It’s not unusual for Saturday Night Live to invite a guest host to do double duty as both guest host and musical guest – but it’s not often that SNL makes room for a guest host who also could double as a writer. Tonight’s host, Lena Dunham, certainly qualifies on that count, so expect her contributions to tonight’s new edition to be especially collaborative. And, of course, this is a great chance for her to get back at all the Girls critics who have complained about

2014

Mar

GREAT PERFORMANCES: “BOB DYLAN: THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT CELEBRATION” By David Bianculli

This is a repeat, but a very valuable and welcome one, presenting an encore of the Great Performances telecast of the 1992 Madison Square Garden concert saluting Bob Dylan’s 30 years as a recording artist. He’s still going more than 20 years later, but some of the other concert performers are not: George Harrison and Richie Havens, just to name two. But my, what a lineup, and what performances: Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, The Band, Eddie Vedder, Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, Roger Mc

2014

Mar

ROCKING THE OPERA HOUSE: DR. JOHN By David Bianculli

Set at a century-old opera house nestled in the Shenandoah Valley in West Virginia, this combination biography and concert special salutes the life and music of Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. – better known as “Dr. John.” If you like his music, and you should, tuning in to the Smithsonian Channel at 9 p.m. ET is the right place and the right time.

2014

Mar

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS By David Bianculli

Before the TV series, there was the book. After the book, and before the TV series, there was the movie – and this is it. In 2004, Billy Bob Thornton played the dynamic, quietly noble coach of a Texas high school team, the part that, on TV, eventually won Kyle Chandler a well-deserved Emmy. And who, in this movie, plays the part of the coach’s wife, portrayed so superbly on NBC’s Friday Night Lights by Connie Britton? Why, it’s… Connie Britton!

2014

Mar

TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE By David Bianculli

Before South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone dazzled Broadway with The Book of Mormon, they tackled another outrageous mix of genres in this 2004 comedy film – easily the best marionette secret agent action movie musical ever made. And past that, it’s really, really funny on its own – and, in its treatment of North Korea, eerily prescient.

2014

Mar

THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON By David Bianculli

Apparently, Jimmy Fallon likes to end each Tonight Show week with a show that’s potent enough to keep him smiling until Monday. Opening week, he ended with a show teaming him with Justin Timberlake. And tonight, he ends his third week with Stephen Colbert. Also on the bill: Keri Russell, star of FX’s The Americans, which is back with Season 2.

2014

Mar

THE CRAZY ONES By David Bianculli

In tonight’s new episode, the gang’s all here – but they’re splitting up and regrouping, in an effort to see if new chemistry can erupt, and result in new approaches and ideas. It’s a sometimes messy proposition, and sometimes, the mess is literal.

2014

Mar

PARENTHOOD By David Bianculli

Ever since the unexpected reveal that Ray Romano’s Hank suffers from the same affliction (Asperger syndrome) as Max (Max Burkholder), Parenthood has given Romano lots of increasingly delicate and challenging things to do – and he’s done them all beautifully. The way he relates to Max, especially, has a new tenderness now, and it’s a rare, lovely plot thread to watch and follow.

2014

Mar

REVIEW By David Bianculli

SERIES PREMIERE: Andy Daly of Eastbound & Down stars in this strange new Comedy Central series, playing a George Plimpton-type critic named Forrest MacNeil whose mission is to review “life.” Viewers send in suggestions, and MacNeil experiences what they suggest, then provides reviews. The opening experiment, for example, is “Stealing,” which Forrest dives into with a series of escalating crimes. At the end, he gives “Stealing” two stars – which is ab

2014

Mar

PORTLANDIA By David Bianculli

Season 4 of Portlandia continues, and this week it delves into an area that sounds like home turf for Jimmy Fallon: Hip Hop History. Except they’re not singing, they’re talking. Or, if you prefer, they’re not rapping. They’re… rapping.

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