MONDAY

MAY 14

2012

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

CBS, 8:00 p.m. ET

SEASON FINALE: Expect another piece of the puzzle to be revealed in this one-hour season finale, as we return to Barney’s wedding and, presumably, learn the identity of the woman he’s marrying. And perhaps, as a bonus, we’ll get some hint about the future bride of Ted’s as well. His poor kids have been waiting for years for him to wrap up that story – and, unlike us, they already know the identity of their mom.

AMERICA'S GOT TALENT

NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: Normally, I wouldn’t highlight or recommend the return of this talent series as anything worth noting – but this is different, and this is exactly why NBC has made room for a new judge at its center. Piers Morgan is out, Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne remain, but this franchise will propel forward, or stall ignominiously, based on the reception viewers afford new judge Howard Stern, diving aggressively into mainstream pop culture. My guess? He’ll do just fine. Speaking his mind? Stealing the spotlight? As a broadcaster, these are the things he does best.

AMERICAN MASTERS: 'JOHNNY CARSON: KING OF LATE NIGHT'

PBS, 9:00 p.m. ET

He’s been gone from late night, and from the center of pop culture, for two decades now, yet Johnny Carson has not been, and will never be, dethroned as the King of Late Night. This new two-hour documentary explains why – and gets close to explaining the man himself. For a full review, see Bianculli’s Blog HERE. Check local listings.

SMASH

NBC, 10:00 p.m. ET

SEASON FINALE: In tonight’s Season 1 finale, do we get the answer to the question posed way back in the season premiere? (Namely, who will win the role of Marilyn Monroe in a new Broadway musical based on her life?) Yes, we do. And as we begin this final episode of the season, it’s back to the beginning, with the same two young singers in contention.

THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON IN SCOTLAND

CBS, 12:35 a.m. ET

SPECIAL THEME WEEK PREMIERE: Expanding upon its special theme week last year visiting Paris, this show once again takes to the road, with a few invited guests. This time the destination is Scotland, Ferguson’s home country, and those along for the bon voyage include Mila Kunis, Rashida Jones, David Sedaris, Michael Clarke Duncan and others, including Late Late Show featured regulars Geoff Peterson and Secretariat. For a full review, see Bianculli’s Blog HERE.

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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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