This week, NPR’s Fresh Air devotes a week of shows to late-night TV hosts and history – which has me thinking about friendships, and careers, and a just-departed dear friend…

2013

Aug

GLICKMAN By David Bianculli

James L. Freedman wrote, produced, directed and narrated this loving biography of sports broadcaster Marty Glickman, who gave Freeman one of his first jobs. His reverence is understandable, though, as is HBO’s in scheduling this special: When HBO began its satellite network service in 1972, Glickman was the first voice heard. He not only covered sports for HBO in its early days, but long before that – before, in fact, network television – Glickman was providing colorful descrip

2013

Aug

UNDER THE DOME By David Bianculli

The mini-dome vanished, then it was found again, and last week it yielded another mystifying secret: Whatever it is and does requires four hands to play, like a game of bridge, and the teens who have been experiencing seizures and visions are still one hand short. So who’s next? And meanwhile, with Natalie Zea from Justified making a dazzling first appearance on last week’s show, Dean Norris’ Big Jim suddenly has an even bigger and badder adversary in town.

2013

Aug

POV: "FIVE BROKEN CAMERAS" By David Bianculli

Not for the first time in its history, POV takes a look at the Arab-Israeli conflict – and again, unapologetically looks from the point of view of one particular side. For a full review, see Eric Gould’s Cold Light Reader. Check local listings.

2013

Aug

THE WRITERS' ROOM By David Bianculli

Tonight’s show looks at Game of Thrones, and explains, in part, how the show juggles all those sets and locations, all that action – and all that exposition.

2013

Aug

OLBERMANN By David Bianculli

SERIES PREMIERE: Keith Olbermann, who co-hosted ESPN’s SportsCenter for a memorable stretch beginning in 1992, returns to the ESPN family two decades later with a new sports show, premiering tonight on sister network ESPN2 right after prime time on the east coast. One thing about Olbermann – well, make that two things. One, he’s always smart. Two, no matter his chosen show or topic, he’s always watchable, so expect to be entertained. Welcome back, Keith.

2013

Aug

BREAKING BAD By David Bianculli

In the first episode of its final lap, Breaking Bad included a snappingly tense scene in which Walter (Bryan Cranston) was confronted by his brother-in-law, DEA agent Hank (Dean Norris). In last week’s second returning episode, Hank confronted Walt’s wife, Skyler (Anna Gunn), in a scene that was just as astoundingly intense. This week, what’s next? (Hank confronting Aaron Paul's Jesse, for starters.) And when does Walt Jr. (RJ Mitte) enter the informed loop? Because that, more

2013

Aug

2013 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS By David Bianculli

The MTV Video Music Awards themselves are worthless – and these days, MTV giving out awards for videos is like the History Channel giving out awards for shows about actual history. But the live awards show, on the other hand, is well worth checking out. This year, the scheduled performers include Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke and Kanye West – most of whom, on this occasion, will be trying to outshine the others. Yikes.

2013

Aug

DEXTER By David Bianculli

The good news is, Dexter (Michael C. Hall) now has, at this point, what could almost be considered healthy relationships with his sister, his former girlfriend protégé, and even the therapist who shaped his particularly twisted moral code. But there’s a killer on the loose who’s striking closer and closer to Dexter himself, and it’s hard to believe one of the people around him will not be next.

2013

Aug

THE NEWSROOM By David Bianculli

This episode is a superlative example of Aaron Sorkin at his best – and by far the finest outing in this show’s two-year history. Simple as that. For a full review explaining why, see Bianculli’s Blog.

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