Live TV specials on a grand scale are like competing at the Olympics: You work for a long, long time to get one shot at glory, with only so many elements under your control. When it works, you get the Beatles unveiling “All You Need Is Love” to a global TV audience. When it doesn’t, you get Geraldo Rivera giving a sheepish shrug in front of an empty Al Capone “vault.” Tonight, for two hours, National Geographic goes to various places around the world, where its top

2017

Jul

AMERICA IN COLOR By David Bianculli

The decade covered tonight is the 1930s – and the images, in color, sometimes are vibrant and riveting. But not all vintage images, moving or still, need be colorized, an opinion I share with Eric Gould, in his latest Cold Light Reader column.

2017

Jul

THE NINETIES By David Bianculli

DOCUMENTARY SERIES PREMIERE: CNN’s latest documentary series about a specific decade, The Nineties, premieres tonight, with an expanded two-hour opener looking at, as usual, television. This time it’s called “The One About TV,” which is a clear nod to NBC’s Friends, one of the clear hits to emerge from that decade. Others include Seinfeld, NYPD Blue, The West Wing, The Sopranos, ER, The Larry Sanders Show, and the program charts the clear emergence of cable TV as a

2017

Jul

THE DEFIANT ONES By David Bianculli

DOCUMENTARY SERIES PREMIERE: Part 1 of 4. This four-part documentary will be televised in hourly chunks tonight through Wednesday, and tells the dual, eventually intersecting stories of music figures, producers, and now moguls Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine. Their individual stories are unusual, even inspirational, but they’re retold here with an almost unquestioning, too-fawning eye. The insights about the music they produced are the best part, and allow glimpses into the recording sessions of

2017

Jul

AMELIA EARHART: THE LOST EVIDENCE By David Bianculli

Now this is fascinating. Using all sorts of spectrum analyses and other tests, this History special examines a recently uncovered photograph, purportedly of Amelia Earhart after her final solo plane flight, to test its authenticity. And, surprisingly, it appears to pass all the tests, which may finally put an end to the mystery surrounding the aviatrix’s disappearance.

2017

Jul

TWIN PEAKS: THE RETURN By David Bianculli

Two weeks ago, Twin Peaks: The Return presented a creepy episode with a restless spirit who walked around reciting poetry, crushing skulls, and asking for a light for his cigarette. One week ago, Twin Peaks went on holiday for the July 4 weekend, with no new episode. Tonight, we finally get to see Episode 9, and the show has provided an official synopsis, so we can get a hint about what to expect. Here is that synopsis, quoted in full: “This is the chair.” And the image I’ve se

2017

Jul

ALEC BALDWIN: ONE NIGHT ONLY By David Bianculli

Spike TV has presented a few Dean Martin roast-type specials in recent years, saluting Eddie Murphy in 2012 and Don Rickles in 2014. This year’s recipient is Alec Baldwin, and the festivities were held at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. Attendees included Robert De Niro, Tracy Morgan, Julianne Moore, and even a few family members.

2017

Jul

"PRIME SUSPECT: TENNISON" ON MASTERPIECE By David Bianculli

SEASON FINALE: Part 3. Stefani Martini concludes her role as young Jane Tennison in this prequel to the Prime Suspects series starring Helen Mirren. I’m hoping they’ll make more, because Martini as Tennison has been intriguing to watch – especially when she makes some sharp decisions on the case, and (pictured) some very dumb decisions off it. Check local listings.

2017

Jul

DON’T COLOR (ALL OF) MY WORLD: LET’S NOT LEAVE BLACK AND WHITE BEHIND By Eric Gould

There’s no denying the “Oh, my God”, moment when you click on the colorized version of Mark Twain... But as tempting as it is, should colorization keep moving black and white TV and films to the rear?...

2017

Jul

BRINGING BÉLA FLECK TO DISNEY JUNIOR WAS A FAMILY AFFAIR By David Hinckley

Few shows on kids’ television have a soundtrack by banjo maestro Béla Fleck, who collects Grammys the way Disney collects Oscars...

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