Tonight’s guests include three very good actors who have found their careers enhanced, and their talents showcased, by starring on television: Jane Fonda, Nicole Kidman, and Bryan Cranston.

2017

Oct

DAVID S. PUMPKINS HALLOWEEN SPECIAL By David Bianculli

Last year, Tom Hanks, in his latest visit as host of Saturday Night Live, starred in a sketch in which he played a Halloween character in a suit adorned with brightly drawn pumpkins, and spouting unfamiliar “catch phrases” while flanked by dancing skeleton sidekicks, played by Mikey Day and Bobby Moynihan. Somehow, that sketch went viral on the Internet, and has led to this late-night half-hour animated spinoff. Look at it this way: As spinoffs go, SNL has done a lot worse. Exhibit A

2017

Oct

SNL PRESENTS: HALLOWEEN By David Bianculli

A new SNL special compiling old material, this program, given its lead-in, is guaranteed to present at least one Halloween sketch in particular: Tom Hanks as David S. Pumpkins (pictured).

2017

Oct

NBC'S 'BLINDSPOT' IS BACK TO THE FUTURE By David Hinckley

Blindspot has reset itself with a bang. Make that an explosion...

2017

Oct

FEARLESS By David Bianculli

SERIES PREMIERE: This Amazon import presentation from Britain’s ITV begins in familiar territory, like so many cold-case mystery stories. A woman approaches a prominent human rights lawyer, and begs her to take on the case of her husband, who has been imprisoned for more than a decade for a crime he continues to insist he didn’t commit – despite his confession at the time of arrest. The lawyer, played by Helen McCrory of Peaky Blinders, visits the convicted killer in prison, an

2017

Oct

STRANGER THINGS 2 By David Bianculli

SEASON PREMIERE: Season 1 of Stranger Things sort of sneaked up on everyone, becoming a pop-culture cult hit on the basis of its Eighties nostalgia and its classic horror-story sensibilities. Season 2, at least in the four episodes on which I’ve binged this morning, holds up the tradition and the energy, introducing some new characters (played by Sean Astin and Paul Reiser, whose resumes are hints to one reason they were cast) and introducing new mysteries that are part jigsaw puzzles, par

2017

Oct

2017 WORLD SERIES By David Bianculli

The first game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros was a high-wire pitching duel, resulting in the shortest World Series game in 25 years. The second game was more like a home-run derby batting exhibition, extending into extra innings and presenting a dramatically timed series of fortune-turning homers. After all that drama at Dodger Stadium, this year’s World Series is tied 1-1, and Game 3 will be played tonight in Houston.

2017

Oct

ACTIVE SHOOTER: AMERICA UNDER FIRE By David Bianculli

It’s sad that this eight-part documentary series has no problem filling its program schedule with installments devoted to different mass shootings. This week’s focus: the 2016 mass murders at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, FL. As with previous installments, this documentary not only recounts the shooting, but also hones in on the first responders, the survivors (two of which are pictured in recovery), and others affected by the unexpected and brutal tragedy. For a full review, see D

2017

Oct

THE LIFE AND SONGS OF KRIS KRISTOFFERSON By David Bianculli

This combination documentary and tribute concert celebrates just what’s in its title. Included among the performances: Lady Antebellum’s version of his “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” and Reba McEntire doing the song that, when sung by Janis Joplin, broke Kristofferson into the big leagues: “Me and Bobby McGee.” Also performing: Willie Nelson, Roseanne Cash, Martina McBride, Larry Gatlin, Dierks Bentley, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and other

2017

Oct

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER By David Bianculli

Among tonight’s guests: Woody Harrelson and Joy Behar.

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