It’s nice to have sitcoms with institutional memories. On this one, Frankie (Patricia Heaton) likes to indulge herself annually by getting all excited preparing a party atmosphere for the upcoming Oscar telecast (good thing it’s always televised by ABC, which helps). This year, though, her best-laid party plans may go awry: Brick (Atticus Shaffer) is taking a school bus trip for the weekend, and that may prove emotional, for the boy if not for his mother.

2013

Feb

NOVA: "MIND OF A RAMPAGE KILLER" By David Bianculli

In terms of documentary subject matter, is it possible there’s too much of a bad thing? Last night, Frontline devoted itself to a profile of mass murderer Adam Lanza and his mother, his first victim. Tonight, Nova looks at the psychology that may explain, if only partially, the motivation of Lanza and other rampage killers. But coming in the heels of Frontline, is this a well-timed follow-up – or its own type of overkill? Check local listings.

2013

Feb

MODERN FAMILY By David Bianculli

Cam (Eric Stonestreet), in tonight’s new episode, grabs an opportunity to use the very young ones as models in a themed photo shoot. If that sounds like it could be misinterpreted – well, isn’t that the beauty, and the appeal, of most of this show’s comedic plot lines?

2013

Feb

THE AMERICANS By David Bianculli

The fake American couple, which just started feeling closer to each other for real, had a marital spat in last week’s episode, so now things are tense between them again, especially in the bedroom. It’s neither the time nor place to have a super-personal Cold War – but here it is. Keri Russell stars.

2013

Feb

GOING MY WAY By David Bianculli

It's nice to watch a movie about Roman Catholic clergy where their care and affection for young boys carries no sinister overtones whatsoever. Yes, 1944 was a more innocent time, but this Bing Crosby movie is inspirational in all the right ways. He plays Father O'Malley, a young priest whose winning ways with his young charges made him a significant element in their lives - without crossing any sexual boundaries whatsoever.

2013

Feb

CULT By David Bianculli

SERIES PREMIERE: This new CW horror-tinged-with-comedy series is done with mirrors: It’s about a show within a show, both called Cult, in which actors play actors playing killers and victims, as well as, in some cases, those very killers and victims. Characters on one show watch the other show to find clues, then follow them. It’s all very meta – but, in the pilot at least, it’s not very probable or compelling. Even so, Cult, like the show-within-a-show called Cult, has i

2013

Feb

THE MINDY PROJECT By David Bianculli

All by itself, this series hasn’t proven quite enticing enough to recommend – but tonight, it gets a little help, in the form of guest star Seth Rogen. He plays a man from Mindy's past – actually, the grown-up version of a boy from her past, the first one she ever kissed. At summer camp.

2013

Feb

WINGS By David Bianculli

It’s getting near the end of TCM’s 31-day salute to the Oscars, and tonight it’s time to show the film that won the first Best Movie Oscar ever presented. It’s 1927’s Wings, directed by William A. Wellman, the story of two WWI pilots in love with the same woman. The midair action sequences dazzled audiences at the time – but I remain more dazzled by Clara Bow, who plays the female part of this particular romantic triangle.

2013

Feb

FRONTLINE: "RAISING ADAM LANZA" By David Bianculli

Another “instant” Frontline special, this one reported in collaboration with the Hartford Courant, looks at serial killer Adam Lanza’s first and most familiar victim on the day of his rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School – his mother, whom he killed, in gruesome fashion, before setting out to claim more victims. What was her relationship with her son? Why did she pass on her enthusiasm for guns? And what, if anything, can be learned from looking at someone who commits

2013

Feb

JUSTIFIED By David Bianculli

Some of the best scenes in Justified occur when Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) is facing down an armed and amped bad guy in a hostage situation – and Raylan, as anyone knows who watches this series regularly, has had a lot of practice. Tonight, it happens again, and Raylan starts off by drawing his own weapon and giving the anxious gunman a warning: “I’m gonna count to one…” How can you not love this show?

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