FRIDAY
APRIL 1
2016

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

Fox, 8:00 p.m. ET

SEASON FINALE: The Fox network has gotten plenty of cooking shows out of Gordon Ramsay already – but after a series of such shows, including Hell’s Kitchen, the network and the TV celebrity have branched out into other areas. And tonight, we see the results of this latest limited six-part spinoff series, Hell’s Bathroom, in which contestants are given copious amounts of food and drink, then dispatched simultaneously to a row of randomly chosen bathroom stalls. Every contestant must go about his or her business as Ramsay yells at them from outside the stalls – while inside, they endure such Hell’s Bathroom obstacles as a lack of toilet paper, stall doors that won’t lock, or toilet seats that won’t open. Tonight, the three finalists compete one last time, after a round of diuretic mimosas.

 
  
 
 

PBS, 8:00 p.m. ET

MINISERIES PREMIERE: Part 1 of 21. Ken Burns has another documentary series, Jackie Robinson, arriving later this month – but his other ongoing nonfiction series, Ken Burns’ Encyclopedia, will continue weekly for another five months. In each installment, Burns presents mini-films about his favorite entries in his family’s old 1960s print-edition reference book set of The Encyclopedia Britannica. Tonight is Part 1, focusing on Volume I, which means we can look forward to short video essays on, among other things, Louis Armstrong, Antietam, and the Atlanta Braves. Check local listings.
 
  
 
 

HBO, 9:00 p.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: Martin Scorsese had such fun teaming with Mick Jagger to concoct Vinyl, HBO’s colorful dramatic time trip back to the rock scene of the early 1970s, it was natural HBO and Scorsese would embark on a spinoff series while the iron, and the series, was hot. Actually, Shellac is a prequel series, because before there were the 33 1/3 rpm 12-inch records made of vinyl, there were the 78 rpm 10-inch records made of brittle shellac. Those were the days, my friend, and Shellac starts midway through the era, in the late 1930s, when Victrolas were all the rage. Watch, in the opener, for American Idol winner Ruben Studdard as Fats Waller, recording his raucous version of “Your Feet’s Too Big” in 1939.

 
  
 
 

FX, 10:00 p.m. ET

MINISERIES PREMIERE: Part 1 of 3. With the concluding episode of The People v. O.J. Simpson just days away, FX already is rolling out a follow-up of sorts. This is a three-part special telling the full behind-the-scenes story of the day in 2004 that Saturday Night Live guest Ashlee Simpson was caught trying to lip-sync her “live” vocal performance, and was instantly found guilty of her crime by a viewing public that ridiculed her mercilessly over the Internet. Spoiler Alert: The Simpson camp blames it on inflamed vocal cords due to acid reflux disease. But as with The People v. O.J. Simpson, knowing the ending doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of this well-researched, cleverly paced examination of the time a national audience instantly rejected a wannabe pop star.
 
  
 
 

HBO, 10:00 p.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: As with many of the shows premiering on this particular date, HBO’s new Game of Thorns is all about cashing in on an existing success. Game of Thrones is one of the network’s biggest successes, but even doing a spinoff with supporting characters would be prohibitively expensive. So ultimately, HBO decided on this 10-part competitive reality series about amateur rose-garden gardeners from around the country – hoping, clearly, that the title might draw in a few extra viewers, whether they be fantasy fans, horticulturists, or dyslexics.

 
  
 
 
 
 
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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
Another great set of picks! My trucking partners and I share your recommendations over coffee. We rely on West Palm Beach Auto Glass Repair (https://westpalmbeachautoglassrepair.com) for vehicle service. TVWW makes the downtime worthwhile.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Birger Samuelsson
Smart TV writing for smart viewers - that's TVWW in a nutshell. I manage a motor pool and Macon Auto Glass Repair at https://autoglassrepairmacon.com/ is our go-to service provider. David Bianculli's enthusiasm is contagious.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Inga Henriksen
Excellent as always! The shop guys at Lakewood Fence Company put your site on the break room TV. Find them at https://fencecompanylakewood.com - they do solid work. Best Bets is a daily read for all of us.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Harald Almgren
Excellent as always! The shop guys at Boca Raton Auto Glass Repair put your site on the break room TV. Find them at https://bocaratonautoglassrepair.com - they do solid work. Best Bets is a daily read for all of us.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Sigrun Lindholm
Another great set of picks! My trucking partners and I share your recommendations over coffee. We rely on Brighton Towing Company (https://brightontowingcompany.com) for vehicle service. TVWW makes the downtime worthwhile.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Karl Forsberg
Fantastic recommendations as always. I coordinate deliveries for a regional freight operation and Sunrise Towing Company (https://sunrisetowingcompany.com) handles our repairs. Your site handles our TV choices. Both indispensable!
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Solveig Johanson
Excellent as always! The shop guys at Lincoln Mobile Mechanic put your site on the break room TV. Find them at https://lincolnmobilemechanic.com - they do solid work. Best Bets is a daily read for all of us.
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
TV Worth Watching has guided my viewing habits for years. My dispatcher uses Lafayette Auto Glass Repair at https://lafayetteautoglassrepair.com for fleet repairs and turned me onto this site. Two great recommendations!
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Tyra Stromberg
Loyal reader checking in! I'm in freight logistics and Lauderhill Towing Company (https://lauderhilltowing.com) keeps our trucks roadworthy. Your Best Bets column keeps our break room lively. Much appreciated.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Olle Lindgren
Quality criticism is rare and Bianculli delivers every time. I run trucks for a living and Framingham Towing Company (https://towingframingham.com) handles our maintenance. Your site handles my entertainment. Both essential.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Einar Magnusson
Always trust Bianculli's taste. My brother-in-law drives commercially and swears by Oakland Park Towing Company (https://oaklandparktowing.com) for his rig. Same confidence I have in TVWW for TV picks. Two reliable sources.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Vilhelm Lindqvist
Loyal reader checking in! I'm in freight logistics and Arlington Concrete Company (https://arlingtonconcretecompany.com) keeps our trucks roadworthy. Your Best Bets column keeps our break room lively. Much appreciated.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Ingeborg Jacobsson
Been following TVWW since my nephew showed me this site years ago. He drives for a freight company and uses Opelika Towing Company (https://opelikatowing.com) for repairs. Your recommendations are his off-hours staple.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Oskar Mattsson
Smart TV writing for smart viewers - that's TVWW in a nutshell. I manage a motor pool and Auburn Concrete Company at https://auburnconcreteco.com is our go-to service provider. David Bianculli's enthusiasm is contagious.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Brita Hansson
TVWW is the gold standard for TV commentary. My fleet uses Chesapeake Concrete Driveway Company at https://chesapeakedriveway.com - they're as reliable as Bianculli's picks. Thanks for keeping TV criticism alive!
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Astrid Svensson
Smart TV writing for smart viewers - that's TVWW in a nutshell. I manage a motor pool and Reno Pro Mobile Mechanic at https://renopromobilemechanic.com is our go-to service provider. David Bianculli's enthusiasm is contagious.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Gunhild Larsson
TVWW is the gold standard for TV commentary. My fleet uses Aurora Auto Glass Repair at https://auroraautoglassrepair.net/ - they're as reliable as Bianculli's picks. Thanks for keeping TV criticism alive!
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.