SUNDAY
OCTOBER 19
2014

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

CBS, 7:00 p.m. ET

This newsmagazine amazes me with its longevity, its continual quality, and its unflagging ability to present stories that hook you just from the promos. Tonight’s installments, for example, include a report by Morley Safer on the Roman Colosseum – breaking the story that the age-old accepted story of Christians being sacrificed there, forced to stand against lions and such, has absolutely no basis in archaeological fact. (This just in…) It’s a great story, full of amazing images of the Colosseum – so be sure to tune in, if you Wannaseum.

 
  
 
 

Fox, 8:00 p.m. ET

How time crawls. It’s that time of year – the time when Halloween approaches, and The Simpsons presents its annual Treehouse of Horror anthology. And to celebrate its silver anniversary, Treehouse presents one of the best installments ever, including a parody of A Clockwork Orange that is real horrorshow, and a parody of another film that allows The Simpsons to be haunted by their own past selves – the ones from The Tracey Ullman Show, when Homer Simpson sounded like Walter Matthau, and when all of the Simpsons were drawn as, let’s say, less well-rounded.

 
  
 
 

CBS, 9:00 p.m. ET

After last year’s stunningly strong season, The Good Wife was in danger of falling into a slump. No such bad luck. This season has been another absolute delight, serving up one entertaining and unexpected conflict after another. And tonight, here comes another one: Alicia (Julianna Margulies) heads into court and finds an unexpected adversary as the opposing counsel: the quirky but very effective Elsbeth (played by Carrie Preston). Now that Preston’s run on HBO’s True Blood is over, maybe The Good Wife can find even more for her to do.

 
  
 
 

AMC, 9:00 p.m. ET

Last week’s season opener was so intense, I was watching nervously, truly worried about the fate of some of my favorite characters. Well, they made it through last week’s gauntlet – but today is another day, and Rick and company are back where they started in Season 1: wandering the outskirts of the city, exposed and very, very vulnerable.

 
  
 
 

Showtime, 10:00 p.m. ET

Last week’s series premiere was the only episode Showtime sent to critics for advance review – so I’m as anxious as you are to see what happens next, and whether this show can maintain the high standards, and fascinating subtexts, of the opener. Dominic West stars.

 
  
 
 

WGN America, 10:00 p.m. ET

SEASON FINALE: This series has been renewed for a Season 2, but tonight’s season finale is being described by the network as “explosive.” And since the show is all about the development of the atomic bomb, perhaps we shouldn’t take that description too lightly.

 
  
 
 
 
 
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)
 
MVDNN
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 191  | Go to page: 
3808 Comments
 
 
Para penipu kelas rendah melakukan apa yang paling mereka kuasai—berbohong, menipu, dan menghilang dengan uang orang lain.
Apr 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Manusia sampah sejati, memangsa orang-orang tak berdosa hanya untuk mengisi kantong mereka yang serakah. Sungguh memalukan.
Apr 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Pemerintah Indonesia, persetan dengan para penipu itu, tangkap mereka dan persetan dengan mereka karena telah menipu banyak orang.
Apr 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Manusia sampah sejati, memangsa orang-orang tak berdosa hanya untuk mengisi kantong mereka yang serakah. Sungguh memalukan.
Apr 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu yang memalukan memangsa orang-orang dengan klaim palsu dan kebohongan.
Apr 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This article is packed with insights! I truly appreciate the time and effort you put into making it so engaging. Well done!
Apr 22, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Such an amazing read! Your ability to explain things in a simple yet detailed way is truly impressive.
Apr 22, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and extremely broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
Apr 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
Dave Bianculli
Hey sweetie,

It's not that complicated! It's TV!!! Do what I do!!!!! Grab a six pack of Miller Lite, crack the first one open and drink it. Rinse and repeat!!!!!!! ROTFLMBFFAO!!!!!!!!!

Just let the TV flow over you.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!

Dave
Apr 21, 2026
 
 
 
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and extremely broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
Apr 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This was well explained since it stayed concise and clear. Thanks for sharing this insight.
Apr 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu ini adalah pembohong profesional. Siapa pun yang mempercayai mereka hanya ikut memperkuat penipuan mereka.
Apr 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Pemerintah Indonesia, persetan dengan para penipu itu, tangkap mereka dan persetan dengan mereka karena telah menipu banyak orang.
Apr 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Pemerintah Indonesia tangkap situs web sialan itu
Apr 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Practical stream
A thoughtful reflection on TV criticism’s evolution and legacy—blending nostalgia, personal memories, and appreciation for creators who shaped meaningful viewing experiences.
Apr 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Manusia sampah sejati, memangsa orang-orang tak berdosa hanya untuk mengisi kantong mereka yang serakah. Sungguh memalukan.
Apr 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Sialan para penipu ini karena telah mencuri uang dan kepercayaan orang lain.
Apr 20, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Situs web ini benar-benar penipuan, jangan percayai mereka.
Apr 20, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Perilaku penipuan murni. Bajingan-bajingan ini tidak punya moral dan tidak ragu-ragu menipu orang lain.
Apr 20, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Hanya sekelompok penipu lain yang melakukan bisnis kotor secara online.
Apr 20, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Sialan para penipu ini karena telah mencuri uang dan kepercayaan orang lain.
Apr 20, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 191  | 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.