalie Wood emerges through her filmography, but an even more defined image comes into focus through the robust collection of personal photographs and home movies, some of which Gregson Wagner discovered in her family’s storage unit. Never-before seen footage of Wood’s second wedding to Wagner was discovered as well as a revealing never-published article for Ladies Home Journal that Wood wrote in 1966, where she addresses her innermost thoughts on fame, affairs of the heart and family. Archival interviews with Wood over the years reveal an intelligent, maturing woman, embracing motherhood and her ever-evolving acting career. Bouzereau and Gregson Wagner don’t shy away from the headlines that still dominate any mention of Natalie Wood today and seek to set the record straight about what really happened the night she died. Wood’s husband Robert J. Wagner talks candidly with Natasha about the tragic loss of Natalie, and the grief they suffered in its wake. NATALIE WOOD: WHAT REMAINS BEHIND is a thought-provoking examination of an illustrious career, a life lived under public scrutiny and a tragic death that has up to now threatened to eclipse memories of a beautiful, bold woman. HBO Documentary Films and Amblin Television present NATALIE WOOD: WHAT REMAINS BEHIND, a film by Laurent Bouzereau. Produced by Bouzereau, Natasha Gregson Wagner and Manoah Bowman. Edited by Justin Summers. For Amblin Television: Executive producers, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey. For HBO: Executive Producers, Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller.

Comedies Streaming This Week HBO, TBS and TruTV.

Because Everyone Could Use A Good Laugh Right Now— Popular Comedies Streaming This Week on HBO, TBS and truTV

This week, we’re highlighting iconic comedy series available now on HBO, TBS and truTV.  While staying home, escape with hilarious hits like Veep, Barry, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Insecure on HBO GO and HBO NOW.  TBS has even more to keep your boredom at bay with beloved sitcoms like Friends, Seinfeld and The Big Bang Theory and animated series such as American Dad! and Bob’s Burgers on the TBS website, TBS app and video on demand with a pay tv subscription.  To top it off, truTV has an A-list collection of all-around fun programming including At Home with Amy Sedaris, Impractical Jokers, Billy on the Street, and more. Find the laugh-out-loud slate on the truTV website, truTV app and video on demand with a pay tv subscription.  HBO  A Black Lady Sketch Show   Avenue 5  Barry  Curb Your Enthusiasm  High Maintenance   Insecure   Los Espookys   The Righteous Gemstones   Silicon Valley   Veep  TBS  American Dad!  The Big Bang Theory  Bob's Burgers  The Detour  Everybody Loves Raymond Family Guy  Family Matters  Friends  The Last O.G.  Miracle Workers  Search Party  Seinfeld  Wrecked  truTV  Adam Ruins Everything  At Home with Amy Sedaris  Billy on the Street  The Carbonaro Effect  I'm Sorry   Impractical Jokers  Tacoma FD

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER continues its 18th season FRIDAY, APRIL 10 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), with a replay at 12:30 a.m.

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER April 10 Lineup REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER continues its 18th season FRIDAY, APRIL 10 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), with a replay at 12:30 a.m., exclusively on HBO. Allowing Maher to offer his unique perspective on contemporary issues, the show includes an opening monologue, roundtable discussions with panelists and interviews with guests. Virtual interview guests include New York City mayor Bill de Blasio; former U.S. Vice President founder and chairman of The Climate Reality Project, Al Gore; president of the Eurasia Group and GZERO Media and television host Ian Bremmer; and comedian and radio host, Nikki Glaser. The show is also available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and partners’ streaming platforms. Politico has hailed Maher as “a pugnacious debater and a healthy corrective to the claptrap of cable news,” while Variety noted, “There may not be a more eclectic guest list on all of television.” Maher headlined his first special on the network in 1989 and has starred in 11 HBO solo specials to date. The executive producers of REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER are Bill Maher, Sheila Griffiths, Marc Gurvitz, Dean Johnsen, Billy Martin; co-executive producer, Chris Kelly; producer, Matt Wood; director, Paul Casey.

TBS Programming Alert Week of April 27

TBS Programming Alert Week of April 27

AMERICAN DAD! Monday, April 27, at 10:00pm ET/PT "Cheek to Cheek: A Stripper’s Story" Roger enlists Jeff as his protégé in order to open his dream chivalric strip club. Klaus moves into Steve’s room.

CONAN Monday, April 27, through Thursday, April 30 at 11:00pm ET/PT CONAN will air new episodes shot remotely on an iPhone, without an audience and with guest interviews being filmed via video chat. O’Brien’s production staff will remain working from home.

The Last O.G. Tuesday, April 28 at 10:30pm ET/PT "They Reminisce Over You" Tray and his family go on a city-wide hunt for an old pair of Air Jordan’s after Tray discovers that they are worth big bank.

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Wednesday, April 29 at 10:30pm ET/PT Samantha Bee, who like the rest of the country is adjusting to working from home, is broadcasting new episodes from her backyard! Executive Producer Jason Jones, Bee's husband and quarantine roommate, will film the episode from a socially distant six feet away – and even further away if it's a better angle for Bee.