(Check Local Listings) Tonight’s new American Experience special is a dam good program. It’s a documentary about FDR’s ambitious New Deal vision to construct a massive dam that would help farmers back from the waterless horrors of the Dust Bowl. The dam in question, of course, is the Grand Coulee (no relation).

2012

Apr

LOVER COME BACK By David Bianculli

This 1961 movie is part of Doris Day week, in celebration of her 88th birthday today. But this particular film also should be of keen interest to Mad Men fans. Not only is it set in the very era in which that Madison Avenue period drama began, but Doris Day and Rock Hudson play rival executives at New York advertising agencies. So catch the time, the issues and the sexual office politics – before they became nostalgia.

2012

Apr

THE VOICE By David Bianculli

Yesterday was the year’s first live telecast of this series, as it entered the solo performance rounds. But last night, a lot of the thunder was stolen by one of the judges, who wore an outrageous wig to out-glam the other red-chair singer-celebrities. You’d expect it to be Christina Aguilera – but no. It was Cee-Lo Green.

2012

Apr

JUSTIFIED By David Bianculli

This is the penultimate show of the season, and, as in last week’s show, makes you realize just how many juicy, powerfully unpredictable characters are surrounding and threatening Timothy Olyphant’s Raylan this year. Limehouse, Quarles, and Jeremy Davies’ Dickie Bennett (pictured at left, with Olyphant) – all of them potentially deadly, and all of them increasingly threatened and defensive. Stand by for some wild, primal confrontations.

2012

Apr

COURIC VS. PALIN MORNING SHOW DUEL: READY, AIM, FIREWORKS! By David Bianculli

The morning-show wars went nuclear Tuesday, as reigning NBC superpower "Today" countered increasingly competitive ABC "Good Morning America's" aggressive week-long guest host stunt. Then "Today" launched its own offensive missile...

2012

Apr

THE VOICE By David Bianculli

From this point on, the singers on this competition are battling singers from opposing teams. Which makes things easier for them, but tougher on the judges, whose individual pride comes into play. Last season, Adam Levine won bragging rights, and used them all this year to persuade singers to join his team. Beginning tonight, against the other judges, he attempts to retain that distinct advantage. Meanwhile, have you noticed that the show is borrowing an American Idol trick, and having the judge

2012

Apr

2012 NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT By David Bianculli

The Kentucky Wildcats, with Michael Davis (at left) dominating the floor and the tournament thus far, are strong favorites to win tonight’s championship final against the Kansas Jayhawks. But since Kentucky’s dominant weapons, like its fast-break transitional game, are no secret, Kansas knows what it must do to keep pace and shoot for an upset. It’s just the difference between knowing it and accomplishing it that’s so tough.

2012

Apr

HOUSE By David Bianculli

SERIES RETURN: After a brief hiatus, this series is back, and will stick around this time – presenting fresh episodes each and every week – until Hugh Laurie’s House limps into the sunset in May’s series finale. And in this episode, it may be House himself who is sick. Physician, heal thyself!

2012

Apr

AMERICAN MASTERS: “MARGARET MITCHELL: AMERICAN REBEL” & “HARPER LEE: HEY, BOO!” By David Bianculli

PBS, 9 & 10 p.m. ET (Check local listings) - This doubleheader of American Masters literary biographies starts with a profile of the author of Gone with the Wind, and concludes with a profile of the author of To Kill a Mockingbird. The latter is a much better book – and, as it turns out, a much better documentary, too. For a full review, see today’s Bianculli’s Blog HERE. And for an interview with American Masters creator Susan Lacy about these two shows, see Tom Brinkmoell

2012

Apr

SMASH By David Bianculli

In this episode, Ivy (Megan Hilty, at left) finds herself in competition with Karen (Katherine McPhee) once again, this time for a TV commercial. Meanwhile, the musical may be moving forward with yet another significant alteration – a celebrity leading lady.

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