You have questions. I have some answers.
Where has “Conversations with Friends” on Hulu gone? Will it be back?
The series ended after a single, 12-episode season. Hulu removed it along with many other shows, reportedly as a cost-cutting measure. While streamers have often removed and added shows from time to time, removals have been more noticeable at Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Max, Discovery+ and other streamers. CNBC.com noted earlier this year that “after the initial bloom of new platforms and subscriber growth, aided by pandemic lockdowns and a surge of fresh content, the digital streaming industry has cooled. And Wall Street has turned up the heat on media companies, now focusing on if and when streaming will be profitable versus if those providers are putting up big subscriber numbers. … Removing content from platforms is a way for streamers to avoid residual payments and licensing fees.”
When will “The Good Doctor” begin again?
That, like so many things, depends on when the actors’ strike ends. We have seen some programs return with the ending of the writers’ strike, but at this writing the actors’ walkout continues. As I mentioned some time back, we have seen some new scripted programs, but those were made before the strike.
Vincent Price starred in a series of excellent comic/horror movies, including “The Abominable Dr. Phibes” and (I think) “The Return of the Abominable Dr. Phibes.” I’ve never been able to see or even find these movies on TV. Can you assist?
Price starred in “The Abominable Dr. Phibes” (1971) and “Dr. Phibes Rises Again” (1972). The authoritative “The Movie Guide” calls the first film “delightfully goofy” and the second “equally entertaining.” (Price would follow them in 1973 with the similar “Theatre of Blood,” a favorite of mine.) Both Phibes films have been released on DVD and Blu-ray, and are available to rent on Prime Video. The second film is also streaming on Tubi and Freevee; the first is on the subscription streaming channel Horror Drive-In. (There may be other places, but those offer some options.)