It’s the first fresh installment of The Middle for 2017 – and one that, appropriately enough, is centered around the aftermath of a New Year’s celebration. But this one finds Frankie and company venturing into Orson’s safe room – which hardly seems a safe way to begin a new year.

2017

Jan

AMERICAN MASTERS: "BY SIDNEY LUMET" By David Bianculli

By Sidney Lumet relies almost exclusively upon an interview with the director, filmed a few years before his death in 2011. As such, the perspective on Lumet’s film and life are mostly his, which is more of a lazy way out for the usually rigorous American Masters standards for an artistic biography. Also, while his Dog Day Afternoon and Serpico movies with Al Pacino get their proper due, there’s far too little time given to scriptwriter Paddy Chayefsky’s masterpiece Network, an

2017

Jan

COOL HAND LUKE By David Bianculli

From 1967, this is one of Paul Newman’s best performances, and best films. Armed with those two facts, if you don’t tune in to sample this seminal prison chain gang film, then what we have here is a failure to communicate.

2017

Jan

BONES By David Bianculli

SEASON PREMIERE: This is the start of the 12th and final season for Bones, and it’s one directed by the show’s co-star, Emily Deschanel. It also features former cast regular Eric Millegan as Zach Addy, who ended last season by kidnapping Deschanel’s Brennan. Addy was one of the investigative group’s interns way back in Season 3, and the Bones folks have been cycling their way through interns ever since, the way Candice Bergen’s title character ran through personal a

2017

Jan

FRONTLINE: "PRESIDENT TRUMP" By David Bianculli

Interviews drawn from The Choice 2016 examine how Donald Trump made the successful transition from real estate developer and reality-TV host to the country’s new POTUS – and, for this new edition of Frontline, uses as its title the title that Trump will inherit officially in a matter of weeks. Check local listings.

2017

Jan

THE TWILIGHT ZONE MARATHON By David Bianculli

The three-day Twilight Zone marathon continues, and continues to suck me in to its vortex. I look forward most to the episodes I’ve seen the least, or the installments that have a special resonance for me after all these years. That includes today’s showing, at 3:30 p.m. ET, of What’s in the Box, a seldom-shown 1964 story starring William Demarest and Joan Blondell as a long-married couple who find their everyday trials and tribulations reflected in their newly repaired televis

2017

Jan

DOWNTON ABBEY MARATHON By David Bianculli

Another marathon that has been continuing all year long (okay, so the year’s only into day two) continues and concludes today, with PBS’s Downton Abbey running through its later episodes, all day long until 10:30 p.m. ET tonight. Watch, in particular, for Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley, who drops her primness and lets loose a bit as the Roaring Twenties arrive – but it’s nothing compared to how Dockery has let loose as the wig-wearing, scene-stealing, everything-st

2017

Jan

THE NEW CELEBRITY APPRENTICE By David Bianculli

SERIES RETURN: This is a warning, not a recommendation. This reboot of NBC’s The Apprentice was filmed early last year, when the chances of former host Donald Trump actually becoming President of the United States seemed absurdly slim. Now it arrives to launch the New Year, with Trump, as President-Elect, continuing to be associated with this show and reportedly maintaining his salaried credit as one of its executive producers. The new host is another show business personality turned polit

2017

Jan

JOHN STEINBECK FILM FESTIVAL By David Bianculli

Films based on John Steinbeck stories are showcased this month on TCM, starting with tonight’s classic 1955 version of East of Eden, produced and directed by Elia Kazan and starring James Dean and Julie Harris. But watch also for 1943’s The Moon Is Down at 10:15 p.m. ET; 1982’s underrated Cannery Row, with Nick Note and Debra Winger, at midnight ET; and, following that, two stunning late-night cinematic classics. At 2:15 a.m. ET is 1940’s The Grapes of Wrath (pictured), s

2017

Jan

A MOMENT OF (GREEN) ZEN By Eric Gould

After last year’s wild ride, we’re kicking off 2017 with a five-minute meditation; a bit of reality programming from a middle-of-the-night chauffeured view from the dashboard cam of driver Noah Forman — who made 236 green lights (and one yellow) in New York City in 26 minutes...

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