Yesterday I raved about Joss Whedon's new online musical serial comedy, "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog," and urged people to check it out. Boy, am I influential. An hour later, because of a flood of interest overwhelming the site's servers, the website crashed...

2008

Jul

JOSS WHEDON'S "DR. HORRIBLE" IS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED By David Bianculli

After a day devoted to Fox -- where we saw what's likely to be the best new show for fall from the broadcast networks (Fringe), sat through a surprisingly civil Fox News press conference (featuring Karl Rove) and tried to pry plot points out of largely reluctant representatives for "24" and "The Sarah Connor Chronicles" -- an entertaining jolt arrived from outside the TV press tour umbrella...

2008

Jul

"FRINGE" IS FABULOUS: J. J. ABRAMS AND COMPANY DO IT AGAIN, THIS TIME FOR FOX By David Bianculli

"Fringe," the new paranormal Fox drama series from J.J. Abrams and company, finally was screened for TV critics, long after an incomplete rough cut surfaced on the Internet. After seeing the finished pilot and interviewing the show's creators and cast, I can report the good news that Fringe is off to a fabulous start, and seems to know precisely where it's headed. The bad news? There is no bad news...

2008

Jul

REOPENING "THE CLOSER," TRYING TO SAVE "GRACE," DIVING INTO TCA PRESS TOUR By David Bianculli

Before lunch in Los Angeles today, Fox is holding a press conference tied to the most anticipated series of the fall: "Fringe," the new series co-created by J.J. Abrams of "Lost." So check back around 3 p.m. ET, and I'll provide breaking coverage of what I expect will be the biggest hit of the opening half of the 2008-09 TV season.

2008

Jul

HBO'S "GENERATION KILL" CAUGHT BETWEEN IRAQ AND A HARD PLACE By David Bianculli

"Generation Kill," the new HBO miniseries beginning Sunday night at 9 ET, aims to do for the current war in Iraq what the same network's "Band of Brothers" miniseries did for WWII: dramatize it from the ground up, from grunt level, to approximate the confusion, boredom, bravery, fear, humor, tension, ineptitude, trust, triumph and tragedy of war.

2008

Jul

TCA PRESS TOUR: CANARIES IN THE COAL MINE, WITH NOTE PADS?... AND AN UPDATE! By David Bianculli

Since I'm not joining the Television Critics Association press tour until Monday, I've been relying on phone calls, press accounts and dispatches from TV WORTH WATCHING's own Diane Werts to learn about the Big Buzz this year. And so far, by all accounts, the Big Buzz appears to be generating around... wait for it... the TCA Press Tour itself...

2008

Jul

AFTRA VOTES TO SETTLE, FELLOW UNION'S HOPES SAG By David Bianculli

The biggest news coming out of Hollywood right now isn't coming from the press tour, but from the union halls. The American Federation of TV and Radio Artists (AFTRA) has announced that more than 60 percent of its 70,000 members voted last night to accept the proposed three-year deal, and thus avoid a strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP)...

2008

Jul

MINISODES, MINI-SEASONS AND MINI-PRESS TOURS By David Bianculli

Tonight at 10 p.m. ET, the FX series "Rescue Me" presents the latest self-described minisode, featuring star Denis Leary and company in a short stand-alone segment. How short? The closing credits run at 10:05...

2008

Jul

TCM STAYS TRUE TO ITS IDENTITY -- A CABLE RARITY THESE DAYS By David Bianculli

True story: A decade ago, I was in Diana Rigg's New York hotel room, concluding an interview with her regarding her hosting and acting chores on the PBS "Mystery!" series, when she said she wanted to show me something, and ushered me into her bedroom. (Sigh...)

2008

Jul

LINDA ELLERBEE, AS ALWAYS, TREATS KIDS LIKE ADULTS By David Bianculli

Looking for family specials keyed to the 4th of July weekend? One of the best is the latest "Nick News with Linda Ellerbee" special on Nickelodeon (9 p.m. ET Sunday), titled Coming Home: When Parents Return from War. It explains a lot. It speaks clearly and cleverly. It never condescends...

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