Eddie Redmayne is getting lots of attention, and a likely Oscar nomination, for starring as Stephen Hawking in the 2014 biographical drama, The Theory of Everything. Ten years before that, however, another dashing young man starred as Hawking in a biographical movie also – this one made for BBC-TV in 2004, starring a then-little-known actor named Benedict Cumberbatch. And this year, the man who plays TV’s Sherlock is getting raves, and his own share of Oscar-nomination buzz, for play

2015

Jan

GLEE By David Bianculli

SEASON PREMIERE: For this two-hour season opener of Glee, Rachel (Lea Michele) returns to her old high school, and the New Directions glee club, to take the reins and keep the program running. And she does so while tackling the most popular show tune in years: “Let It Go,” from the Disney animated musical Frozen.

2015

Jan

MURDER BY DEATH By David Bianculli

Neil Simon wrote this 1976 movie spoof of the mystery genre in general, and Agatha Christie novels in particular. And what a cast was assembled for this movie: Peter Falk, Peter Sellers, Alec Guinness, Truman Capote, Eileen Brennan, Maggie Smith, David Niven, James Coco… and even more than that. In the study. With a lead pipe…

2015

Jan

GREAT PERFORMANCES: “AMERICAN VOICES WITH RENEE FLEMING” By David Bianculli

Reneé Fleming is not only the host of this 2013 event at Kennedy Center – she also was its instigator: design a series of master classes, lectures and performances, all tied to celebrating the best American vocalists, in many different genres. This very condensed overview of that multi-day event includes peeks at such master classes as Alison Krauss in country, Ben Folds in rock, and Sutton Foster representing Broadway. They all perform in the celebratory concert, along with Josh Gr

2015

Jan

BANSHEE By David Bianculli

SEASON PREMIERE: It’s Season 3 for Banshee, an action show that revels in, rather than apologizes for, its violent excesses, yet injects enough character and mystery to keep it from being dismissed, however absurd its basic premise (mystery drifter assumes identity of local lawman, with some people fooled, others in on the ruse). One good note for this coming season: It makes room for a new recurring guest star, Denis O’Hare, who’s been doing such original and creepy work of la

2015

Jan

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER By David Bianculli

SEASON PREMIERE: If you caught Bill Maher on Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night ABC talk show (ABC late night being Maher’s old stomping grounds, back in the days of Politically Incorrect), you already know he’s got plenty to say about recent, and very current, events – the Islamic terrorist attack on satirists in Paris, the allegations of Bill Cosby as a sexual predator, and the North Korean hacking reaction to the comedy film The Interview. Without question, Maher should cover a

2015

Jan

TIM ROBBINS IS ON 'THE BRINK' - AND THAT'S A GOOD THING By David Bianculli

PASADENA, CA – Seven years ago, Tim Robbins appeared before the National Association of Broadcasters, begging them to do better, more meaningful work. Now he’s on HBO, walking the walk as part of the team presenting The Brink…

2015

Jan

2015 TCA PRESS TOUR BEGINS WITH BILL NYE AND OTHER SCIENCE GUYS By David Bianculli

PASADENA, CA – There’s no science to the Television Critics Association press tour. But Wednesday, as the multi-week press event began, science on TV was well represented…

2015

Jan

CLEAR AND PRESENT DOOFUS: FX SPY SATIRE 'ARCHER' RETURNS By Eric Gould

The FX animated Archer returns for another season of crass sexual remarks, throwback wardrobe and Archer’s usual first-rate bungling of almost everything he touches...

2015

Jan

AMERICAN IDOL By David Bianculli

SEASON PREMIERE: Part 2 of 2. This week’s launch of Cycle 14 of American Idol continues, with, if all goes according to plan, more talent (like 15-year-old Emily Brooke, shown here), and fewer made-to-ridicule showoffs and delusionals, in the early mix.

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