Taped earlier this week, this year’s induction ceremony – from Los Angeles this time – includes one musical act inducted in its first year of eligibility, which comes 25 years after its first released recording. That would be Public Enemy. The rest of the class of 2013, though, had to exercise some patience. Heart has been eligible, but until now not inducted, for 12 years. Donna Summer became eligible 14 years ago. Rush has been in no rush, having been waiting for 15 years. An

2013

May

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE By David Bianculli

SEASON FINALE: Ben Affleck is the guest host, and Kanye West the musical guest – but tonight’s show may be most notable for its regular-cast milestones. This is Bill Hader’s final appearance on the show, so expect nothing less than a wild sendoff for Stefon. Other regulars, specifically Jason Sudeikis and Fred Armisen, may be saying goodbye, too, so this is one installment not to miss.

2013

May

'IDOL' SEASON 12 WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS By Ed Martin

There's no reason American Idol can’t stay with us for a long time to come, if the people in charge go back to treating it and the audience with the respect both deserve...

2013

May

ACE IN THE HOLE By David Bianculli

This 1951 movie about opportunistic reporters reacting to an ongoing mining-disaster cave-in is more than 50 years old now. Regardless, its dissection and criticism of the mass media is so dead-on, and still so astoundingly applicable, it could almost be an extended segment from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Kirk Douglas stars as a reporter who will do almost anything to get the story – and to insert himself deeply into it. Jan Sterling co-stars.

2013

May

GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET: VERDI’S ‘RIGOLETTO’ By David Bianculli

This new Michael Meyers production transplants the action of Verdi’s opera from 16th-century Mantua to 20th-century Nevada – specifically, to Las Vegas of the Rat Pack 1960s era. (Maybe this version should be called Rig-a-Lotto.) The production, which opened in January, is conducted by Michele Mariotti, and stars Diana Damrau, Piotr Beczala and Zeljko Lucic. Man, am I happy I didn’t have to read that sentence on the radio… Check local listings.

2013

May

DA VINCI'S DEMONS By David Bianculli

This episode takes a curiosity from history – that Leonardo Da Vinci and Vlad the Impaler lived at the same time during the Renaissance – and reimagines it as a dramatic “fact,” with the impulsive Da Vinci (Tom Riley) and the bloody ruler (played by guest star Paul Rhys) crossing paths. Sounds like a Vlad idea to me… but you never know.

2013

May

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER By David Bianculli

What a lineup for tonight’s new show: Andrew Ross Sorkin, author of Too Big to Fail, is one of Maher’s guests tonight. But so is American diplomat Richard Haass, whose booking couldn’t be more timely. And Zach Galifianakis. Need I say more? How about saying Moore – as in Michael Moore?

2013

May

TOP BANANA By David Bianculli

I don’t remember ever seeing this 1954 comedy televised, so it qualifies as a real rarity. Phil Silvers stars, in what essentially is a filmed record of his hit Broadway show. Some of the musical numbers have been cut from surviving prints of this show, but there’s still a lot left. Silvers, later the fast-taking star of the classic sitcom You’ll Never Get Rich, plays a TV comedy star – think Milton Berle – who tries to impress a girl while regaining his former tele

2013

May

BEYOND APU: INDIAN AMERICANS ON TELEVISION By Monique Nazareth

Not so very long ago, The Simpsons' Apu was the best-known Indian character on TV. But, slowly, the faces — and stereotypes — on television are changing...

2013

May

THE CW'S NEW FALL 2013 SHOWS: FIRST CLIPS, FIRST IMPRESSIONS By David Bianculli

Last to announce, as usual, the CW has unveiled its plans for the fall 2013 TV season — renewing most of its new shows from last year, and adding three more…

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