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

 
 
2012
Aug
23
 
 
Today is Gene Kelly day on Turner Classic Movies, so tune in virtually any hour of the day or night for some delightful entertainment. But for a taste of the best movie musicals ever made, visit at 10 p.m. ET for 1951’s An American in Paris (pictured), with its audaciously ambitious (and successful) climax based on a ballet tour through works of Impressionist Art – and then, at midnight ET, stay tuned for the flawless, fantastic satire about the birth of the “talkies,” 19
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Aug
23
 
 
One of tonight’s vignettes is called “Looking for Liz,” in which Louie (Louis C.K.)_ returns to the bookstore where he first met wild and crazy Liz (Parker Posey), hoping to reconnect. Instead, he meets another female handful there – an equally fervent employee played by Chloe Sevigny, in a completely different role than she just finished playing on Hit & Miss. Then again, compared to portraying a transgendered hired killer, would wouldn’t be a completely differ
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Aug
23
 
 
Last week’s installment, the second of this series, was much stronger than the first, with the new topical-humor TV host appearing more comfortable, and having a lot more to say. His interview segment with Rachel Maddow was nice and loose, and his central essay of the week, explaining why Barack Obama should be considered the President of Black America – with visual and aural evidence to support his argument. This is a new topical humor show worth adding to your viewing list, and wit
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Aug
23
 
 
It seems as though the Doctor Who series, going on 50 years in 2013, will live on, and live long...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Aug
23
 
 
Whatever your religious beliefs — or lack thereof — The American Bible Challenge is good for the soul. It's also the best new game show in years...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Aug
22
 
 
When I recently made a list of “spider-web” movies, of films that ensnare me each time they’re televised, how did I forget this one? When you’re talking about entertainingly repeatable films, this 1993 Bill Murray comedy may be the ultimate article. It’s all about repetition – up to a point. What a delightful movie, and, by Murray, what a confident, clever performance. Hard to believe, but next year, this movie will be 20 years old. Groundhogs usually don&rsqu
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Aug
22
 
 
It’s not paranoia if they really are out to get you – and as this 2006 documentary proves conclusively, the United States government was out to get John Lennon. Get him out of the country, that is, even though all the former Beatle wanted to do was live in New York City. Sadly, that’s where he died instead – but not before winning his battle to live there in peace.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Aug
22
 
 
The flash-aheads and teases are over – or, at least, converging. Tonight, Ellen (Rose Byrne) and Patty (Glenn Close) are so eager to face each other and duel in court that they each, independently, scuttle their respective clients’ plans for a plea bargain. These two women want to butt heads, and horns, in court – and it looks like they’re about to do precisely that.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Aug
22
 
 
SERIES FINALE: Part 2 of 2. Terence Wrong’s strong summer series concludes with one final captivating hour, rotating among several touching medical stories – some life-and-death, others quality-of-life. Among the former: investment banker Rita Severino (pictured), mother of two, who has to calculate the risks of having a complex operation to remove a large tumor behind her liver, or sell herself short. The operation requires removing, then replacing in their proper places, all of her
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Aug
22
 
 
Tonight’s new episode is titled “Viva Mars Vegas,” which means, for Fry and the gang, another bling-filled trip to the interplanetary vacation spot of the future. Futurama has visited Mars Vegas before, but this is the newly reopened version, which even comes with a new slogan: “What You Don’t Know About Your Bedspread Won’t Hurt You.” Yikes.