SATURDAY
JANUARY 17
2015

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

Lifetime, 8:00 p.m. ET

This is not a recommendation, only a notation. Those who are extremely enthusiastic about the music and vocal abilities of the late Whitney Houston are the sweet-spot target audience for this new telemovie biography. I suspect, though, that even the most fervent fan may question this drama’s tone, approach and point of view. But if you approach with the idea not to believe much of what you see, you might be able to walk away pleased by what you hear. As in the days of some vintage movie musicals, the star’s vocals are provided by an offscreen singer. On screen, Whitney has Yaya DaCosta playing the pop diva, but Deborah Cox supplying the vocals whenever Whitney sings, which is often. Arlen Escarpeta plays Bobby Brown, and behind the scenes, Shem Bitterman has written the teleplay, and actress Angela Bassett, who might have played an effective Houston herself, directs.

 
  
 
 

Nickelodeon, 8:00 p.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: Nickelodeon can be accused, and arguably is guilty, of generating its TV series by formula, and by farm system – but it’s a method that works. This new series has a premise that’s perfectly suited to the network’s young, female viewers: It stars a spirited and attractive middle-school head cheerleader who steps in to become the quarterback of her school’s otherwise all-male football team. The creators of this new series, Jonathan C. Butler and Gabriel Garza, both emerged from the internal talent-development engine known as Nickelodeon Writing Program. And the star of this new series, Brec Bassinger, emerges from Nickelodeon as well – from a recurring role on The Haunted Hathaways. Now, she’s ready for her closeup – and Nickelodeon, like The Disney Channel, has groomed another possible future star.

 
  
 
 

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

Alfred Hitchcock set this thriller in the volatile political era leading up to WWII – which, at the time, since the time was 1940, meant it was as current as current could be. Joel McCrea stars in the title role, as a reporter chronicling world events with passion and bravery. An on-screen notation at the start of the film dedicates it to foreign correspondents everywhere – a dedication that’s just as meaningful, and appropriate, today.

 
  
 
 

BBC America, 9:00 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: I’m not sold yet on this very modern-feeling retelling of the Three Musketeers story. It’s not the anachronistic brashness and sassiness – that was done, very effectively, by director Richard Lester’s movies back in the Seventies. But the chemistry and plots, for Season 1 at least, were a little lacking. Tonight, Season 2 begins, and perhaps with a midcourse correction.

 
  
 
 

NBC, 11:29 p.m. ET

The second half of Season 40 for SNL begins tonight, with the camera-shy Sia as the musical guest, and the anything but shy Kevin Hart as the guest host. Hart is pictured here; Sia is not.

 

 
  
 
 
 
 
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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.