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

 
 
2015
Jan
18
 
 
For football fans, it’s a great day for TV. Four teams, two games, fighting it out for the right to play in this year’s Super Bowl. And the wealth is bring spread, at least in terms of broadcasting: Fox presents today’s first game, CBS has the second, and NBC televises Super Bowl XLIX on Feb. 1. This first game, by the way, is going to be a dramatic one, with injured Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers trying to do what he did last week, and win despite his limited mobility &nda
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Jan
18
 
 
Another great matchup today: The New England Patriots, who won last week, in part, because of some controversially creative coaching, face the Indianapolis Colts. The Patriots QB is Tom Brady, while the Colts have Andrew Luck, the talented young QB who replaced Peyton Manning.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Jan
18
 
 
Tonight’s episodes are likely to be buried alongside the football game tonight – but for the record, the guest stars of this evening’s episodes include “Weird Al” Yankovic and Ricky Gervais.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Jan
18
 
 
There’s an awful lot going on tonight on TV, but this 1962 movie must be mentioned, and should not be overlooked. It’s that good – and so is Gregory Peck, in this superbly tuned adaptation of Harper Lee’s classic novel. When it comes to cinematic adaptations of good literature, this one ranks among the best, and most satisfying. It also marks the cinematic debut of a young actor who had been bouncing around in small guest roles on various TV series: Robert Duvall.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Jan
18
 
 
Lady Violet (Maggie Smith) gets a blast from her past tonight – one that sheds some light into a hidden corner of her past, when she was young, and smitten by what she considered a sort of forbidden love. Details to follow… and they’re delicious. Check local listings.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Jan
17
 
 
This is not a recommendation, only a notation. Those who are extremely enthusiastic about the music and vocal abilities of the late Whitney Houston are the sweet-spot target audience for this new telemovie biography. I suspect, though, that even the most fervent fan may question this drama’s tone, approach and point of view. But if you approach with the idea not to believe much of what you see, you might be able to walk away pleased by what you hear. As in the days of some vintage movie mu
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Jan
17
 
 
SERIES PREMIERE: Nickelodeon can be accused, and arguably is guilty, of generating its TV series by formula, and by farm system – but it’s a method that works. This new series has a premise that’s perfectly suited to the network’s young, female viewers: It stars a spirited and attractive middle-school head cheerleader who steps in to become the quarterback of her school’s otherwise all-male football team. The creators of this new series, Jonathan C. Butler and Gabri
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Jan
17
 
 
Alfred Hitchcock set this thriller in the volatile political era leading up to WWII – which, at the time, since the time was 1940, meant it was as current as current could be. Joel McCrea stars in the title role, as a reporter chronicling world events with passion and bravery. An on-screen notation at the start of the film dedicates it to foreign correspondents everywhere – a dedication that’s just as meaningful, and appropriate, today.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Jan
17
 
 
SEASON PREMIERE: I’m not sold yet on this very modern-feeling retelling of the Three Musketeers story. It’s not the anachronistic brashness and sassiness – that was done, very effectively, by director Richard Lester’s movies back in the Seventies. But the chemistry and plots, for Season 1 at least, were a little lacking. Tonight, Season 2 begins, and perhaps with a midcourse correction.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Jan
17
 
 
The second half of Season 40 for SNL begins tonight, with the camera-shy Sia as the musical guest, and the anything but shy Kevin Hart as the guest host. Hart is pictured here; Sia is not.