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DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

Bianculli's Blog

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

The Cold Light Reader

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Dateline Donovan
Contributors

DAVID HINCKLEY

All Along the Watchtower

ED BARK

Uncle Barky's Bytes

ALEX STRACHAN

TV That Matters

MIKE HUGHES

Open Mike

ED MARTIN

Ed Martin's TV Mix

KIM AKASS

Aerial View

MONIQUE NAZARETH

MNtv

BILL BRIOUX

TV Feeds My Family

ROGER CATLIN

TV Eye

GARY EDGERTON

Must-Click TV

TOM BRINKMOELLER

Raised On MTM

GERALD JORDAN

Crossing Jordan

NOEL HOLSTON

The Grassy Noel

TVWW ARCHIVE

Contributors Archive
 
 
2016
Mar
10
AMERICAN IDOL By David Bianculli
 
 
The competition eliminations for the final season of this long-running reality talent show are underway – and, once again tonight, there’s a double elimination at the end of the evening, which will whittle it down to the Top 6. So far, the singers eliminated have been the weakest of the bunch – and there are still one or two to eliminate fairly obviously before getting down to the tough choices. But since it’s the voting public doing the eliminating, who can tell what wil
 
 
 
  
 
 
2016
Mar
10
THE BIG BANG THEORY By David Bianculli
 
 
In tonight’s episode, three of the boys decide to team up by signing a contract – a business contract involving Sheldon’s idea that, with their input, has become a potentially patentable business concept: the infinite persistence gyroscope. And considering the longevity and success of The Big Bang Theory, consider it the infinitely persistent sitcom.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2016
Mar
10
UP By David Bianculli
 
 
I love this 2009 Pixar film – and love knowing that Ed Asner, who gives voice to the sad old man, had such a good time making it. I also love that this movie has given me my central metaphor for the cable news media, which is like the dog with the short attention span, interrupting his own train of thought every time he sees and says “Squirrel!”
 
 
 
  
 
 
2016
Mar
10
PREY By David Bianculli
 
 
Viewers of Prey, like viewers of The Fugitive half a century ago, know who isn’t the killer. Tonight, they find out who is – but that’s not the end of this story, or this series.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2016
Mar
10
BASKETS By David Bianculli
 
 
Tonight, Chip hosts a high school team in their basketball gym, so there really is a chance for some “baskets” here – except that he’s coaching a girls’ volleyball team. And cheating.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2016
Mar
9
'UNDERGROUND' IS A POWERFUL TELLING OF A CONTEMPTIBLE TIME By David Hinckley
 
 
Underground tackles what some have persuasively argued is the central moral dilemma of the whole American experience: slavery and what it says about our broader struggle with the noble concept of “all men are created equal.”...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2016
Mar
9
THE VOICE By David Bianculli
 
 
Tonight’s show is mostly a recap of the blind audition rounds to date, padded with additional footage – but because this has been such an enjoyable season for The Voice thus far, that doesn’t exclude it from being recommended. That’s especially true if you haven’t seen the show this month, in its newest incarnation, because the competition among the judges is quite strong this cycle. Last night, contestant Joe Maye sang a version of “I Put a Spell on You&rdquo
 
 
 
  
 
 
2016
Mar
9
THE VICTORIA'S SECRET SWIM SPECIAL By David Bianculli
 
 
Well, it’s not Secret any longer. I just told you about it… But maybe, all things considered, it’s still sort of top secret…
 
 
 
  
 
 
2016
Mar
9
AMERICAN CRIME By David Bianculli
 
 
SEASON FINALE: With these new season-long anthology drama series, the sophomore slump has been something to either avoid or experience. True Detective, in its second year, fell sharply from its initial season. American Horror Story, Fargo and now American Crime did not. This season of American Crime has been as strong and disturbing as last season’s – and Felicity Huffman, in both seasons, playing very different roles, has been astounding. Tonight, this second season ends. And let&rs
 
 
 
  
 
 
2016
Mar
9
THE CARMICHAEL SHOW By David Bianculli
 
 
SEASON PREMIERE: To start its second season, The Carmichael Show has gotten more attention by revealing its intentions outright: Each episode will have a theme, and the episode will attack that theme like a modern-day Norman Lear comedy. Saying it is one thing; accomplishing it is another. Tonight’s subject is infidelity – but the real test comes Sunday, when the topic is “fallen heroes”… and the discussion turns to Bill Cosby.
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
New From TVWW

PBS' 'Frontline’ Examines Pension Promises and — Spoiler Alert — Finds the Math Doesn’t Add Up
By Alex Strachan
 
 
 
 
The Decadence of ‘Versailles’ Comes to Ovation
By David Hinckley
 
 
 
 
Prescribing Mamie Gummer in 'Emily Owens, M.D.'
By Ed Bark
 
 
 
 
Looking for a Free Ride? HBO Can Deliver
By Christy Slewinski
 
 
 
 
'Pass the Biscuits' Part of the Hatfield-McCoy Pop-Culture Legacy
By Noel Holston
 
 
 
 

Dispatches From TVWW

'Extinction: The Facts' is a Sobering Call to Action
By David Hinckley
 
 
 
 
How 'Mayans' Has Been Influenced by the Show's Creator Elgin James
By Mike Hughes
 
 
 
 
For Whom the Bell Tolls: Ken Burns and Lynn Novick Take on Ernest Hemingway, the Man and the Myth
By Alex Strachan
 
 
 
 
In the Final Season, Sutton Foster's Liza is Now the Genuine Version of Her 'Younger' Self
By Monique Nazareth
 
 
 
 
Season 2 of 'City on a Hill' Returns with Kevin Bacon, Aldis Hodge, and Boston Corruption
By David Hinckley