SUNDAY
MAY 11
2014

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

ABC, 8:00 p.m. ET

SEASON FINALE: The ending of Season 3 is full of colliding subplots, including Snow White’s new baby, the Wicked Witch’s new evil plan, and a spell that sends Emma (Jennifer Morrison) and Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) back in time, with full awareness of their “present” selves, to what looks like a royal gala. And lately, on TV, royal galas seem to be cause for anything but celebration.

 
  
 
 

CBS, 9:00 p.m. ET

It’s amazing to watch Alan Cumming, as political guru Eli Gold, inhabit that role so authoritatively, knowing that at the same time, he’s now starring on Broadway as the decadent emcee in Cabaret. Also amazing: watching Michael J. Fox, returning as canny lawyer Louis Canning, imbue his character with wit and even sympathy, despite Machiavellian moves that get more sinister in every episode.

 
  
 
 

HBO, 9:00 p.m. ET

We know that Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) is innocent of the murder of his nephew, King Joffrey, and so do many of the rulers and subjects in his kingdom. But that doesn’t prevent him from being put on trial tonight. The tribunal judging him is stacked with his relatives, which sounds like good news. But with father Twyin (Charles Dance) and sister Cersei (Lena Headey) as two-thirds of said tribunal, the deck seems stacked against him, and not at all in his favor.

 
  
 
 

AMC, 10:00 p.m. ET

Last week, the episode ended with a great piece of music: The Hollies’ “On a Carousel,” from 1967. It was a callback to the classic “Carousel” episode of Mad Men, in which Jon Hamm’s Don Draper wowed Kodak, and a nation of viewers, by describing a new slide projector gizmo as a deliverer of memories and love. That was as Mad Men was taking off. Now, as it winds down, Don is perched in front of a new IBM Selectric, grudgingly pecking out tag lines for Peggy – who once was his secretary, and now is his copywriting boss. Don’s life has really gone 180 degrees, round and round… on a carousel.

 
  
 
 

Showtime, 10:00 p.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: This new Showtime series is a gothic gold mine – a creepy, scary show that takes viewers to 1890s London, in ways that touch upon familiar sights, ideas and even characters from classic horror literature, and emerges with something cracklingly fresh. Eva Green, as one of the stars of Penny Dreadful, demands attention, and deserves it. For a full review, see Bianculli’s Blog.
 
  
 
 
 
 
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3695 Comments
 
 
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Mar 26, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
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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,

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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
 
 
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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
 
 
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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
 
 
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
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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.