BEVERLY HILLS, CA -- The summer Television Critics Association "press tour" began an edifying/jellifying two-and-a-half week run Tuesday with an unprecedented full-day presentation from the hottest non-TV network of our times. That would be Netflix...

2015

Jul

THE BOMB By David Bianculli

No, this isn’t a repeat of Fox’s Utopia. It’s a new two-hour documentary about the atomic bomb, keyed loosely to the 70th anniversary of the dropping of the bomb to end WWII in 1945. This documentary traces the history and development of this deadly super-weapon, which transformed global politics in ways that are still being felt. Check local listings.

2015

Jul

LES BLANK MARATHON By David Bianculli

Documentarian Les Blank made his first movie in 1960 (a short film with a long title: Running Around Like a Chicken with Its Head Cut Off). His last one was released in 2014, a year after his death. In between, he made dozens of nonfiction films, including my personal favorite, 1980’s Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe. Neither of those is presented tonight, but 11 others are, starting with four set in his beloved New Orleans. At 8 p.m. ET, there’s 1978’s Always for Pleasure (a look a

2015

Jul

KNOCK KNOCK LIVE By David Bianculli

Knock Knock, who’s there? Hap. Hap who? Happen to see last week’s premiere of Ryan Seacrest’s new series, Knock Knock Live? If not, you may want to sample tonight’s second installment. And if so, you’ll know, for yourself, whether it’s worth tuning in again.

2015

Jul

URANIUM: TWISTING THE DRAGON'S TAIL By David Bianculli

Part 1 of 2. Uranium is the element at the core of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 – and 70 years later, it’s the subject at the core of this new two-part PBS documentary, concluding tomorrow night. Check local listings.

2015

Jul

THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART By David Bianculli

Last night, scheduled Daily Show guest Ted Cruz backed out at the last minute – prompting host Jon Stewart, somewhat gleefully, to replace him, almost instantly, with respected historian and bestseller David McCullough. Tonight’s scheduled guest is Tom Cruise, and if he pulls a last-second no-show, Stewart, no doubt, will “trade up” again. So tune in tonight, regardless.

2015

Jul

NEW TVWW MANAGING EDITOR'S FIRST SCOOPS: ICE CREAM, TV, AND MUSIC VIDEOS By Jim Davis

Great news, TVWW readers: We've found a new Manager Editor -- and we're very lucky to have him. Jim Davis, known as Jimmie Dan to those who worked for and with him in his newspaper years...

2015

Jul

I AM CAIT By David Bianculli

The Caitlyn Jenner reality series premiered last night on E!, and doubtlessly will remain a topic of conversation for the next several days. So if you missed it then, here’s a next-day prime-time repeat, courtesy of E! Or, if courtesy has nothing to do with it, perhaps greed or opportunism do…

2015

Jul

THE BACHELOR AND THE BOBBY-SOXER By David Bianculli

This 1947 movie has a fairly absurd comic premise – and, for the times, a potentially risqué one. Cary Grant plays an artist, and hedonistic bachelor, whose art studio apartment is broken into by a smitten teenager, who wants to model for him. The girl’s older sister, a judge played by Myrna Loy, reacts to the incriminating encounter by forcing the playboy to date the impressionable young teen until her crush wears off. It’s an odd plot, made even odder by the fact

2015

Jul

GHOST RIDER By David Bianculli

There’s lots of talk these days about the cinematic universe of Marvel Comics – but here’s a 2007 film rarely associated with Marvel, though it’s the comic-book house from whence it came. Nicolas Cage plays a biker avenger from hell, with a flaming skull and a souped-up motorcycle.

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