Like a lot of people -- more of them almost every week -- I'm loving my Sunday night dose of HBO's "True Blood," one of the most enjoyable thrill rides on TV right now. But unlike most people, I have another Sunday night thrill-ride TV treat...

2009

Aug

TWENTYSOMETHING YEARS AGO, THERE WAS "THIRTYSOMETHING"... By David Bianculli

One of the most eagerly anticipated TV-shows-on-DVD releases hits stores today: the first season of thirtysomething, the ABC series that, beginning in 1987, examined yuppie angst. The tangled web of music rights is what has discouraged the series from being packaged until now... but now, as Diane Werts already has alerted us in her blog, Shout! Factory has made it a reality...

2009

Aug

DON HEWITT DIES AT 86, BUT HIS 41-YEAR OLD CBS "60 MINUTES" IS STILL TICKING By David Bianculli

Compared to CBS producer-director Don Hewitt, who died yesterday at age 86, there aren't many men whose personal experiences and professional accomplishments span so many important events in the history of television. There may not be any...

2009

Aug

FOX "OCTOMOM" SPECIAL IS THE RUNT OF THE TV LITTER By David Bianculli

Already this year, the Fox network has presented "Osbournes Reloaded," a variety series so bad, and so poorly received, Fox shelved it after a single showing. You'd think that would be a lock for worst TV program of 2009 -- but tonight, Fox presents...

2009

Aug

AMC'S "MAD MEN" RETURNS WITH ITS CHARISMATIC CAST OF RETROSEXUALS By David Bianculli

Season three of AMC's "Mad Men" begins -- and once again, it throws you into a 1960s world that's fascinating for both its retro contrasts to today, and for its unsettling similarities. It's one of the very best shows on television, and returns this weekend without missing a step...

2009

Aug

SOLUTION TO EMMY FLAP: MAKE BETTER PROGRAMS, STUPID By David Bianculli

So the Emmy folks have backed down, and agreed not to pre-tape and edit awards presentation in eight of the night's categories. The guilds representing those writers, directors and actors not only raised a stink, but threatened to raise the rates for the rights to show clips from nominated TV shows throughout the telecast. Good for them...

2009

Aug

TAKING ONE FINAL SMOTHERS DAY OFF -- TO FINISH FINAL PROOFS! By David Bianculli

The corrected proofs are due today for my Smothers Brothers book -- the last phase of production before the book heads to the printer. So I'm taking the day off from the blog, to finish proofreading the final chapters. First you write the book, then you have to read it...

2009

Aug

"MONK" BEGINS FINAL SEASON WITH A "BRADY" PUNCH By David Bianculli

When USA Network premiered "Monk" in 2002, the program was so unexpectedly delightful, many critics asked what it was doing on basic cable when it was good enough to be on broadcast network TV. Seven years later, as "Monk" begins its final season, no one asks that question any longer...

2009

Aug

ONE "CHEERS" FOR THE TCA AWARDS: HOW AND WHEN THE AWARDS REALLY BEGAN By David Bianculli

Last weekend in Pasadena, critics, producers and stars convened to share the love in what was billed, accurately, as the 25th anniversary of the Television Critics Association Awards. The little-known, little-remembered fact, though, is that two years before the first TCA Awards, there was the one and only TCA Award...

2009

Aug

GUEST BLOGS #38-39: DIANE HOLLOWAY, BILL BRIOUX ON 2009 TCA AWARDS By David Bianculli

Bianculli here: The Television Critics Association celebrated the 25th anniversary of its TCA Awards presentation this weekend in Pasadena, and two of our contributing writers were there to file reports. I was there only in spirit, but remain emotionally invested...Today, we hear from Diane Holloway and Bill Brioux on such deserving winners as Bryan Cranston, Jim Parsons, Betty White, Battlestar Galactica, Mad Men and True Blood...

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