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WEDNESDAY
MAY 16
2012

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 
THE MIDDLE

ABC, 8:00 p.m. ET

Brick (Atticus Shaffer) benefits from a new arrangement with his mom, entering into what he calls a fragile ecosystem: snitching on his siblings in exchange for candy. He’s driven by the treats – and if you are, too, this sitcom is a TV treat of the first order. 

 
  
 
 
AMERICAN IDOL

Fox, 8:00 p.m. ET

It’s down to the Top Three finalists – and if there’s less buzz than in previous years, because of rival spotlight-sapping talent shows, there’s not necessarily less talent on display at this point. There’s Joshua Ledet, 20, the favorite proclaimed by some judges as perhaps the all-time best vocalist in Idol history. And Phillip Phillips, 21, who approaches most songs with the intent on rearranging them into something strikingly different. And, finally, Jessica Sanchez, 16, the little girl with the huge voice. Something for everyone, so tonight’s multiple performances will be crucial for swaying the audience vote for this year’s finalists.

 
  
 
 
NATURE: "CRACKING THE KOALA CODE"

PBS, 8:00 p.m. ET

Autobiographical aside: When I was a little kid in the mid-Fifties (yeah, I know, but I’m still alive), one of the first children’s books I read, and still remember vividly, was a watercolor-illustrated book about koala bears, lounging around in eucalyptus trees. When I was three, the word “eucalyptus” was sheer magic. (If anyone can figure out which book I was reading, I’ll come up with a suitable TV-related prize.) Today, I know that koalas are marsupials, not bears – but I know nothing about their bellowing language, which is what’s being studied in this new program about the koalas of Brisbane, Australia. Check local listings.

 
  
 
 
MODERN FAMILY

ABC, 9:00 p.m. ET

This is not going to go well, but it is going to be funny. Jay (Ed O’Neill) decides to bring up something to Gloria (Sofia Vergara) – namely, that her voice tends to get a little bit loud. Of such offhand observations are epic arguments made. Epic sitcom episodes, too.

 
  
 
 
DON'T TRUST THE B---- IN APARTMENT 23

ABC, 9:31 p.m. ET

James Van Der Beek, in this episode, gets a phone call from an unscrupulous video distributor, claiming to have in his possession a wild sex tape featuring Van Der Beek and an attractive brunette. The brunette in question is Chloe (Krysten Ritter), but that’s not what concerns James. He’s concerned about how the copy leaked – and all roads lead to June (Dreama Walker).

 
  
 
 
 
 
Read and add comments HERE for today's Best Bets!
 
 
 
 
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33 Comments
 
 
Q
Is it possible the book you are describing is Bobby Rubbernose by Timothy Kay and illustrated by Rufus Morris?
May 16, 2012   |  Reply
 
 
Ken Rehfield
Not sure, but I think the book you read was maybe Blinky Bill And Nutsy: Two Little Australians or Bear Circus. If I'm right, you may send me TWO TV-related prizes (if you remember I won one of your guess the box receipts for one of the newly released movies a while ago, and I'm still waiting! It's alright I know you've been busy)
May 16, 2012   |  Reply
 
David Bianculli
Ken!!! I had a computer meltdown and lost 50000 emails on my last laptop. Please send your address to me again, and I'll double the prize booty just as compound interest. (That goes for the one other similarly neglected prize winner -- he knows who he is, and so do I, so no cheating!). And thanks for throwing out some suggestions for the koala hunt, but I should have specified: the koalas I so vaguely remember wore no clothes, put on no circuses, and did nothing but act like koalas. In beautiful watercolors. And the whole thing took place in and around a eucalyptus tree. The prize is still out there, if anyone can work from that!
May 16, 2012
 
 
 
Angela
No mention of Awake? Awakes wake isn't for a couple more weeks with 2 more episodes to go. Perhaps it's been preempted this week. I'll see if I remember how to check my regular TV guide.
May 16, 2012   |  Reply
 
David Bianculli
Awake is at 10 p.m. ET -- it just got crowded out by the late-night stuff tonight. I know, Eric Gould is upset with me, too...
May 16, 2012
 
 
 
