A Charlie Brown Christmas, broadcast by CBS in 1965, was and remains the best holiday TV special ever made. Even in an age of DVRs and Blu-Ray, gathering the family to watch Linus, Snoopy and the gang, even with commercial intrusions, is one of the few annual television traditions we have left. But now, as ABC televises it Monday night at 8 ET, that network, too, is disrespecting a classic...

2011

Dec

TAKING TV'S MIDSEASON TEMPERATURE: SOME SHOWS ARE SERVING UP STUNNERS By David Bianculli

This column will provide a link to, and add illustrated commentary for, my current TV review on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, in which I talk -- very specifically -- about the pivotal, exciting things that have just happened on such quality shows as Dexter, The Walking Dead, Homeland and American Horror Story. If you're behind, or don't want to read details, then stop here. But if you're up to date on those shows, and are as excited by recent events as I am, keep reading (and start listening) for some illuminating images and additional raves...

2011

Nov

STEPHEN SONDHEIM'S BRILLIANT, UNREALIZED IDEA FOR A TV SPECIAL By David Bianculli

In composer Stephen Sondheim's new book, Look, I Made a Hat, he reveals lots of things that should surprise even the most diehard Sondheim enthusiast -- not personal admissions, but details of works both produced and unproduced. One, in particular, stunned me...

2011

Nov

GIVING THANKS THIS TV SEASON: I MAY AS WELL SPELL IT OUT By David Bianculli

The Thanksgiving holiday is a time for gratitude, for reflection --and for watching TV, from the Turkey Day football games to the Sunday night dramas. Just to stoke the fires of appreciation, I've made a list of six reasons to be grateful, media-wise, for our recent bounty of tasty treats. Put them all together, they spell T-H-A-N-K-S....

2011

Nov

WOODY ALLEN PBS DOCUMENTARY IS NO DEAD SHARK: IT KEEPS MOVING -- AND IT'S FASCINATING By David Bianculli

The upcoming PBS American Masters two-parter, Woody Allen: A Documentary, is getting a lot of attention and acclaim, and deserves it all. I raved about it in my Thursday review on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, which I'll recap in a second. But here, I want to point out some other, additional things to anticipate and enjoy about this fine new TV biography...

2011

Nov

IN 'X FACTOR,' X MARKS THE SPOT... FOR X-CRUCIATING By David Bianculli

I wanted to like The X Factor, I really did, and I'm usually impressed by Simon Cowell as both an on-air judge and backstage producer. But there are two things I just can't abide about his new Fox competition series, and they both came to a creepy, weepy head last week, when Willow Smith sang and Paula Adbul sobbed...

2011

Nov

TODAY ON NPR'S 'FRESH AIR': REGIS AND I SPEND AN HOUR TALKING ABOUT OLD TV TIMES By David Bianculli

In the midst of a crazy week, even for him, Regis Philbin sat down and carved out more than an hour yesterday to talk about his career, his future, and his new memoir, How I Got This Way. Our conversation airs today (Tuesday), as the featured interview on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross. But there's one thing you won't hear during the broadcast version of our talk: my cell phone ringing...

2011

Nov

NBC'S 'GRIMM' PROMOTION: WE'RE #1 -- SORT OF... By David Bianculli

NBC hasn't been able to celebrate much this season, but it's trying its best to make the most of a grim fall 2011 development season -- the highlight of which, ironically, appears to be Grimm. The network is touting the new drama series, which premiered two weeks ago, as "Friday's #1 New Show." Well, maybe. Sort of...

2011

Nov

WHO YOU GONNA CALL AS NEW OSCARS HOST? MY VOTE: BILLY CRYSTAL! By David Bianculli

After movie producer Brett Ratner made enough insensitive comments about his personal life and views to have him replaced as producer of February's Oscar awards, host Eddie Murphy, star of Ratner's Tower Heist, has walked as well. The new producer, Brian Grazer, has to find a new host, fast. Who's he gonna call? Here's who he should call: Billy Crystal...

2011

Nov

'GOOD WIFE,' BAD TIME SLOT By David Bianculli

Tuesday's New York Times includes an excellent Bill Carter story about the ramifications of CBS moving its drama The Good Wife from Tuesdays to Sundays this season, making it subject to East Coast time delays from pro football overruns. CBS executives say that, in getting the word out about the annoying time shifts, they're "doing about everything we can." No, they're not. They're not doing the most obvious and important thing...

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