Here’s another reason to embrace and treasure this quietly impressive NBC drama series. It builds some of its scenes around the utterly ordinary – as in tonight’s episode, in which Uncle Crosby (Dax Shepard), rocking his baby the entire time, tries his best to offer some sage advice to his confused, love-stricken nephew. A quiet scene, and a very, very real one – the type you don’t see on TV that much any more. And seldom did.

2013

Dec

SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS By David Bianculli

Written and directed by Preston Sturges, this 1941 movie is such a timeless classic, I get swept up in it every time I watch it, and think of new modern parallels to its farcical yet relatable plot. Several decades before Woody Allen embarked on a period of making “serious” films, Sturges has a Hollywood director named Sullivan (Joel McCrea), a successful purveyor of escapist comedies, having a mid-career crisis of conscience, and deciding to tour the country, getting to know the dow

2013

Dec

'THE RETURNED' NEARS SEASON'S END By Eric Gould

As more of its mystery comes to light, the French import continues its deep, elegiac tone and stands as one of the smartest and most satisfying shows of 2013...

2013

Dec

THE PINK PANTHER By David Bianculli

This movie is 50 years old. And I’m so old, I can remember watching this 1963 movie with my dad, at a Florida drive-in, and loving it every bit as much as he did – especially the impenetrable accent of Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau. Good memories. Good movie.

2013

Dec

SOUTH PARK By David Bianculli

SEASON FINALE: Butters tries to explain what he expects out of his fourth-grade girlfriend’s attitude and body type – basing his ideal on Kim Kardashian. Yikes.

2013

Dec

AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN By David Bianculli

The last episode before the winter break has Angela Bassett’s voodoo woman stepping up and seeking revenge of a very personal nature – while, in other plot lines on this week’s episode, the blind can see, and the dead will walk the earth. And maybe even visit for tea.

2013

Dec

THE BAND WAGON By David Bianculli

Fred Astaire month continues Wednesdays, and tonight’s lineup saves two of his best musicals until after prime time, so set those DVRs. At 11:30 p.m. ET, Astaire stars in 1953’s The Band Wagon, playing a past-his-prime movie star who is talked into cashing in on his celebrity by starring on Broadway – Cyd Charisse co-stars as his long-legged, scene-stealing dance partner. Now that’s entertainment (which, by the way, is one of the numbers performed here).

2013

Dec

SILK STOCKINGS By David Bianculli

Unfairly held back until 1:30 a.m. ET, TCM presents Cyd Charisse and Fred Astaire in this 1957 musical version of Ninotchka. This time it’s Charisse, not Greta Garbo, as the cold Russian eventually warmed by the charms of a persistent American (Astaire) – and since this movie is hard to find both on TV and DVD, it’s recommended you take advantage of the opportunity.

2013

Dec

MARVEL'S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. By David Bianculli

Last week, ABC repeated the pilot episode of this series, which introduced a rogue character with unchecked superpowers: soldier Mike Peterson. Tonight, in this new episode, we meet Peterson again – this time as a recruit to help the agents fight a powerful new villain, the Centipede. We’ll know, in coming episodes, whether that villain makes a return appearance – or, in other words, whether the Centipede has legs.

2013

Dec

HOME ALONE By David Bianculli

As Christmas movies go, this 1990 comedy is pure wish-fulfillment for young children. A frantic family heads for a Christmas vacation overseas, but leaving behind one child (young Macaulay Culkin) in the mad dash to the airport. Suddenly, the poor kid finds himself not only alone for the holidays, but defending his house against some astoundingly inept burglars (played by Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci). It should be scary – but this Chris Columbus farce, like a live-action cartoon, plays ever

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