This is a bit selfish to point out, but it’s also an exciting viewing opportunity I never thought CNN would provide. In every decade the network has decided to examine as a documentary miniseries, starting with The Sixties, CNN has opened each miniseries with an episode divided to that era’s television. Tonight, beginning with the “The One About TV” installment that opened The Nineties last Sunday, CNN presents them all, in reverse order, in a mini-marathon, presenting th

2017

Jul

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE By David Bianculli

This is a repeat episode from February, but it’s well worth revisiting. The guest host is Alec Baldwin – and five months have elapsed in Trumpland since then, so Baldwin’s appearance, as his Trump impression, may seem almost like nostalgia for a simpler time. Musical guest: Ed Sheeran.

2017

Jul

‘FRIENDS FROM COLLEGE’ IS A SECOND-RATE REUNION By David Hinckley

The new Netflix ensemble comedy Friends From College takes a familiar premise and doesn’t quite know what to do with it...

2017

Jul

FRIENDS FROM COLLEGE By David Bianculli

SERIES PREMIERE: In the opening sequence, the words of this comedy’s title come up one at a time – so for a second, the first thing you see is a sitcom named Friends. But though Netflix would love for you to confuse this with that classic comedy – after all, it’s about a half-dozen friends who seemingly can’t stop hanging out together, despite other relationships in their lives – there’s no way. In Friends from College, the college is Harvard, the gradua

2017

Jul

CHASING CORAL By David Bianculli

DOCUMENTARY PREMIERE: This documentary is commendably aggressive in its approach. It shows the majestic beauty, color and variety of coral reefs around the world – then shows ones that are dead or dying, in a compare-and-contrast exercise that is little short of mortifying. But rather than be all doom and gloom, Chasing Coral suggests what can be done next – especially by young people willing to help, in both documenting and improving those crucial undersea worlds.

2017

Jul

50 YEARS OF HITCHCOCK By David Bianculli

Wednesdays and Fridays this month, TCM is working its way through “50 Years of Hitchcock” – and I’ve seen most of them, and recorded the rest, because I’ve never seen them in order like this. What a treat. What a showcase, Tonight, the tribute continues, with 1943’s Shadow of a Doubt at 8 p.m. ET, 1944’s Lifeboat (10 p.m. ET), 1945’s Spellbound (midnight ET), 1946’s Notorious (2:15 a.m. ET), and 1948’s The Paradine Case (4:15 a.m. ET).

2017

Jul

THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW By David Bianculli

Tonight’s episode involves “Botanicals,” and how hard can the challenges be? After all, the contestants all will be baking with… flower. Check local listings.

2017

Jul

BOY BAND By David Bianculli

This is not a recommendation: Actually, this is more of an observation, and a complaint. Tonight is the weakest night all summer, to date, for TV programming. If ever there were a night to catch up on old binge-worthy shows in your video queues or on your home-library shelves – or, if you’re really daring, to leave the house and have a life – this is the night. But I figured, this time, I’d show why. For the opening hour of prime time, for example, CBS is in summer rerun

2017

Jul

AMERICA'S GOT TALENT By David Bianculli

This is not a recommendation: More competition, and more judges as concerned about luring the spotlight their way as in showcasing new talent. The judges here, in this year’s lineup, include Heidi Klum and Simon Cowell, famous for judging other competition shows, and the new host is Tyra Banks, about whom it can be said: ditto.

2017

Jul

BEAT SHAZAM By David Bianculli

This is not a recommendation: Basically, this show is a modern variation on the old, old, really old program Name That Tune – except it promotes a specific app. And is hosted by Jamie Foxx. And, basically, is even more unwatchable than unlistenable.

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