How much TV coverage of a royal wedding can one country stand? Americans are finding out -- with Friday's marriage of the UK's WIlliam Who Would Be King and his betrothed Commoner Catherine -- the answer to that question is "saturation." OK, I get live as-it-happens satellite coverage on ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC. Or news channels like CNN and MSNBC. Even PBS, with its raging Anglophilia. And obviously, BBC America. Obviously, Wedding Central. But do we need live nuptials on TLC, home of Extreme

2011

Apr

SALUTE: 40 YEARS OF ERIKA SLEZAK By Diane Werts

Now here's something you don't get to see in prime time -- an actor playing the same role for 40 years. And we might not be seeing it much longer in daytime, either. So be there Wednesday when ABC's "One Life to Live" celebrates Erika Slezak's four decades (and six Emmys) playing solid citizen/slutty chick Viki Lord Lord Riley Burke Riley Buchanan Buchanan Carpenter Davidson Banks...

2011

Apr

FLASHBACK: 'AN AMERICAN FAMILY' (RE)SURFACES By Diane Werts

I'm not sure if "reality" TV starts here, or ends here. But "here" is TV's original docusoap miniseries, from 1973 -- PBS's "An American Family". HBO revisits that landmark societal moment in its fact-based April 23 movie drama "Cinema Verite" -- and the next day, PBS's WORLD channel encores the original source material, all 12 aired hours of it, for the first time in 20 years...

2011

Apr

GREAT GUESTS: MEL BROOKS, OZZY OSBOURNE AND MORE By Diane Werts

You never know where you'll spot TV's coolest guest star lineup. But maybe your 3-year-old does. This week of new episodes on Disney Junior's "Special Agent Oso" (weekdays at 1 p.m. ET/PT) features Mel Brooks, Freddy Rodriguez, Doris Roberts, Sarah Chalke and other great performers. Okay, it's just their voices, but still...

2011

Mar

TUNING IN: FINDING SHOWS WHERE YOU DON'T EXPECT THEM By Diane Werts

Photography on The Weather Channel? Miniseries on Reelz Channel? Coal miners on Spike TV? And where the heck is The Dog Whisperer? Shows keep showing up in places you wouldn't necessarily think they'd be airing. As more cable channels seek to broaden their appeal, they're reaching outside their (and our) comfort zones...

2011

Mar

GOTTA READ: OUR 'IDOL' EXPERT By Diane Werts

How great is it for us here at TVWW to have experts on board? As much as Bianculli and I hate to admit it, we are not the last word on everything TV, because "everything TV" has become too huge for even tubeheads like us to keep track of...

2011

Mar

WEIRD & WILD: BICENTENNIAL BANSHEE By Diane Werts

Can't say I've seen it, but really, who needs to? It's "Scream of the Banshee", and it's the 200th Syfy Saturday Original Movie presentation (March 26 at 9 p.m. ET on Syfy). So here's what to expect -- kitschy title, cheesy special effects, dopey plot, so-so stars with genre pedigree. In other words, guaranteed brain-free entertainment. Whatthehell -- it's Saturday!...

2011

Mar

TRIBUTE: ELIZABETH TAYLOR DIES AT 79 By Diane Werts

It didn't take long after Elizabeth Taylor's Wednesday morning death at age 79 for Turner Classic Movies to announce a 24-hour tribute on April 10. But why wait that long? Two of Taylor's most iconic films are already scheduled to air this week...

2011

Mar

SAVE THE DATE: 'TORCHWOOD' IN JULY By Diane Werts

Big news for Torchwood fans -- Starz has announced its U.S.-set Torchwood: Miracle Day will premiere July 8. Continuing stars John Barrowman and Eve Myles are joined by Mekhi Phifer (ER), Bill Pullman (Independence Day) and Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under) for the tale now being shot in Los Angeles. Here's the plot...

2011

Mar

ST. PATRICK'S DAY: WHAT, NO IRISH TV? By Diane Werts

Why, you're absolutely right. We have kind of ignored St. Patrick's Day here at TVWW. So here's a little green for ye. Thursday night's viewing options do include a few Irish-themed offerings. Among them...

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Diane Werts

Associate Editor

Diane Werts has been glued to the tube since she can remember, growing up in a household where the TV came on first thing in the morning and stayed on till bedtime and beyond. She worked for the USA Film Festival, then for The Dallas Morning News writing about everything from Shakespeare to macrame art to rock music (and has the hearing loss to prove it). She moved to New York's Newsday to edit their glossy TV magazine, then returned to writing about television, specializing in its stranger permutations. She's a past president of the Television Critics Association.

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