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DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

Bianculli's Blog

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

The Cold Light Reader

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Dateline Donovan
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All Along the Watchtower

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Uncle Barky's Bytes

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TV That Matters

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Open Mike

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Ed Martin's TV Mix

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TV Feeds My Family

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Raised On MTM

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TVWW ARCHIVE

Contributors Archive
 
 
2021
Jan
21
1990: MICHAEL CAINE STARS IN ABC'S 'JEKYLL & HYDE' By TV WW
 
 
On this day in 1990, ABC presented the telefilm Jekyll and Hyde, starring Michael Caine in the title roles...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2021
Jan
21
MR. MAYOR By David Bianculli
 
 
This new Ted Danson series has proven itself already, at having the same 30 Rock vibe of memorable one-liners, often from unexpected characters, that are delivered perfectly and stick their comedic landings. And you can see some of these moments in the network’s on-air Mr. Mayor promos, so don’t take my word for it. (Well, do. But even so…) If a promo makes you laugh, so will the show it’s promoting.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2021
Jan
21
ANNIE HALL By David Bianculli
 
 
Make a movie as classically funny, so full of unforgettable set pieces, and so honestly observant about love and human behavior as Woody Allen did when making Annie Hall, and I’ll recommend it just about every time it’s shown on TV, too. And I get sucked into watching it every time, even though I have the DVD, just to watch one scene. Then another. Then another. This time, I’m eager to see Diane Keaton tentatively sing “Seems Like Old Times” in a nightclub
 
 
 
  
 
 
2021
Jan
20
2021 PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION CEREMONIES By David Bianculli
 
 
Today’s political events will start super-early, with outgoing President Donald Trump taking his First Lady, and as many invited guests as will show up, to Joint Base Andrews for one final farewell flight on Air Force One. No matter what he says in his presidential goodbye speech – and it’s doubtful it will be framed that way at all – the image likely to dominate, and resonate, is his goodbye wave as he ascends the stairs. It’s an image that will pair him forever wi
 
 
 
  
 
 
2021
Jan
20
NETFLIX'S 'CALL MY AGENT!' IS BACK, THIS TIME WITH SIGOURNEY WEAVER IN THE MIX By Alex Strachan
 
 
Call My Agent! is the anti-Entourage...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2021
Jan
20
2008: AMC DEBUTS 'BREAKING BAD' By David Bianculli
 
 
On this day in 2008, AMC introduced Breaking Bad...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2021
Jan
19
1953: LITTLE RICKY IS BORN ON 'I LOVE LUCY' By Linda Donovan
 
 
On this day in 1953, “Lucy Ricardo” gave birth to “Little Ricky” on I Love Lucy...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2021
Jan
19
ZOEY'S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST By David Bianculli
 
 
It may be me. I suspect it is, at least in part. But part of the reason I’m responding so much to this second season of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist is that its premise allows us glimpses into the inner thoughts and desires and motives of those around us – when, in real life, that would be an invaluable tool indeed. Also, music is entertaining and uplifting even when folded into the darkest of dramatic narratives (see The Singing Detective – please).
 
 
 
  
 
 
2021
Jan
19
FRONTLINE: "PRESIDENT BIDEN" By David Bianculli
 
 
Already, last fall, Frontline provided an illuminating, balanced, and at times emotional biographical examination of Joe Biden in its 2020 edition of The Choice, profiling both Donald Trump and him as they competed for the 2020 presidential election. Now, being intentionally one day premature, Frontline tonight presents a new biographical edition, called President Biden. Tomorrow – the inauguration, with all the tension Trump is bringing to it, witho
 
 
 
  
 
 
2021
Jan
19
A FEMALE DETECTIVE IN VICTORIAN ENGLAND: 'MISS SCARLET AND THE DUKE' By David Hinckley
 
 
Eliza Scarlet is arrogant in the best sense of the word...
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
New From TVWW

PBS' 'Frontline’ Examines Pension Promises and — Spoiler Alert — Finds the Math Doesn’t Add Up
By Alex Strachan
 
 
 
 
The Decadence of ‘Versailles’ Comes to Ovation
By David Hinckley
 
 
 
 
Prescribing Mamie Gummer in 'Emily Owens, M.D.'
By Ed Bark
 
 
 
 
Looking for a Free Ride? HBO Can Deliver
By Christy Slewinski
 
 
 
 
'Pass the Biscuits' Part of the Hatfield-McCoy Pop-Culture Legacy
By Noel Holston
 
 
 
 

Dispatches From TVWW

'Extinction: The Facts' is a Sobering Call to Action
By David Hinckley
 
 
 
 
How 'Mayans' Has Been Influenced by the Show's Creator Elgin James
By Mike Hughes
 
 
 
 
For Whom the Bell Tolls: Ken Burns and Lynn Novick Take on Ernest Hemingway, the Man and the Myth
By Alex Strachan
 
 
 
 
In the Final Season, Sutton Foster's Liza is Now the Genuine Version of Her 'Younger' Self
By Monique Nazareth
 
 
 
 
Season 2 of 'City on a Hill' Returns with Kevin Bacon, Aldis Hodge, and Boston Corruption
By David Hinckley