SATURDAY
DECEMBER 1
2012

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET

Few Christmas TV traditions remain, but here’s one of them. This 1946 Frank Capra holiday classic used to be shown by a ridiculous number of local stations and cable networks each year – until the film’s rights were rescued from public domain, and NBC landed a contract to televise the film exclusively, twice each year. This is the first of this month’s two prime-time NBC telecasts, with James Stewart and Donna Reed starring in a story of a small-town banker. Events of recent years have made its story of risky mortgages even more potent – and poignant.
 
  
 
 

ABC Family, 8:00 p.m. ET

When this 2003 comedy was released in theaters, Will Ferrell, as a human raised by elves, was the big star. His female co-star, Zooey Deschanel, was relatively unknown at the time – as was the strength of her singing voice, now on fine display as the distaff half of She & Him. But in this movie, Ferrell hears her singing in the shower, and is enchanted. Understandably, and, in retrospect, a few years ahead of the national curve.
 
  
 
 

Bravo, 8:00 p.m. ET

Aaron Sorkin wrote the play on which this 1992 movie was based, and wrote the screenplay, too. Presto: Before the decade was out, he was writing The West Wing. But here’s his big starting break, a little movie starring Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson. I guess everyone has to start somewhere.
 
  
 
 

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

Preston Sturges is the man behind this inspired satire and love letter to Hollywood moviemaking, a 1941 film that somehow seems more modern all the time. Joel McCrea stars as a movie director who decides to make more meaningful films, and Veronica Lake plays the woman who accompanies him on his journeys to experience hardship firsthand.
 
  
 
 

Bravo, 10:00 p.m. ET

Tom Hanks stars in this 1995 movie, directed by Ron Howard, that manages to be a real thriller, even though the outcome of the 1970 lunar mission is well known. Fabulous supporting cast, and a fantastic story – which, in this case, is true.
 
  
 
 
 
 
Read and add comments HERE for today's Best Bets!
 
 
 
 
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2683 Comments
 
 
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I quite enjoyed reading it, you could be a great author.I will be sure to bookmark your blog and will eventually come back at some point.
Jul 4, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
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Dave Bianculli
What topic is that sweet-cheeks??

Love,

Dave
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Dave Bianculli
ooooh Vandana,

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Fondly,

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Dave Bianculli
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just kidding, I was pretending I was a MAGAidiot.
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Dave Bianculli
From your lips to God's ears, Concrete!! ROTFLMBFAO!!

Thank you for the supportive message. I remain:

Your Humble Servant,

Dave
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Dave Bianculli
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Dave
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David Bianculli

Founder / Editor

David Bianculli has been a TV critic since 1975, including a 14-year stint at the New York Daily News, and sees no reason to stop now. Currently, he's TV critic for NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, and is an occasional substitute host for that show. He's also an author and teaches TV and film history at New Jersey's Rowan University. His 2009 Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story of 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour', has been purchased for film rights. His latest, The Platinum Age of Television: From I Love Lucy to the Walking Dead, How TV Became Terrific, is an effusive guidebook that plots the path from the 1950s’ Golden Age to today’s era of quality TV.