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DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

Bianculli's Blog

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

The Cold Light Reader

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Dateline Donovan
Contributors

DAVID HINCKLEY

All Along the Watchtower

ED BARK

Uncle Barky's Bytes

ALEX STRACHAN

TV That Matters

MIKE HUGHES

Open Mike

ED MARTIN

Ed Martin's TV Mix

KIM AKASS

Aerial View

MONIQUE NAZARETH

MNtv

BILL BRIOUX

TV Feeds My Family

ROGER CATLIN

TV Eye

GARY EDGERTON

Must-Click TV

TOM BRINKMOELLER

Raised On MTM

GERALD JORDAN

Crossing Jordan

NOEL HOLSTON

The Grassy Noel

TVWW ARCHIVE

Contributors Archive
 
 
2014
Nov
22
THE HUNGER GAMES By David Bianculli
 
 
It was only two years ago, in 2012, that Jennifer Lawrence stepped forth to star as Katniss in this first Hunger games film. Now it’s a major movie franchise, with the latest installment, Hunger Games – Mockingjay, opening this weekend. It’s a good time, then, for ABC Family to repeat this original, co-starring Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson, and Elizabeth Banks.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Nov
22
THE TO DO LIST By David Bianculli
 
 
Aubrey Plaza, who plays April on Parks and Recreation, stars in this 2013 comedy as Brandy, a high-school senior who decides to apply the same diligent study habits she used to become valedictorian to become more sexually experienced before heading off to college. The movie, written and directed by Maggie Carey, is smart and funny, and takes a rarely seen female approach to the coming-of-age teen comedy movie. Costars include Andy Samberg, Rachel Bilson and Carey’s husband, Bill Hader, as
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Nov
22
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE VINTAGE By David Bianculli
 
 
Here comes the perfect vintage episode of SNL to show the week before Thanksgiving: From Season 2 in 1976, it’s the episode hosted by Paul Simon, with George Harrison as the musical guest. (They perform together, singing both “Homeward Bound” and “Here Comes the Sun.” Fabulous.) But at the opening, to perform his solo hit “Still Crazy After All These Years,” Simon shows up in a holiday-themed costume that’s truly fowl.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Nov
22
HELLO LADIES: THE MOVIE By David Bianculli
 
 
Stephen Merchant, usually paired on camera or as a collaborator with Ricky Gervais, stepped out on his own for his Hello Ladies situation comedy, and revisits the self-deluded “ladies’ man” character of Stuart in this movie-length comedy sequel, co-starring Christine Woods.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Nov
22
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE By David Bianculli
 
 
Cameron Diaz is the week’s guest host. The musical guests: Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Nov
22
1995: TNT PRESENTS 'THE WIZARD OF OZ IN CONCERT' By Christy Slewinski
 
 
Today in 1995, TNT presented a magical musical version of the classic children's tale, The Wizard of Oz...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Nov
21
1980: THE NATION DISCOVERS WHO SHOT J.R. By Christy Slewinski
 
 
This day in 1980 marked the resolution of one of television's most famous cliffhangers: Who Shot J.R.?
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Nov
21
DUEL By David Bianculli
 
 
Psst! Don’t tell my TV History and Appreciation of the 60s and 70s class at Rowan University, but this 1971 Steven Spielberg made-for-TV movie is on the lesson plan for Monday’s class. It was the masterfully directed action movie and psychological thriller that launched Spielberg’s career into a higher gear, leading almost directly to Jaws four years later. Dennis Weaver stars, as a meek man harassed on the open highway by a prehistoric-looking old truck and its mysterious, mos
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Nov
21
GREAT PERFORMANCES: "CATS" By David Bianculli
 
 
Consider this repeat telecast another of the nine lives for this 1998 Great Performances production of Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s once-ubiquitous stage musical based on the fanciful musings of T.S. Eliot. This production captures, for posterity, the performances of Elaine Paige as Grizabella, Ken Page as Old Deuteronomy, and Carrot Top as Hairball. (Okay, I admit it: I made that last one up.) Check local listings.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
Nov
21
EAT: THE STORY OF FOOD By David Bianculli
 
 
Part 1 of 3. This network devotes three nights, and six hours, to an examination of what we eat, and why, and how it gets to our table and is prepared. You know that axiom about not wanting to know how the sausage is made? Be afraid. Be very afraid. Tonight: Processed foods and grocery stores.
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
New From TVWW

PBS' 'Frontline’ Examines Pension Promises and — Spoiler Alert — Finds the Math Doesn’t Add Up
By Alex Strachan
 
 
 
 
The Decadence of ‘Versailles’ Comes to Ovation
By David Hinckley
 
 
 
 
Prescribing Mamie Gummer in 'Emily Owens, M.D.'
By Ed Bark
 
 
 
 
Looking for a Free Ride? HBO Can Deliver
By Christy Slewinski
 
 
 
 
'Pass the Biscuits' Part of the Hatfield-McCoy Pop-Culture Legacy
By Noel Holston
 
 
 
 

Dispatches From TVWW

'Extinction: The Facts' is a Sobering Call to Action
By David Hinckley
 
 
 
 
How 'Mayans' Has Been Influenced by the Show's Creator Elgin James
By Mike Hughes
 
 
 
 
For Whom the Bell Tolls: Ken Burns and Lynn Novick Take on Ernest Hemingway, the Man and the Myth
By Alex Strachan
 
 
 
 
In the Final Season, Sutton Foster's Liza is Now the Genuine Version of Her 'Younger' Self
By Monique Nazareth
 
 
 
 
Season 2 of 'City on a Hill' Returns with Kevin Bacon, Aldis Hodge, and Boston Corruption
By David Hinckley