Take a screenplay penned by David Milch, add in direction by Michael Mann, and then throw in actors of the quality that includes Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Farina, John Ortiz, Jason Gedrick, Jill Hennessy, and Nick Nolte and you have the makings of a new hit series! Dustin Hoffman is not new to television but it's been a while since he won an Emmy for his Death of a Salesman Willy Loman role. He plays Chester "Ace" Bernstein, a dedicated gambler who's just been released from a four year stint in prison. He returns to his beloved race track and doing what he does best. Now more determined than ever to "beat the system" Ace learns his driver Gus (Dennis Farina of Midnight Run, Get Shorty, & Law & Order) is now owner of a race horse. Mob boss Turo Escalante (played by John Ortiz from Ransom, Narc) is the actual owner who now owns several horses and they all plan on winning big with the inside edge from race horse ownership. Sudden Luck makes them all rich and only adds to the twists and turns involved in this highly entertaining series.

Those who are football fans and those who only live with one can enjoy a sports related reality show called Hard Knocks. The documentary style program covers the sport from the insider's perspective as we watch (and learn) about prepping teams for the next season of play, battling for top positions, family issues, pranks, and insider jokes. Moving from one team to another, paying particular attention to the rookie and how he adjusts to life in the NFL. College football heroes become top draft picks and that makes for plenty of pressure even for those who don't make it to the draft. Follow along for an insider view of high profile teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, or the New York Jets and have a free ride on the information fast track of playing professional football. This could well be any other sport but football is as American as that proverbial Apple Pie and the sports reality program could not be scripted better if anyone tried.

As is typical on American reality TV shows the competition is strong and celebrities find they are pretty average when it comes to competing, especially skating on ice! Ice skating is one of those sports that should be learned while young so the falling down isn't quite so painful. Stars on this show included Sean Young (Haunted Echoes, Harvest Moon) who was first to be eliminated, Bethenny Frankel (The Apprentice: Martha Stewart), Vince Neil (rock group Mötley Crüe), actor and rapper Brandon Mychal Smith, Jonny Moseley (Olympic Gold medal skier), and Rebecca Budig (Batman Forever) who was the winner. Each celebrity was paired with a professional skater who gave their celeb pointers and guided them to perform on the ice. Judges awarded points as well as the viewing audience so the combined scores determined who was the most successful pair each week. Vernon Kay hosted and judges were Dick Button, Johnny Weir, and Laurie Ann Gibson. Additionally they had a "color commentary" each episode by Tanith Belbin who is a retired Ice Dancer.

HBO brought back a show called "Back on the Record with Bob Costas" in 2021. They changed the name a little to avoid confusion with a different show that came out in 2020. The first episode aired on July 30, 2021, and they planned to show up to four episodes a year.

Ever wonder how Las Vegas Nevada came to be? How did this little desert town become the crown jewel of the gambling world and earn the nickname Sin City? Vegas On Demand is not a documentary program that shows the dirty little secrets behind all those bright neon lights but rather a showcase for all the excess and glitter that is found behind the scenes of each of Vegas' bright attractions and hot sexy shows. Gambling is not the only attraction in this brightly lit town. It's the place where even Elvis Presley came to make a comeback while others who are new at the game attempt to make a lasting impression. Vegas On Demand takes viewers to get a "fly on the wall" experience through observing how games like Blackjack are controlled by the eye in the sky and extensive security measures. It is a guilt free trip to Vegas where you don't have to worry about throwing away your next house payment when Lady Luck fails to shine on you at the roulette tables or cause you to crap out when rolling the dice.

When it comes to believability it seems to be best coming "from the horse's mouth" or directly from those we choose to listen to. In Their Own Words explores the most memorable and iconic speeches and collections of words from some of the most admired or otherwise appreciated people in history. Take the birth of the internet, how it was created and by whom (it's not Al Gore). Even if you don't own a computer the World Wide Web brought about vast changes in life as we know it today. Explore the story behind the inventions that changed our world. Whether it is the pathway leading up to September 11, 2001 or life in Tribeca, a neighborhood in New York City; iconic television programming like Saturday Night Live or the "birth" of MTV, we've lived through it, experienced it, yet so much detail is missed in the process. Watching it reenacted or filmed as it actually happened then viewed later, we appreciate recalling the memories even if they are not always all that pleasant.