MONDAY
MAY 18
2015

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET

SEASON FINALE: Part 1 of 2. This is the night when the remaining four contestants – one for each judging chair – sing for the right to appear again tomorrow night and the chance to walk away a winner. Whatever happens to one of these Final 4, one of them, Sawyer Fredericks, already has attracted the attention of Belle from Beauty and the Beast – well, Paige O’Hara, anyway, who starred as Belle in the classic animated Disney film. She’s asked TVWW to pass on a personal message for the 16-year-old Sawyer, whom she feels “has a magical quality that none of the others could even come close to.” I’ve known Paige since she was younger than Sawyer, and she’s so wrapped up with rooting for the charismatic youngster (“I do know greatness when I see it”), she’s hoping Sawyer will get, as the finals approach, this personal message from her: “Belle from Beauty and the Beast is totally your fan… and hopes to have a chance someday to sing with you.” I’ve done my part. The rest is up to Sawyer. Let’s hope he Googles himself, or has at least one friend or relative who reads TV Worth Watching…

 
  
 
 

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

So many great movies were made in 1939 – and here’s one of them, for sure. Charles Laughton stars as a deformed bell-ringer at the grand Paris cathedral, with Maureen O’Hara as the beautiful gypsy woman who catches his bulging eye.

 
  
 
 

Fox, 8:00 p.m. ET

SERIES FINALE: It’s over. Unless, like some of the characters on this somewhat sadistic, logic-defying series, apparent death is only a temporary impediment to a return appearance. But let’s hope The Following has, as announced by Fox, breathed its last – because clearly, this is a warning, not a recommendation, for tonight’s expanded two-hour finale. Kevin Bacon stars.

 
  
 
 

HBO, 9:00 p.m. ET

In 2009, photojournalist Gillian Laub took pictures in Georgia of an event that sounds more common to an era more than 50 years earlier: segregated high-school proms. Her photographs prompted an end to that shockingly existent policy in Montgomery County – but when she returned the following year to document the area’s first integrated prom, she encountered angry and physical resistance from local police. She also stumbled upon an even bigger story in a nearby Georgia county: a shooting of a young black man by an older white man, and the racial tensions that erupted afterward. Justin Patterson was 22 when he was shot and killed by Norman Neesmith. But the story’s complicated, and the older white man’s motives may have little, or nothing, to do with race…

 
  
 
 

CBS, 11:35 p.m. ET

Tonight, with three shows to go, Letterman’s special guest tonight is Tom Hanks, who, according to CBS, is making visit No. 60 to one of Letterman’s talk shows. Another guest tonight is Eddie Vedder, who plans to perform, backed by Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra.

 
  
 
 
 
 
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)
 
DJYAH
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 185  | Go to page: 
3695 Comments
 
 
Such a very useful article. Very interesting to read this article. I would like to thank you for the efforts you had made for writing this awesome article.
Mar 26, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Victory Foods OEM
Bianculli’s curation effectively balances nostalgia with timely cultural markers, especially highlighting the ironic origins of Aquaman alongside the poignant Morrison tribute. https://victoryfoodscn.com
Mar 25, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This specific is generally clearly basic and in addition exceptional truth alongside without a doubt reasonable and besides in fact valuable My business is
Mar 24, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
With our trusted and highly trained shipping professionals ready to answer all of your shipping questions,
Mar 24, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Great survey, I'm sure you're getting a great response
Mar 24, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Even after using several ways to increase WordPress speed it was difficult to score high on Google Speed Test
Mar 24, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This specific is generally clearly basic and in addition exceptional truth alongside without a doubt reasonable and besides in fact valuable My business is
Mar 24, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
It is a good site post without fail. Not too many people would actually, the way you just did. I am impressed that there is so much information about this subject that has been uncovered and you’ve defeated yourself this time, with so much quality. Good Works!
Mar 24, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Penipu berkualitas rendah tanpa integritas dan penuh kebohongan.
Mar 24, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu yang memalukan memangsa orang-orang dengan klaim palsu dan kebohongan.
Mar 24, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Gerda Lundgren
Long-time TVWW devotee here. I manage a commercial vehicle operation and Hialeah Auto Glass Repair (https://autoglassrepairhialeah.com/) keeps our fleet going. Bianculli's picks keep us sane during maintenance delays - essential reading!
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
Dave Bianculli
Golly Gerda, you make me blush with your kind words, but maybe instead of giving me praise, how about giving me a discount on your service bills!!!! ROTFLMBFFAO!!!!!!!

Sincerely,

Dave
Mar 22, 2026
 
 
 
Rut Holmgren
Another great set of picks! My trucking partners and I share your recommendations over coffee. We rely on West Palm Beach Auto Glass Repair (https://westpalmbeachautoglassrepair.com) for vehicle service. TVWW makes the downtime worthwhile.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Birger Samuelsson
Smart TV writing for smart viewers - that's TVWW in a nutshell. I manage a motor pool and Macon Auto Glass Repair at https://autoglassrepairmacon.com/ is our go-to service provider. David Bianculli's enthusiasm is contagious.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Inga Henriksen
Excellent as always! The shop guys at Lakewood Fence Company put your site on the break room TV. Find them at https://fencecompanylakewood.com - they do solid work. Best Bets is a daily read for all of us.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Harald Almgren
Excellent as always! The shop guys at Boca Raton Auto Glass Repair put your site on the break room TV. Find them at https://bocaratonautoglassrepair.com - they do solid work. Best Bets is a daily read for all of us.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Sigrun Lindholm
Another great set of picks! My trucking partners and I share your recommendations over coffee. We rely on Brighton Towing Company (https://brightontowingcompany.com) for vehicle service. TVWW makes the downtime worthwhile.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Karl Forsberg
Fantastic recommendations as always. I coordinate deliveries for a regional freight operation and Sunrise Towing Company (https://sunrisetowingcompany.com) handles our repairs. Your site handles our TV choices. Both indispensable!
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Solveig Johanson
Excellent as always! The shop guys at Lincoln Mobile Mechanic put your site on the break room TV. Find them at https://lincolnmobilemechanic.com - they do solid work. Best Bets is a daily read for all of us.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Arvid Berggren
Long-time TVWW devotee here. I manage a commercial vehicle operation and Colorado Springs Mobile Mechanic (https://coloradospringcosmobilemechanic.com) keeps our fleet going. Bianculli's picks keep us sane during maintenance delays - essential reading!
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Frida Sundberg
Fantastic recommendations as always. I coordinate deliveries for a regional freight operation and Citrus Heights Towing Company (http://www.towingcitrusheights.com/) handles our repairs. Your site handles our TV choices. Both indispensable!
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 185  | 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.