On this season’s penultimate episode, Karl Pilkington travels to Japan, where he climbs Mount Fuji, tours Tokyo, encounters the world’s steepest roller coaster, and climbs in the ring with a Sumo wrestler. My money's on Karl... but only to be entertaining.

2012

Mar

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE By David Bianculli

Lindsay Lohan returns to SNL for her first guest-hosting gig in six years – and her first appearance post-rehab. On Late Night with Jimmy Fallon this week, she extracted a promise from the host to appear with her on her SNL comeback show, so Fallon, as well as Lohan, is someone to watch tonight. The musical guest is – well, really, this week, who cares?

2012

Mar

BIG BAND VOCALISTS PREVIEW - PBS By Diane Werts

It's almost worth sitting through PBS pledge drives just to see the great music specials they bribe us with. This weekend, it's Big Band Vocalists with Peggy Lee, June Christy, Perry Como, the Andrews Sisters, and many more. (Check local times, but here are a few on Saturday: New York's WNET/13 at 8 p.m., Philadelphia's WHYY/12 at 6 p.m., Chicago's WTTW/11 at 7 p.m.) Also this weekend on public TV stations: Superstars of '70s Soul (check listings). - DW

2012

Mar

MOYERS & COMPANY By David Bianculli

(Friday-Sunday, Check Local Listings) For the first time since returning to public television, Bill Moyers takes a break. (Hey, the February sweeps are over – the man’s not dumb.) But his mini-break is a break for viewers as well, because tonight Moyers & Company repeats the excellent, informative series premiere, in which Moyers questions political scientists Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson, authors of Winner-Take-All Politics: How Washington Made the Rich Richer – And Turne

2012

Mar

BIOGRAPHY: "THE MONKEES" By David Bianculli

Added to Biography’s schedule after the death earlier this week of Davy Jones, this program is the first half of a timely documentary double feature. For more about the legacy and history of the Monkees, read Diane Werts’ For Better or Werts column HERE, and my own Bianculli’s Blog entry HERE.

2012

Mar

THE RIGHT STUFF By David Bianculli

Next year, this ambitious Philip Kaufman movie, based on the Tom Wolfe history of NASA, will be 30 years old. On TCM, that makes it a new kid on the block – but here, especially, it’s worth an enthusiastic visit. This network will show it widescreen, and uninterrupted – the best way to enjoy the amazing photography, and take in the full scope of the performances by Sam Shepard, Ed Harris, Dennis Quaid, Scott Glenn and others.

2012

Mar

BIOGRAPHY REMEMBERS: "DAVY JONES" By David Bianculli

This is the second half of tonight’s quickly scheduled double bill, honoring the life and music of Davy Jones. So tonight’s viewing advice, in four words: Monkee see? Monkee do!

2012

Mar

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER By David Bianculli

After a week off, Bill Maher should be fresh and feisty – and tonight, his show features two of its most talkative, provocative and entertaining frequent guests. One is Neil deGrasse Tyson (at left), a frequent fixture on PBS science shows as well, who has a formidable gift of getting to the heart of complicated subjects and explaining them simply. Another is James Carville, who, especially in front of a live audience, loves to poke the bear and say volatile things.

2012

Mar

TRIBUTE: DAVY JONES AND THE MONKEES CHANGE THE WORLD By Diane Werts

It's not quite the loss of a Beatle. But it's obviously up there in pop culture significance, considering how TV and other media played up Wednesday's news of the death of Davy Jones, star of TV touchstone The Monkees and the top-selling rock band of the same name...Some will scoff -- The Monkees were a manufactured group, their '60s show looks silly, et al. But Davy Jones' death seemed to strike a chord in baby boomers...

2012

Mar

HEY, HEY, IT'S THE MONKEES -- MY MEMORIES OF DAVY JONES AND COMPANY By David Bianculli

Wednesday's death of Davy Jones hit the media hard, and hit us here at TVWW as well. Managing editor Diane Werts has written a wonderful For Better or Werts column explaining, extolling and encapsulating the Monkees and their impact and influence...And I have my own memories and observations to add as well -- starting with the fact that, when I was a young teen, The Monkees were the first group I ever saw in concert. I even remember, quite well, their opening act that day in Miami on July 9, 1967. It was a guy named Jimi Hendrix...

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