Happy New Year. The first day of 2014, basically, is a day of rest for television. But after that, almost instantly, TV’s winter dormancy is over. Prepare to strap on and dive in…

2013

Dec

BUSY ‘FRESH AIR’ WEEK: LAST-SECOND DVD GIFT IDEAS, YEAR-END TV DEBRIEFING WITH TERRY GROSS By David Bianculli

The last week of 2013 is a doubleheader for me on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross. First comes a last-second roundup of DVD gift ideas – then my year-end TV chat with Terry…

2013

Dec

HBO'S 'SIX BY SONDHEIM' IS SO GOOD, IT CRIES OUT FOR MORE By David Bianculli

HBO’s Six by Sondheim special, premiering Monday night at 9 ET, tells the story of Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim while looking closely at six of his songs. Why stop there?...

2013

Nov

ON NBC JFK SPECIAL, BROKAW ASKS 'WHERE WERE YOU?' - ON 'FRESH AIR,' I GIVE MY ANSWER By David Bianculli

Friday, on the exact 50^th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, NBC’s Tom Brokaw asks Where Were You? That same day, on NPR’s Fresh Air, I give my answer…

2013

Nov

ONE GREAT TV ENDING DESERVES ANOTHER – AND GETS ONE, A NEW, ALTERNATE CONCLUSION TO ‘BREAKING BAD’ By David Bianculli

The actual ending to AMC’s Breaking Bad was among the most satisfying in TV history. But now there’s an “official” alternate ending, alluding to the finest TV finale of all…

2013

Oct

SUNDANCE'S 'THE RETURNED' IS MUST-SEE TV - BUT I WON'T SAY WHY By David Bianculli

The Returned, which Sundance Channel launches in the U.S. on Halloween night, is a creepy, eerie, hauntingly memorable miniseries. But you’ll have to trust me on that…

2013

Oct

'DANCING ON THE EDGE' IS WONDERFUL TO SEE - AND HEAR By David Bianculli

Only a handful of Stephen Poliakoff’s British TV dramas have been shown in the U.S., but I’ve seen four wonderful ones. This weekend, Starz imports a fifth…

2013

Oct

AMC’S ‘WALKING DEAD’ RETURNS WITHOUT A VENGEANCE By David Bianculli

AMC’s The Walking Dead returns for its new season without a deadly warlord to oppose – but with plenty of drama just in existing, day to day, after the zombie apocalypse…

2013

Oct

THE GOOD WIFE By David Bianculli

Last week, the impending defection to the new firm created some unexpected allies, as Alicia (Julianna Margulies) found a sudden, crucial influx of funds provided by her own mother (Stockard Channing). This week, Will (Josh Charles) learns of Alicia’s plans – and he, too, reacts unexpectedly.

2013

Oct

GILLIGAN AND 'BREAKING BAD' AREN'T THROUGH YET - AT LEAST NOT ON 'COLBERT' By David Bianculli

First Vince Gilligan won an Outstanding Drama Series for Breaking Bad. Then he ended his series, brilliantly. And to complete his terrific trifecta, he made a wild appearance on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report....

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