DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Contributors

ALEX STRACHAN

MIKE HUGHES

KIM AKASS

MONIQUE NAZARETH

ROGER CATLIN

GARY EDGERTON

TOM BRINKMOELLER

GERALD JORDAN

NOEL HOLSTON

 
 
2013
Jan
20
 
 
When these teams last faced each other, early in the season, the Ravens fought back from a 13-point deficit to win by a single point, 31-30, kicking the winning field goal as time expired. Patriots QB Tom Brady has the experience, and adaptability, for this rematch, but Ravens QB Joe Flacco is no slouch. So far this postseason, his quarterback rating is 120.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Jan
20
 
 
This is a very strong episode – one that demonstrates why this third season of Downton Abbey is its best yet. When current events in the outside world intrude upon the inhabitants, workers and guests at the Abbey, they do so in more subtle ways this year – as when the Irish civil war sparks a very emotional and volatile debate at dinner. But the personal stories continue to dominate, as when, in this week’s installment, Bates’ prison term begins to worry Anna, because she
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Jan
20
 
 
Season 2 continues to demonstrate strength, by deepening as well as redefining its characters as well as their relationships. Tonight, Hannah (Lena Dunham) has a conversation with her new boyfriend, Sandy (Donald Glover), that makes each of them question, and defend, why they’re together. It’s a great scene, and a memorable conversation – and just one of many in tonight’s installment.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Jan
20
 
 
Kevin Bacon has been on TV before, from soap operas as a young actor to telemovies as a mature one – but Fox’s The Following is his first turn as a series lead. And he’s excellent…
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Jan
19
 
 
This 1961 Stanley Kubrick movie was as brave as it was outrageous to film at the time – and even though some of the darkest undercurrents of Vladimir Nabokov’s once-banned satirical novel had to be skirted over (so to speak) at the time, Kubrick still managed to say a lot, and visually suggest a lot, with his wry examination of a proper gentleman’s improper obsession with a young girl. James Mason and Sue Lyon play those roles, respectively, and Peter Sellers all but steals the
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Jan
19
 
 
Making her third appearance on this fine concert series, Norah Jones returns to perform songs from Little Broken Hearts, her impressively eclectic album produced by Danger Mouse. Also on the bill tonight, making her first appearance: the similarly jazz-flavored, yet wide-ranging, Kat Edmonson. Check local listings.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Jan
19
 
 
SERIES PREMIERE: Given BBC America’s unprecedented success with Copper, the period detective series concocted by Tom Fontana, it’s no surprise the channel would present other shows in a similar vein – especially one originating from abroad, and written by someone other than an American. Ripper Street gets its name because of its setting: the rough East End neighborhood recently terrorized by Jack the Ripper. He’s nowhere to be found when this series begins, but his elusiv
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Jan
19
 
 
SEASON PREMIERE: Karl Pilkington, Ricky Gervais’ finest and most unassuming comic foil, is back for another season of this giddily entertaining travel series. This time Gervais sends the dour but occasionally incisive Pilkington to retrace the voyage of Marco Polo, with actor Warwick Davis along for the trip. It’s even funnier than it sounds. For a full review, see Bianculli’s Blog.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Jan
19
 
 
Jennifer Lawrence is the guest host of this new episode, hot on the heels of franchise hits in both the X-Men and Hunger Games franchises, not to mention Silver Linings Playbook. Also on tonight’s show is another hot sensation, the night’s musical guests: The Lumineers.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Jan
18
 
 
On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate will either reform the filibuster rules, or keep them as they are for another two years – which is why, this weekend, Bill Moyers is speaking with Larry Cohen, president of the Communication Workers of America, and a man campaigning, through the Democracy Initiative, for filibuster reform. Moyers & Company airs from Friday to Sunday on local public TV stations; to find it in your local area, click the BillMoyers.com website.