Tomorrow, January 31, is the start of the February ratings sweeps, one of those months set aside, in a increasingly archaic practice, to use ratings results to establish future advertising rates. This year, the February sweeps end on February 27 , leaving the last two days (it's a Leap Year) out of the running...

2008

Jan

DAY 87: AMERICAN TV HELD HOSTAGE By David Bianculli

We're closing in on the start of the fourth month of the Writers Guild of America strike - 87 days so far, and counting, in which TV has done without most of its writers, and viewers are having to do without much of their regular television fare. But with the Oscars only 26 days away, there's reason to hope that an end to the strike really is in sight...

2008

Jan

DIVING INTO "IN TREATMENT," AND LOVING IT By David Bianculli

I'm presenting a full review of HBO's new "In Treatment" series on today's "Fresh Air with Terry Gross," so I won't repeat myself here. Instead, I'll do more of a bloggy thing, and talk about how, and how completely, this innovative new series got me hooked...

2008

Jan

FOX AND P.T. BARNUM AGREE AGAIN... FOR NOW By David Bianculli

Legendary circus showman P.T. Barnum once reportedly insisted, "You'll never go broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public." In a related story (as Conan O'Brien might set up the segue), the Fox series "Moment of Truth" drew huge numbers in its prime-time debut Wednesday.

2008

Jan

ONE MONTH TO THE OSCARS, AND COUNTING - QUICKLY By David Bianculli

One month from today, the Academy Awards are scheduled to be presented on ABC. Because of the ongoing strike by the Writers Guild of America, and the refusal to cross picket lines by most members of the Screen Actors Guild, that globally popular and profitable awards show is very much at risk this year...

2008

Jan

RINGO STARS ON TV, AND SAVES THE BEST FOR LATEST By David Bianculli

Ringo Starr, promoting his first all-new CD in decades, has returned to the Ed Sullivan Theater, the site of his live American TV debut on "The Ed Sullivan Show" 44 years ago, and performed on "Late Show with David Letterman." Dave saved Ringo for last, walked over and chatted with him for a few moments after the former Beatle and his band performed "Liverpool 8," and that was that...

2008

Jan

"MOMENT OF TRUTH" FOR NETWORK TV? By David Bianculli

The Fox network, which in the past has presented such reprehensible unscripted TV as "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?," "The Littlest Groom," "When Animals Attack" and so many others, tomorrow night at presents another new series sure to attract headlines - and, most likely, lots of viewers. It's "Moment of Truth..." in more ways than one...

2008

Jan

FORGET THE TALK SHOW WARS - IT'S TIME FOR AN OFFICIAL LATE-NIGHT FEUD By David Bianculli

The writers' strike has made late-night TV more interesting to watch these days than prime time. Most talk shows have found increasingly inventive, or bizarre, ways to fill time without marquee guests - while David Letterman and Craig Ferguson, whose special agreement with the Writers Guild of America allows actors to visit without facing picket lines...

2008

Jan

AMC FOLLOWS "MAD MEN" WITH ANOTHER BOLD SERIES By David Bianculli

I suspect, when I describe AMC's new "Breaking Bad" series to you, the description alone won't make you eager to see it - because it didn't make me eager to see it. Having watched three episodes, though, all I can do is beg you to give the new series, premiering Sunday night at 10 p.m. ET, a chance...

2008

Jan

WHAT'S ON, AND GONE, ON TV'S LATE-NIGHT SHOWS By David Bianculli

I'm tired. Tired of watching all the late-night shows, night after night, to see who's doing what, not doing what, and how various shows are faring with or without writers. Two weeks after the returns of Jay, Dave, Conan and Craig, there still are a lot of surprises, a lot of shifting... and a lot that's missing...

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