SUNDAY
MARCH 11
2018

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

ABC, 8:00 p.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: Two years after this Fox reality-TV musical competition juggernaut left the air, it’s back – on a new network, and, save for host Ryan Seacrest, with an all-new lineup. The hosts for this comeback lap, presented by ABC instead of Fox, are Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie. The question is, will viewers show up this time, even out of curiosity?

 
  
 
 

Fox, 8:00 p.m. ET

SPECIAL PREMIERE: Here’s an obvious bit of network street-fighting nastiness. On the same night and time that ABC tries to relaunch former Fox hit American Idol, Fox counters by presenting a special it’s been promoting heavily, and one for which the tune-in curiosity factor is at least as formidable. This special is built around a program that Fox had recorded, and scheduled to run, back in 2006, featuring O.J. Simpson being interviewed by publisher Judith Regan in a “hypothetical” conversation titled If I Did It.  Simpson’s ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ronald Goldman had been brutally murdered in 1994, with O.J. Simpson accused of the murders and tried. In 1995, he was found not guilty. And 11 years later, Fox planned to release a special, and Regan a Simpson book, asking the former football star to talk about what might have happened had he… well, you get it. And the outcry from the general public then, and from Goldman’s family (who didn’t want O.J. profiting in any way from the murders), was strong enough to scrap the project – a rare instance, those days, of the Fox network exhibiting good taste. Well, somehow, seemingly out of nowhere, here it comes again. That long-shelved footage has been repackaged as a new Fox special, hosted by Soledad O’Brien and overseen by producer Terry Wrong, whose resume up to this point, in such ABC documentaries as Boston 24/7, has been both impressive and free of controversy. Part of that streak, at least, just ended. But supposedly, since no proceeds from this special go to Simpson, the Goldman family has no problem with this unexpected peek into the mind of the man accused of killing Nicole.

 
  
 
 

Starz!, 8:00 p.m. ET

Last week, J.K. Simmons got a break as Nazanin Boniadi, as Claire and her doppelganger, filled the entire episode – and deepened the series even more as a result. Whatever happens tonight, we at least know one of the other characters a lot more. Two, actually, since Claire’s significant other now is more significant as well.

 
  
 
 

AMC, 9:00 p.m. ET

Last week’s episode presented individual segments focused on six different players from the Walking Dead universe. And even all that narrative catch-up, in the wake of Carl’s demise, doesn’t fully get us up to speed.  Expect more of the same tonight, as the overall story keep building towards a climax Carl was hoping to avoid: one more deadly showdown between Rick and Negan.

 
  
 
 

Showtime, 9:00 p.m. ET

Last week’s episode had Carrie (Claire Danes) caught for not taking her meds, and had Saul (Many Patinkin) caught in the middle of a violent shootout at the cult compound. But tonight, the plot also revolves around the escalation and dissemination of fake news – as embodied by an inflammatorily captioned and misleading photograph.

 
  
 
 

NBC, 10:00 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: This show wasn’t supposed to have a Season 2. It was canceled by NBC, then quickly reinstated – and after that smart reconsideration, returns tonight, with new time-travel episodes heading the team directly into the paths of Hedy Lamarr, Robert Johnson, Ronald Reagan and others.

 
  
 
 

HBO, 11:00 p.m. ET

The smartest of all the topical comedy shows presents another fresh episode tonight. That’s all I need to know to tune in – and after each week of wallowing in the latest news, I need to tune in.

 
  
 
 
 
 
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)
 
JPCTN
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 185  | Go to page: 
3695 Comments
 
 
Such a very useful article. Very interesting to read this article. I would like to thank you for the efforts you had made for writing this awesome article.
Mar 26, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Victory Foods OEM
Bianculli’s curation effectively balances nostalgia with timely cultural markers, especially highlighting the ironic origins of Aquaman alongside the poignant Morrison tribute. https://victoryfoodscn.com
Mar 25, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This specific is generally clearly basic and in addition exceptional truth alongside without a doubt reasonable and besides in fact valuable My business is
Mar 24, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
With our trusted and highly trained shipping professionals ready to answer all of your shipping questions,
Mar 24, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Great survey, I'm sure you're getting a great response
Mar 24, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Even after using several ways to increase WordPress speed it was difficult to score high on Google Speed Test
Mar 24, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This specific is generally clearly basic and in addition exceptional truth alongside without a doubt reasonable and besides in fact valuable My business is
Mar 24, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
It is a good site post without fail. Not too many people would actually, the way you just did. I am impressed that there is so much information about this subject that has been uncovered and you’ve defeated yourself this time, with so much quality. Good Works!
Mar 24, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Penipu berkualitas rendah tanpa integritas dan penuh kebohongan.
Mar 24, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu yang memalukan memangsa orang-orang dengan klaim palsu dan kebohongan.
Mar 24, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
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
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 185  | 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.