It’s Episode 3 of this complex new eight-part series, almost the halfway point – yet the more we learn about Nessa (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and her past, the more questions are unearthed about her true intentions in the present. Don’t expect that to change, by the way. Expect the unexpected. In tonight’s episode, especially, because some of the dramatic scenes in this week’s installment are ruthless.

2014

Aug

7 DEADLY SINS By David Bianculli

Tonight’s episode focuses on Envy, including some examples of wanting to either be or look like other people, or other genders. Morgan Spurlock managed to make a very interesting show out of last week’s series premiere, on Gluttony – but trying to do justice to this week’s subject? I don’t envy him.

2014

Aug

ARSENIC AND OLD LACE By David Bianculli

Today is Cary Grant day on TCM, and the network is using the day, and night to present lots of lesser-known, or at least less frequently televised, Grant movies, along with a couple classics. TCM’s choices are heavy on the comedies, and you could do a lot, lot worse than to make special efforts to watch or record 1940’s His Girl Friday (9:30 a.m. ET, opposite Rosalind Russell) and 1948’s Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (9:30 p.m. ET, opposite Myrna Loy). But the biggest tr

2014

Aug

ZOMBIE SHARKS By David Bianculli

Yesterday I wrote about some of this week’s new Shark Week specials being more entertaining for their titles than, necessarily, for their content. Today, may I just say… ditto.

2014

Aug

LEGENDS By David Bianculli

SERIES PREMIERE: Sean Bean stars in this new TNT series, playing a deep undercover operative who sometimes gets lost in the roles he’s playing. In other words, it owes a lot to the Nineties CBS series Wiseguy, and even a little to the Seventies series Baretta, in which Robert Blake adopted weekly personas to bring down that episode’s villain. Legends breaks little new ground in this regard, and is watchable only because Bean is a charismatic leading man, and, past that, only if you f

2014

Aug

THE DIVIDE By David Bianculli

Tonight’s new installment features a lengthy, increasingly tense dinner out in which someone pontificates, rather bluntly, about parents and children and their respective relationships. Meanwhile, on other fronts, secrets are revealed and confronted that may lead to a change of legal tactics – or allegiances.

2014

Aug

EXTANT By David Bianculli

Tonight’s installment both deepens and begins to explain the central mysteries of this sci-fi series. One question addressed, and effectively answered: Why was Molly (Halle Berry) selected to go on her solo space mission in the first place? One question newly posed, and not yet answered at all: Why has her robot “son,” Ethan, just experienced his first dream?

2014

Aug

EACH TIME I SAW ROBIN WILLIAMS PERFORM LIVE, SOMETHING TRULY MEMORABLE HAPPENED… By David Bianculli

Over my long career as a TV critic, I attended three standup shows at which Robin Williams performed live. I have very strong, very fond memories tied to all three…

2014

Aug

R.I.P. ROBIN WILLIAMS By Ed Bark

It’s been a struggle, both coming to grips with Robin Williams’ death and striving to say something that hasn’t been said already during this ongoing outpouring of grief and appreciation. I’ve settled on excerpts from four previous articles...

2014

Aug

ROBIN WILLIAMS HAS LEFT THE PLANET By Noel Holston

The apparent suicide of comedian/actor Robin Williams has affected people more personally than any celebrity death I can recall. A big part of that, no doubt, has to do with Williams’ ubiquity... But the strong reaction to Williams’ death also speaks to his warmth and vulnerability...

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