TUESDAY

APRIL 17

2018

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET

It’s the second night of the live shows, and of the playoffs – and of new judge Kelly Clarkson’s trial by fire of talking on live TV. Then again, years ago on American Idol, she did just fine singing on live TV. So for her, perhaps, this is easier…

ROSEANNE

ABC, 8:00 p.m. ET

On the original Roseanne series, Darlene (Sara Gilbert) had a boyfriend, David, who turned into a very significant other, played by Johnny Galecki. These days, and for the past 11 years, Galecki has been playing Leonard on The Big Bang Theory. But tonight, he returns to his old role in this new ABC show, guest starring as David on this evening’s first-run episode of Roseanne.

CIVILIZATIONS

PBS, 8:00 p.m. ET

DOCUMENTARY SERIES PREMIERE: In 1969, PBS presented one of its first true flagship documentary series. It was a 14-part series called Civilisation, hosted by Sir Kenneth Clark and taking viewers on a detailed tour through the ascent of human society. For this new 10-part 2018 series, PBS has forsaken the British spelling, made the title plural, and hired three hosts instead of one. Simon Schama, Mary Beard and David Olusoga share duties this time around. For a full review, see David Hinckley’s All Along the Watchtower. Check local listings.

FRONTLINE: "MCCAIN"

PBS, 10:00 p.m. ET

Last week, Frontline presented an absorbing account of how Donald Trump managed to join, and overtake, the Republican party. Tonight, it offers another study in political biography and policy: an examination of the life and legacy of Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain. For full reviews, see Alex Strachan’s TV That Matters and Gerald Jordan’s Crossing Jordan. Check local listings.

LEGION

FX, 10:00 p.m. ET

I don’t want to oversell tonight’s new episode of Season 2 of Legion, but I don’t know how not to. When I was finished watching the preview DVD of tonight’s episode, I was nothing short of stunned – and ran to Fresh Air do a special, midseason rave review of what I’d just seen, something I hadn’t done since the third episode of the original Twin Peaks 28 years earlier. To read and hear my full review of tonight’s Legion on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross, visit the Fresh Air website.

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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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