On Nov. 5, 2007, the same day the TV writers in Hollywood decided to go on strike, the website TV WORTH WATCHING was launched. The strike didn't last, but, so far, TVWW has. It's gone from one writer (me) on Day One to more than 15 writers four years later. And we have big plans, which we hope won't exceed our grasp, for 2012...

2011

Nov

'HELL,' NO! AMC'S 'HELL ON WHEELS' BREAKS ITS SMART SERIES STREAK By David Bianculli

In the past five years, in its current quest to provide original quality TV series, AMC has given us Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Rubicon, The Walking Dead and The Killing. Except for a frustrating non-ending to the first season of The Killing, and a disappointing non-renewal of Rubicon...But with Hell on Wheels, the cable network's new Western series about railroad expansion in the post-Civil War era, AMC's run of impressive, innovative television goes completely off the rails...

2011

Nov

BETWEEN A 'ROCK CENTER' AND A HARD PLACE: NBC NEWSMAGAZINE'S PREMIERE RATINGS By David Bianculli

You know the old line about lies, damned lies, and statistics. Same for TV ratings -- and while many reports about audience levels for the Monday premiere of NBC's newsmagazine Rock Center generally wrote the new show off as a flop, I beg to differ. And have the lies and damned lies to prove it...

2011

Nov

'ROCK CENTER' IMPRESSES IN FIRST OUTING -- BUT ON NBC, IS QUALITY ENOUGH? By David Bianculli

Monday's inaugural edition of NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams was an unusually polished and impressive first outing for a TV newsmagazine -- good mix of stories, thoughtful and engaging conversation, even a fun surprise guest. But with the most mindless of lead-ins, a two-hour installment of The Sing-Off, did anyone watch?...

2011

Oct

WHAT DID YOU WATCH, OR RECORD, SUNDAY NIGHT? By David Bianculli

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

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

'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

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

'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...

2011

Oct

'ONCE UPON A TIME,' ABC HAD A CHARMING IDEA FOR A NEW TV SERIES By David Bianculli

Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you -- and if you believe, really believe, then maybe ABC's new Once Upon a Time series will come true, too. After previewing two episodes, I'm not sure yet whether this new Sunday series, premiering this weekend at 8 p.m. ET, has the vision to go the distance. But my, this new mix of enchanted fantasy land and small-town soap opera starts out with a tantalizingly original premise, and certainly shows promise...

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