In this 1976 movie, Woody Allen plays a cashier who agrees to pose as the writer of scripts by several blacklisted, and otherwise unemployable and unpayable, Hollywood writers. One of those writers is played by Zero Mostel – who, like many other performers in this excellent film, actually were victims of the Hollywood blacklist.

2017

Dec

THE YEAR IN TV: IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE W— ACTUALLY, THE BEST OF TIMES. FOR THE MOST PART By Alex Strachan

It was a year in which Netflix, Amazon, and FX weathered in-house scandals few could have anticipated a year ago today, let alone predicted, and yet it was a very good year for TV...

2017

Dec

'SECRETS OF SPANISH FLORIDA' ON AMERICA'S EARLIEST SETTLERS By David Hinckley

PBS’s new documentary Secrets of Spanish Florida tells a fascinating story and makes a compelling case for serious revision of America’s colonial history...

2017

Dec

TRAVELERS By David Bianculli

SEASON PREMIERE: Season 2 of this Netflix sci-fi series, about time-travelers from the future who visit the past by inhabiting the bodies and consciousness of others, begins at a disturbing place and time: on 9/11, inside the Twin Towers. It’s done to introduce a new character (played by Enrico Colantoni), villain and story line for the new season – but that opening scene is a little rough. And even for a time-travel series, maybe a bit too soon…

2017

Dec

ELLEN'S GAME OF GAMES By David Bianculli

SNEAK PREVIEW: NBC is providing sneak previews of this new prime-time series, based on games played on Ellen DeGeneres’ daytime show, this month, even though it doesn’t premiere officially until next year – specifically, on January 2. This series has a lot going for it, starting with the fact that, for this limited-run series, DeGeneres herself serves as host. But if it hits big and keeps going, can she keep it up while still doing her daytime show?

2017

Dec

THE 40TH ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS By David Bianculli

This annual celebration of the arts, traditionally, has been one of the best TV offerings of the year, honoring a quintet of artists from widely disparate fields and, in so doing, giving viewers a taste of artistry, and true variety, that hasn’t been seen on TV since they glory days of The Ed Sullivan Show and the prime-time variety format. Traditionally, also, the President of the United States has been on hand, since these awards began 40 years ago, to salute and honor the new and past r

2017

Dec

FOOTLOOSE By David Bianculli

It’s no Kennedy Center honors, but this 1984 movie is, itself, a celebration and glorification of dance and music. Kevin Bacon stars, as the small-town rebel whose idea of individuality, and revolution, is to dance up a storm. And this film, all by itself, has some great ammo if you’re playing a game of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon: Supporting players in Footloose include John Lithgow, Dianne Wiest, Chris Penn… and Sarah Jessica Parker.

2017

Dec

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS By David Bianculli

For Christmas night, NBC is being extra Grinchy, and presenting a rare compare-and-contrast, animation-and-live action doubleheader. First is the classic 1966 toon version, with the animation by Chuck Jones, the story by Dr. Seuss, and the voice of Boris Karloff. Then, at 8:30 p.m. ET, comes the 2000 live-action movie, starring Jim Carrey as an equally rubbery-faced, maniacally grinning Grinch.

2017

Dec

DOCTOR WHO: TWICE UPON A TIME By David Bianculli

There’s a double goodbye in this year’s annual holiday Doctor Who special, which makes it even more noteworthy than usual. It’s the final appearance by Peter Capaldi, who’s the twelfth actor to play the title role in this long-running series – and it’s also the final script by Steven Moffat, who’s been running the show brilliantly for years now. But there are firsts, too: It’s the first appearance by the 13th Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker &ndas

2017

Dec

DIRTY DANCING By David Bianculli

Nobody puts baby in a corner. But tonight, on Christmas night, IFC puts her on TV.

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