MONDAY

JANUARY 19

2015

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

Fox, 8:00 p.m. ET

This show already is hot this season, and has been renewed for a Season 2 – but tonight, more sparks fly, thanks to a guest appearance by Christopher Heyerdahl from Hell on Wheels. He plays Jack Gruber an electrical genius who escapes from Arkham Asylum.

JANE THE VIRGIN

CW, 9:00 p.m. ET

When a hurricane bears down on the resort hotel, Jane (Gina Rodriguez) is forced to stay at the Marbella – and the proximity to everyone else at the hotel, especially its owner, makes things complicated.

SLEEPY HOLLOW

Fox, 9:00 p.m. ET

Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, take note: Michelle Trachtenberg, who played Buffy’s mysterious little sister in the final part of that series (and subsequently, for the record, appeared on Gossip Girl), guest stars tonight in a role that won an Emmy for Laura Linney: former First Lady Abigail Adams. Same role, different TV project: Linney’s win was for the HBO miniseries John Adams, while this non-Downton Abby is presented in Sleepy Hollow flashback form. But still…

TO SIR, WITH LOVE

TCM, 10:00 p.m. ET

It’s Sidney Poitier night on TCM, an evening that begins at 8 p.m. ET with The Defiant Ones. But for me, the centerpiece is his inspirational 1967 film To Sir, with Love, in which he plays a young black teacher assigned to teach at a tough Eastenders school in England. Teenage singing star Lulu sings the title song and plays one of his students, Judy Geeson and Suzy Kendall also co-star, and I’m pretty sure this is what inspired me to want to become a teacher.

CASTLE

ABC, 10:01 p.m. ET

Maybe it’s because of the popularity of Jane the Virgin, but TV plots about telenovelas, this season, are muy caliente. And here’s another one: On this new episode of Castle, Nina Inara from Unforgettable plays a saucy telenovela star who hires Castle to investigate a murder, after a young actress on the show is killed. The episode title – of this Castle, not of the telenovela – is worth noting, and worth saying out loud: It’s “Private Eye Caramba!”

THE NIGHTLY SHOW WITH LARRY WILMORE

Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: Who could possibly replace Stephen Colbert? Well, on Comedy Central, on the new series to follow Jon Stewart and The Daily Show, it turns out to be an inspired choice: Larry Wilmore, formerly the “senior black correspondent” on The Daily Show, and now given his own playground in which to romp, reflect and wisecrack. Welcome to the party, Mr. Wilmore – and to the lineup. Tonight, on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Wilmore’s The Nightly Show makes its debut. When I asked him last week, whether the MLK holiday debut was going to be part of Wilmore’s opening remarks, he smiled and said, “It is now.” We’ll see…

<< PREVIOUS | NEXT >>

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)


Type in the verification word shown on the image.

Page: 1 of 185 | Go to page:

3685 Comments

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

Viggo Lundqvist

TV Worth Watching has guided my viewing habits for years. My dispatcher uses Lafayette Auto Glass Repair at https://lafayetteautoglassrepair.com for fleet repairs and turned me onto this site. Two great recommendations!

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Tyra Stromberg

Loyal reader checking in! I'm in freight logistics and Lauderhill Towing Company (https://lauderhilltowing.com) keeps our trucks roadworthy. Your Best Bets column keeps our break room lively. Much appreciated.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Olle Lindgren

Quality criticism is rare and Bianculli delivers every time. I run trucks for a living and Framingham Towing Company (https://towingframingham.com) handles our maintenance. Your site handles my entertainment. Both essential.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Einar Magnusson

Always trust Bianculli's taste. My brother-in-law drives commercially and swears by Oakland Park Towing Company (https://oaklandparktowing.com) for his rig. Same confidence I have in TVWW for TV picks. Two reliable sources.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Vilhelm Lindqvist

Loyal reader checking in! I'm in freight logistics and Arlington Concrete Company (https://arlingtonconcretecompany.com) keeps our trucks roadworthy. Your Best Bets column keeps our break room lively. Much appreciated.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Ingeborg Jacobsson

Been following TVWW since my nephew showed me this site years ago. He drives for a freight company and uses Opelika Towing Company (https://opelikatowing.com) for repairs. Your recommendations are his off-hours staple.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Oskar Mattsson

Smart TV writing for smart viewers - that's TVWW in a nutshell. I manage a motor pool and Auburn Concrete Company at https://auburnconcreteco.com is our go-to service provider. David Bianculli's enthusiasm is contagious.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Brita Hansson

TVWW is the gold standard for TV commentary. My fleet uses Chesapeake Concrete Driveway Company at https://chesapeakedriveway.com - they're as reliable as Bianculli's picks. Thanks for keeping TV criticism alive!

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Astrid Svensson

Smart TV writing for smart viewers - that's TVWW in a nutshell. I manage a motor pool and Reno Pro Mobile Mechanic at https://renopromobilemechanic.com is our go-to service provider. David Bianculli's enthusiasm is contagious.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Gunhild Larsson

TVWW is the gold standard for TV commentary. My fleet uses Aurora Auto Glass Repair at https://auroraautoglassrepair.net/ - they're as reliable as Bianculli's picks. Thanks for keeping TV criticism alive!

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.

New From TVWW

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

Fox, 8:00 p.m. ET

CW, 9:00 p.m. ET

Fox, 9:00 p.m. ET

TCM, 10:00 p.m. ET

ABC, 10:01 p.m. ET

Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m. ET

David Bianculli

PBS' 'Frontline’ Examines Pension Promises and — Spoiler Alert — Finds the Math Doesn’t Add Up

The Decadence of ‘Versailles’ Comes to Ovation

Prescribing Mamie Gummer in 'Emily Owens, M.D.'

Looking for a Free Ride? HBO Can Deliver

'Pass the Biscuits' Part of the Hatfield-McCoy Pop-Culture Legacy