This annual event is extremely entertaining for two different reasons – sort of like The Voice, which has the fascinating “blind auditions,” followed much later by the final rounds of quality competition. In the case of this particular black-tie event, the fun is spread out the same way: very early and very late. The early part comes at 6 p.m. ET, with the arrival of guests at the red carpet. For years, press corps members have used their plus-ones to invite high-profile and of

2016

Apr

JAZZ AT THE WHITE HOUSE By David Bianculli

This ABC special seems particularly ill-timed. Just as the White House correspondents are sitting down to dinner on live TV over on C-SPAN, ABC is presenting a taped special in which President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host a program of jazz from the White House, featuring Herbie Hancock and others.

2016

Apr

2016 ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY By David Bianculli

And while jazz is played at the White House, rock and roll, in another taped special, is celebrated on HBO. This is the 31st annual induction ceremony, and this year the honorees include Chicago (pictured), Cheap Trick, N.W.A., Deep Purple, Steve Miller and songwriter-producer Bert Berns. Included are salutes to performers who died during the year, including David Bowie and Prince. For a full review, see David Hinckley’s All Along the Watchtower.

2016

Apr

THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA By David Bianculli

CONCLUSION: This repeat documentary miniseries concludes with a look at the decades after WWII (specifically, 1946-80), and charts the postwar increase in popularity of the national parks. Check local listings.

2016

Apr

THE UNINVITED By David Bianculli

This 1944 movie is one of the best early cinematic horror films – a ghost story in which a brother and sister, played by Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey, buy a house by the sea, and soon get swept away by encounters with and stories of ghosts.

2016

Apr

ROCK 'N' ROLL HALL OF FAME HBO SPECIAL: TOO MANY HONOREES, TOO LITTLE SOLID GOLD By David Hinckley

The most poignant highlight of this year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame HBO special wasn’t part of this year’s induction night at all. It’s a clip of the late Prince at his own 2004 Hall of Fame induction, talking briefly about his music, and then playing lead guitar on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”...

2016

Apr

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS By David Bianculli

PREMIERE: This Netflix movie premiere, written, directed by and starring Ricky Gervais, is based on a 2009 French comedy, Envoyes Tres Speciaux, but is adapted and updated to fit Gervais’ comedy styles and rhythms. He plays a nebbishy radio producer teamed up with a glamorous, vain radio reporter, who together are dispatched to cover a possible coup in Ecuador. When their passports and other travel papers and cash are accidentally trashed on the way to the airport, the two decide to hole u

2016

Apr

TEAM FOXCATCHER By David Bianculli

PREMIERE: This is a new documentary about the murder of Dave Schultz, the wrestler allegedly killed by millionaire John E. du Pont in 1996. The real-life murder case already was dramatized in the 2014 movie Foxcatcher, with Steve Carell playing du Pont – but where that story ended, Team Foxcatcher keeps going. It also shows lots of home movies by the wrestlers befriended and housed by du Pont, bringing a sense of intimacy to the environment and case being reexamined. Very spooky – an

2016

Apr

THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA By David Bianculli

Part 5. This is a fascinating episode of this repeat documentary series, showing how the nation and its leaders responded during the Great Depression – with the creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps. It was a great idea then, and seems like a good one today as well. Check local listings.

2016

Apr

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER By David Bianculli

Among tonight’s guests: actor, director and political activist Rob Reiner.

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