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DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

Bianculli's Blog

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

The Cold Light Reader

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Dateline Donovan
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All Along the Watchtower

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TV That Matters

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Ed Martin's TV Mix

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MNtv

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TV Feeds My Family

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Must-Click TV

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Raised On MTM

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TVWW ARCHIVE

Contributors Archive
 
 
2012
Nov
5
CASTLE By David Bianculli
 
 
In tonight’s episode, Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Beckett (Stana Katic) attend a sci-fi convention to investigate a murder. As you might expect, given Fillion’s fantasy-cred resume (his credits include Firefly, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, all for Joss Whedon), this episode is a very playful and respectful nod to fans of such shows. And yes, in-jokes abound, so be on the lookout for Extras.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Nov
5
1987: 'BEVERLY HILLS BUNTZ' DEBUTS By Christy Slewinski
 
 
On this day in 1987, NBC premiered the Hill Street Blues spinoff, Beverly Hills Buntz...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Nov
5
FIVE YEARS LATER, TV WORTH WATCHING – AND TELEVISION – ARE STILL HERE By David Bianculli
 
 

Monday is the fifth anniversary of TV Worth Watching, which launched Nov. 5, 2007, the same day the TV writers went on strike. The strike didn’t last, but TVWW has…

 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Nov
5
FIVE YEARS LATER, TV WORTH WATCHING – AND TELEVISION – ARE STILL HERE By David Bianculli
 
 
November 5, 2012 marked the fifth anniversary of the TVWW launch, and readers wrote in to congratulate David and the writers. One loyal reader said, "I tell people that I love TV, but that I only watch the hidden gems, the shows that you have to spend a lot of time digging for, unless you use TV Worth Watching to find them. Congratulations, and please, keep it up!"
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Nov
4
THE GOLDEN AGE OF TELEVISION By David Bianculli
 
 
This Criterion Collection presents the best-possible restored versions of eight classic live televised dramas from TV’s Golden Age...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Nov
4
THE PINK PANTHER By David Bianculli
 
 
I have a special soft spot for this 1963 Peter Sellers movie, which was one of my dad’s favorite comedy films, and one which we watched together at many opportunities – which, in those old pre-VCR days, meant repeated trips to movie revival houses and South Florida drive-in theaters. But here it is, in prime time, uninterrupted, featuring some of the funniest sight gags since the grand era of silent movies. And featuring some very funny sound gags, too, led by Sellers’ hilariou
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Nov
4
THE WALKING DEAD By David Bianculli
 
 
Interesting call: Last week’s episode was devoted entirely to Andrea (Lori Holden), whose whereabouts since separating from the rest of the group have been largely unknown. Now they’re known: She’s been teamed with and protected by Michonne (Danai Gurira), and wandering the land – until she as taken in by the Governor (David Morrissey), who rules a barricaded community that makes the prison look like an open house. We also learned that the Governor was not what he seems &
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Nov
4
THE GOOD WIFE By David Bianculli
 
 
This episode is loaded with even more guest stars than usual, including two of my favorites: Brian Dennehy and Denis O’Hare. And that’s only the start of the list, in a new hour directed by Josh Charles and also including guest stars Christina Ricci and Amanda Peet.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Nov
4
TREME By David Bianculli
 
 
Last week’s episode, in which Davis (Steve Zahn) got to visit local New Orleans legend Fats Domino, provided an unexpected TV highlight: While watching and hearing the veteran musician quietly but enjoyably singing “Blueberry Hill,” I found my thrill.  And Janette (Kim Dickens) had me salivating about her legs – those upscale friend chicken legs, one of the new dishes for her about-to-open restaurant. Every week on this show, both the music and the food make me smile
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Nov
4
HOMELAND By David Bianculli
 
 
Last week, I wrote that “Last week’s episode stunned me.” This week, I could – and will – write the same thing. The intense, lengthy interrogation scene between Carrie (Claire Danes) and Brody (Damian Lewis) was, quite simply, marvelous television. Wow.
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
New From TVWW

PBS' 'Frontline’ Examines Pension Promises and — Spoiler Alert — Finds the Math Doesn’t Add Up
By Alex Strachan
 
 
 
 
The Decadence of ‘Versailles’ Comes to Ovation
By David Hinckley
 
 
 
 
Prescribing Mamie Gummer in 'Emily Owens, M.D.'
By Ed Bark
 
 
 
 
Looking for a Free Ride? HBO Can Deliver
By Christy Slewinski
 
 
 
 
'Pass the Biscuits' Part of the Hatfield-McCoy Pop-Culture Legacy
By Noel Holston
 
 
 
 

Dispatches From TVWW

'Extinction: The Facts' is a Sobering Call to Action
By David Hinckley
 
 
 
 
How 'Mayans' Has Been Influenced by the Show's Creator Elgin James
By Mike Hughes
 
 
 
 
For Whom the Bell Tolls: Ken Burns and Lynn Novick Take on Ernest Hemingway, the Man and the Myth
By Alex Strachan
 
 
 
 
In the Final Season, Sutton Foster's Liza is Now the Genuine Version of Her 'Younger' Self
By Monique Nazareth
 
 
 
 
Season 2 of 'City on a Hill' Returns with Kevin Bacon, Aldis Hodge, and Boston Corruption
By David Hinckley