Suddenly, on tonight’s new episode, Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) is saddled with an emotionally challenged 11-year-old. Good thing he’s had so much practice all these years, being House’s only loyal friend.

2012

Apr

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN By David Bianculli

The more you see of the original films in the Frankenstein series, the more you realize how brilliantly Mel Brooks lampooned them in his 1974 comic masterpiece – and with such a fanatical eye (and a fan's eye) for detail and authenticity. Don’t believe me? Switch between this comedy, which stars Gene Wilder, Teri Garr and Marty Feldman, and 1939’s Son of Frankenstein, which stars Basil Rathbone and Boris Karloff, and is shown by TCM tonight, beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET.

2012

Apr

SMASH By David Bianculli

In this episode, a Hollywood star shows up to help keep the Marilyn musical dream alive – and she’s played by an actual Hollywood star. She’s Uma Thurman, beginning a recurring role (which tells you she sticks around, at least for a while).

2012

Apr

SAVE THE TITANIC WITH BOB BALLARD By David Bianculli

Bob Ballard, like Neil deGrasse Tyson of Nova, is a scientist who also happens to be a great TV host. Ballard is the undersea explorer who located the landing spot of the Titanic in 1985. And here he is, on the week of the infamous voyage’s 100th anniversary, making a very strong case for what should be done with the ocean liner’s aquatic remains. And, just as crucially, what shouldn’t. For more, read Diane Werts' Titanic dispatch for her For Better or Werts column HERE.

2012

Apr

MIKE WALLACE: GREATEST HITS By Diane Werts

The late Mike Wallace grills 'em in this CBS News archive reel showcasing some of his tough interviews with Richard Nixon, Ayatollah Khomeini and other world figures. - DW

2012

Apr

2012 MASTERS GOLF TOURNAMENT By David Bianculli

Tiger Woods kicked his golf club in frustration, and later apologized. Fred Couples couldn’t maintain his inspirational run for the ages – and for the aged. But on the last day of this year’s Masters, Phil Mickelson remains standing – only one shot behind the lead, and in an enviable position to get his fourth green jacket, a feat only Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer have attained. Reason to watch? Absolutely. For a perspective on this year’s tournament, see

2012

Apr

FROZEN PLANET By David Bianculli

The Making Of is tonight’s title – and this is one of my favorite installments of the entire series, because it shows how hard the filmmakers have to work to get these astounding shots. Decades ago, the PBS series Nova launched itself with a similar behind-the-scenes special, and they continue to impress and delight me. How in the world did the photographers capture the exact moment when a frozen waterfall thawed and gave way? This hour will tell you: They barely got there in time, a

2012

Apr

TITANIC: THE FINAL WORD WITH JAMES CAMERON By David Bianculli

Between his adventurous solo voyages into the ocean depths and the 3-D release of Titanic, James Cameron has gotten a titanic amount of media coveage of late. And tonight, he gets two hours of prime time to explain and explore his ideas and enthusiasms about that tragic luxury-liner disaster 100 years ago. According to TVWW’s Diane Werts, it’s only an early salvo in a week-long parade of Titanic-related TV – and the best is yet to come. Read her For Better or Werts column HERE.

2012

Apr

THE KILLING By David Bianculli

I should throw out a Spoiler Alert, I suppose, before pointing out that last week’s Season 2 premiere rebooted the entire plot by exonerating the prime suspect, again. But maybe there should be such a thing as a Spoiled Alert – as in, “Warning! Warning! Danger! Danger! This show is wandering around in a fog.” I’m still watching, but I’m having a hard time caring, and a harder time believing. For my review of this show on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, click

2012

Apr

MAD MEN By David Bianculli

This series, on the other hand, has returned for its latest series as compelling and unpredictable as ever. Who would have thought, after we didn’t see January Jones’ Betty Draper at all in the season premiere, that she’d dominate last week’s episode so heavily? (And, in part, I mean that literally.) Mad Men prides itself in going in all sorts of unexpected directions, yet maintains an air of consistent surprise. Tonight, for example, Jon Hamm’s Don Draper is caught

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