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

 
 
2018
May
21
 
 
Even by Nature’s standards, the pangolin is one weird critter...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
May
21
 
 
SERIES PREMIERE: After stepping forth earlier this month with an original production imported from Wales, the Acorn streaming service now presents another new series that scored well when shown in its home country. This time the place of origin is Australia, the program is called Sando, and it’s a comedy. Sacha Horler stars as Victoria Sandringham, known widely as “Sando.” She’s a wealthy, abrasive woman who made her fortune as a buy-in-bulk furniture salesperson, and her
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
May
21
 
 
SEASON FINALE: Last night, in the first part of this first ABC Idol competition finale, the three remaining contestants sang three songs apiece – including, to end their respective sets, Caleb Lee Hutchinson singing Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” Gabby Barrett singing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” and Maddie Poppe (pictured) singing Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide.” After Poppe closed the show with that number, judge Ka
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
May
21
 
 
SEASON FINALE: Part 1 of 2.  Tonight the finales of Idol and The Voice go head to head, which ought to be interesting, at least in terms of after-the-fact network boasting. But for now, in this first half of a two-part finale, The Voice presents its four finalists, who sing one last time to fight their way to tomorrow night’s winner’s circle. First-time judge Kelly Clarkson has one representative, Brynn Cartelli, still standing, while the show’s most victorious judge, Blak
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
May
21
 
 
“Wherever there’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there. Wherever there’s a cop beatin’ up on a guy, I’ll be there…” John Steinbeck wrote those words in his classic novel about American farmers buffeted by the Dust Bowl, and Henry Fonda brought them to searing, unforgettable life in this 1940 John Ford movie. Sadly, the message still fits, and still resonates…
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
May
21
 
 
The Boston Celtics bullied the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first two games of this East series, winning both contests by scores of double-digit margins (the first game by a whopping 25 points). Yet for Game 3, LeBron James and his Cavs team, playing before its home crowd in Cleveland, beat the Celtics 116-86 – an even more whopping margin of 30 points. And tonight is Game 4, played, once again, in Cleveland…
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
May
21
 
 
Episode 4 of James Cameron’s very personal look at science fiction is devoted to the topic of “Dark Futures.” And if you don’t like dystopian visions, stay tuned, and perhaps you’ll prefer dat one… And look who’s in tonight’s episode, as one of the talking heads: Twilight Zone historian and analyst (and good TV critic friend) Mark Dawidziak!
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
May
21
 
 
Once upon a time in the New York area, there was a man who called himself Crazy Eddie...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
May
20
 
 
SEASON FINALE: Part 1 of 2. For the first time since it was revived by ABC, American Idol is rolling rapidly towards its final competition – a competition that will compete directly tomorrow night against NBC’s latest wrapup of The Voice. Tonight’s Idol features the surviving Final 3 – Maddie Poppe, Gabby Barrett, Caleb Lee Hutchinson – whose performances tonight will dictate who gets enough votes to compete in Monday’s 2018 reveal-the-winner finale. Oh, and t
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
May
20
 
 
They aren’t quite the Grammys, but the Billboard awards have matured to the point where they have some intriguing things to offer. On this year’s live show, there are scheduled live performances by Cardi B, Taylor Swift and others, and an Icon Award given to Janet Jackson. The current Voice judge, and former Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson, hosts.