Tonight marks the final Republican presidential debate of 2015. But don’t get too excited, because that still leaves at least seven months before the political conventions, and 10 full months and a week before the presidential election of 2016. In other words, plenty of time for more and more talk. But as times change, so do political fortunes. For tonight’s debate, Donald Trump retains his central position, but Jeb Bush has been pushed more to the fringe, with Ben Carson and now Ted

2015

Dec

THE VOICE By David Bianculli

CYCLE FINALE: Part 2 of 2. This is the big night, when a new winner is announced. Jordan Smith is the frontrunner here – but, unlike as in presidential politics, the current frontrunner indeed is expected to go all the way. At least by me.

2015

Dec

MANHATTAN By David Bianculli

SEASON FINALE: This is the Season 2 finale, and it’s directed by co-executive producer Thomas Schlamme, who defined the look of The West Wing as Aaron Sorkin’s go-to director. Tonight’s final episode is called “Jupiter,” and it’s all about the build-up to the long-anticipated nuclear test.

2015

Dec

RAGING BULL By David Bianculli

When Martin Scorsese made this 1980 drama about boxing champion Jake LaMotta, Robert De Niro gained 60 pounds to play LaMotta in his later years, and won an Oscar. When I gained 60 pounds, all I got was grief from my kids. I’m just saying…

2015

Dec

'DOWNTON'S' PENELOPE WILTON REFLECTS ON HER DUEL WITH COUNTESS VIOLET By David Hinckley

Among many other things, the end of Downton Abbey this March will wrap up one of TV’s most charming buddy relationships, between Maggie Smith’s Dowager Countess Violet and Penelope Wilton’s Isobel Crawley...

2015

Dec

THE VOICE By David Bianculli

CYCLE FINALE: Part 1 of 2. The Final Four perform tonight, and the winner of this new cycle of The Voice will be selected and revealed tomorrow night. Watch, in particular, for Jordan Smith, 21, from Harlan, KY. Last week he sang “Somebody to Love” in the semifinals, and his downloadable recording of it soared to the top spot on iTunes. More to the point, Adam Levine reacted to his vocal performance by saying, “That’s one of the best things I’ve ever seen in my enti

2015

Dec

SUPERGIRL By David Bianculli

Tonight’s episode has Supergirl fighting on two fronts. At work, in her drab alter ego, she’s fighting to save her boss’ job. And in her Supergirl outfit, she’s doing battle with someone else with formidable powers and fighting skills: Astra.

2015

Dec

CHILDHOOD'S END By David Bianculli

MINISERIES PREMIERE: Part 1 of 3. This three-part Syfy miniseries is based on the novel by Arthur C. Clarke – which, like Robert Heinlein’s Stranger In a Strange Land, is one of the most admired science fiction novels of the era never to be adapted for the screen. (Okay, add Kurt Vonnegut’s The Sirens of Titan and Cat’s Cradle to that list as well.) Clarke, after all, is the guy whose short story inspired Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, so this new dramatiz

2015

Dec

VERY SEMI-SERIOUS: A PARTIALLY THOROUGH PORTRAIT OF NEW YORKER CARTOONISTS By David Bianculli

New Yorker cartoon editor Bob Mankoff, who’s also the guy who concocted and drew that famous New Yorker cartoon with the caption “How about never? Is never good for you?,” takes viewers of this documentary through a tour of just what it takes to make a New Yorker cartoon. This study also includes such classic contributors as James Thurber and Charles Addams, so expect the best. And expect to laugh. Good thing for freeze frame…

2015

Dec

ADELE LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY By David Bianculli

Adele is the biggest musical phenomenon of the year, and this concert, taped last month at Radio City Music Hall, has her doing her first U.S. concert in years. Her set list includes her current smash “Hello,” as well as “Hometown Glory” (the first song she ever wrote) and her breakthrough hit, “Rolling in the Deep.” Lorne Michaels is the executive producer.

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