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

 
 
2014
Jun
30
 
 
Two more games are played today in the knockout round (the USA plays tomorrow). First up, starting at noon ET on ESPN (with pregame features and analysis 30 minutes prior), is France vs. Nigeria. France topped Group E in the group stage by winning two games and earning one draw, while Nigeria, in Group F, came in second in its group by notching one win, one loss and one draw. Then, at 4 p.m. ET, comes Germany vs. Algeria. Germany ended the group stage atop Group G, just ahead of the US, and Nige
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Jun
30
 
 
Last week’s episode explained that Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) had not only fooled the terrorists hijacking the drones, but us viewers as well. Then, after revealing that President Heller was still alive, 24 shook up more expectations, revealing to Jack the duplicity of the traitorous CIA chief – then calling into question the loyalties of Chloe O’Brien. But I wouldn’t believe that last one… and tonight’s episode might well clarify that one for us.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Jun
30
 
 
SEASON PREMIERE: Partly because last season’s summer run of Under the Dome was such an unexpected, undeniable hit, tonight’s Season 2 premiere has Stephen King himself hopping aboard in a big way – not only providing the story on which this drama is based, but writing tonight’s episode as well. Does that make it more newsworthy? Yes. Does that make it better? Well… no. But no better, and no worse. Under the Dome is, indeed, the equivalent of a summer beach read, wh
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Jun
30
 
 
Grace Lee Boggs is 99 years old. She’s a Chinese American. And for most of her life, she’s been a political activist – in ways, and supporting causes, that may well surprise you. For a full review of this new POV documentary, see Eric Gould’s The Cold Light Reader. Check local listings.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Jun
30
 
 
Tonight in prime time, and well into the night, TCM salutes composer Quincy Jones by presenting five movies for which he provided the score, or at least a featured song. These movies include 1965’s The Pawnbroker (8 p.m. ET) and 1967’s In the Heat of the Night (10:15 p.m. ET), two dramatic classics, but also includes a slightly lighter personal favorite: 1971’s $ (shown at 2 a.m. ET), written and directed by Richard Brooks and starring Warren Beatty and Goldie Hawn as a very un
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Jun
29
 
 
How about yesterday’s penalty shoot-out between host country Brazil and Chile? What a way to start the round of 16. Today’s games in the knockout round are televised by ESPN, not ABC. The first game, kickoff at noon ET, is the Netherlands vs. Mexico. The Netherlands is showing as much strength as any team in this year’s World Cup: In its first game, the Netherlands demolished defending champions Spain 5-1, and won its next two games – emerging from the group stage not onl
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Jun
29
 
 
In this second episode of the final season of True Blood, everyone seems to be in jeopardy – and that jeopardy is serious, because any character could die at any time. Of course, on True Blood, that doesn’t always mean the end of that character’s journey – quite the contrary. But tonight, for example, we learn the fate of some of the captured humans, including poor Arlene (redheaded Carrie Preston, who, between this series and The Good Wife, is having a banner year as a c
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Jun
29
 
 
SEASON FINALE: Jackie (Edie Falco) has spent this series in an on-again, off-again battle with her drug addiction. This season, it’s been on again – and in tonight’s season finale, she’s confronted about this at work, and ordered to take a drug test or admit her addiction. It’s her move… and she just might.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Jun
29
 
 
SERIES FINALE: After seven seasons, David Duchovny’s rebellious writer Hank Moody finally gets to the end of his own story. Does it end happily? And for Hank, what does happily really mean?
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Jun
29
 
 
SERIES PREMIERE: Tom Perrotta’s novel, which he helped adapt for television with Damon Lindelof from Lost, is a really odd TV show to wrestle to the ground. It’s built around a fascinating and unique premise: a Rapture-type event results in the sudden disappearance of millions of people across the globe, with the focus on the people left behind to wonder why. And it’s got some excellent performances, starting with series stars Justin Theroux (pictured) and Amy Brenneman. But af