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

 
 
2014
Dec
8
 
 
Here’s another HBO Monday documentary presentation reflecting the taste of long-time HBO nonfiction guru Sheila Nevins – whose track record is testament to a career of very good taste indeed. Tonight’s offering, written and directed by Nancy Kates, is a biography of influential writer Susan Sontag, who died 10 years ago.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Dec
8
 
 
Two months ago (man, was that only two months ago?), I interviewed Norman Lear, the TV producer who gave us All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Maude, Good Times and many others, for an event at Philadelphia’s Free Library. Well, Lear, at age 92, keeps making the rounds – and tonight, he’s showing up on The Daily Show, where his interviewer is Jon Stewart. Now that’s movin’ on up…
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Dec
8
 
 
The last few weeks of Stephen Colbert’s guest roster on The Colbert Report are being reserved for special guests – and here’s one. President Barack Obama. This isn’t likely to be the last time Colbert interviews Obama, but it will, most probably, be the final time Colbert conducts the Obama interview in character as his conservative alter ego.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Dec
8
 
 
Craig Ferguson, too, is doing his just-friends farewell countdown of special guests for his final weeks. Tonight, two guests who have delighted Ferguson on previous oocasions, mostly with their willingness to explore, and say, the unexpected: Carrie Fisher and Dave Atell.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Dec
7
 
 
It’s been almost a year since PBS presented Season 4 of Downton Abbey. Next month, it’ll be time for a new season – but beginning tonight, it’s a chance for a walk down memory lane, where the lane is green and lush and everything that happened in Season 4 happens all over again. In other words, it’s a season of memory-jogging reruns. Check local listings.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Dec
7
 
 
SERIES PREMIERE: Spun off from the series of TNT telemovies starring Noah Wyle as an Indiana Jones type, this new series makes room for Wyle, who’s starring on Falling Skies, to appear when he can and wants, while building stories around an entirely new librarian “staff.” These include the new boss and chief investigator and adventurer, played by Rebecca Romijn, as well as familiar faces Matt Frewer (most recently of Orphan Black), John Larroquette, and returning guest stars Bo
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Dec
7
 
 
“Oh, Shenandoah” is the name of this penultimate episode of Aaron Sorkin’s series – and perhaps there’s a clue in that title, for those old enough to remember the wistfulness of that one-time hit song. Regardless, what we do know is happening tonight is that Will (Jeff Daniels) is jailed for refusing to reveal his news source. And his boss, he’s preparing for a fight, too…
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Dec
7
 
 
In this week’s episode, Rupert Friend, as Peter Quinn, takes a central role, but not necessarily because Saul and Carrie appeared to have been blown to smithereens in the cliffhanger of the most recent episode. I mention it without fear, and without posting any Spoiler Alert, because there’s no way a series would kill the two of them at the same time. Not even this series.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Dec
7
 
 
I screwed up the other day and temporarily posted this listing early. But here it is, for real this time: The crazy gang behind this inspired, freewheeling Cartoon Network stop-animation comedy sketch series is at it again, this time with an all-inclusive TV holiday special that includes everything from Mother’s Day to the traditional December celebrations. The show’s title says it all, and more: The Robot Chicken Lots of Holidays but Don’t Worry Christmas Is Still in There Too
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Dec
7
 
 
Vince Gilligan’s spin-off about the backstory of Breaking Bad crook lawyer Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk), Better Call Saul, is officially premiering Sunday, February 8 on AMC...