SUNDAY
JULY 17
2016

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

NBC, 7:00 a.m. ET

Yesterday’s third round was a fabulous round of golf to watch, with so many golfers doing so many inventive things to make it through the tricky Troon course. Today’s final round appears to be a two-man battle between Phil Mickelson, who led for most of the tournament, and Henrik Stenson, who shot an even more impressive round than Michelson yesterday to take a one-stroke lead at the final hole. Stenson starts today at 12 under par, Mickelson at 11 under. Great scores, considering that the next closest competitor, Bill Haas, is five strokes back at 6 under par. And where’s the Beef? Next in line at 5 under par: Andrew Johnston (pictured), with the nickname of “Beef” and a big crowd pleaser this week, has been flashing smiles and strokes of brilliant golf with equal frequency. Tee time for the final two pairs is about 9:30 a.m. ET.

 
  
 
 

Showtime, 8:00 p.m. ET

This is Must-See TV, if you’re at all into politics. (And this year, if you’re not, you’re making a big mistake, whatever your affiliation.) Tomorrow is the start of the 2016 Republican National Convention, and this documentary series, somehow, will capture the lead-up to Donald Trump’s announcement – a tweet – of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (pictured) as his vice presidential running mate.
 
  
 
 

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

Tonight’s special TCM movie theme, based on tomorrow’s start of the Republican National Convention, is titled “Conventional Wisdom,” and it begins with two movies that use political conventions as a backdrop. First up is this 1964 movie, with a screenplay written by Gore Vidal, about the two leading candidates for president of one party. Both have secrets, and those secrets are known, and perhaps will be put in play, by their rival camps. Henry Fonda and Cliff Robertson (pictured) play the dueling candidates at the convention. After that film, at 10 p.m. ET, comes 1969’s Medium Cool, starring Robert Forster, playing a TV cameraman covering the volatile 1968 Democratic National Convention. If you want a frightening peek at what some people are afraid may occur in Cleveland this week, watch Medium Cool.

 
  
 
 

BBC America, 9:00 p.m. ET

Tonight is Episode 3 of this stunningly photographed new nature series, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, and tonight’s show pays attention to jungle animals. The photography on The Hunt has been astounding, so even if you’re busy elsewhere, record this for later.

 
  
 
 

HBO, 9:00 p.m. ET

This is the second episode of this excellent new eight-part crime series – and tonight is the episode where John Turturro, barely seen in the pilot as a rumpled attorney, steps into the center stage spotlight as he offers to represent a young man accused of a brutal murder. He steps up in sandals, but still. For my full review on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross, visit the Fresh Air website. For another full review, see David Hinckley’s All Along the Watchtower.
 
  
 
 

HBO, 10:30 p.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: This new HBO series stars Walton Goggins and Danny McBride as rival candidates for a retiring principal’s position at a high school. Bill Murray makes an extended cameo as the outgoing principal, but doesn’t have much to do. It’s fun to watch Goggins, so astounding as a star of The Shield and Justified and a recurring guest star on Sons of Anarchy, dive headlong into a purely comedic role – but the tone of the comedy is uncomfortably uneven, with one trashing-a-home scene extended to the point of unfunny absurdity. Kimberly Hebert Gregory co-stars. It’s worth sampling, if you’re curious, and especially if you enjoyed HBO’s previous comedy, Eastbound & Down, in which he played a similarly abrasive character. For full reviews, see Ed Bark's at Uncle Barky's Bytes and David Hinckley's at All Along the Watchtower.
 
  
 
 
 
 
Read and add comments HERE for today's Best Bets!
 
 
 
 
Leave a Comment: (No HTML, 1000 chars max)
 
 Name (required)
 
 Email (required) (will not be published)
 
HNYHK
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 148  | Go to page: 
2942 Comments
 
 
Para penipu yang memalukan memangsa orang-orang dengan klaim palsu dan kebohongan.
Jan 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Tamamen sahtekarlar ve masum insanlari dolandiriyorlar. Bu siteye girmeyin, onlar hirsiz.
Jan 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu yang memalukan memangsa orang-orang dengan klaim palsu dan kebohongan.
Jan 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Dave Bianculli
I hate to tell ya pardner, but if you're on the same wavelength as "Good Old Dave" as I like to be called, you're one lost buckaroo!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHA! ROTFLMBFFAO!!!!
Jan 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I’ve been meditating on the identical issue personally recently. Pleased to see another person on the same wavelength! Nice article
Jan 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Very Interesting and wonderful information keep sharing this post
Jan 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I really appreciate the kind of topics you post here. Thanks for sharing us a great information that is actually helpful.
Jan 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I admire this article for the well-researched content and excellent wording. I got so involved in this material that I couldn’t stop reading. I am impressed with your work and skill. Thank you so much.
Jan 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Nice post! This is a very nice blog that I will definitively come back to more times this year! Thanks for informative post.
Jan 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Acknowledges for penmanship such a worthy column, I stumbled beside your blog besides predict a handful advise. I want your tone of manuscript…
Jan 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Acknowledges for penmanship such a worthy column, I stumbled beside your blog besides predict a handful advise. I want your tone of manuscript…
Jan 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. Thanks..
Jan 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Very nice article, I enjoyed reading your post, very nice share, I want to twit this to my followers. Thanks!
Jan 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I would like to thank for the effort you have made in writing this post and i am very impressed by your blog design and the your quality work Great job man keep it up.
Jan 15, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Hanya sekelompok penipu lain yang melakukan bisnis kotor secara online.
Jan 14, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Pemerintah Indonesia, persetan dengan situs web ini, mereka menipu orang.
Jan 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Hanya sekelompok penipu lain yang melakukan bisnis kotor secara online.
Jan 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Thank you for your post. I sincerely thank you for your post. If you are interested in purchasing our products, you can contact us through this website
Jan 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu yang memalukan memangsa orang-orang dengan klaim palsu dan kebohongan.
Jan 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
After reading your article I was amazed. I know that you explain it very well. And I hope that other readers will also experience how I feel after reading your article
Jan 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
Dave Bianculli
Thank you!!! Did you feel a little tingling sensation in your pants after reading my article?? ROTFLMBFFAO!!!

Sincerely,

Dave
Jan 12, 2026
 
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 148  | Go to page: 
 
 

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.