THURSDAY

FEBRUARY 12

2015

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET

MINISERIES PREMIERE: This new NBC miniseries is adapted from a 2011 miniseries from Australia, which in turn was based on the novel by Christos Tsiolkas – but in mounting a new version for the U.S., and especially in promoting it, NBC has washed away all traces of subtlety. The opening hour should have unfolded suspensefully, but every NBC promo for this eight-part drama includes and reveals the pivotal, titular action: an adult who, at a family backyard barbeque, slaps another person’s child. Each episode is framed from a different character’s point of view, so there will be a lot of conflicting accounts and modulated performances, as in The Affair – but this NBC version’s opening hour is so clunky and so blatantly overstaged, despite some flashes of good acting, that it’s hard to imagine viewers wanting to return for a second view. Stars include Uma Thurman from Kill Bill, Thomas Sadoski from HBO’sThe Newsroom, Zachary Quinto from NBC’s Heroes and the recent Star Trek movies, and – reprising her same role from the original Australian miniseries – Melissa George (pictured) from Alias.

AMERICAN IDOL

Fox, 8:00 p.m. ET

It’s show number four from “Hollywood week,” which has been spread over two weeks of TV. If Idol keeps going, and keeps stretching, perhaps soon it’ll be known as “Hollywood month.” But if you want to develop a serious rooting interest for any of the hopefuls in particular, this is the place to begin.

MORGAN SPURLOCK: INSIDE MAN

CNN, 9:00 p.m. ET

Tied to Valentine’s Day, Spurlock goes on a mission to check out the efficacy of such online dating apps as OK Cupid, Three Day Rule, and Grindr (I’m citing from a press release, not personal experience). These are the sorts of stories you get to do for CNN when you serve not only as on-camera host, but your own assignment editor.

PORTLANDIA

IFC, 10:00 p.m. ET

Here’s a guest appearance by someone who doesn’t appear on TV very often – in fact, hardly ever. Portraying himself in tonight’s installment is Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, who shows up to protest the illegal Bart Simpson merchandise being made by Spyke (Fred Armisen). Basically, Groening has a cow, man.

FORTITUDE

Pivot, 10:00 p.m. ET

This is Episode 3 of Fortitude – just to remind you that the plot of this set-in-the-frozen-wasteland mystery series continues to heat up. Stanley Tucci stars.

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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.

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BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET

Fox, 8:00 p.m. ET

CNN, 9:00 p.m. ET

IFC, 10:00 p.m. ET

Pivot, 10:00 p.m. ET

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