It’s Sidney Poitier night on TCM, an evening that begins at 8 p.m. ET with The Defiant Ones. But for me, the centerpiece is his inspirational 1967 film To Sir, with Love, in which he plays a young black teacher assigned to teach at a tough Eastenders school in England. Teenage singing star Lulu sings the title song and plays one of his students, Judy Geeson and Suzy Kendall also co-star, and I’m pretty sure this is what inspired me to want to become a teacher.

2015

Jan

CASTLE By David Bianculli

Maybe it’s because of the popularity of Jane the Virgin, but TV plots about telenovelas, this season, are muy caliente. And here’s another one: On this new episode of Castle, Nina Inara from Unforgettable plays a saucy telenovela star who hires Castle to investigate a murder, after a young actress on the show is killed. The episode title – of this Castle, not of the telenovela – is worth noting, and worth saying out loud: It’s “Private Eye Caramba!”

2015

Jan

THE NIGHTLY SHOW WITH LARRY WILMORE By David Bianculli

SERIES PREMIERE: Who could possibly replace Stephen Colbert? Well, on Comedy Central, on the new series to follow Jon Stewart and The Daily Show, it turns out to be an inspired choice: Larry Wilmore, formerly the “senior black correspondent” on The Daily Show, and now given his own playground in which to romp, reflect and wisecrack. Welcome to the party, Mr. Wilmore – and to the lineup. Tonight, on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Wilmore’s The Nightly Show makes its d

2015

Jan

2015 NFC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP: GREEN BAY PACKERS VS. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS By David Bianculli

For football fans, it’s a great day for TV. Four teams, two games, fighting it out for the right to play in this year’s Super Bowl. And the wealth is bring spread, at least in terms of broadcasting: Fox presents today’s first game, CBS has the second, and NBC televises Super Bowl XLIX on Feb. 1. This first game, by the way, is going to be a dramatic one, with injured Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers trying to do what he did last week, and win despite his limited mobility &nda

2015

Jan

2015 AFC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS VS. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS By David Bianculli

Another great matchup today: The New England Patriots, who won last week, in part, because of some controversially creative coaching, face the Indianapolis Colts. The Patriots QB is Tom Brady, while the Colts have Andrew Luck, the talented young QB who replaced Peyton Manning.

2015

Jan

GALAVANT By David Bianculli

Tonight’s episodes are likely to be buried alongside the football game tonight – but for the record, the guest stars of this evening’s episodes include “Weird Al” Yankovic and Ricky Gervais.

2015

Jan

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD By David Bianculli

There’s an awful lot going on tonight on TV, but this 1962 movie must be mentioned, and should not be overlooked. It’s that good – and so is Gregory Peck, in this superbly tuned adaptation of Harper Lee’s classic novel. When it comes to cinematic adaptations of good literature, this one ranks among the best, and most satisfying. It also marks the cinematic debut of a young actor who had been bouncing around in small guest roles on various TV series: Robert Duvall.

2015

Jan

MASTERPIECE CLASSIC: "DOWNTON ABBEY" By David Bianculli

Lady Violet (Maggie Smith) gets a blast from her past tonight – one that sheds some light into a hidden corner of her past, when she was young, and smitten by what she considered a sort of forbidden love. Details to follow… and they’re delicious. Check local listings.

2015

Jan

WHITNEY By David Bianculli

This is not a recommendation, only a notation. Those who are extremely enthusiastic about the music and vocal abilities of the late Whitney Houston are the sweet-spot target audience for this new telemovie biography. I suspect, though, that even the most fervent fan may question this drama’s tone, approach and point of view. But if you approach with the idea not to believe much of what you see, you might be able to walk away pleased by what you hear. As in the days of some vintage movie mu

2015

Jan

BELLA AND THE BULLDOGS By David Bianculli

SERIES PREMIERE: Nickelodeon can be accused, and arguably is guilty, of generating its TV series by formula, and by farm system – but it’s a method that works. This new series has a premise that’s perfectly suited to the network’s young, female viewers: It stars a spirited and attractive middle-school head cheerleader who steps in to become the quarterback of her school’s otherwise all-male football team. The creators of this new series, Jonathan C. Butler and Gabri

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