Lenny T
I would guess the youwere reading something from the Blinky Bill the Koala series
May 16, 2012   |  Reply
 
David Bianculli
I love that you took the time to write in -- but it's not Blinky Bill. (Got that book sent from a dear friend in Australia, who thought the same thing.) The children's book I remember, early 50s vintage, was a watercolor book with fairly lifelike illustrations. Koalas lounging on branches and eating leaves.
May 16, 2012
 
 
 
scott
I was a bit surprised to see that the HBO documentary "The Weight of the Nation" did not get a recommendation for tonight.
May 14, 2012   |  Reply
 
David Bianculli
It got one for Tuesday, if that eases the disappointment. Just too much going on. Sorry.
May 15, 2012
 
 
 
Neil
Regarding tonight's "How I Met Your Mother" finale, a show can only sustain a tease for so long, and for me this tease wore out its shelf life about five years back.
May 14, 2012   |  Reply
 
 
Mac
Lots of talk about the MadMen/Beatles mashup on a music website I frequent.Don is playing a rainbow label Capitol pressing(as an original would look)and the musical snippet,including rerun and DVD rights,cost Matthew Weiner $250,000. Mad indeed!
May 13, 2012   |  Reply
 
 
jan
I LOVE the orginal "Bedazzled." The sequence with the nuns makes me laugh every single time I see it. Glad it's getting some air time.
May 10, 2012   |  Reply
 
 
jan
Thanks, Mara, for the comment on "Video Worth Watching." Just finished watching it because of what you wrote, and it was an amazing interview. Now I have to check out what Terry Gross did on "Fresh Air."
May 9, 2012   |  Reply
 
 
Mara
There is no official place to comment on "Video Worth Watching", so forgive me, but I have to thank you for posting the Bill Moyers interview with Maurice Sendak. It was such a moving display of two whole-hearted men in honest conversation about the world as it is. I am grateful to you for calling it to my attention.
May 9, 2012   |  Reply
 
EricG
Mara: There is a place to comment on VWW! All videos are posted in the TVWW Best Menu, under the Video Worth Watching page -- although, obviously it's a little deep in the hierarchy. So, we're going to change that up soon. Thanks for pointing it out! --EG
May 9, 2012
 
 
David Bianculli
I suspect there will be, soon -- especially since we would love to get comments like the one you just sent. So glad you took the time to write, as well as watch -- and enjoyed it as much as we did.
May 9, 2012
 
 
 
Eileen
I don't like Megan Draper -- there, I've said it. I always have the feeling she is up to no good. She's beginning to make Betty likable, if that's possible. Maybe I'll be proven wrong, but I think the Don/Megan story line is going to go to some very dark places. But that just adds to the enjoyment of this show.
May 6, 2012   |  Reply
 
ericg
Just a small moment last night, but when Megan was cooking, and made Don taste it before it cooled off and burnt his mouth -- a bit of foreshadowing there that she's probably going to injure him again. She's quite capable of it.
May 7, 2012
 
 
Eileen
It's Monday -- & I'm really messing up here. I meant to say revealing "not good" things about her (Megan). More Sally, please.
May 7, 2012
 
 
Eileen
Sorry -- I should have said "some more very dark places". Mea Culpa. I just think Megan's career change is going to bring about disaster and some very revealing (¬ good) things about her. I think she's got as many secrets as Don; we just aren't aware of them yet.
May 7, 2012
 
 
David Bianculli
Geez, Eileen -- hasn't it already gone to some dark places? Or are fantasies of choking and murder, and hiding her body under the bed, considered "light" places by your yardstick? If so, yikes.
May 7, 2012
 
 
 
Dana
How about Game of Thrones? The show is getting very good and the characters are so well written.
May 6, 2012   |  Reply
 
 
Justin
Whale Wars is one of the most controversial and intense shows out there. It's unpredictable and thought-provoking. Any thoughts?
May 4, 2012   |  Reply
 
David Bianculli
That's a whale of a suggestion. Let me revisit the series -- but if I don't make it a Best Bet, please don't blubber.
May 5, 2012
 
 
 
