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Email (required) (will not be published)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 235 | Go to page:

4689 Comments

??? ??? ?? ??

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

Sep 14, 2026 | Reply

?????

????? ??, ?? ?????! ?? ???? ??? ???? ? ? ???? ????! ??, ???? ? ???

Sep 14, 2026 | Reply

???

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

Sep 14, 2026 | Reply

????

This is a great article and great read for me. It's my first visit to your blog, and I have found it so useful and informative especially this article

Sep 14, 2026 | Reply

very nice post, i surely really like this website, go on it

Sep 14, 2026 | Reply

?????

?? ??? ?? ? ??? ??? ? ??? ?? ?????. ??? ??? ?? ????? ??? ????? ??? ?? ?? ????? ?????! ????? ????? ??? ?? ??? ? ?? ????.

Sep 14, 2026 | Reply

???

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

Sep 14, 2026 | Reply

?? ??? ?? ??

?? ??? ???! ???? ?? ???? ???? ???? ? ????? ?? ??? ??? ????!

Sep 14, 2026 | Reply

?????

This Post is providing valuable and unique information, I know that you take a time and effort to make a awesome article

Sep 14, 2026 | Reply

?????

This is a great article and great read for me. It's my first visit to your blog, and I have found it so useful and informative especially this article

Sep 13, 2026 | Reply

?????

This Post is providing valuable and unique information, I know that you take a time and effort to make a awesome article

Sep 13, 2026 | Reply

??????

?? ??? ??, ?? ??? ???, ????? ??? ??? ?? ? ??? ?????. ?? ??? ?????? ????????. ?? ??!

Sep 13, 2026 | Reply

????

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

Sep 13, 2026 | Reply

??? ??? ?? ??

?? ??? ????? ?? ??? ???????. ??, ???? ?? ? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?? ??????. ? ?? ?? ?? ??? ??? ?? ??? ??? ? ?? ??? ?? ? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ?????.

Sep 13, 2026 | Reply

??????

Awesome article, it was exceptionally helpful! I simply began in this and I'm becoming more acquainted with it better! keep doing awesome!

Sep 13, 2026 | Reply

?????

Admiring the time and effort you put into your blog and detailed information you offer!.

Sep 13, 2026 | Reply

?? ??? ?? ??

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

Sep 13, 2026 | Reply

?????

I’m happy I located this blog! From time to time, students want to cognitive the keys of productive literary essays composing. Your first-class knowledge about this good post can become a proper basis for such people. nice one

Sep 13, 2026 | Reply

?????

"?? ??? ??? ??? ???? ?? ?? ???? ???????.

Sep 13, 2026 | Reply

[url=https://??????.com]?? ??? ?? ??[/url]

Hi, I log on to your new stuff like every week. Your humoristic style is witty, keep it up

Sep 12, 2026 | Reply

Page: 1 of 235 | 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