Lee Mendelson, who died Wednesday, Dec. 25 at 86, produced a multitude of pretty good television and 30 minutes of perfection. That half-hour leaves him forever in the warmest part of our memories...

2019

Dec

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE By David Bianculli

It’s not unusual for, me to recommend Saturday Night Live as a Saturday Best Bet – but that’s normally when it’s a new late-night episode. This is an old episode, and it’s not in late night: It’s a cut-down, 60-minute version of a program from six years ago, presented in prime time. But this is the episode from Dec. 21, 2013, with Jimmy Fallon as guest host and Justin Timberlake as musical guest. You get a holiday installment of “Bring It on Do

2019

Dec

KEVIN HART: DON'T F*** THIS UP By David Bianculli

NONFICTION MINISERIES PREMIERE: The title of this latest Netflix offering might lead you to believe that it’s another raucous Kevin Hart standup comedy special. Instead, Kevin Hart: Don’t F*** This Up (asterisks mine, not Netflix’s) is a six-part documentary, profiling and following the comedian as he addresses his many controversies while traversing the rocky trail through stardom and pop-culture moguldom.

2019

Dec

THE GODFATHER & THE GODFATHER: PART II By David Bianculli

First there was The Godfather, Francis Coppola’s super-smart cinematic adaptation of the pulpy Mario Puzo novel. Then came The Godfather Part II, one of the few (and first) sequels to live up to the original entry. Marlon Brando, who portrayed Vito Corneone brilliantly in the 1972 film, makes way for Robert De Niro, who portrays the young Vito in extended flashbacks in this 1974 follow-up. Al Pacino co-stars in both, as Don Corleone’s son Michael. It’s the l

2019

Dec

THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW By David Bianculli

Tonight’s guests include current Star Wars franchise star Daisy Ridley. Enough reason, right there, to watch, because Graham Norton has a gift for asking the unexpected… and getting results no less surprising.

2019

Dec

YOU By David Bianculli

SEASON PREMIERE: Season 1 of this series, which stars Penn Badgley as a bookstore manager and serial stalker – and, like the title character of Dexter, an occasional murderer with an ongoing interior monologue – was shown on Lifetime. You and Badgley return for Season 2, but on Netflix instead.

2019

Dec

THE GREAT AMERICAN BAKING SHOW: HOLIDAY EDITION By David Bianculli

SPECIAL PREMIERE: ABC’s inferior but still watchable version of The Great British Bake Off returns, with more holiday recipes and lighthearted competition. Sadly, don’t expect any recipes involving razzleberry dressing…

2019

Dec

DOCTOR WHO: THE MACRA TERROR By David Bianculli

SPECIAL PREMIERE: The new season of Doctor Who begins next year – January 2, so there’s not that long a wait. Meanwhile, there’s this Boxing Day special, a sort of Doctor Who holiday tradition. A stand-alone episode bridging the gap between seasons… and followed, this year, by another of the series’ excavational specials, using animation and new vocal tracks to supplement and complete a “lost episode.”

2019

Dec

THE NEW SEASON OF ‘MURDOCH MYSTERIES’ IS AN ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY TREAT By Mike Hughes

During the holidays, our TV tastes might mellow a tad. We don’t need to probe the darkest recesses of our souls. We might settle for a decent drama about some nice folks...

2019

Dec

CALL THE MIDWIFE HOLIDAY SPECIAL By David Bianculli

SPECIAL PREMIERE: This series, for the past few years, has presented a stand-alone holiday episode every Christmas or thereabouts, and here’s another new one, advancing the show’s narrative while delivering more than its share of laughs, drama, and emotional moments. Considering the annual nature of this TV event, consider it a special delivery – in more ways than one. Check local listings.

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