SUNDAY

FEBRUARY 14

2016

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

THE CIRCUS: INSIDE THE GREATEST POLITICAL SHOW ON EARTH

Showtime, 8:00 p.m. ET

This week’s show, recapping the lead-up to the very recent Democratic and Republican debates, ought to be especially interesting – and this program, as usual, ought to find new angles with which to explore them.

THE GOOD WIFE

CBS, 9:00 p.m. ET

Last Sunday, CBS dropped a stunner of a surprise during its Super Bowl ad for The Good Wife, saying these final episodes of the season would be the show’s last, period. And the last servings of The Good Wife begin tonight, with Alicia returning to her old firm (again), so savor. For his take on the end of The Good Wife, see David Hinckley's All Along the Watchtower.

MASTERPIECE: "DOWNTON ABBEY"

PBS, 9:00 p.m. ET

They certainly are packing lots into these final episodes of Downton Abbey. Tonight, not only does Mrs. Patmore preside over the grand opening of her off-estate bed and breakfast inn, but Henry Talbot takes to the race track behind the wheel of a sports car – which, understandably, makes car-crash widow Mary understandably nervous. All this, and a dog, too! Check local listings.

THE WALKING DEAD

AMC, 9:00 p.m. ET

MIDSEASON RETURN: When last we saw our harried heroes on this show, they had just lathered themselves with zombie guts, and were walking, hand in hand, through a horde of the undead, using the old humans-in-zombie-intestines trick. Will it work again? And even if it does, what comes next? And where do they go next? For a full review, see David Hinckley's All Along the Watchtower.

VINYL

HBO, 9:00 p.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: The two-hour premiere of this new series, set in New York in the music world of the 1970s, is directed by Martin Scorsese, with Boardwalk Empire creator Terence Winter co-scripting and Mick Jagger as one the executive producers and guiding forces. It’s told in 10- parts, with plenty of room for future seasons, but this introductory installment is more perfunctory and predictable than you’d expect from these artists. But because of these artists, don’t give up on it just yet. Bobby Cannavale, Olivia Wilde star. For the full story, see David Hinckley's All Along the Watchtower and Ed Bark's Uncle Barky's Bytes.

ADELE LIVE IN LONDON

BBC America, 10:30 p.m. ET

Remember seeing the Video Worth Watching in which Graham Norton hosts a surprise event in which Adele lookalikes and sort of sound-alikes compete for a job impersonating her? The one in which the real Adele is sneaked in as part of the mix? Well, whether you do or not, this is the British TV special from which that was taken. And now it’s here, on BBC America, along with Adele singing as herself, as well.

LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER

HBO, 11:00 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: This week’s show, recapping the lead-up to the very recent Democratic and Republican debates, ought to be especially interesting – and this program, as usual, ought to find new angles with which to explore them. (Yes, you’ve read this before – but this time the topical humor is intentional.)

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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

Showtime, 8:00 p.m. ET

CBS, 9:00 p.m. ET

PBS, 9:00 p.m. ET

AMC, 9:00 p.m. ET

HBO, 9:00 p.m. ET

BBC America, 10:30 p.m. ET

HBO, 11:00 p.m. ET

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