DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Contributors

ALEX STRACHAN

MIKE HUGHES

KIM AKASS

MONIQUE NAZARETH

ROGER CATLIN

GARY EDGERTON

TOM BRINKMOELLER

GERALD JORDAN

NOEL HOLSTON

 
 
2015
Apr
4
 
 
One of the best things Saturday Night Live has done so far this year was a sketch in which Taran Killam, as Rudy Giuliani, did a full-out parody of Birdman. Tonight, we get the real deal, thanks to that movie’s star, Michael Keaton. And the musical guest for tonight’s show is Carly Rae Jepsen. So watch it, maybe…
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Apr
3
 
 
British audiences got to see this latest entry in Ricky Gervais’ Derek canon last December, but today marks its U.S. debut, streamed on Netflix. It’s a continuation of the two-season Derek series, also available on Netflix, starring Gervais as a somewhat simple-minded, or at least unusually innocent and unguarded, helper at a nursing home. This is a stand-alone telemovie-length special, so if you’ve yet to meet Derek, this is a fine place to start. Stream it any time.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Apr
3
 
 
On the start of a holiday weekend, with family around, what better use of your TV set could there possibly be? Tune in to this 1939 classic and enjoy it all over again – and watch, with particular interest, the eyes of the youngest viewers in the room.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Apr
3
 
 
Quentin Tarantino won the Oscar for Original Screenplay for this stylistic 2012 period action film, set in the plantation deep south in the years just before the Civil War. Only Tarantino could concoct a film that makes room for such disparate actors as Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson and Kerry Washington, and uses them all well. Quite a film.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Apr
3
 
 
You have to see this, and hear it. That’s the only way to appreciate fully the emotional power Lennox brings to her set list here – a list that includes “I Put a Spell on You,” “Summertime,” “God Bless the Child” and “Strange Fruit.” Check local listings.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Apr
3
 
 
SERIES PREMIERE: This series premiered earlier this week on Spike, but the producers, who include Jimmy Fallon, are hedging their bets and spreading the wealth. As a result, the same nothing-but-fun lip-sync series that was seen on Spike is shown here on BET, starting with the premiere, featuring Fallon vs. Dwayne Johnson. Immediately following that is a second episode, featuring Common vs. John Legend.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Apr
3
 
 

HBO is on an amazing run right now with its documentaries. First Jinxed about Robert Durst, then the Scientology report Going Clear, and now, a new, excellent Frank Sinatra bio…

 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Apr
2
 
 
Sheldon and Leonard take a road trip that finds them on the grounds of Skywalker Ranch, the northern California home base of their Star Wars creator-hero, George Lucas. This may or may not result in a Lucas cameo appearance, because these guys might not get anywhere near the actual owner of the Ranch. In fact, even in the promos, Sheldon gets tasered as Leonard watches from the car, so it’s even money…
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Apr
2
 
 
Carter and Aubry reunite in tonight’s episode, but it’s not exactly a smooth reunion for the down-and-out lovers. He’s out on recognizance, with an electronic ankle-bracelet monitor – and while he’s sleeping, she cuts it off. (The bracelet, not the ankle, but it’s still a bold, bad move.)
 
 
 
  
 
 
2015
Apr
2
 
 
SERIES FINALE: If you’ve stayed with this American remake of the Australian miniseries throughout, this is your final reward. Well, it’s the final episode, anyway.