2021
 
 
 
 
 
 
2020
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2011
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2010
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2009
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2008
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2007
 
 
 
 
 
 
2001
 
 
 
 
2000
 
 
 
 
1998
 
 
 
 
1990
 
 
 
 
1989
 
 
 
 
1987
 
 
 
 
1985
 
 
 
 
1982
 
 
 
 
1980
 
 
 

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
 
 
2018
Apr
18
FULL FRONTAL WITH SAMANTHA BEE By David Bianculli
 
 
Every week, I note what a crazy news week it’s been, and how much material these news-examining comics, whether Samantha Bee or John Oliver, have to work with. One day, very soon, I’d like to not be able to write that – but not today, it seems. Not this week. And, need I point out, it’s only Wednesday.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
Apr
17
IN TIMES OF TURMOIL, THE BIG FOUR BROADCAST NETWORKS ARE MORE DEVOTED THAN EVER TO SAME OLD/SAME OLD By Ed Bark
 
 
Believe it or not, these are unprecedented times of stability, familiarity, and continuity...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
Apr
17
'CIVILIZATIONS' REVEALS THE HISTORY OF HUMANITY By David Hinckley
 
 
It’s hard to imagine biting off a bigger, denser chunk of human history than PBS does with its ultra-ambitious new nine-part series Civilizations...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
Apr
17
'MCCAIN' OFFERS UP A BALANCED APPRECIATION OF THE SENATOR By Gerald Jordan
 
 
The Frontline documentary, McCain, is offered as a coda to director Michael Kirk’s look at the Republican Party’s plunge into sharp-elbowed attacks on reason and political compromise...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
Apr
17
THE VOICE By David Bianculli
 
 
It’s the second night of the live shows, and of the playoffs – and of new judge Kelly Clarkson’s trial by fire of talking on live TV. Then again, years ago on American Idol, she did just fine singing on live TV. So for her, perhaps, this is easier…
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
Apr
17
ROSEANNE By David Bianculli
 
 
On the original Roseanne series, Darlene (Sara Gilbert) had a boyfriend, David, who turned into a very significant other, played by Johnny Galecki. These days, and for the past 11 years, Galecki has been playing Leonard on The Big Bang Theory. But tonight, he returns to his old role in this new ABC show, guest starring as David on this evening’s first-run episode of Roseanne.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
Apr
17
CIVILIZATIONS By David Bianculli
 
 
DOCUMENTARY SERIES PREMIERE: In 1969, PBS presented one of its first true flagship documentary series. It was a 14-part series called Civilisation, hosted by Sir Kenneth Clark and taking viewers on a detailed tour through the ascent of human society. For this new 10-part 2018 series, PBS has forsaken the British spelling, made the title plural, and hired three hosts instead of one. Simon Schama, Mary Beard and David Olusoga share duties this time around. For a full review, see David Hinckley&rsq
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
Apr
17
FRONTLINE: "MCCAIN" By David Bianculli
 
 
Last week, Frontline presented an absorbing account of how Donald Trump managed to join, and overtake, the Republican party. Tonight, it offers another study in political biography and policy: an examination of the life and legacy of Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain. For full reviews, see Alex Strachan’s TV That Matters and Gerald Jordan’s Crossing Jordan. Check local listings.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
Apr
17
LEGION By David Bianculli
 
 
I don’t want to oversell tonight’s new episode of Season 2 of Legion, but I don’t know how not to. When I was finished watching the preview DVD of tonight’s episode, I was nothing short of stunned – and ran to Fresh Air do a special, midseason rave review of what I’d just seen, something I hadn’t done since the third episode of the original Twin Peaks 28 years earlier. To read and hear my full review of tonight’s Legion on NPR’s Fresh Air wit
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
Apr
16
'NO OFFENCE' OFFERS UP FAMILIAR PERSONALITIES By David Hinckley
 
 
Irish actress Elaine Cassidy, who was terrific in the recent thriller import Acceptable Risk, tackles a more difficult acting task in another new import, No Offence...
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
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