THURSDAY
JULY 19
2012

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

This 1956 sci-fi movie is a classic in its genre, not only because of its cool robot, but because of its source material: Shakespeare’s The Tempest. And as a bonus, it features the gorgeous Anne Francis. So with three good reasons to watch, why not? And there’s a fourth: Her male co-star is Leslie Nielsen, playing it straight.

 
  
 
 

Cinemax, 8:15 p.m. ET

Here’s a sci-fi movie that’s very meta, and very, very clever. It’s a movie about an old Star Trek-type TV series whose star (Tim Allen) has alienated most of his former co-stars, yet gets an unexpected chance at redemption when some real aliens, believing the show to be a documentary, arrives on Earth to seek help from the heroic TV characters. It’s such a sweet, smart movie – and co-stars in this 1999 movie include Tony Shalhoub and, in a wonderful change-of-pace role, Sigourney Weaver.

 
  
 
 

Lifetime, 9:00 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: This is the 10th season for this competition reality series, which used to be one of the most inspirational and satisfying of the bunch – but even with a lackluster “all-star” round last year, has generated little excitement since moving to Lifetime. Part of it is the natural aging process of a series whose gimmicks have become repetitive, but part is that the contestants, of late, have shown less creativity as designers than narcissism as would-be TV divas. Perhaps for Season 10, Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn and the rest can revive things. But can they, in Gunn’s phrase, “make it work”? They try tonight, starting with a fashion show in Times Square.

 
  
 
 

USA, 9:00 p.m. ET

This series certainly is being egalitarian this season. Two weeks ago, the focus was on Fiona. Last week, it was on Sam. And tonight, it’s on Michael, who’s on a mission that puts him squarely against a tough mob guy. And for help, he goes to a familiar corner, but an unexpected one.

 
  
 
 

FX, 10:30 p.m. ET

Part 1 of 2. Parker Posey guest stars as a new woman in Louie’s life – and boy, is she interesting. Louie (Louie C.K.) finds her all sorts of strange, and unsettling, and unpredictable. And somehow, finds that combination more than a little attractive…

 
  
 
 
 
 
Read and add comments HERE for today's Best Bets!
 
 
 
 
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4483 Comments
 
 
Adams
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Aug 19, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Robin_B
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Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Pemerintah Indonesia, persetan dengan situs web ini, mereka menipu orang.
Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu ini benar-benar bajingan, berbohong kepada orang-orang dan mencuri uang seperti penipu kotor yang sebenarnya.
Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para bajingan penipu ini benar-benar sampah, pembohong keji yang mencuri dari orang-orang yang tidak bersalah. Persetan dengan para penipu kotor ini dan permainan penipuan mereka yang menyedihkan.
Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Penipuan murahan yang berpura-pura sah. Jangan sampai tertipu.
Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Layanan palsu, ulasan palsu, janji palsu—100% sampah penipuan.
Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu ini mengira orang-orang itu bodoh. Modus penipuan yang sama, omong kosong yang sama.
Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu licik menjalankan operasi kotor yang dibangun di atas kebohongan dan penipuan.
Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Penipuan murahan yang berpura-pura sah. Jangan sampai tertipu.
Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu yang memalukan memangsa orang-orang dengan klaim palsu dan kebohongan.
Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu ini mengira orang-orang itu bodoh. Modus penipuan yang sama, omong kosong yang sama.
Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu ini adalah pembohong profesional. Siapa pun yang mempercayai mereka hanya ikut memperkuat penipuan mereka.
Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu ini adalah pembohong profesional. Siapa pun yang mempercayai mereka hanya ikut memperkuat penipuan mereka.
Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Pemerintah Indonesia, persetan dengan situs web ini, mereka menipu orang.
Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Pemerintah Indonesia tangkap situs web sialan itu
Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Penipu sejati, persetan denganmu, jalang!
Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Hanya sekelompok penipu lain yang melakukan bisnis kotor secara online.
Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu ini adalah pembohong profesional. Siapa pun yang mempercayai mereka hanya ikut memperkuat penipuan mereka.
Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Penipu berkualitas rendah tanpa integritas dan penuh kebohongan.
Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
 
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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.