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

 
 
2018
May
14
 
 
In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, the Boston Celtics stunned the Cleveland Cavaliers, and quieted fans rooting for LeBron James and his Cavs team, by beating James and company by a 25-point margin. Game 2 is tomorrow night, but meanwhile, tonight is Game 1 in the Western Conference, with the Houston Rockets facing the Golden State Warriors.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
May
14
 
 
Episode 3 of James Cameron’s very personal look at science fiction is devoted to the topic of “Monsters.” And accordingly, expect to hear from, among others, Sigourney Weaver, who faced them most formidably in the Alien movies.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
May
13
 
 
On Mother’s Day, family TV shows are especially welcome – and one thing you can say about American Idol, in all its incarnations, is that it’s a show that can be watched by the entire family. So here it is, live, a two-hour competition featuring the new ABC program’s first Top 5 – and with Katy Perry invariably grabbing the biggest share of the spotlight, from contestants and judges alike, as she did on "Disney music" night last week, by dressing as Snow White...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
May
13
 
 
MINISERIES PREMIERE: This new three-hour version of the Louisa May Alcott classic is presented over two Sundays: the first hour tonight, and the concluding two hours next week. Maya Hawke stars as Jo, but the biggest names, in this new TV adaptation of the tale of close-knit Massachusetts siblings during the Civil War, are not the actresses playing the March sisters, but the elder generation of parents and neighbors. They’re played by Emily Watson, Angela Lansbury, and Singing Detective st
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
May
13
 
 
Last week’s episode was an exciting and unpredictable one, with hit woman Villanelle (Jodie Comer) breaking into the home of Eve (Sandra Oh), the British intelligent agent hot on her trail – and asking for some dinner. These characters are written so well, and so quirkily, that you never know quite what they’ll do or so, which is half the fun. Last week, for example, when a man about to be killed by Eve begged for his life by saying he had children, Eve replied by asking what s
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
May
13
 
 
In some respects, this past week arguably has been President Donald Trump’s most embraced and impressive. In other respects, there’s the loose cannon that is Rudy Giuliani, and the heat-seeking, newsmaking missile that is Michael Avenatti. Presumably, today The Circus covers both ends of the spectrum.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
May
13
 
 
This fourth episode of Season 2 of Westworld returns, in part, to the story of Bernard, where we learn more about the true motives of the corporation behind these high-tech amusement parks. It has something to do with invasion of privacy, and profiting from the use of private information gathered from the park’s customers. So, in a way, the Delos corporation and Facebook may have something else in common, beside the desire to attract as many people as possible…
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
May
13
 
 
Last week’s Billions accomplished the seemingly impossible: Both Axe and Chuck walked away without being indicted or prosecuted for their crimes, and Wendy managed to retain her pivotal position as Chuck’s wife and Axe’s “spirit animal.” Tonight, both men are flush with victory, and eager to dive in… but where?
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
May
13
 
 
SEASON FINALE: Barry has grown stronger and more impressive each episode – and last week, allowed both Barry and the actor playing him, Bill Hader, to do some intense, involving acting. And tonight, Barry tries to take control of his life, which might well mean taking the life of one or two others. Or maybe more…
 
 
 
  
 
 
2018
May
13
 
 
What The Circus does Sunday nights on Showtime, this program does the same night on HBO. Except with this one, the laughs are more intentional than rueful. And no, John Oliver didn’t self-cancel his show last week, celebrating a career-high victory after getting an Australian koala chlamydia ward named after him by Russell Crowe. The rest is true – but not the part about Oliver quitting. He’s still here, I’m very, very pleased to report… with a new installment of L