What Did YOU Watch, Or Record, Sunday Night? I hope you caught the first installment of PBS's America in Primetime Sunday night -- and if so, I'd love to know what you thought. But then it occurred to me: Sunday night, at this point in 2011, is so bursting with good TV, I'd be very interested in hearing about whatever you watched, and what you thought of it -- and, if any, which shows you recorded to save for later...

2011

Oct

A HALLOWEEN MASTER OF DISGUISE By Eric Gould

It's Halloween, and since it's the time of year for the utterly icky and strange, there's no better occasion to flip through the archives for a show that introduces us to a spineless, pale Cephalopoda with large, smart-looking eyes that shifts shape, and that can also attack with an eight-armed face...

2011

Oct

TOM YELLIN: THE TV WORTH WATCHING INTERVIEW By David Bianculli

Tom Yellin, co-founder of The Documentary Group, used to produce the ABC News Peter Jennings Reporting specials, among other fine programs. His latest project, created with director Lloyd Kramer and others, is America in Primetime, the four-part PBS documentary series premiering Sunday at 8 p.m. ET (check local listings). I'm so impressed with this study of television that I wrote about it for TVWW and for NPR...

2011

Oct

IF ONLY 'GRIMM' WASN'T By Theresa Corigliano

"Grimm" is, well, grim. If this were my actual review, you would think I was being obvious and ham-fisted, and maybe even a little lazy. But even if I did write something that bad, it still wouldn't be as obvious and ham-fisted and clunky as this new NBC drama...

2011

Oct

'AMERICA IN PRIMETIME': FINALLY, A TV SHOW ABOUT TV GETS IT RIGHT! By David Bianculli

"America in Primetime", the four-part PBS documentary series about various TV archetypes, begins Sunday night at 8 ET (check local listings), and absolutely is a show to watch, record and savor. How good is it? This good: It's the best television series about television in more than 20 years...

2011

Oct

TV TECH: CHANGE THE CHANNEL, HAL -- I'M SORRY, DAVE, I CAN'T DO THAT By Diane Werts

You've always wanted to tell your TV set what to do and where to go. Yes, you know you have. And maybe soon, you will. If Apple has anything to say about it. Turns out maybe Siri isn't just some fancy new talk-to-me iPhone assistant. Maybe she was actually developed to be -- gasp! -- your future video remote control...

2011

Oct

CHINA SEES TOO MUCH TACKY REALITY TV, DECIDES TO DIM SOME By David Bianculli

The Associated Press has just reported that China, with a new Communist Party ruling intended to be enforced by the end of this year, plans to cut back drastically on the amount of reality programming permitted on its satellite networks. Talent shows, matchmaking shows and programs focusing on marital troubles are among those being ordered to cease production. And you know what? Don't quote me in Red Channels, but those Communists may be on to something...

2011

Oct

DUMBER AND DUMBERER: MTV'S 'BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD' ARE BACK, HEH-HEH! By Eric Gould

Watching MTV's new reboot of Beavis and Butt-Head (premiering Thursday at 10 p.m. ET), you get the same feeling you had when the series premiered in 1993 -- why in the world am I wasting time on these idiots? I mean, serious idiots. And when Butt-Head reprises his role as couch-bound commentator of MTV videos and shows, it strikes you: You're watching these dopes watch TV...

2011

Oct

PROSPECTS SEEM GLUM FOR 'GRIMM' By Ed Bark

These are continued scary times for the ratings-parched Peacock, with two of its five September newcomers already canceled while Prime Suspect seems to be staggering toward the same fate. At least Grimm, NBC's sixth and final fall newbie, is supposed to be a frightening experience...

2011

Oct

'SECONDHAND TV' BAD FOR KIDS? SO IS FIRSTHAND EXPOSURE TO STUPID TV STUDIES By David Bianculli

You heard it here secondhand: Last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a warning that "secondhand TV" -- the casual exposure to television, when being watched by other, older viewers -- can harm the development of children under age 2. To which I say, well, that's not the stupidest thing any organization has said about television. But it does make the semifinals...

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