TUESDAY
JUNE 18
2013

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

IFC, 8:00 p.m. ET

This 1991 film is a sweet, funny comedy, capturing iconic Western villain Jack Palance in a late-career role that redefined him, in a way he celebrated by doing victorious one-armed push-ups at the Oscars. Billy Crystal is the enthusiastic guy who takes his buddies (Daniel Stern and Bruno Kirby) to a Dude Ranch, where Palance’s Curly lords over them, and a cattle drive. Great fun. And, like Lee Marvin in Cat Ballou, Palance knew exactly how far to commit to a self-parody to make it hilarious – and unexpectedly tender at the same time.
 
  
 
 

Showtime, 8:00 p.m. ET

Since Showtime is giving this new documentary another showcase, so will I: It’s a thoroughly engrossing study of the band, as loaded with great music as it is with unexpected details and frank insights, even about their formative days backing Linda Ronstadt.
 
  
 
 

Sundance, 8:00 p.m. ET

Dev Patel, now of HBO’s The Newsroom, stars in Danny Boyle’s 2008 Best Picture Oscar winner, about an orphan in India who rises from the slums to become a national TV sensation – because of his knowledge.
 
  
 
 

ABC, 9:00 p.m. ET

In one respect, this year’s NBA finals don’t sound so exciting: Game 1 was close, but the next four have been blowouts. But the two teams, the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs, have traded blowouts, each of them bouncing back after a defeat to trounce the opposition with a thrilling extended scoring streak. For Miami, the guy to watch, hot or cold, is LeBron James, but the star of the Spurs has turned out to be someone much more unlikely: Danny Green, whose three-point shooting already has set records for the NBC Finals, with more games to play. The Spurs are up 3-2 in games, with only one to win for the crown – but the rest of the series is played in Miami, so the Heat have home-court advantage.
 
  
 
 

NBC, 9:00 p.m. ET

SEASON FINALE: Last night’s final performance competition of the season was a bit bloated, but made it clear that the winner should be, and most likely will be, one of the two women. And since 16-year-old country singer Danielle Bradbery not only elicited the most praise from the judges, but is coached by multiple Voice victor Blake Shelton, I’m guessing she’ll walk away with the crown tonight. The Voice has yet to launch a recording star, but Bradbery, especially with Shelton’s well-connected country backing, could change that.
 
  
 
 
 
 
Read and add comments HERE for today's Best Bets!
 
 
 
 
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260 Comments
 
 
Ken
If I'm not mistaken, today is Tuesday June 11th. Please update. I won't know what to watch tonight! Ken
Jun 11, 2013   |  Reply
 
Christy Slewinski
Hello, Ken. We're currently having technical issues with the site that are preventing us from updating our content. We have posted today's Best Bets on our Facebook and Tumblr pages: www.facebook.com/tvworthwatching or www.tvworthwatching.tumblr.com. Thanks for you patience!
Jun 11, 2013
 
 
 
wwwparker
Hey! This isn't the Game of Thrones Series Finale! It's the season finale!
You're inducing typo anxiety!
Jun 9, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Dennis Paul
Oops, 'In The Flesh' is on BBC America not Starz! I'm sure that was just an error on the part of the editing staff since Mr. Bianculli would never make such an error. Perhaps they are suffering from Partially Dead Syndrome (PDS).
Jun 8, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
David Brewster
I can't believe the CMT Awards were not noted tonight.
Jun 5, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Curtis
For me, Nina Conti and Monk stole the "For Your Consideration" movie (not an easy feat). Her audition video for the movie is hilarious. If I had HBO I'd be watching Guest's show.
Jun 3, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Sarah
If I had a talk show I would do it the same way as Graham Norton mostly because it is nice to have all the guests on at once, better them giving someone only 4 mintues to talk and plug their project.
May 30, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
purrplexed
How can you recommend a show that you admit to turning off? Why are you not recommending some of these great hockey and nba playoffs? You could be watching them when you turn off the Voice.
May 28, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Eileen
As Liberace would say, Syfy is "crying all the way to the bank." I hope whoever makes up those movie titles is well paid -- they are just hilarious. Even better than the NY Post, and that's saying something!
May 27, 2013   |  Reply
 
