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
Jun
11
 
 
The Los Angeles Kings had a 3-0 edge in this year’s Finals, but the New Jersey Devils scraped out – and scrapped out – victories in the last two games, to prolong the contest and return it to the West Coast. But tonight, the Kings have home ice, as well as a 3-2 advantage – though the Devils have momentum, and a shot to send this year’s Stanley Cup championship to a Game 7.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Jun
11
 
 
The challenge in tonight’s show is to rustle up some “all-American fare.” But with the prize being a chef’s position at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant in Las Vegas’ Paris Hotel, is that fare? Shouldn’t they be concocting recipes with, say, sacre bleu fromage?
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Jun
11
 
 
Based on the Mary McCarthy novel, this 1966 Sidney Lumet movie is bursting with strong female performances. Co-starring in this drama about friendships and betrayals at a private girl’s school are Candice Bergen, Joan Hackett, Elizabeth Hartman and Joanna Pettet. Also featured: Hal Holbrook, Richard Mulligan, and an actor who’s about to resurface this week reprising his iconic TV role of J.R. Ewing: Larry Hagman.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Jun
11
 
 
SERIES PREMIERE: Two different fan factions should help make this new series a success. First, this comedy-drama – about a showgirl who gets married impulsively, returns to her husband’s small town and runs a small ballet school with his mom – is created by Amy Sherman-Palladino of Gilmore Girls, and even features Kelly Bishop (Emily Gilmore on Gilmore Girls) as the mother-in-law. Second, the starring role is played by Sutton Foster, who for years has brightened Broadway with h
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Jun
11
 
 
SERIES PREMIERE: This is more observation than recommendation, but give credit to Nick at Nite, at least, for trying a new form of summer programming. It’s basically an American telenovela, a soap opera aimed at young teens and stripped nightly throughout the summer, with a definite run, and a definitely scheduled ending. Brittany Underwood stars as a songwriter and performer who gets her first show-biz break by winning a songwriting contest for a popular rock star (played by Cody Longo).
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Jun
11
 
 
This day in 2002 marked the debut of American Idol: The Search for a Superstar, which recently completed its eleventh season on Fox (with the since shortened title, American Idol). The singing competition show, based on Simon Fuller's UK show, Pop Idol, became an immediate television sensation. As pretty much everyone knows, aspiring singers perform at open auditions nationwide to compete on the live, televised program. Once the field is narrowed to a select group of hopefuls, the show moves t
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Jun
11
 
 
Throne, a smart, two-part detective thriller from Britain, follows an obsessed detective who's after a deranged killer, but manages to make the genre fresh...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Jun
10
 
 
Neil Patrick Harris is the host of this show – for the third time – and there’s no reason to doubt that the third time’s the charm, since his previous two outings have been charming, too.  There’s a lot to watch for this year, including two potential locks by amazing actresses: Audra McDonald for The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, and, in drama, Nina Arianda for her standout power-play performance in Venus in Fur. Oh, and to prepare for the Tonys this year, w
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Jun
10
 
 
SEASON FINALE: Part 1 of 2. This sounds kind of risky, at least on its surface: After receiving so much critical heat for not delivering a solution to its central murder last season, The Killing is presenting a two-part Season 2 finale – essentially stretching out things once again. I’ve stayed current with this AMC drama this season, and while it does seem to have honed in on some “final” prime suspects, there’s no denying that the number of red herrings and detour
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Jun
10
 
 
SEASON PREMIERE: On the other hand, this returning series is a treat all the way – and begins just where last season left off, with characters dying, captured, cornered or otherwise panicked. For a full review, read my Bianculli’s Blog HERE.