SUNDAY
MARCH 19
2017

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

Various Networks, 12:00 p.m. ET

So here we go… Today’s games begin at noon ET, with CBS coverage of the Midwest’s Michigan (seeded No. 7) vs. Louisville (No. 2), who thus far have advanced against lower-seeded teams. Next, at 2:40 p.m. ET, is the South’s No. 2 seed, Kentucky, facing No. 10 Wichita State, one of only a handful of double-digit seeds to make it into the second round. The CBS coverage continues at 5:15 p.m. ET with the Midwest’s No. 1 seed, Kansas, battling No. 9 Michigan State – and then, the action spreads to other networks. South’s No. 1 seed, North Carolina, faces Arkansas at 6:10 p.m. ET on TNT. Midwest’s No. 3 seed, Oregon, faces No. 11-seeded Rhode Island at 7:10 p.m. ET on TBS. The East’s No. 3 seed, Baylor, faces another No. 11 seed, USC, at 7:45 p.m. ET on truTV.  The East’s No. 2 seed, Duke, battles No. 7 seed South Carolina at 8:40 p.m,. ET on TNT. And I think that’s it. Good luck finding the games (I hope this helps) – and if you’re rooting for your home team, good luck there, too.

 
  
 
 

Showtime, 8:00 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: Season 1of The Circus was subtitled Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth. For Season 2, the subtitle is slightly different, for the focus is on governance, not campaigning. But the behind-the-scenes political insights and coverage by reporters Mark Halperin and John Heilemann and co-creator Mark McKinnon are just as valuable – and these Circus animals are now attempting to offer same-week coverage of the President Donald Trump administration, with a news cycle that, if anything, is even more hectic and complicated. Fasten your seat belts… It’s Washington, D.C., in mid-March 2017, and The Circus is in town.

 
  
 
 

AMC, 9:00 p.m. ET

There was, indeed, a sudden death on The Walking Dead last week, after a relative though short-lived lull. What was less surprising than who died was the manner of death, and the person doing the killing – but that all sets up tonight’s escalation of tensions, when the Saviors pay a surprise visit to the Hilltop.
 
  
 
 

HBO, 9:00 p.m. ET

This is episode 5, and things are getting more and more roiled up, like the seaside surf this miniseries keeps returning to as a mood-setter. And nothing in Big Little Lies is more frothy or intense than the troubled marriage between Celeste and Perry, played by Nicole Kidman and Alexander Skarsgard.

 
  
 
 

Showtime, 9:00 p.m. ET

Last week’s Homeland ended with gunplay, and with one character dead and another very nearly killed. And that only adds to the paranoia of the surviving characters, who seem poised in this episode to reunite and to band together – but against whom?

 
  
 
 

ABC, 10:00 p.m. ET

American Crime continues with the second episode of its third season, once again telling an extended, separate story, and once again allowing many of its recurring players, including the very talented Felicity Huffman (pictured), to take on different looks, roles, and attitudes. This season, she’s a blonde – but I’m not expecting that to mean that, as the vintage hair-color TV ad used to claim, she’s about to have more fun.

 
  
 
 

FX, 10:00 p.m. ET

Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon are terrific as, respectively, Joan Crawford and Bette Davis in tonight’s Episode 3 of Feud: Bette and Joan, which delves in deeply into the on-set battles between the two actresses during the making of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? And what happens tonight is that those fights become physical as well as psychological. For a great feature on this miniseries' opening graphics title sequence, see Eric Gould's current Video Worth Watching.
 
  
 
 

HBO, 11:00 p.m. ET

For a political fix, and perspective, tonight, start on Showtime with The Circus, and end on HBO with Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Both shows are likely to teach you something – and both shows, I suspect, are well aware of both the importance and unpredictability of their current subjects.

 
  
 
 

MGM HD, 12:25 a.m. ET

In this 1988 psychological vampire black comedy, Nicolas Cage gives a bravely larger-than-life, larger-than-death performance as a man who comes to believe he’s been stalked, and eventually turned, by a seductive female vampire. Like Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, which rewarded fans with deep knowledge of the horror films he was spoofing, Vampire’s Kiss alludes, visually and comically, to many previous films in the genre, starting with the 1922 silent classic Nosferatu. This is the film where Cage commits to his craft by eating a live cockroach on camera, which I’ve never forgotten. But most of all, I’ve never forgotten the performance by Jennifer Beals as the “is-she-or-isn’t-she?” vampire dominating Cage’s imagination. As the embodiment of both his fears and desires, she’s equally spellbinding.

 
  
 
 
 
 
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)
 
JFCFT
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 248  | Go to page: 
4948 Comments
 
 
??
"It’s going to be end of mine day, however before
finish I am reading this fantastic paragraph to increase my knowledge."
Oct 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
??
"It’s amazing in support of me to have a site, which is good
in favor of my know-how. thanks admin"
Oct 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
??
??? ??? ?? ???? ??? ?? ??? ???? ???? ?????.
Oct 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
"It’s going to be end of mine day, however before
finish I am reading this fantastic paragraph to increase my knowledge."
Oct 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Superbly written article, if only all bloggers offered the same content as you, the internet would be a far better place..
Oct 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
??
Interesting and interesting information can be found on this topic here profile worth to see it.
Oct 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Interesting and interesting information can be found on this topic here profile worth to see it.
Oct 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
?? ?? ?????. ??? ??? ??? ???? ???? ?? ??? ??????. ?????. ?? ??? ?? ?? ?????.
Oct 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Decent data, profitable and phenomenal outline, as offer well done with smart thoughts and ideas, bunches of extraordinary data and motivation, both of which I require, on account of offer such an accommodating data here
Oct 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
??
I am propelled by the information that you have on this blog. It demonstrates how well you grasp this subject
Oct 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing blog that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free.
Oct 12, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
i always search the internet for free essays,
Oct 11, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Sweet website, super pattern, real clean and apply genial.
Oct 11, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
?? ??? ?? ? ??? ??? ? ??? ?? ?????. ??? ??? ?? ????? ??? ????? ??? ?? ?? ????? ?????! ????? ????? ??? ?? ??? ? ?? ????.
Oct 11, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
It is my first visit to your blog, and I am very impressed with the articles that you serve. Give adequate knowledge for me. Thank you for sharing useful material. I will be back for the more great post.
Oct 11, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Acknowledges for paper such a beneficial composition, I stumbled beside your blog besides decipher a limited announce. I want your technique of inscription...
Oct 11, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
?? ?? ?? ??? ??? ????. ??? ? ????? ?? ?????. ?????. ? ??! ???? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??? ????. ?? ?? ??????.
Oct 11, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
It is my first visit to your blog, and I am very impressed with the articles that you serve. Give adequate knowledge for me. Thank you for sharing useful material. I will be back for the more great post.
Oct 11, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Really amazing post. I just stumbled beside your blog. I will definitely suggest your blog to all of my friends. Thanks for sharing this valuable information for free
Oct 11, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
???
?? ??? ??, ?? ??? ???, ????? ??? ??? ?? ? ??? ?????. ?? ??? ?????? ????????. ?? ??!
Oct 10, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 248  | 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.