THURSDAY
JANUARY 14
2016

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

BBC America, 8:00 p.m. ET

How many times have I recommended Alfred Hitchcock movies as a Best Bet since I started writing daily recommendations? Hundreds, probably – I’ve been doing this a loooong time, long before this website, or the Internet, was launched. But I always watch, and get drawn in, regardless, so why should you be any different? And tonight, BBC America presents a truly classic double feature, beginning with Hitchcock’s 1960 black-and-white chiller of a character study, starring Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates, a motel manager who – spoiler alert – really is Psycho. Janet Leigh co-stars.

 
  
 
 

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

This 1939 epic film, about the Civil War and its effect upon one self-centered plantation belle, is shown by TCM tonight under virtually perfect conditions: the full wide-screen ratio, in prime time, uninterrupted by commercials, and unedited, right town to the lengthy “intermission” interlude. Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable star.

 
  
 
 

NBC, 9:00 p.m. ET

Last week, Liz was targeted for assassination by the Cabal. Tonight, if Red can’t help her and stop them, she’ll be killed. And then the series will end. But it won’t, so she won’t – but it’s an entertaining series anyway. Just play along.

 
  
 
 

USA, 10:00 p.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: Carlton Cuse, co-producer of Lost and The Strain, adds another series to his resume – and reunites with former Lost star Josh Holloway to do it. Like The Man in the High Castle, it presents an alternate America – in this case, a Los Angeles ruled by alien occupiers. Holloway plays a former FBI agent who is coerced to root out resistance fighters, or have his family killed. Co-stars include two excellent actresses: Kathy Baker and Sarah Wayne Callies. For a full review, see Ed Bark's uncle Barky's Bytes.
 
  
 
 

BBC America, 10:30 p.m. ET

Here’s the second half of tonight’s Alfred Hitchcock double feature. After TCM shows Psycho at 8 p.m. ET, it shows The Birds, his 1963 thriller, at 10:30 p.m. ET. And whether or not you’ve seen it before, you should flock to it. It’s that good. Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren star.

 
  
 
 
 
 
Read and add comments HERE for today's Best Bets!
 
 
 
 
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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.