THURSDAY

AUGUST 2

2012

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

2012 SUMMER OLYMPICS

NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET

It’s a relatively quiet day for the Olympics, except for some high-profile swimming events, which will be packaged as the prime-time entrée for evening viewers. For how the Olympics are doing in the ratings, and how various subgroups of viewers (and non-viewers) are reacting, read Ed Bark’s new Uncle Barky’s Bytes column HERE. And for a reaction to the often inane questions reporters are asking during the Summer Games, read Eric Gould’s new Cold Light Reader column HERE. Thanks for the Olympian efforts, guys.

ALMOST FAMOUS

Cinemax, 8:00 p.m. ET

Cameron Crowe wrote and directed this somewhat autobiographical account of his years as an underage journalist for Rolling Stone. And it’s so heartfelt and pure and honest, it’s a delight — as when the passengers on a touring rock bus begin singing spontaneously to Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s “Tiny Dancer." It’s a small but perfect moment, in a film loaded with them. Patrick Fugit stars as Crowe’s alter ego, Kate Hudson became a movie star thanks to her work as an enthusiastic groupie here — and watch for a trio of supporting players who found subsequent stardom on TV: Jason Lee of My Name Is Earl, Anna Paquin of True Blood and Zooey Deschanel of New Girl.

BURN NOTICE

USA, 9:00 p.m. ET

Last week’s episode ended with a slow-motion surprise death. Two of them, actually. And this week, the ramifications of those deaths are explored, as Michael (Jeffrey Donovan) deals with grief and turns to a just-freed Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) for solace – and help.

THE NEWSROOM

HBO, 10:00 p.m. ET

Sunday’s episode, repeated here tonight, shone its spotlight on Olivia Munn as economics TV reporter Sloan Sabbith – and as unimpressed as I was with Munn as a fake TV correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, that’s how impressed I was with her, playing a “real” TV correspondent, in this latest episode. Which, by the way, was an excellent episode, so people who gave up on Sorkin’s latest show early would be wise to revisit it. And speaking of Sorkin: He appeared at a Television Critics Association HBO panel Wednesday to discuss, and defend, The Newsroom. Read Bill Brioux’s brand new TV Feeds My Family dispatch HERE. Great work, Bill. Thanks.

LOUIE

FX, 10:30 p.m. ET

In this week’s show, Louie (Louis C.K.) is in charge of feeding a kid temporarily under his care, and goes through everything in his pantry and refrigerator without getting a positive vote. “I’ll die,” the kid tells Louie when Louie suggests a particular type of food. And with this series, you can’t be sure he’s not exaggerating.

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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.

New From TVWW

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET

Cinemax, 8:00 p.m. ET

USA, 9:00 p.m. ET

HBO, 10:00 p.m. ET

FX, 10:30 p.m. ET

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