Armando Iannucci, the caustically comic creator of Veep, directs and is the co-author of this 2017 political dark comedy. How dark? It’s about the power grab surrounding the expected demise of Soviet leader Josef Stalin – and includes facts and observations to make the movie a study in scary despotism. And yet, it’s big on laughter, too – and features, among others, Jeffrey Tambor, Michael Palin, Simon Russell Beale and Steve Buscemi.

2018

Dec

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE By David Bianculli

MIDSEASON FINALE: The last time Matt Damon was on Saturday Night Live, he killed it in a guest appearance as Brett Kavanaugh (pictured). He committed to the sketch, and the role, in a way that put at least half the regular current SNL players to shame. And tonight, he’s the host, so sit back and watch him work. The last time Damon hosted, it was 2002. Musical guests: Miley Cyrus and Mark Ronson.

2018

Dec

FROM AUSTRALIA, 'TIDELANDS' DEBUTS ON NETFLIX By David Hinckley

The once pristine image of mermaids takes another hit in Tidelands, a scary and violent new supernatural drama from Netflix...

2018

Dec

ROMA By David Bianculli

Alfonso Cuaron’s new black-and-white film is a salute to his own childhood, and arrives as one of the most anticipated Netflix movies to date. It would be among many TV critics’ end-of-year Top 10 lists, except that Netflix thinks so much of Roma that, before streaming it today on Netflix, it released it in theaters, where you can still go see it on the big screen. So that means Roma may be eligible for an Oscar, not an Emmy – but will film critics consider it one of theirs, fo

2018

Dec

THE CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA: “A MIDWINTER’S TALE” By David Bianculli

Season 1 of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina arrived in time for Halloween – but here’s a new stand-alone special to add to the canon, and give fans something new for this holiday.

2018

Dec

THE 'I LOVE LUCY' CHRISTMAS SPECIAL By David Bianculli

CBS and the folks responsible for these vintage TV restorations have done such a great job with computer-colorizing old episodes that, even as TV critic purist, I find it impossible to complain. And these annual showings around the holidays have become a new CBS tradition, one which I happily endorse. Tonight’s two episodes of I Love Lucy this year, presented in living color, are “The Christmas Episode,” which has been shown every year on this new prime-time showcase, and &ldqu

2018

Dec

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE By David Bianculli

Here’s another showing of this classic Frank Capra Christmas movie, which NBC and its sister networks show on TV exclusively these days. James Stewart and Donna Reed star – and every time this movie plays, an angel in heaven gets his residuals.

2018

Dec

'THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW' - IN LIVING COLOR By David Bianculli

This year’s collection of Dick Van Dyke Show episodes features two episodes written by series creator Carl Reiner. First is the Season 1 episode “Where Did I Come From?,” in which little Ritchie asks about the circumstances of his birth – and that’s followed by “Never Bathe on Saturday,” in which Laura’s toe gets stuck in the tub faucet. And somehow, it managed to be shown (barely) on television…

2018

Dec

GREAT PERFORMANCES: “K. D. LANG: LANDMARKS LIVE IN CONCERT” By David Bianculli

In a concert taped at San Antonio, TX, k.d. lang performs her brilliant, landmark Ingenue album in its entirety. Why? (Ready to feel older?) Because she’s celebrating the 25th anniversary of that album’s release, and her ascent to stardom. Check local listings.

2018

Dec

THE NOSTALGIA OF THE RECORD STORE THANKS TO 'THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL' By David Hinckley

One of the many pleasures tucked into Amazon’s award-winning series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is the occasional trip down a set of mysterious stairs to a 1958 record store...

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