WEDNESDAY
JUNE 11
2014

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

Sundance, 7:00 p.m. ET

In 1980, just as Saturday Night Live was closing out its five-year run featuring the still-ongoing show’s original cast, veteran SNL members John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd broke out together as Jake and Elwood Blues, whose love of music allowed them, while on a complicated, music-fueled car-chase “mission from God,” to cross paths with the likes of James Brown, Ray Charles, Cab Calloway and Aretha Franklin.

 
  
 
 

IFC, 8:00 p.m. ET

Attention was paid, quite rightly, to Jon Heder, in the titular starring role in this quirky 2004 comedy, which is about a small-town high school race for class president – but really was about alienation and individuality and pride. And, for a young generation, spawned more than its share of catch phrases.

 
  
 
 

NBC, 9:00 p.m. ET

Twenty years on, NBC presents a two-hour special with the sort of hyperbolic title that, by accident, mirrors the media mania with the case from the start, when the low-speed chase of O.J. Simpson’s white Bronco sparked the so-called (and so wrongly called) “The Trial of the Century.” This special recounts and condenses it all, and also provides some new interviews – but the closest it gets to a “key” source is Simpson houseguest Kato Kaelin, getting his 15 Minutes of Fame 2.0.

 
  
 
 

HBO2, 9:00 p.m. ET

Tune in at the start of this repeat of the 2014 induction ceremony, because that’s where most of the best music is – led by the all-star tribute to Linda Ronstadt, featuring lyrical ladies Carrie Underwood, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow and Stevie Nicks.

 
  
 
 

IFC, 10:00 p.m. ET

This 1996 Tim Burton comedy is an inspired takeoff on those intentionally tasteless Mars Attacks! vintage trading cards of the same name (yes, you read that correctly), with a sparkling cast and special effects to match. Jack Nicholson plays a flashy dual role, Annette Bening and Sarah Jessica Parker offer very strong support, and the scene in which Lisa Marie, as an alien disguised as an odd femme fatale seducing White House aide Martin Short, is Tim Burton at his oddball best.

 
  
 
 
 
 
Read and add comments HERE for today's Best Bets!
 
 
 
 
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3694 Comments
 
 
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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
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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,

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
 
 
 
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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.