Every week on "American Idol," judges say the same thing to the remaining contestants: You have to bring your "A" game. At this level, you can't afford to make a mistake. Against the remaining competition, you have to do something to stand out. Before and after every set of political primaries, TV's pundits say pretty much the same thing...

2008

Apr

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE PENNSYLVANIA PRIMARY By David Bianculli

Today is the Pennsylvania Democratic primary, the culmination of six weeks of media coverage and political moves, countermoves, gaffes and damage control. Tonight's coverage, especially on cable news, will dissect to the death the point spread, the implications, and what happens next...

2008

Apr

MORE ON MY NEWSMAKING CONVERSATIONS WITH KYLE CHANDLER AND TIM ROBBINS By David Bianculli

A few weeks ago, I recorded an interview for NPR's "Fresh Air with Terry Gross" with "Friday Night Lights" star Kyle Chandler, in which he revealed that the NBC show had struck a deal to return for a third season -- news I broke on this very website. Last week, I moderated an NAB panel with another actor, Tim Robbins, in which he made news of his own by delivering a provocative speech he had been advised not to give. Today, more on both.

2008

Apr

MURROW, MINOW, CHAYEFSKY, SORKIN, KELLEY AND ROBBINS -- SIX DEGREES OF "MAD AS HELL" By David Bianculli

Paddy Chayefsky wrote a movie. Edward R. Murrow, Newton Minow and Tim Robbins made speeches. Aaron Sorkin and David E. Kelley wrote TV shows. All six of them have looked at TV and said, in essence, the same thing: "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this any more!"

2008

Apr

LATEST DEMOCRATIC DEBATE PROVIDES NO FIREWORKS -- AND MAYBE THAT'S OKAY By David Bianculli

Last night's ABC debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, the first such verbal duel in almost two months, left them with lots of ground to make up -- seven weeks of "he said, she said" reiterations. But after all the shots were fired, by the candidates and by moderators Charles Gibson and George Stephanopolous, no one fell. And maybe that's okay...

2008

Apr

MORE TIM ROBBINS, AND OTHER NEWS, FROM THE NAB: WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS ISN'T STAYING THERE By David Bianculli

Word of Tim Robbins' somewhat defiant keynote address at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas Monday continues to spread. Two days later, you can not only hear the complete speech in audio form -- but can read it and see it, too, all thanks to the Internet...

2008

Apr

AT NAB CONVENTION, TIM ROBBINS SPEAKS HIS MIND -- AND HIS SPEECH By David Bianculli

Actor-writer-director Tim Robbins, who has been known to speak his mind when standing in front of an audience, was asked the give the keynote opening speech at Monday's National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas. Then he was asked not to give it...

2008

Apr

EXTRAS! EXTRAS! READ ALL ABOUT THEM -- FINALLY! By David Bianculli

When I was TV critic at the New York Daily News, I instituted a recurring feature called "Extras" -- my name for in-jokes hidden within TV shows, and unearthed by either me or my sharp-eyed readers. Most of the time, it was the readers who deserved the credit -- and got it, for some 14 years, as I showcased the best Extras and identified the viewers who caught them...

2008

Apr

TALENTS OF 12 OF 16 STARS REMAIN SECRET: CBS MERCY KILLS "SECRET TALENTS" AFTER ONE TELECAST By David Bianculli

CBS took one look at its new live, unscripted competition series "Secret Talents of the Stars" -- or, more precisely, took one look at the overnight ratings -- and killed it immediately. My question is: What took CBS so long?

2008

Apr

WELCOME BACK, NBC THURSDAY NIGHT -- ESPECIALLY "30 ROCK" By David Bianculli

How long does it take for NBC's "30 Rock" to re-establish itself, in its first fresh post-strike episode, as the funniest comedy on TV right now? One second. Literally, one second. That's because the new episode, shown tonight at 8:30 ET, begins with a fake promo for the finale of the fake show mentioned once before...

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