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

 
 
2010
Mar
10
 
 
It happened Wednesday morning on the "CBS Early Show". Co-anchor Harry Smith, promoting prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer, underwent what CBS billed as "First TV Anchor to Undergo Live TV Colonoscopy." Mabel, pass the doughnuts...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2010
Mar
10
 
 
I've been meaning to address is something I've noticed in season sets for vintage series from 40-50 years back. They've got as many as 39 episodes per season, compared to today's 22-ish. (Or on cable, 13-ish.)
 
 
 
  
 
 
2010
Mar
10
 
 
Ginger Rogers is in the money for St. Patrick's Day. Turner Classic Movies' salute to this versatile actress continues with a double feature of her snappy Warner Bros. Depression musicals 42nd Street and Gold Diggers of 1933. But first, on Tuesday night, TCM's March salute to Akira Kurosawa spotlights his crime thrillers -- a side of the director little known to Americans who think first of his period samurai epics...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2010
Mar
9
 
 
Now you know how TV shows manage to afford the cinematic look of all that location shooting we've been seeing. They don't...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2010
Mar
9
 
 
Today on NPR's "Fresh Air with Terry Gross", I interview Vince Gilligan, the creator of AMC's fabulous, and delightfully unpredictable, drama series "Breaking Bad". It reminds me, all over again, why I love being associated with Fresh Air...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2010
Mar
8
 
 
The number of Best Picture nominees was doubled, from five to 10. The running time expanded, too, with ABC's telecast running more than 30 minutes over schedule. So with Monday's Oscar telecast, if less is more, is more less? More or less...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2010
Mar
8
 
 
Sometimes you just need to watch something awful. Shut down your brain. Let the recycled plots, banal dialogue and bad acting wash over you. Maybe even mock it madly, MST3K-style...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2010
Mar
5
 
 
Jay Leno has had a week to reassert himself in late night, and NBC has had the same week to re-establish itself in prime time. So who's doing better in this first phase of reshuffling? In late night, Leno is dominating the ratings, but not doing anything impressive to earn his viewers. In prime time, on the other hand, NBC is trying an interesting thing or two. Or three...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2010
Mar
4
 
 
[Bianculli here: Contributing writer Tom Brinkmoeller not only watched an early cut of tonight's CNBC special by Tom Brokaw, but spoke to its executive producer...]
 
 
 
  
 
 
2010
Mar
2
 
 
Jay Leno reclaimed his NBC "Tonight Show" throne Monday night, a month after vacating his prime-time slot. Filling that spot tonight? The premiere of NBC's new midseason drama entry, Parenthood. Reviews of both shows follow...