MONDAY
JUNE 1
2015

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

Acorn TV, 12:00 a.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: Yet another series import receives its American TV premiere on Acorn TV. This time it’s a new crime series from New Zealand, called Harry, a limited series that will be unspooled Mondays on the streaming service, with the first two episodes available today to launch the newest Acorn acquisition. Oscar Kightley, who co-wrote the series, stars in the title role, playing a detective in Auckland’s Major Crime Unit who returns to the job after a month off of bereavement leave in his native Samoa. His wife committed suicide four weeks ago, and now Harry’s back – perhaps too early – juggling his teen daughter’s needs at home and a major new case as work.

 
  
 
 

Fox, 8:00 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: For Cycle 12 of this competition dance series, Fox is trying to make enough changes so this show can remain vital, or at least viable, for a few more seasons. The biggest structural changes are in the competition – it’s now stage vs. street, not men vs. women – and in the judges’ table, where Mary Murphy is gone, and a familiar judge from an even older Fox competition series, Paula Abdul from American Idol, signs up for the entire season. And since she started as a Laker Girl and choreographer, she’s more than qualified for this up-from-the-streets showcase.

 
  
 
 

IFC, 8:00 p.m. ET

Compare and contrast: With George Miller’s new, hypercharged Mad Max movie now in theaters, here’s a chance to refresh your memories of his 1979 original. Mel Gibson stars.

 
  
 
 

Lifetime, 10:00 p.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: This is a warning, not a recommendation. What could be more cynical, and even less entertaining, than a dating reality show? How about a scripted series that pretends to be a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a dating reality show, and is every bit as manipulative and abrasive as the genre it lampoons and deconstructs? UnReal wants to be knowingly superior to the Bachelor-type program it “examines,” but somehow creates a universe, and a program, that is even worse. Kim Zimmer stars as the screaming banshee of a producer, and Shiri Apppleby plays an assistant returning, after a meltdown, to manipulate the on-camera action without losing what’s left of her soul. Good luck with that. People who are really into The Bachelor may find this amusing, even novel – but sensible viewers will do neither.

 
  
 
 

ABC, 10:01 p.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: This new ABC summer series has two names attached who are giants in the sci-fi genre: executive producer Steven Spielberg and the late author Ray Bradbury, whose short story Zero Hour inspired this limited series – which, like CBS’s Under the Dome, will prove less limited if it catches on. It’s about a mysterious case involving a series of seemingly random children, each of whom shares the same “imaginary” plaything, a malicious spirit named Drill who encourages them to play games that, as in the opening sequence, lead to a small girl’s mother ending up in a coma. The young girl is played by Abby Ryder Fortson, who sells the initial concept in a way few youngsters could – kudos to her and to Spielberg, who has been great at working with young kids his entire career. The investigator brought in to explain “the whispers” is played by Lily Rabe from American Horror Story, and her husband by Milo Ventimiglia, last seen terrorizing people on Gotham. For a full review, see Ed Bark's Uncle Barky's Bytes.

 
  
 
 
 
 
Read and add comments HERE for today's Best Bets!
 
 
 
 
Leave a Comment: (No HTML, 1000 chars max)
 
 Name (required)
 
 Email (required) (will not be published)
 
TMHNB
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 270  | Go to page: 
5382 Comments
 
 
??? ??? ???? ??? ???? ??? ?????. ??? ???? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???? ???? ?? ?? ?????.
Nov 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I am very much pleased with the contents you have mentioned. I wanted to thank you for this great article.
Nov 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I like your blog. Very interesting. Thank you for sharing it
Nov 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I’ve been searching for some decent stuff on the subject and haven't had any luck up until this point, You just got a new biggest fan!.
Nov 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Wow, cool post. I'd like to write like this too - taking time and real hard work to make a great article... but I put things off too much and never seem to get started. Thanks though.
Nov 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I am definitely enjoying your website. You definitely have some great insight and great stories.
Nov 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
We are really grateful for your blog post. You will find a lot of approaches after visiting your post. I was exactly searching for. Thanks for such post and please keep it up. Great work.
Nov 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Admiring the time and effort you put into your blog and detailed information you offer!..
Nov 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Very useful information shared in this article, nicely written! I will be reading your articles and using the informative tips. Looking forward to read such knowledgeable articles.
Nov 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
"I really appreciate this post. I’ve been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thank you again!

"
Nov 11, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
"It’s amazing to go to see this web page and reading the
views of all colleagues regarding this piece of writing,
while I am also keen of getting knowledge."
Nov 11, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Manusia yang menyedihkan, mencari uang dengan menipu orang jujur. Persetan dengan sampah ini.
Nov 11, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Perilaku penipuan murni. Bajingan-bajingan ini tidak punya moral dan tidak ragu-ragu menipu orang lain.
Nov 11, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu kelas rendah melakukan apa yang paling mereka kuasai—berbohong, menipu, dan menghilang dengan uang orang lain.
Nov 11, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Situs web ini benar-benar penipuan, jangan percayai mereka.
Nov 11, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Pemerintah Indonesia tangkap situs web sialan itu
Nov 11, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Hanya kebohongan dan taktik penipuan. Buang-buang waktu dan uang saja.
Nov 11, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Sialan para penipu ini karena telah mencuri uang dan kepercayaan orang lain.
Nov 11, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu ini adalah pembohong profesional. Siapa pun yang mempercayai mereka hanya ikut memperkuat penipuan mereka.
Nov 11, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Bajingan keparat, akan kupukul pantatmu dengan sangat keras!
Nov 11, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 270  | Go to page: 
 
 

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.