Sadly, the broadcast networks these days seem to be doing less and less of what makes them special and valuable, rather than more and more. But last night, with "60 Minutes" and the Grammys, CBS served up 4.5 hours of phenomenal television, and pure class...

2009

Feb

41 YEARS LATER, "60 MINUTES" STILL DELIVERS THE (VERY) GOODS By David Bianculli

This Sunday night at 7 ET, "60 Minutes" presents an edition that may draw enough viewers to dethrone Fox's "American Idol" as the most popular program of the week. Even if not, it's a lock for the week's Top 5 -- an amazing feat for a TV series that is older than Ryan Seacrest...

2009

Feb

OVER-THE-AIR TV: NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU SEE IT A LITTLE LONGER By David Bianculli

Yesterday, less than two weeks before the nation's TV stations were to make the switch from analog to digital-only signal transmission, Congress voted to delay the transition date, from Feb. 17 to June 12. If President Barack Obama signs the bill as expected, it's the over-the-air equivalent of a temporary stay of execution. But boy, what a botched hand-off this has turned out to be...

2009

Feb

THREE-WAY SCRIPTED TV BATTLE: HOW UNUSUAL IS THAT? By David Bianculli

Tonight at 9 ET, there's a new episode of ABC's "Lost," a series so good, and so exciting, I have to watch it as it airs. But also, at the same time, are new episodes of two other shows I record, and watch, just as faithfully: NBC's returning "Life" and Fox's new "Lie to Me"...

2009

Feb

HERE'S AN IRRITATING TV MISTAKE, FROM NBC'S "MEDIUM" By David Bianculli

Last night's episode of NBC's "Medium" contained an on-screen error that wasn't major, but, to a journalist and teacher, was more than a little annoying. It concerned a TV news report being viewed by a character on the show. In other words, it was a fake local TV newscast, faked by a real national TV show...

2009

Feb

SUPER BOWL XLIII: SUPER GAME, SUPER HALFTIME, NOT-SO-SUPER ADS By David Bianculli

Super Bowl XLIII final scorecard: The game was super. Bruce Springsteen's halftime was super. The ads? Not so much...

2009

Jan

TACKY TRICKS OF THE TV TRADE: NBC'S "OFFICE" AFTER SUPER BOWL, "CHUCK" IN 3-D By David Bianculli

Hoping to cash in on Sunday's Super Bowl audience and momentum, NBC is employing one trick after another. One trick is presenting a special one-hour edition of "The Office" after the Super Bowl post-game show, and the other is promoting and presenting a special 3-D episode of "Chuck" on Monday...

2009

Jan

KATIE COURIC AS READY-FOR-PRIME-TIME PLAYER By David Bianculli

Wednesday's prime-time edition of "The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric" was the first volley in a three-part prime-time salvo aimed at heightening her profile in the next 10 days. Next Wednesday, she hosts a special prime-time interview special keyed to the Grammys. Then, a week from Sunday on "60 Minutes"...

2009

Jan

"CBS EVENING NEWS" MAKES IT A LATER EVENING -- WHY NOT? By David Bianculli

Tonight at 8 ET, in what's called a one-night experiment, "The CBS Evening News" with Katie Couric is presenting a special prime-time edition. What's wrong with that? Not much... but there is something...

2009

Jan

TNT'S "TRUST ME" IS NO MODERN "MAD MEN" -- OR UPDATED "THIRTYSOMETHING," EITHER By David Bianculli

TNT's newest series, "Trust Me," premieres tonight at 10 ET. It's set in the world of advertising, and thus, in theory, aspires to be a modern "Mad Men" or an updated "thirtysomething." In practice, though, it's more like another "Knight Rider"...

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David Bianculli

Founder / Editor

David Bianculli has been a TV critic since 1975, including a 14-year stint at the New York Daily News, and sees no reason to stop now. Currently, he's TV critic for NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, and is an occasional substitute host for that show. He's also an author and teaches TV and film history at New Jersey's Rowan University. His 2009 Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story of 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour', has been purchased for film rights. His latest, The Platinum Age of Television: From I Love Lucy to the Walking Dead, How TV Became Terrific, is an effusive guidebook that plots the path from the 1950s’ Golden Age to today’s era of quality TV.

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