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

 
 
2017
Oct
8
 
 
Last week’s series premiere was a delight – and I can understand why Larry David wanted its secrets kept under wraps. I won’t even recap them here, just in case you haven’t caught up yet – but please do, before tonight’s second episode. There’s a lot to learn before diving back in…
 
 
 
  
 
 
2017
Oct
8
 
 
SERIES FINALE: This charming series is a spiritual sibling of Curb Your Enthusiasm, so it’s almost unfair that it ends up being scheduled directly opposite Larry David’s groundbreaking predecessor.  Episodes began with a British husband-and-wife writing team, played by Stephen Mangan and Tamsin Greig, being pulled reluctantly into the orbit of Matt LeBlanc, who had been selected to star in an American TV remake of their acclaimed British series. It ends, all these years later, w
 
 
 
  
 
 
2017
Oct
8
 
 
This show is too good not to point out, even when I have no idea what its host will be stressing, explaining or lampooning. John Oliver, by now, has earned our trust – or, at least, mine.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2017
Oct
7
 
 
In another tribute to the recently departed Monty Hall, Buzzr is presenting another mini-marathon of vintage telecasts featuring Hall as host of, among other things, the original version of Let’s Make a Deal (the 1963 premiere episode is part of the retrospective). Also part of the package: two episodes of Tattletales, in which Monty and his wife, Marilyn, appeared as contestants.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2017
Oct
7
 
 
Susan Lacy, who for decades was responsible for so many fabulous installments of the PBS series American Masters (Paul Simon! Mike Nichols! Jack Paar! Johnny Carson! Woody Allen! Edward R. Murrow!), has moved to HBO now. This means HBO now employs two of the best documentary producers in TV history, both of whom happen to be women (Sheila Nevins is the other). And tonight, it means Lacy, as director, presents Spielberg, a clip-filled look at the output, life, and impact of filmmaker Steven Spiel
 
 
 
  
 
 
2017
Oct
7
 
 
Tonight, MGM HD presents a double feature of The Thomas Crown Affair – but it’s an interesting type of double feature. First, at 8 p.m. ET, comes the original 1968 crime drama, with Faye Dunaway (pictured) as the insurance investigator on the trail of larcenous bank executive Steve McQueen. Then, at 10 p.m. ET, comes the 1999 remake, starring Rene Russo and Pierce Brosnan in the same roles. Compare and contrast.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2017
Oct
7
 
 
SEASON PREMIERE: This is the Season 22 premiere for Graham Norton’s late-night talk show, one of my most treasured and reliable lighthearted TV treats. This is a show that always makes me laugh, usually out loud – and there aren’t many of those. Tonight’s guests include Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling, promoting their new Blade Runner 2049 movie.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2017
Oct
7
 
 
Sam Smith is tonight’s musical guest, but I’m tuning in chiefly for the week’s guest host, Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot. What a Gal!
 
 
 
  
 
 
2017
Oct
7
 
 
Because we know how good Steven Spielberg is at making movies about other people, it also becomes entertaining to watch his selfies...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2017
Oct
6
 
 
Television’s gallery of egocentric, outrageous and history-changing rulers from the last millennium has welcomed a new addition: King Louis XIV of France...