When this series returned last night, introducing its new judges Shakira and Usher by teaming them with veterans Blake Shelton and Adam Levine for a performance of “Come Together,” things got off to a bad start. That was the same song American Idol finalist Candice Glover had killed (in a good way) during the Lennon-McCartney theme night just last week – and her performance, all by itself, beat all four Voice judges so completely, it was no contest. But once the blind judging b

2013

Mar

GO ON By David Bianculli

In this episode, Ryan (Matthew Perry) meets a woman, recently widowed, and the two bond enough, with their mutual understanding of grief, to go on a date together. That’s a significant step for Ryan, but for this series as well: The widow is played by Courteney Cox, one of Perry’s old friends from Friends.

2013

Mar

NEW GIRL By David Bianculli

Margo Martindale shows up as a guest star on this week’s comedy – and it’s so nice to see how her season-long star turn on Justified has translated into a whole new career for her, widening her options and displaying more of her range. Speaking of which: Tonight’s episode also features star Zooey Deschanel singing, which she does very well – but singing as an Elvis impersonator, which could be new.

2013

Mar

SMASH By David Bianculli

To prolong the primary plot line of this series, the producers of Smash have divided without conquering. They’ve had us follow individual characters as they pursue separate side shows, while all we really care about, for now, is the fate and content of Bombshell. That Marilyn Monroe biographical musical is back at center stage on this show, and its disparate elements are beginning to come together again – but for this show, which has lost some of its momentum, is it too late?

2013

Mar

JUSTIFIED By David Bianculli

Last week’s episode was so good, so clever, and so enjoyable, I immediately watched it over again. And now, with Drew still on the run and Raylan still defying both the Detroit mob and Boyd, I can’t wait to watch, and rewatch, tonight’s installment as well.

2013

Mar

THE VOICE By David Bianculli

SERIES RETURN: NBC, with the dismal stretch it’s been having the past few months, probably was counting the days until this popular show returned. But there’s a catch. Two of the judges, Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera, have vacated their pivoting red chairs for this new season, allowing two other performers to sell themselves as judges and mentors as well as musical talents. Coincidentally, the two new arrivals are single-name celebrities: Shakira and Usher. So the action, for t

2013

Mar

REVOLUTION By David Bianculli

SERIES RETURN: NBC, with the dismal stretch it’s been having the past few months, probably was counting the days until this popular show returned. But there’s a catch. After so many weeks in hibernation, will this series attract the same number of fans as when the Revolution was first televised? Hard to say. But if you need a reminder, the last thing this series about a “powerless” future society showed us, lo those many months ago, was a helicopter in flight.

2013

Mar

BATES MOTEL By David Bianculli

Episode two of this series gives a stronger idea of where this new series plans to go: both inside the head of young Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore, pictured), and outside the town where he and his feisty mom (Vera Farmiga) have set up the newly named “Bates Motel.” Norman goes into the woods near this small town, and finds some creepy goings-on that have nothing to do with Norman or his mother.

2013

Mar

TOP OF THE LAKE By David Bianculli

Episode two of this miniseries gives a stronger idea of where it’s headed as well – and as one body appears and another disappears, the plot thickens in both directions. And no matter where it goes, two performances shine and dominate: Elisabeth Moss from Mad Men as a New Zealand detective (pictured) with a troubled past, and Peter Mullan as a suspect who’s giving her reasons to have a troubled present.

2013

Mar

INSIDE COMEDY By David Bianculli

David Steinberg talks to two more comics this week, and this time they’re both comediennes: the great Carol Burnett, and the hilariously grating Susie Essman (pictured), who plays Susie Greene, Larry David’s very vocal nemesis, on Curb Your Enthusiasm – on which, by the way, Steinberg serves as a director.

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