DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Contributors

ALEX STRACHAN

MIKE HUGHES

KIM AKASS

MONIQUE NAZARETH

ROGER CATLIN

GARY EDGERTON

TOM BRINKMOELLER

GERALD JORDAN

NOEL HOLSTON

 
 
2012
Sep
7
 
 
The Sundance Channel's double feature of erotic twistedness starts off with Secretary, a 2002 love story starring James Spader as a very demanding boss who hires a new secretary, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal, and treats her poorly. Which she likes. And that's only the beginning of a surprising, sweet character study. It's followed at 10 p.m. ET by David Lynch's nightmarish Blue Velvet.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Sep
7
 
 
Someday, some cable network will present a triple feature of Alcatraz movie masterpieces, starting with this 1962 Burt Lancaster vehicle, and ending with Escape from Alcatraz and The Rock. In the meantime, this really is a great place to start.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Sep
7
 
 
The full album title McCartney is exploring here is Kisses on the Bottom, a lyric from the Fats Waller standard "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter." One can only surmise Kisses on the Bottom Live was vetoed by PBS's marketing team. No matter what the film's title, it captures McCartney, joined by Diana Krall and other jazz masters, performing in an equally classic setting — Los Angeles' iconic Capitol Records studios, where Frank Sinatra and others recorded. For a ful
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Sep
7
 
 
This week, the Democrats were very convention-al. Don't expect Bill Maher to behave likewise — or to behave, period. But the deconstruction of the past two weeks by Maher and tonight's guests is required viewing to end the political week. Scheduled guests include: Christine O'Donnell, David Simon, Steve Schmidt, Jim VandeHei and Katrina vanden Heuvel.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Sep
6
 
 
On this day in 1969, NBC introduced the live-action children's television series, H.R. Pufnstuf...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Sep
6
 
 
FX has been rolling out new teaser commercials for the upcoming season, subtitled The Asylum. Here's one...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Sep
6
 
 
Now more than ever, Americans need to be politically aware. And C-SPAN offers the opportunity to see gavel-to-gavel convention coverage without chatty pundits and unnecessary interruptive interviews. Enjoy.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Sep
6
 
 
NBC skipped convention coverage for NFL football last night and is making up for it with two hours of convention coverage tonight, starting at 9 p.m. ET. It's a good night for expanded coverage, because viewers will get to see more of the build-up that proceeds the president's nomination speech. President Obama will have to really shine to outperform First Lady Michele Obama, who's speech Tuesday was the most inspirational speech to date. As far as the other channels: PBS begins its telecast at
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Sep
6
 
 
When it comes to VMA presenters and winners, the on-stage unpredictibility factor is always high. So is the performance quotient, with lots of live performers trying to outdo one another. (Personal note to Sarah: One Direction is on the bill.) Some viewers may tune in just to see the much-anticipated trailer for Breaking Dawn, Part 2, the final film in The Twilight Saga. And thanks to MTV's decision to move the award show's start time up one hour, you can see all this and Barack Obama'
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Sep
6
 
 
You expect this show to be brilliantly funny about politics, but John Oliver's rant against North Carolina barbecue was worth the trip to Charlotte itself. Keep it up guys.