THURSDAY
APRIL 20
2017

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

Encore, 7:59 p.m. ET

It’s been 20 years since Howard Stern starred, quite effectively, as a younger version of himself in this 1997 biographical film comedy, based on his bestseller. Betty Thomas directs the movie, and Mary McCormack stars as his wife Alison, whose loving relationship with shock-jock radio personality Stern forms the core of the film. In real life, they divorced in 2001. In Private Parts, the scene-stealer, in addition to Stern himself, is Paul Giamatti, in an early breakout role as WNBC radio executive Kenny, whose clashes with Stern are hilarious.

 
  
 
 

NBC, 9:00 p.m. ET

SERIES RETURN: After a hiatus, and a time-slot grab by inferior spinoff Blacklist: The Redemption, the original article, starring James Spader, returns – with a doubleheader. For a feature story, see David Hinckley's All Along the Watchtower.
 
  
 
 

CNN, 10:00 p.m. ET

DOCUMENTARY SERIES PREMIERE: This new series aims to trace and point out some of the connections between music and real life – singling out some of the songs that reflected or propelled the events of the time. The topic for this opening hour is Martin Luther King, Jr., from the rise of the civil rights movement to King’s assassination and beyond. In that context, Soundtracks makes room for everything from James Brown’s “Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud)” to Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright.” And I’m hoping, at some point, it also makes room for Dion’s quiet, moving 1968 anthem “Abraham, Martin and John,” which also managed to allude to the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Bobby Kennedy.

 
  
 
 

Starz!, 10:51 p.m. ET

With this week’s first taste of Season 3 of FX’s Fargo, Noah Hawley has now made three delectable variations on the Coen Brothers’ original theme. But tonight on Starz, you can revisit their 1996 original, starring Frances McDormand as a Minnesota police chief investigating a particularly bizarre and brutal murder case. Hawley’s TV miniseries versions of Fargo have been superb… but the original film, co-starring William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare, was utterly flawless.

 
  
 
 
 
 
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 Email (required) (will not be published)
 
HIRSK
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 216  | Go to page: 
4319 Comments
 
 
Perilaku penipuan murni. Bajingan-bajingan ini tidak punya moral dan tidak ragu-ragu menipu orang lain.
Jul 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu ini pantas untuk diungkap kebohongan dan kebusukan mereka.
Jul 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Tidak ada yang nyata di sini. Hanya omong kosong penuh tipu daya dari orang-orang serakah.
Jul 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Pemerintah Indonesia tangkap situs web sialan itu
Jul 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Pemerintah Indonesia tangkap situs web sialan itu
Jul 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu kelas rendah melakukan apa yang paling mereka kuasai—berbohong, menipu, dan menghilang dengan uang orang lain.
Jul 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Layanan palsu, ulasan palsu, janji palsu—100% sampah penipuan.
Jul 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
You delivered such an impressive piece to read, giving every subject enlightenment for us to gain information. Thanks for sharing such information with us due to which my several concepts have been cleared.
Jul 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I couldn’t have really asked for a more rewarding blog. You’re there to give excellent suggestions, going directly to the point for simple understanding of your target audience. You’re surely a terrific expert in this subject. Thank you for remaining there human beings like me.
Jul 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Hi, thank you so much for sharing this, it is extremely useful. Thanks again
Jul 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
You delivered such an impressive piece to read, giving every subject enlightenment for us to gain information. Thanks for sharing such information with us due to which my several concepts have been cleared.
Jul 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
You delivered such an impressive piece to read, giving every subject enlightenment for us to gain information. Thanks for sharing such information with us due to which my several concepts have been cleared.
Jul 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I couldn’t have really asked for a more rewarding blog. You’re there to give excellent suggestions, going directly to the point for simple understanding of your target audience. You’re surely a terrific expert in this subject. Thank you for remaining there human beings like me.
Jul 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I like your post and also like your website because your website is very fast and everything in this website is good. Keep writing such informative posts. I have bookmark your website. Thanks for sharing
Jul 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
"I am interested in such topics so I will address page where it is cool described.

"
Jul 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Your blogs are easily accessible and quite enlightening so keep doing the amazing work guys.
Jul 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
"I am interested in such topics so I will address page where it is cool described.

"
Jul 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Your blogs are easily accessible and quite enlightening so keep doing the amazing work guys.
Jul 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
"I just couldn't leave your website before telling you that I truly enjoyed the top quality info you present to your visitors? Will be back again frequently to check up on new posts.

"
Jul 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
"I just couldn't leave your website before telling you that I truly enjoyed the top quality info you present to your visitors? Will be back again frequently to check up on new posts.

"
Jul 23, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 216  | 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.