On this day in 1999, ABC presented Oprah Winfrey Presents: Tuesdays with Morrie, a telefilm version of Mitch Albom's bestselling non-fiction novel...

2012

Dec

THE MIDDLE By David Bianculli

Norm Macdonald returns as Mike’s brother Rusty in this holiday episode, which has the shifty sibling moving some furniture into the Heck garage – furniture that isn’t technically his. Meanwhile, Frankie (Patricia Heaton) gets hired at a department store for the holidays, just to take advantage of the employee discount. Sounds like a good plan – but there’s a catch. Bah, humbug.

2012

Dec

LADIES OF LEISURE By David Bianculli

Here’s a rare telecast of an early, ahead-of-its-time talkie. Frank Capra directed this film in 1930, only three years after The Jazz Singer – and used Ladies of Leisure to showcase a stage actress who had a confident way with dialogue. The movie made her a star – and that star, in her first major movie appearance, is Barbara Stanwyck, playing a “party girl” who poses as a model for a young artist, then develops genuine feelings for him. Ralph Graves co-stars.

2012

Dec

THE HOUR By David Bianculli

Last week, in the Season 2 premiere, Hector (Dominic West) was seen partying with showgirl Kiki (Hannah Tointon). In tonight’s episode, he’s seen with her again – but under less pleasant circumstances. She’s been beaten up, and he’s been accused.

2012

Dec

AMERICAN HORROR STORY: ASYLUM By David Bianculli

It’s a Christmas episode for American Horror Story – but if you think that means warm and cuddly, you’ve never seen this series. But there’s an extra special reason to watch tonight: This hour, about a killer Santa running around in the asylum, features guest star Ian McShane, whom I still admire for his unparalleled work as Al Swearengen on Deadwood.

2012

Dec

THE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS CONCERT LIVE By David Bianculli

Taylor Swift and LL Cool J, the original hosts of this special five years ago, return as hosts of this live hour, in which the year’s Grammy nominations are announced – and which, this year, emanates from Nashville for the first time. Even so, the program is a little bit country, and a little bit rock and roll. Country stars Dierks Bentley and The Band Perry are among the scheduled performers – but so are Maroon 5, fun., and, by satellite from New York, The Who.

2012

Dec

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER By David Bianculli

Yet another classic holiday special gets a prime-time rebroadcast. Tonight it’s the Rankin-Bass version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, made in 1964. Not one of the best, but certainly one of the most famous.

2012

Dec

THE NEW NORMAL By David Bianculli

Here’s an unusual guest appearance, by a former TV star whose appearances of late are few and far between. Marlo Thomas, the daughter of Danny Thomas and the star of the proto-feminist Sixties sitcom That Girl, guest stars as a celebrity real-estate agent who befriends Jane (Ellen Barkin).

2012

Dec

VICTORIA'S SECRET FASHION SHOW By David Bianculli

Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Bruno Mars provide the music, and the Victoria’s Secret models provide the scenery. Me, I watch for the articles.

2012

Dec

PARENTHOOD By David Bianculli

Few TV series are dealing out joy and sorrow in such potent and even doses as Parenthood, which is having its best year yet. By now, all the characters are so fully delineated that it’s wonderful to spend time with any of them, no matter where those paths might lead. And tonight, it looks like Sarah (Lauren Graham) may be getting closer to Hank (Ray Romano) after all – and may be caught by Mark (Jason Ritter) as she’s doing it.

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