Eileen
For anyone who has never seen "In Cold Blood", it's truly one of the best true crime films ever, eerily filmed in black & white. Robert Blake was sensational, but let's not forget Scott Wilson, who is currently seen on "The Walking Dead". This was only his second film role, but what a role!
May 3, 2012   |  Reply
 
Mara
Oh I know, Eileen! I love Scott Wilson in his first movie role too--In the Heat of the Night. What a way to start a career! He's been acting straight through since then, and every time he turns up these days (Justified, Enlightened, The Walking Dead), he adds something special to the mix.
May 3, 2012
 
 
 
Erin
Technically, Jay is married to Gloria on Modern Family, but with those hips, those lips, and that accent, I can't blame you for being distracted.
May 2, 2012   |  Reply
 
David Bianculli
Absolutely right. Whoops. Two days, two brainless errors in Best Bets. You're probably right about the source of the distraction -- but it's fixed now. My error, not Sofia's stunning distractions.
May 2, 2012
 
 
 
Andy
NHL Playoffs!
May 1, 2012   |  Reply
 
David Bianculli
They'll get in here, soon enough. Just waiting for some dust to settle. And the only one I know who could raise a cloud of dust on ice was the Peanuts character Pigpen.
May 2, 2012
 
 
 
Eileen
American Experience, once again, looks wonderful. In this day & age of such revered and highly paid athletes, it's good to go back and remember it wasn't always huge contracts and perks. People like Jesse Owens and Jackie Robinson laid the groundwork for those enjoying the spotlight today. I wonder if they even know the trials and tribulations?
May 1, 2012   |  Reply
 
 
The correct spelling for Once Upon A Time's Lana Parrilla last name is ... Parrilla.
Apr 29, 2012   |  Reply
 
David Bianculli
Bad typing on my part again. Didn't type enough Rs. Sorrrry. I'll fix it now. Thanks!
Apr 30, 2012
 
 
 
jan
I think it's Diane Varsi in Peyton Place. Ah, the memories of reading the book without parental consent! Quite scandalous back in the day; I don't know how it would hold up now.
Apr 28, 2012   |  Reply
 
Eileen
Jan - your mention to Peyton Place made me laugh out loud. Re-read the book recently, and it's tame by any standards. Saw the movie on tv this winter, and it would get a PG-Schmaltz today! But I remember when they were both teen contraband! Curious - why the mention of Diane Varsi - couldn't find it on this web site at all?
Apr 28, 2012
 
 
David Bianculli
Hey, good catch on your part, bad typing on mine! I've changed Barsi to Varsi, just so future readers of this comment will understand what you were talking about. My vad.
Apr 28, 2012
 
 
 
Arlene
Thanks for this site! Do you mention Portlandia anywhere as a best bet? It's brilliant. Also, two shows I was so sad to see canned after 1 season: Prime Suspect and Chicago Code. Any idea why? Will they be revived?
Apr 27, 2012   |  Reply
 
David Bianculli
Easy, usual answer: Low ratings is why. And will they be back? No. Sorry.
Apr 28, 2012
 
 
Eric
Arlene -- "Portlandia" has gotten several mentions, a Best Bet from David in January, and an enthusiastic thumbs up here - (http://www.tvworthwatching.com/post/Sketch-Comedy-From-the-Crunchy-Fringe.aspx) Fred Armisen is perhaps doing his best work ever on "SNL", on "Portlandia," and even in his cameo on last night's hilarious live broadcast of "30 Rock". We'll be posting his over the top lead in the recent SNL sketch "The Californian's" soon. --EG
Apr 27, 2012
 
 
 
 
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David Bianculli

Founder / Editor

Behind David in the picture is the first TV owned by his father, Virgil Bianculli, a 1946 Raytheon. (The TV, not his father. His father was a 1923 Italian.) David Bianculli has been a TV critic since 1975, including a 14-year stint at the New York Daily News, and sees no reason to stop now. Currently, he's TV critic for NPR's Fresh Air, occasional substitute host for that show's Terry Gross, and teaches TV and film history at New Jersey's Rowan University. His most recent book is 2009's Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story of 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,' and he's at work on another.
 
 
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