DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Contributors

ALEX STRACHAN

MIKE HUGHES

KIM AKASS

MONIQUE NAZARETH

ROGER CATLIN

GARY EDGERTON

TOM BRINKMOELLER

GERALD JORDAN

NOEL HOLSTON

 
 
2012
May
7
 
 
Bombshell begins on-stage previews tonight – and behind-the-scenes drama results in a last-second replacement as the curtain opens. Yes, that’s the Marilyn of Bombshell at center stage, in the spotlight at last. But she’s being played by…whom?
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
May
7
 
 
This 1961 movie, shown in the same Eastern time slot as Smash, demonstrates just how dynamic a filmed musical can be. The music, the dancing, the lyrics, the singing (though Natalie Wood’s singing voice is overdubbed), and, in this film, the photography – all of it is cool, boy. Real cool.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
May
7
 
 
An "uncompromising" current events and lifestyle network aimed at Hispanics - but in English - is set for a 2013 launch, ABC and Univision jointly announced Monday. The 24-hour network, yet to be named, is aimed at tapping the burgeoning U.S. Hispanic population, which currently makes up 16 percent of the country's population and is expected to almost double by 2050, according to an ABC News publicity release. "Our mission is clear," ABC News president Ben Sherwood (pictured at far left w
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
May
6
 
 
Today in 2004, six friends headed off to their favorite coffee house for one last latte and then, to the tune of Jefferson Airplane's "Embryonic Journey," presumably headed their separate ways. And so ended Friends, one of television's most popular sitcoms...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
May
6
 
 
We’re getting close enough to the 2012 Summer Olympics, held in London, for the media to begin its regular practice of caring deeply about athletes who, for the most part, are otherwise ignored. This new 60 Minutes dives into the pool early – with an Anderson Cooper profile of U.S. super-swimmer Michael Phelps, who talks about his prospects four years after his multiple 2008 triumphs.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
May
6
 
 
Finally, it’s come to this: in the fairy tale world, the evil Queen (Lana Parrilla) resorts to the fruits of her labors – and offers an apple to Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin). But what continuing repercussions does that act have on the world of Storybrooke?
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
May
6
 
 
With The Avengers in theaters, FX is repeating the 2008 Iron Man movie tonight, the one that introduced Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark, and paved the way for other Marvel Comics-based action movies that would, in turn, lead to the new, protagonist-packed Avengers film. For a clip-filled survey of Marvel’s less than golden age of previous TV and film adaptations, see Bianculli’s Blog HERE.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
May
6
 
 
SERIES RETURN: Three new stories are all there are of Season 2 of Sherlock, this excellent updated version starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr. Watson. This first adventure is a naughty, natty update of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's A Scandal in Bohemia called A Scandal in Belgravia, setting Holmes on a case involving a well-positioned dominatrix. For a full review, and a link to my NPR Fresh Air with Terry Gross interview with Sherlock and Doctor Who writer-pr
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
May
6
 
 
Jessica Pare, as Don’s wife Megan, has had an unexpectedly rich and prominent season thus far, as she continues to represent the new and the modern, tugging against Don’s established and “old.” Her rich run continues tonight, as Megan and Don, once again, have issues.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
May
6
 
 

While recording my interview with writer-producer Steven Moffat the other day for NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross, I grilled him for secrets about the upcoming golden anniversary of Doctor Who. Moffat didn’t crack under interrogation – but did reveal one newsworthy secret, which didn’t make it on air. I offer it here, exclusively…