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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
 
 
2015
Apr
16
THE COMEDIANS By David Bianculli
 
 
The serialized nature of this series, telling an ongoing story about the evolving – or devolving – relationship between “Billy Crystal” and “Josh Gad” – is what may keep viewers tuned. The writing won’t help, but the performers will, so if you like the real Crystal and/or Gad, stay tuned to watch how they poke fun at their own images.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Apr
16
LOUIE By David Bianculli
 
 
On tonight’s very funny episode, Louie (Louis C.K.) hosts an open mic night – but not before falling victim to one of the toughest challenges the average New York city street has to offer: finding a handy place to go to the bathroom.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Apr
15
NATURE: "NATURE'S ANIMAL HOMES" By David Bianculli
 
 
Part 2. “Location, Location, Location” is the title of this week’s episode, which examines not only why animals build or occupy the homes they do, from bear caves to bird nests, but also the reasons behind where they exist. Check local listings.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Apr
15
NOVA: "THE GREAT MATH MYSTERY" By David Bianculli
 
 
Tonight’s Nova takes a chicken-and-egg approach to the major mathematical theorems of the universe. Which came first, the principles of math or the fabrics of the universe? Why do so many elements in nature feature designs based on identical mathematical properties and proportions? It’s certainly a question worth pondering. And about that chicken egg, anyway… Check local listings.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Apr
15
THE AMERICANS By David Bianculli
 
 
We’ve arrived at that point – another penultimate episode for another season of another excellent TV drama. This time it’s The Americans – and this time, it features the return of a long-missing, long-missed character: Margo Martindale as Soviet handler Claudia.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Apr
15
BIG TIME IN HOLLYWOOD, FL By David Bianculli
 
 
Alex Anfanger and Lenny Jacobson have their filmmaking dreams back on track, even if it is a very bumpy railroad. And tonight, the scheme they employ to help them advance their dreams is a risky visit to Cuba. That is, to Cuba Gooding Jr., playing a very antic version of himself.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Apr
15
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA By David Bianculli
 
 
Anthony Quinn is being saluted all night, and every Wednesday this month, on TCM – but you have to wait until after midnight to see him as a co-star in David Lean’s magnificent 1962 biographical epic, Lawrence of Arabia. Peter O’Toole stars.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Apr
14
OTHER SPACE By David Bianculli
 
 
SERIES PREMIERE: Paul Feig, creator of Freaks and Geeks, wrote the original pilot script for this new Yahoo series about a decade ago, for NBC. They never produced it, but Feig – whose TV habits as a kid included not only Lost in Space, but even such ultra-obscure space-age comedies as Quark – always had a soft spot for his sci-fi comedy idea, and recently revived and rewrote it for Yahoo. And Yahoo: The entire Season 1 is available now by finding and watching Yahoo Screen. The stars
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Apr
14
ROBERT OSBORNE'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE By David Bianculli
 
 
TCM has been my default channel almost since the day of its launch – the place I keep my TV tuned when it’s at rest, or when I’m restless. For two decades, I’ve enjoyed the comfort of watching TCM host Robert Osborne introduce old movies and interview veteran actors and directors – and tonight, Osborne moves into the center spotlight seat, and deservedly so, for this one-hour tribute. And he didn’t even know it was coming: Osborne was ambushed, in true classic
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Apr
14
NORTH BY NORTHWEST By David Bianculli
 
 
On a night devoted to this network’s decades-long host, Robert Osborne, a tribute to the veteran face of TCM is followed by a collection of Osborne’s favorite movies – starting with this 1959 Alfred Hitchcock masterwork, starring Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint.
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
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