I met Dick Clark -- who died today (Wednesday) at 82 of a heart attack -- on the set of a show he was producing, American Dreams. This was in 2004, before his stroke...

2012

Apr

AMERICAN IDOL By David Bianculli

Host Ryan Seacrest opened last night’s show by saluting Dick Clark, who died Wednesday, and alongside whom Seacrest was welcomed years ago as co-host of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. (For Dick Clark tributes from some of us at TVWW, read Ed Bark HERE, Bill Brioux HERE, and my own story HERE.) Tonight, there’s a finality of a less literal sort, as another singer is eliminated from the pack of Idol finalists. And this time, there’s no judges’ save &

2012

Apr

BEACH PARTY By David Bianculli

Dick Clark doesn’t appear in any of tonight’s movies on TCM’s “Spring Break” lineup, but he’s here in spirit, since the movies are loaded with the same performers, and peppy attitudes, that marked his American Bandstand days. This 1963 movie, the first in a series of sun-and-fun, music-and-dance frolics aimed squarely at the teen market, stars Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. Avalon makes Justin Bieber look sloppy and surly, and Funicello – well, th

2012

Apr

THE OFFICE By David Bianculli

Andy (Ed Helms) returns to the office, and he’s not prepared for the welcome he receives – or doesn’t. Or, for that matter, for the pressures that mount very quickly, leading to the very definition of an Office meltdown.

2012

Apr

PARKS AND RECREATION By David Bianculli

NEW TIME: Is it just me, or does NBC seem to schedule – and reschedule, and re-reschedule – its Thursday comedies in ways designed to discourage, rather than support, regular viewership? (It's not me.) Well, Parks and Recreation is back, in yet another time slot, this time following The Office. Will a later spot lead to more viewers? It seldom does. Then again, neither does hopping a series from place to place like a piece on a checkerboard.

2012

Apr

BEACH BLANKET BINGO By David Bianculli

This 1965 film is the most famous of the Beach Party movies, and the one that most rewards careful face-watching. Ask “Isn’t that…?,” and the answers, in the affirmative, will include not only stars Annette and Frankie, but Marta Kristen from Lost in Space, Linda Evans from The Big Valley, and Paul Lynde, Don Rickles and, astoundingly, Buster Keaton – the latter three of whom are shown in the photo at left.

2012

Apr

THANKS FOR BEING A PART OF OUR LIVES, MR. CLARK By Ed Bark

No one gets out alive, not even the man known for most of his adult life as "America's Oldest Teenager." Dick Clark died Wednesday at age 82 of a heart attack. And no one wants to dance to that beat...

2012

Apr

AMERICAN IDOL By David Bianculli

Last week the judges used their “save” – this show’s version of a death row inmate’s last-minute reprieve from the governor – to save singer Jessica Sanchez from elimination. But now that the save has been used, there will be no more impromptu group hugs after yet another against-the-odds, and against-the-viewer-voters, escape: the governor never rings twice. So from now on, at least, things are a little tougher on this series. So far this year, the only tough

2012

Apr

MODERN FAMILY By David Bianculli

Cameron’s dad comes to visit – and he’s played by Barry Corbin, the Northern Exposure vet who already is playing the father of Kyra Sedgwick’s Brenda on The Closer. In this new role, you might expect some fraternal friction – but the real friction here is between dads, as Ed O’Neill’s Jay finds himself competing for attention, and everything else, with the new visitor.

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