FRIDAY

AUGUST 11

2017

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

Netflix, 3:00 a.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: This new Netflix series stars Jennifer Jason Leigh as a mother fiercely determined to help her teen child, who’s autistic, navigate the world. Keir Gilchrist plays Sam, an 18-year-old on the higher end of the autism spectrum, and Michael Rapaport and Brigette Lundy-Paine play his father and sister, respectively. Tonally, Atypical is a comedy with sharp edges, closest on the TV comedy spectrum to ABC’s Speechless, which is about the supportive yet barely functional family of a nonverbal high school boy with cerebral palsy. For a full review, see David Hinckley's All Along the Watchtower.

THE VIEW

ABC, 11:00 a.m. ET

Today is the 20^th anniversary of this daytime ABC talk show. To mark the occasion, David Hinckley analyzes its history and legacy in a new All Along the Watchtower column. And ABC, to mark the same occasion, today is repeating the original, inaugural View installment from Aug. 11, 1997. Barbara Walters is there, along with Meredith Vieira, Joy Behar, Debbie Matenopoulos, and Star Jones.

SON OF SAM: THE KILLER SPEAKS

CBS, 10:00 p.m. ET

SPECIAL: In the mid-1970s, David Berkowitz terrorized New York City with a series of random shootings. He remains in prison – and on the 40^th anniversary of his capture, the self-described “Son of Sam” killer is interviewed by Maurice DuBois.

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER

HBO, 10:00 p.m. ET

Quite a lineup tonight: Bill Maher’s scheduled guests include Richard Dawkins, Jim Parsons, Jon Meacham, and Fareed Zakaria.

TOP HAT

TCM, 10:00 p.m. ET

Today is Ginger Rogers day on TCM – and included in the movies showcasing her is the ultimate movie musical pairing her with Fred Astaire, 1935’s Top Hat. It’s a black-and-white study in sheer opulence and grace and class, and not only when Rogers and Astaire are on the dance floor. Top Hat has some great Irving Berlin songs, including the title number and “Cheek to Cheek,” as well as some fairly sophisticated and sexy comedy, particularly for the era. And TV fans get a special brief treat: Watch for the unnamed flower shop clerk. She’s played by a young actress named Lucille Ball.

<< PREVIOUS | NEXT >>

Read and add comments HERE for today's Best Bets!

Leave a Comment: (No HTML, 1000 chars max)

Name (required)

Email (required) (will not be published)


Type in the verification word shown on the image.

Page: 1 of 208 | Go to page:

4148 Comments

BNG ?????

Efficiently written information. It will be profitable to anybody who utilizes it, counting me. Keep up the good work. For certain I will review out more posts day in and day out

Jul 7, 2026 | Reply

????? ??? ?????

"Very interesting blog. Alot of blogs I see these days don't really provide anything that I'm interested in, but I'm most definately interested in this one. Just thought that I would post and let you know.
"

Jul 7, 2026 | Reply

?????

Thank you for such a well written article. It’s full of insightful information and entertaining descriptions. Your point of view is the best

Jul 7, 2026 | Reply

????? ??

Hey, this day is too much good for me, since this time I am reading this enormous informative article here at my home. Thanks a lot for massive hard work

Jul 7, 2026 | Reply

CQ9 ?? ??? ??

The appearance positively wonderful. All of these miniature info are fashioned utilizing massive amount historical past experience. I want it all significantly

Jul 7, 2026 | Reply

?? ????

This article gives the light in which we can observe the reality. This is very nice one and gives indepth information. Thanks for this nice article

Jul 7, 2026 | Reply

????

Everything has its own value, but this is really precious information shared by Author

Jul 7, 2026 | Reply

???????

Very likely I’m going to bookmark your blog . You absolutely have wonderful stories. Cheers for sharing with us your blo

Jul 7, 2026 | Reply

Sell GPU servers

Pretty good post. I have just stumbled upon your blog and enjoyed reading your blog posts very much. I am looking for new posts to get more precious info. Big thanks for the useful info.

Jul 7, 2026 | Reply

??? ????

don't forget, keep sharing useful infoSo grab a drink, roll the dice, and let’s get began! With an LLC, you will have to file paperwork with the Secretary of State (or different company) to type the organization.

Jul 7, 2026 | Reply

????

Hey! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with us so I came to give it a look. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Terrific blog and amazing design.| You reported this exceptionally well! fda kratom

Jul 7, 2026 | Reply

https://wonderl.ink/@manilatooto

Excellent analysis! Your perspective on this matter provides a lot of value to the community. I recently saved for future reference, and your points align perfectly with their updated guidelines. Thanks for putting this together.

Jul 6, 2026 | Reply

https://www.nanaimolandscaping.ca/

The majority of coach bags labeling tend to be steel although not all are.

Jul 6, 2026 | Reply

???????

The appearance positively wonderful. All of these miniature info are fashioned utilizing massive amount historical past experience. I want it all significantly

Jul 5, 2026 | Reply

jacktoto

Sialan para penipu ini karena telah mencuri uang dan kepercayaan orang lain.

Jul 5, 2026 | Reply

?????

??? ???? ??????. ?? ??? ?? ??? ??? ?? ????. ?? ??? ?????. ? ???? ??? ?? ?????.

Jul 5, 2026 | Reply

??????

?? ??? ? ?? ???? ???? ? ?? ?? ?? ? ????. ?? ??? ??? ???? ??? ? ????

Jul 5, 2026 | Reply

?????

?? ??? ? ?? ???? ???? ? ?? ?? ?? ? ????. ?? ??? ??? ???? ??? ? ????

Jul 5, 2026 | Reply

?????

?? ??? ? ?? ???? ???? ? ?? ?? ?? ? ????. ?? ??? ??? ???? ??? ? ????

Jul 5, 2026 | Reply

???

??? ???? ??????. ?? ??? ?? ??? ??? ?? ????. ?? ??? ?????. ? ???? ??? ?? ?????.

Jul 5, 2026 | Reply

Page: 1 of 208 | Go to page:

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.

New From TVWW

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

Netflix, 3:00 a.m. ET

ABC, 11:00 a.m. ET

CBS, 10:00 p.m. ET

HBO, 10:00 p.m. ET

TCM, 10:00 p.m. ET

David Bianculli

PBS' 'Frontline’ Examines Pension Promises and — Spoiler Alert — Finds the Math Doesn’t Add Up

The Decadence of ‘Versailles’ Comes to Ovation

Prescribing Mamie Gummer in 'Emily Owens, M.D.'

Looking for a Free Ride? HBO Can Deliver

'Pass the Biscuits' Part of the Hatfield-McCoy Pop-Culture Legacy