WEDNESDAY
AUGUST 16
2017

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

AT&T Audience Network, 8:00 p.m. ET

Last week, this new series from Stephen King and David E. Kelley began with a horrifying opening sequence: At a snaking line for admittance to a jobs fair, hopeful people gathering hours early for their turns at finding potential employment were mowed down by a murderous motorist. It was chilling to see a week ago, and even more chilling to recall, in retrospect, after this weekend’s horrifying act of vehicular homicide in Charlottesville. And tonight comes episode two, where there’s less violence, but – thanks to a cat-and-mouse game begun by that same killer, aimed at the police investigator who failed to catch him for that earlier crime – no less tension. Mr. Mercedes is a scary, spooky series, but a very good one, with fully committed lead performances by Harry Treadaway and Brendan Gleeson as, respectively, the killer and the retired cop.

 
  
 
 

PBS, 9:00 p.m. ET

This is a repeat, but of a subject I find particularly fascinating, and certainly worth a second look. Or, if you missed it before, a first. In central China, a massive underground mausoleum housed a collection of life-size terracotta warriors – a sculpted army, amassed to protect China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang Di. But from what? And how? And how were these sculptures shaped and manufactured in the first place? Check local listings.

 
  
 
 

Bloomberg TV, 9:00 p.m. ET

This program premiered last week, so this is a rerun – but it felt so good to watch it, I’m pointing out its prime-time repeat tonight in case you’d be similarly interested in watching some civil political discourse. Rubinstein’s joint interview this week is between former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, and they take turns answering very interesting questions about their experiences as the chief executive – including how they felt when they first occupied the Oval Office. It’s a very warm visit, and the former Republican and Democratic presidents are endearingly nice to one another. Regardless of your individual politics, that should be nice to watch. It was for me.

 
  
 
 

BBC America, 10:00 p.m. ET

SERIES FINALE: Tonight’s episode is not only the conclusion of this third season of Broadchurch, it’s the conclusion of the series in its entirety. And when it began this season, Broadchurch boasted one cast member who had played Doctor Who, the excellent David Tennant. Now it can boast two, sort of, because Jodie Whittaker will take on the role soon.

 
  
 
 

TCM, 10:00 p.m. ET

In recognition of the 40th anniversary of his death, TCM celebrates Elvis Presley day all day today, The highlight of the schedule is this 1964 musical, in which he cavorts, musically and otherwise, with the equally sexy supernova Ann-Margret.

 
  
 
 
 
 
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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.