ABC's Academy Awards telecast Sunday night had too much filler, fell far too flat, and had too few special moments -- though it did have a few. A few presenters scored, Billy Crystal was solid though not quippily quotable, the fashion scene-stealers of the night were Jennifer Lopez and Angelina Jolie, and Cirque du Soleil soared, literally...

2012

Feb

AWARDS: BAD. VERY BAD. By Diane Werts

So I return after a couple of weeks away, just in time to see Hollywood saluting its best at the Oscars. But what's grabbed my attention instead? Hollywood (dis)honoring its worst...

2012

Feb

HOUSE OF LIES MARATHON By David Bianculli

If Eric Gould’s recent Cold Light Reader appreciation of this new Showtime series (read it HERE) made you wish you had caught the show from the beginning, tonight you can. As counter-programming to the Oscars, Showtime is repeating all six episodes to date of this bold new Don Cheadle series. I recommend watching the Academy Awards anyway – but recording this, for convenient viewing whenever you can get to it. That’s my management-consultant advice regarding tonight’s TV

2012

Feb

THE 84TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS By David Bianculli

Billy Crystal is back as host, which really is all I need to know to tune in, sit back, relax, and expect a good time. There are lots of good films and nominees for which to root this year – and, I’m strongly hoping, there’ll even be a Muppet or two.

2012

Feb

THE WALKING DEAD By David Bianculli

This series, so far in the second half of season two, has served up two jump-out-of-your-seat moments already, and I feel the show is just getting started. And again, while this isn’t worth skipping the Oscars to watch, it’s worth recording – and AMC also repeats it a few times tonight, to make viewing it later even easier. Tonight, Rick and Shane finally confront each other with all hostilities laid bare. With that sort of tension, who needs zombies?

2012

Feb

LUCK By David Bianculli

In this new episode, Escalante decides to push Pint of Plain by entering the horse in a race – which could lead from Plain to pain. Again, count on HBO to repeat this episode many, many times this week, so catch or record it accordingly.

2012

Feb

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? By David Bianculli

This movie competes directly with the second half of the Oscars – but if you can record it, you really, really should. I saw this 1962 movie, for the first time, at a drive-in when it first came out, snuggled in the back seat of my dad’s car. Bette Davis, playing a faded and vengeful former child star, creeps out her helpless sibling, played by Joan Crawford, in this intentionally over-the-top horror movie. But back then, Bette Davis' Baby Jane creeped me out even more. Trust me: a p

2012

Feb

THE GRAPES OF WRATH By David Bianculli

TCM has a reeeallllly depressing double feature tonight – or, at least, a really Depression one. And it’s terrific, too, starting off with this iconic 1940 John Ford film, starring Henry Fonda as Tom Joad. Also featured: John Carradine, one of whose sons stars in the second half of this double feature.

2012

Feb

2012 INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS By David Bianculli

Seth Rogen is the host of this year’s awards, which are billed unofficially as the “anti-Oscars.” Which explains, in a way, why the star of The Green Hornet would be tapped to host. If there’s anything that’s truly anti to the Oscars, it’s The Green Hornet.

2012

Feb

AN IDIOT ABROAD 2: THE BUCKET LIST By David Bianculli

Karl Pilkington comes to the U.S. for this week’s episode, and travels the storied road of Route 66. Along the way, he finds some kicks, just as the lyrics promise – but he also finds other things. Including the Amish.

Posts 21-30 of 82

2 3 4 5 6

New From TVWW

PBS' 'Frontline’ Examines Pension Promises and — Spoiler Alert — Finds the Math Doesn’t Add Up

The Decadence of ‘Versailles’ Comes to Ovation

Prescribing Mamie Gummer in 'Emily Owens, M.D.'

Looking for a Free Ride? HBO Can Deliver

'Pass the Biscuits' Part of the Hatfield-McCoy Pop-Culture Legacy

Dispatches From TVWW

'Extinction: The Facts' is a Sobering Call to Action

How 'Mayans' Has Been Influenced by the Show's Creator Elgin James

For Whom the Bell Tolls: Ken Burns and Lynn Novick Take on Ernest Hemingway, the Man and the Myth

In the Final Season, Sutton Foster's Liza is Now the Genuine Version of Her 'Younger' Self

Season 2 of 'City on a Hill' Returns with Kevin Bacon, Aldis Hodge, and Boston Corruption