SUNDAY
AUGUST 6
2017

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

Showtime, 8:00 p.m. ET

Last week, Twin Peaks: The Return finally made room for one of the original series’ central figures: Audrey Horne, played by Sherilyn Fenn. We waited until Episode 12 of the new series to see her, and see where and with whom Audrey ended up with after all these years. And now it’s Episode 13, and there’s truly no telling who might be showing up this week. Spare moments of Twin Peaks: The Return have matched the appealing oddness of the original, but we still are in search of a satisfying primary plot – and explanations for lots of what we’ve seen so far. Like, how did Audrey escape the explosion when she had chained herself in protest to an ultimately blown-up bank in the end of the original Twin Peaks? Oh, well. Since Kyle MacLachlan’s Dale Cooper was trapped in some alternate Black Lodge reality at the end of that show, with an evil doppelganger taking his place possessed by the spirit of Killer Bob – and since, 13 episodes in, we still haven’t gotten back to the “real” Cooper yet, what right do I have to complain? If there’s one thing about which David Lynch is consistent, it’s inconsistency. For example: All season, Twin Peaks: The Return has been televised Sundays at 9 p.m. ET – but beginning tonight, it moves back an hour, to 8.

 
  
 
 

Syfy, 8:00 p.m. ET

Syfy’s Sharknado franchise is the Pet Rocks of modern TV. There’s no explaining how an idea this basic, and this stupid, ever got this popular. Yet here it is, with a rabid social media following that keeps these tongue-in-cheek, teeth-in-mouth shark movies coming, each more intentionally absurd than the last. Ian Ziering and Tara Reid continue to star, and a bewildering array of guest stars make cameo appearances, usually as some type of instantly devoured shark victim. One thing about Sharknado 5 that’s worth applauding, though, is its sloganeering. Not only is Global Swarming a clever subtitle, but this latest Sharknado outing has an unbeatable tag line it’s using on promos: “Make America bait again.”

 
  
 
 

CNN, 9:00 p.m. ET

This week’s installment is called Terrorism Hits Home – yet it also focuses on terrorism abroad, and how it finds its way to U.S. targets and operations. One terrorist introduced in this decade, and covered in The Nineties, is Osama bin Laden. More on him in future decades…

 
  
 
 

HBO, 9:00 p.m. ET

The episode shown tonight was pirated and leaked online a few days ago. But I didn’t see it, so whatever otherwise top-secret intrigues occur in tonight’s episode, they’re still secret to me. But I have a feeling, just from the promotional photos that were released officially in advance, that Daenerys Targaryen probably won’t be having a terrific time.

 
  
 
 

Showtime, 9:00 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: Season 5 of this strong Showtime series promises to start very dramatically, with a death in (or around) the family. But it also begins by introducing this year’s season-long guest player: Susan Sarandon, playing a movie executive whose needs, and enemies, pull Liev Schreiber’s problem-fixer Ray Donovan back into the Hollywood world where we first met him. For Sarandon, it’s another dazzling TV role, right on the heels of playing Bette Davis on FX’s Feud: Bette and Joan. Like her co-star in that excellent FX miniseries, Jessica Lange (who played an equally unforgettable Joan Crawford), Sarandon has decided that TV is where the best roles are these days – for women, and especially for more mature women, but basically for everyone. For a full review, see David Hinckley's All Along the Watchtower

 
  
 
 

HBO, 11:08 p.m. ET

So John Oliver does a segment on a lawsuit-happy coal executive, Bob Murray, after which Murray obliges by suing Oliver. Now the ACLU has filed an amicus curiae brief with the court, on Oliver’s behalf. Oliver may not be able to discuss this at any length on tonight’s show – it is, after all, a case in active litigation – but hey, perhaps he’ll raise someone else’s hackles with tonight’s show. At any rate, he gets to talk about a lot… including a grand jury.

 
  
 
 
 
 
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)
 
MPHXK
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 188  | Go to page: 
3742 Comments
 
 
??? ??? ?? ??? ?????. ??? ?? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?? ??? ??????. ??? ??? ? ??????!
Apr 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
??? ??? ?? ??? ?????. ??? ?? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?? ??? ??????. ??? ??? ? ??????!
Apr 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Thank you again for all the knowledge you distribute,Good post. I was very interested in the article, it's quite inspiring I should admit. I like visiting you site since I always come across interesting articles like this one.Great Job, I greatly appreciate that.Do Keep sharing! Regards
Apr 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This is a great inspiring article.I am pretty much pleased with your good work.You put really very helpful information..
Apr 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
That appears to be excellent however i am still not too sure that I like it. At any rate will look far more into it and decide personally
Apr 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
Dave Bianculli
That sounds like a good plan, dipshit. Please report back your findings. We are all extremely excited to hear!!!!!

DAve
Apr 15, 2026
 
 
 
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.
Apr 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This blog really convinced me to do it! Thanks, very good post
Apr 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
??? ??? ??? ??? ?????.
Apr 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
That is the excellent mindset, nonetheless is just not help to make every sence whatsoever preaching about that mather. Virtually any method many thanks in addition to i had endeavor to promote your own article in to delicius nevertheless it is apparently a dilemma using your information sites can you please recheck the idea. thanks once more
Apr 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
??
Thanks for sharing these informations. I really like your blog post very much. You have really shared a informative and interesting blog post .
Apr 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
It was extremely helpful for me. I'm cheerful I discovered this blog. Much obliged to you for offering to us, I too dependably gain some new useful knowledge from your post.
Apr 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
? !! ? ???? ?? ???. ?? ?? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?????
Apr 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Impressive work on the essayist's part.
Apr 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Really amazing post. I just stumbled beside your blog. I will definitely suggest your blog to all of my friends. Thanks for sharing this valuable information for free
Apr 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Thank you for taking the time to publish this information very useful!
Apr 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Hey, what a dazzling post I have actually come throughout and also believed me I have actually been browsing out for this similar type of blog post for past a week and also rarely encountered this. Thanks quite and I will seek even more posts from you
Apr 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Sexuvo is a free live random adult video chat platform designed for speed, privacy, and quality. We connect adults with strangers worldwide through instant webcam matching - no accounts, no fees, no compromises.
Apr 14, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Ini adalah halaman penipuan lain yang dijalankan oleh manusia-manusia serakah, pembohong, dan sampah masyarakat. Hindari dengan segala cara.
Apr 13, 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
Apr 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Thanks for posting this info. I just want to let you know that I just check out your site and I find it very interesting and informative. I can't wait to read lots of your posts.
Apr 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 188  | 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.