Patrick
Agreed. The trailer for "Sharktopus" was posted on this very site a few years ago. I almost died laughing watching it. Multiple times.
Jun 9, 2013
 
 
 
Neil
Not that this error is a showstopper, but in today's Best Bet for Two and a Half Men, wasn't this episode after Charlie's [Sheen] exit and Walden's [Ashton Kutcher] introduction? And yes, it's great to see Kandi back in a delightfully loopy episode, in a series that's otherwise been in a slow descent for at least a couple of seasons now.
May 23, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Mac
Fridays in May have been really interesting on TCM.Rather than concntrate on things essential,host Illeana Douglas has been finding films that fell between the cracks,yet deserve a second look.Not quite Underground,these films are pretty much mainstream,which is part of the charm as to how they got made and never found an audience.Anytime TCM spools "Ace In The Hole",Billy Wilder's lost classic,is a night to rejoice.Ace is only available on a pricy,but worthwhile,Criterion set.
May 17, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Jay Kogen
David,
My name is Jay Kogen. I'm an Emmy Award winning writer/producer from The Simpsons and Frasier. I'm making a new show called "Wendell & Vinnie" which I'm trying to make a smart show for adults that kids can watch too. I'm trying to break the mold at Nickelodeon and I've been trying to get you to review my show. Good or bad, let's get it out there. This week's episode "Pick Ups & Drop Offs" is a typical one. It's got parent/child issues at the center and many adult jokes spread around. I wrote to you months ago and got no reply. I hear you on Fresh Air and even though I don't know that you'll love my show, I want to hear your opinion. Anyway, cheers and thanks. Jay.
May 17, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Dennis Paul
Thing I find funny about the Office is that it took 10 years to get a documentary made. They should have just made a reality show and it would have been on all this time and then a documentary about making the reality show. I just gave myself a headache.
May 16, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Maggie in NJ
Thanks for saying something nice about "Nashville". "Nashville" and "Vegas" were my must-watch shows of this season.
May 15, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Brian Becker
Yesterday I was watching an episode of Crackle's "Chosen" on Roku. Today the entire series is gone, vanished. Even a search on their site momentarily provides results and then shows no results. It's a mystery almost befitting the show itself. Any idea why? Thanks.
May 13, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Re: Doctor Who on May 11, 2013 on BBC America. Tonight's episode is NOT the season finale of Doctor Who - that's on May 18, 2013 with the episode of 'The Name of the Doctor.'
May 11, 2013   |  Reply
 
David Bianculli
Dear Kelly: You're right, and I'm wrong. Sorry -- and thanks for pointing it out so politely.
May 12, 2013
 
 
 
Bill Evans
Hey, David B., I used to work with you at the Gainesville Sun back when we were at the 'historic' downtown site. Love your work! I remember your start with the Sun's primitive TV Week. FYI, I'm at the Gainesville CBS-TV affiliate. Drop me a line....
May 10, 2013   |  Reply
 
David Bianculli
Bill -- What a hoot! Glad to hear you're still in Gainesville. I'll have someone to visit if the university ever brings me back. Have your people call my people. (I don't have people, but it sounds good.)
May 12, 2013
 
 
 
Justin
NHL Playoffs > NBA Playoffs
May 8, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
sandra spring
Thanks to you I hung in with Orphan Black. Original and riveting!!
May 4, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
jan
While I have not yet seen "The Gold Diggers of 1933," I have seen both the musical numbers you mentioned. You're right: "Remember My Forgotten Man" is unforgettable, and the other is just a lot of fun. In fact, after seeing "Remember My Fogotten Man," I immediately purchased the DVD of the movie just to have it. Maybe soon I will actually have the time to watch the whole film (after this semester is over).
May 4, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Neil
This is on the trivial side, but the former Mets knuckleballer is "R. A. Dickey" (not "R. J.").
May 1, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
 
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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 with Terry Gross, and is an occasional substitute host for that show. He also teaches TV and film history at New Jersey's Rowan University, and his most recent book, 2009's Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story of 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, has recently been purchased for film rights.  He's currently at work on another.