SATURDAY
AUGUST 5
2017

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

This is the last edition of Saturday night’s The Essentials series on TCM in which Alec Baldwin’s co-host is former 30 Rock co-star Tina Fey. Next week, William Friedkin takes over. But for now, Fey and Baldwin end their summer run by presenting a perfect movie musical: 1952’s Singin’ in the Rain, a joyous depiction of Hollywood during the transition from silent movies to the sound era. Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, and a young ingénue named Debbie Reynolds star.

 
  
 
 

BBC America, 10:00 p.m. ET

We’re so close to the end of Orphan Black, and the stakes are so high for all the remaining characters, that you can almost count on at least one death per week from now on. Last week’s episode delivered on that promise, or that threat – and it wouldn’t surprise me if tonight’s does as well.

 
  
 
 

HBO, 10:00 p.m. ET

From the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., George Lopez presents his fourth standup comedy special for HBO. But this one is political, and it’s live – which, the way news is breaking these days, is the only way to deal with political humor these days. Current events, that’s one thing – but current events don’t begin to describe today’s pace of the daily news flow. It isn’t a current. It’s a tidal wave.

 
  
 
 

TCM, 10:00 p.m. ET

On The Essentials tonight, guest co-host Tina Fey admits to always having had a crush on Gene Kelly, star of Singin’ in the Rain. And Kelly’s on view in this movie that’s paired tonight with Rain, though it’s a very, very different type of film. Inherit the Wind, filmed eight years after Singin’ in the Rain, features Kelly in a dramatic role, a supporting but key player in this intense play inspired by the infamous Scopes “monkey trial.” Evolution, education and religion are argued before the bench, in a sweltering hot southern courtroom. Fredric March argues the conservative religious side, and Spencer Tracy argues in favor of science, and facts. You’re your own contemporary parallels – please. And the young teacher defended by Kelly and Tracy? He’s played by Dick York, TV’s original Darrin on Bewitched.

 
  
 
 
 
 
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 Email (required) (will not be published)
 
SPLTI
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 201  | Go to page: 
4011 Comments
 
 
Stunning! Such an astonishing and accommodating post this is. I super love it. It's so great thus amazing. I am simply stunned. I trust that you keep on doing your work like this later on moreover.
Jun 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I definitely enjoying every little bit of this blog. It is a great website and nice share. I want to thank you. Good job! You guys do a great blog, and have some great contents. Keep up the good work
Jun 14, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
??? ???,? ???? ??? ?? ??????. ? ???? ????? ????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?? ??? ? ??? ?? ???? ?????!
Jun 14, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
??? ???,? ???? ??? ?? ??????. ? ???? ????? ????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?? ??? ? ??? ?? ???? ?????!
Jun 14, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
??? ??? ??????. t ? ?? ind personilly wtll certitnly dtgtt? ?????. t'm conftdent ??? thts webstte?? gitned ? ????
Jun 14, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I will right away clutch your rss feed as I can not in finding your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Please let me recognize so that I may subscribe.
Jun 14, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
??? ??? ?????? ????? ? ???? ???? ???? ??? ????. ??? ???? ??? ?? ? ??? ?? ???? ?? ? ? ????.
Jun 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
Jun 14, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This is a fantastic website, thanks for sharing. There's no doubt i would fully rate it after i read what the idea about this article is. You did a nice
Jun 14, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This is a fantastic website, thanks for sharing. There's no doubt i would fully rate it after i read what the idea about this article is. You did a nice
Jun 14, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
It’s really a fantastic website, thanks for sharing. There's no doubt i would fully rate it after i read what the idea about this article is. You did a nice
Jun 14, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Thank you for taking the time to share with us
Jun 14, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Cool stuff you have and you keep overhaul every one of us
Jun 14, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This is my first time i visit here. I found so many entertaining stuff in your blog, especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the leisure here! Keep up the good work. I have been meaning to write something like this on my website and you have given me an idea.
Jun 14, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
i was just browsing along and came upon your blog. just wanted to say good blog and this article really helped me
Jun 14, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I was surfing net and fortunately came across this site and found very interesting stuff here. Its really fun to read. I enjoyed a lot. Thanks for sharing this wonderful information
Jun 14, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Thank you so much as you have been willing to share information with us. We will forever admire all you have done here because you have made my work as easy as ABC.
Jun 14, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I discovered your this post while hunting down some related data on website search...Its a decent post..keep posting and upgrade the data
Jun 14, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Uncommon tips and clear. This will be to a great degree supportive for me when I get a chance to start my blog
Jun 14, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
??
I really enjoyed reading this since it focused on useful points. Well done on putting this together.
Jun 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 201  | 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.