Please donate to help save PopMatters. We are moving to WordPress in December out of necessity and need your help.

Anthony Merino

Anthony Merino’s first review was published in the January, 1993 issue of New Art Examiner. In August, the exhibition he curated Domestic Mysteries will open at New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taipei, Taiwan. (http://www.ceramics.ntpc.gov.tw/ceramics_en)

Recent

Television

Red Gets Poisoned, but 'The Blacklist' Gets Better in "The Apothecary"

Decent writing, great casting, and a potential plot twist help The Blacklist recover some of its faded glory.

Anthony Merino

Television

'Oklahoma City' Shows That Timothy McVeigh's Terrorism Has Contemporary Reach

Oklahoma City documents the complex events and individuals that lead to America's largest domestic terrorist attack.

Television

An Overcrowded Episode Shows 'The Blacklist' Is Exhausted

"Natalie Luca (No. 184)" suffers from too many twists that don't compel viewers, and Red prepares himself for death -- or just practices for a poetry slam.

Anthony Merino

Culture

Was O.J. Simpson Donald Trump’s Predecessor?

O.J. Simpson and Donald Trump: more than a few celebrity similarities.

Television

'The Blacklist' Continues to Mistake Ambiguity for Complexity

First half, too clever by half; what The Blacklist hasn't achieved this season is far more impressive than it what it has.

Anthony Merino

Television

'The Blacklist' Continues Its Slow Decline Into Mediocrity

In "Dr. Adrian Shaw (No. 98)", creator Jon Bokenkamp seems dedicated to throwing ice water on our suspension of disbelief.

Anthony Merino

Television

There Are a Lot of Loose Ends to Tie-up in Season 4 of 'The Blacklist'

There's potential for The Blacklist to get back to greatness. It has all the raw materials.

Anthony Merino

Reviews

Great Performances: 'Hamilton's America'

Marketing meets documentary in Hamilton's America, which makes it no less interesting and worth watching.

Anthony Merino

Television

The Blacklist: Season 4, Episode 5 - "The Lindquist Concern (No. 105)"

Creator Jon Bokenkamp doesn't kill the ancillary characters, he just guts them of everything that makes them interesting.

Anthony Merino

Politics

The Comedy Gift That Keeps on Giving: Late Night Hosts Respond to the Trump Tapes

The comedy gods bestowed on late night television the Trump tapes; all stepped up and answered the challenge.

Anthony Merino

Television

The Blacklist: Season 4, Episode 4 - "Gaia"

Even at its worst, The Blacklist never seemed lazy. Until now.

Anthony Merino

Television

The Blacklist: Season 4, Episodes 1 to 3

While it was disappointing to see one of the best characters -- Mr. Kaplan -- killed off, it was even more disappointing to see her brought back.

Anthony Merino

Reviews

Luke Cage: Season 1

Mike Colter and an exceptional supporting cast -- especially Alfre Woodard's brilliant performance -- bring the first African American comic hero to bold (and nuanced) life.

Anthony Merino

Television

Abandoned: Season 1, Episode 1 - "Ghost Mall"

McCrank's a likable host, but the first episode focused too much on him and not enough on the episode's subject.

Anthony Merino

Film

Artist Phil Collins Examines How War Is Presented to the Public in 'how to make a refugee'

Phil Collins examines the consumerist aspects of depicting war in his short film 'how to make a refugee'.

Television

Geeking Out: Season 1

Renaissance man Kevin Smith tries his hands at a fluff talk show; it's better than most, but still limited by the genre.

Television

The A Word: Season 1, Episode 6 - "Lost"

There are no good reasons for actions that are selfish, mean and hurtful, a lesson Bowker will hopefully learn before season two.

Anthony Merino

Television

Penn & Teller: Fool Us: Season 3

Penn & Teller’s reverence of and respect for the vocation elevates the show considerably above mere brain candy.

Anthony Merino

Reviews

'Step It Up and Go' Gives North Carolina Music Its Dues

Collapse Expand Reviews

BROWSE ALL ALBUM REVIEWS

Features

The 10 Best World Music Albums of 2020

Hard Times, Easy Listening: 10 Albums for Autumn 2020

Collapse Expand Features

PM Picks

Collapse Expand Pm Picks

Decent writing, great casting, and a potential plot twist help The Blacklist recover some of its faded glory.

What shall it be? A Doctor with whip-smart delivery of his lines? A woman who will bewitch before she kicks a Dalek's ass? Oh, the possibilities...

Oklahoma City documents the complex events and individuals that lead to America's largest domestic terrorist attack.

"Natalie Luca (No. 184)" suffers from too many twists that don't compel viewers, and Red prepares himself for death -- or just practices for a poetry slam.

O.J. Simpson and Donald Trump: more than a few celebrity similarities.

First half, too clever by half; what The Blacklist hasn't achieved this season is far more impressive than it what it has.

In "Dr. Adrian Shaw (No. 98)", creator Jon Bokenkamp seems dedicated to throwing ice water on our suspension of disbelief.

There's potential for The Blacklist to get back to greatness. It has all the raw materials.

Marketing meets documentary in Hamilton's America, which makes it no less interesting and worth watching.

Creator Jon Bokenkamp doesn't kill the ancillary characters, he just guts them of everything that makes them interesting.

The comedy gods bestowed on late night television the Trump tapes; all stepped up and answered the challenge.

Even at its worst, The Blacklist never seemed lazy. Until now.

While it was disappointing to see one of the best characters -- Mr. Kaplan -- killed off, it was even more disappointing to see her brought back.

Mike Colter and an exceptional supporting cast -- especially Alfre Woodard's brilliant performance -- bring the first African American comic hero to bold (and nuanced) life.

McCrank's a likable host, but the first episode focused too much on him and not enough on the episode's subject.

Phil Collins examines the consumerist aspects of depicting war in his short film 'how to make a refugee'.

Renaissance man Kevin Smith tries his hands at a fluff talk show; it's better than most, but still limited by the genre.

There are no good reasons for actions that are selfish, mean and hurtful, a lesson Bowker will hopefully learn before season two.

Penn & Teller’s reverence of and respect for the vocation elevates the show considerably above mere brain candy.