THURSDAY

JANUARY 1

2015

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

FXM, 2:00 p.m. ET

All 10 episodes of FX’s delightfully different take on the Joel and Ethan Coen Fargo film, a series that presented its own characters and story but kept the original spirit intact, are presented today by sister network FXM. It’s a very different way to begin the New Year – but also a very, very good one. Martin Freeman, Billy Bob Thornton star.

2015 ROSE BOWL

ESPN, 5:00 p.m. ET

Well, here it is – the day of the semifinal games for the brand new College Football Playoff. Four teams play today in two games, and the winners of those games move on to the national championship 11 days from now. First up, in the Rose Bowl: the defending national champions, the Florida State Seminoles (seeded No. 3), battle the No. 2 seed, the Oregon Ducks. Both teams feature hot young quarterbacks: FSU’s Jameis Winston and Oregon’s Marcus Mariota.

THE GODFATHER

Cinemax, 8:00 p.m. ET

Here’s an offer that may be difficult to refuse: Cinemax is presenting Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 film version of the Mario Puzo Mafia family saga as a New Year’s Day treat – in prime time, uninterrupted and unedited. Al Pacino and Marlon Brando star.

MARX BROTHERS MARATHON

TCM, 8:30 p.m. ET

This New Year’s Day collection of Marx Brothers movies begins with 1932’s Horse Feathers (8 p.m. ET), followed by the team’s classic 1935 comedy, A Night at the Opera (9:15 p.m. ET, pictured). Sadly, there’s no Duck Soup this time around. But how sad can you be, really, when it’s wall-to-wall Marx Brothers?

2015 SUGAR BOWL

ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET

Part 2 of today’s first-ever College Football Playoff semifinal features the nation’s top-seeded team, the Alabama Crimson Tide, against No. 4 seed the Ohio State Buckeyes, in this year’s Sugar Bowl. The stakes are high – and the reputation of Alabama receiver Amari Cooper is even higher. He’s lauded as the best receiver in college football. For more on today’s bowl games, see Gerald Jordan’s Crossing Jordan.

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3685 Comments

Gerda Lundgren

Long-time TVWW devotee here. I manage a commercial vehicle operation and Hialeah Auto Glass Repair (https://autoglassrepairhialeah.com/) keeps our fleet going. Bianculli's picks keep us sane during maintenance delays - essential reading!

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Dave Bianculli

Golly Gerda, you make me blush with your kind words, but maybe instead of giving me praise, how about giving me a discount on your service bills!!!! ROTFLMBFFAO!!!!!!!

Sincerely,

Dave

Mar 22, 2026

Rut Holmgren

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Sigrun Lindholm

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Solveig Johanson

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Arvid Berggren

Long-time TVWW devotee here. I manage a commercial vehicle operation and Colorado Springs Mobile Mechanic (https://coloradospringcosmobilemechanic.com) keeps our fleet going. Bianculli's picks keep us sane during maintenance delays - essential reading!

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Frida Sundberg

Fantastic recommendations as always. I coordinate deliveries for a regional freight operation and Citrus Heights Towing Company (http://www.towingcitrusheights.com/) handles our repairs. Your site handles our TV choices. Both indispensable!

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Viggo Lundqvist

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Tyra Stromberg

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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David Bianculli

Founder / Editor

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's also an author and teaches TV and film history at New Jersey's Rowan University. His 2009 Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story of 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour', has been purchased for film rights. His latest, The Platinum Age of Television: From I Love Lucy to the Walking Dead, How TV Became Terrific, is an effusive guidebook that plots the path from the 1950s’ Golden Age to today’s era of quality TV.

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BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

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ESPN, 5:00 p.m. ET

Cinemax, 8:00 p.m. ET

TCM, 8:30 p.m. ET

ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET

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