DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Contributors

ALEX STRACHAN

MIKE HUGHES

KIM AKASS

MONIQUE NAZARETH

ROGER CATLIN

GARY EDGERTON

TOM BRINKMOELLER

GERALD JORDAN

NOEL HOLSTON

 
 
2012
Feb
3
 
 
BOSTON -- Make a casual check into the all-time most watched television broadcasts, and you'll quickly find that about half of them are Super Bowls. And the focus is, once again, on the Boys from Boston. This modern American spectacle has it all: brute force, high-flying athletic ability, luxury sports palaces, dolled-up cheerleaders and, this year, Madonna. The only thing left out are the caged, lip-smacking lions. This year, the New England Patriots go for their fourth title of the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era, and the buzz here in Boston has been double-edged, even a little ambivalent...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Feb
3
 
 
One of Bill Moyers’ guests tonight is moral psychologist Jonathan Haidt (that’s his job title, not an opinion), who tries to explain why there is such a deep divide right now between rich and poor, and between the two political parties – and to warn about the long-term ramifications if that divide continues. Local PBS member stations can present this program any time between Friday and Sunday on their local schedules. To find it in your area, click
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Feb
3
 
 
SEASON PREMIERE: In this first episode of the new season of celebrity roots-seeking, Martin Sheen retraces his family tree not only in search of relatives, but in search of proof of hereditary activism. And he find it, back in both Ireland and Spain. You’ll have to watch, though, to learn whether Sheen finds any genealogical traces of his son Charlie’s particular strain of tiger’s blood.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Feb
3
 
 
There’s more intermingling of the various timelines and its look-alike residents tonight, as Walter (John Noble) has another nervous encounter with the alternate-world Olivia (Anna Torv) – who seems to enjoy how much her presence rattles him.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Feb
3
 
 
SEASON PREMIERE: The first of three episodes in this very welcome series’ second season is shown tonight, following performer – and now music archivist – Feinstein as he travels across the country finding and sharing rare musical compositions, performances and treasures. Among his stops in this opening show: a visit to the Playboy Mansion and Hugh Hefner, where Hef shares not only his old jukebox song collection, but rare footage of jazz singer-pianist Bobby Short and British c
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Feb
3
 
 
SEASON PREMIERE: This installment of this music series was taped just after the release of Adele’s 21 CD, and before she underwent surgery on her vocal cords. If she was troubled by the limits of her voice at the time, she didn’t show it – and didn’t sound like anything was wrong, either. It’s a beautiful concert by a talented singer, staged in an intimate, “unplugged” setting. (Check local listings for time.)
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Feb
3
 
 
A horse is a horse, of course of course. If only it were that easy with Luck, a measured and at times almost mystical series devoted to the so-called "Sport of Kings" -- and degenerate gamblers. HBO took the unprecedented step of sending out all nine episodes of Season 1. And you'll pretty much win in the end if you ride this mount all the way to the finish line...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Feb
3
 
 
The numbers, the premise, the interconnectivity and Kiefer Sutherland as a beaten-down airport baggage handler. None of these quite adds up in Fox's Touch...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Feb
3
 
 
When you're alone and life is making you lonely, you can always go... Down-tonnnn! Okay, I've gotten that out of the way, my worst pun of the year. So far. But let's do talk about Downton Abbey, the most watched and talked-about series PBS has had since, oh, The Civil War...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Feb
3
 
 
The last few weeks have reminded me that when television is good, it just makes you happy...Enchanting characters, indelible performances, memorable moments that resonate, stories about make-believe circumstances that touch your real life. And, more surprising, shows that grab you even if you're not sure why...