Episode 2. This is the second of six installments in this nonfiction miniseries by Andrew Jarecki, and it’s even more involving – and mysterious – than the first. Two hours in, and I still have no idea whether the filmmaker considers Robert Durst, the wealthy and eccentric New York real-estate heir, innocent or guilty of the many murders of which he has been accused over the years. But Durst himself is interviewed to answer those charges – and the more he speaks, the more

2015

Feb

MASTERPIECE CLASSIC: "DOWNTON ABBEY" By David Bianculli

We’re up to Episode 7 in this year’s batch of Abbey episodes – only a few left, so certain plot threads are beginning to be resolved. That includes the end of one arrangement and the flowering of a new one – as well as what might be called an Isis crisis. Check local listings.

2015

Feb

THE WALKING DEAD By David Bianculli

Last week’s midseason opener was a moody shocker, and ended with yet another grave being dug. This week, the gang seems to have a direction and a goal, though not necessarily much hope – but the road before them is long, and there are many miles to go before they sleep.

2015

Feb

LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER By David Bianculli

Last week’s Season 2 premiere was a very funny comic meditation about pharmaceutical sales as they relate to patient care. It’s the sort of topic Oliver and his team could have worked on for months, assured that no other late-night comedy show would tackle it – but now they’ve had only a week to prepare this one. And over on Oliver’s old Comedy Central home, Larry Wilmore is now tackling the topic of the day, Oliver-style. But don’t worry about John Oliver. He

2015

Feb

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE REWIND MEGA-MARATHON By David Bianculli

The build-up to NBC’s Sunday night Saturday Night Live anniversary special continues – and not just on NBC. VH1 Classic has been counting down through 39 seasons of SNL, showing every episode in reverse chronological order. Now that we’ve gotten past the abysmal 1980-1985 years – the show’s Dark Ages, when producer Lorne Michaels had left the series – it’s safe to go back to the TV set again. Especially at 11:30 a.m. ET, when VH1 Classic presents the Sea

2015

Feb

THE RED BALLOON By David Bianculli

This 1956 Oscar-winning short film is a French fantasy by director Albert Lamorisse, and is very much a family affair. It’s the simple, charming story of a young boy whose toy balloon exhibits an increasingly strong personality – and the boy is played by the director’s own son, Pascal. Oh, and the little girl who has a seemingly sentient balloon of her own? She’s played by Pascal’s sister, Sabine.

2015

Feb

THE FIFTH ESTATE By David Bianculli

Benedict Cumberbatch, up for an Oscar this month for playing a very smart man who deals with secrets, plays another in this 2013 movie. He plays Julian Assange, the controversial founder of WikiLeaks. And Cumberbatch, who also plays the title role in TV’s Sherlock, isn’t the only high-profile British TV star in this docudrama: Another is Peter Capaldi, now the latest actor to portray the titular role in Doctor Who.

2015

Feb

9 1/2 WEEKS By David Bianculli

Here’s a Valentine’s Day offering right in tune with the release of the Fifty Shades of Grey film. From 1986, it’s the same story from a previous generation: Kim Basinger plays an innocent young woman who becomes fascinated by a wealthy and handsome hedonist, played by Mickey Rourke, with a taste for BDSM.

2015

Feb

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE By David Bianculli

Tomorrow in prime time, NBC presents a giant anniversary special devoted to Saturday Night Live. But tonight, in the regular SNL Saturday night time slot, NBC repeats, in its entirety, the original series pilot, from October 1975. George Carlin is the host, and the musical guests are Billy Preston and Janis Ian. For my column about why I owe my career as a TV critic to Saturday Night Live, see Bianculli’s Blog.

2015

Feb

'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' AND I CELEBRATE OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY By David Bianculli

NBC celebrates 40 years of Saturday Night Live with a massive live TV special Sunday. It arrives seven months early, but it’s indeed something to celebrate – especially for me…

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