MONDAY

NOVEMBER 21

2016

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET

The live shows have gone well so far in this final round – for both the singers and the judges, who are similarly constrained to perform well under pressure, with no retakes.

MARATHON: THE PATRIOTS DAY BOMBING

HBO, 8:00 p.m. ET

Produced in association with the Boston Globe, this new documentary hones in on the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing – but stresses the aftermath, both of the pursuit of the terrorists and the recovery efforts of the survivors.

MARS

National Geographic, 9:00 p.m. ET

Episode 2. This new series from Ron Howard and company is part documentary, but also a big part scripted fictional story – science fiction in the most precise sense, telling a feasible story about a “future mission” to Mars. For a full review, see David Hinckley’s All Along the Watchtower.

SOUNDBREAKING: STORIES FROM THE CUTTING EDGE OF RECORDED MUSIC

PBS, 10:00 p.m. ET

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Last week, I described this excellent documentary series on recorded music as a five-part series. I’d blame my pain meds, but I stopped taking them two months ago. Several of you noted my mistake, and I’m happy to report that you’re right and I’m wrong. There are still three episodes left, thank goodness, starting with tonight’s installment, which includes the rise of hip-hop, the development of musical “sampling,” and such pioneering rap artists as Public Enemy and Run-DMC. For a full review, see David Hinckley’s All Along the Watchtower. Check local listings.

SEARCH PARTY

TBS, 11:00 p.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: Alia Shawkat from Arrested Development stars in this new TBS series, which is being unveiled in late night, two episodes per night, for a one-week burst, beginning tonight. (Though if, like Soundbreaking, it ends up leaking into next week as well, then I’ll be 0 for 2.) She plays Dory, a pampered housewife’s personal assistant who impulsively takes on a mission in life she deems more meaningful: rounding up a posse of friends in hopes of locating a former college acquaintance, Chantal, who has gone missing. For a full review, see David Hinckley's All Along the Watchtower.

<< PREVIOUS | NEXT >>

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Email (required) (will not be published)


Type in the verification word shown on the image.

Page: 1 of 251 | Go to page:

5019 Comments

Jpbosku

Sweet internet site , super pattern , real clean and employ genial .

Oct 15, 2026 | Reply

Jpbosku

This is a great inspiring article.I am pretty much pleased with your good work.You put really very helpful information. Keep it up. Keep blogging. Looking to reading your next pos

Oct 15, 2026 | Reply

Jpbosku

A superbly written article, if only all bloggers offered the same content as you, the internet would be a far better place

Oct 15, 2026 | Reply

Jpbosku

Thank you for taking the time to publish this information very useful!

Oct 15, 2026 | Reply

Zonahoki28

I am hoping the same best effort from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing skills has inspired me.

Oct 15, 2026 | Reply

Online Business

This web site really has all the information I wanted about this subject and didn't know who to ask

Oct 15, 2026 | Reply

??????

" '??? ??? ???? ??? ???? ??? ? ??? ? ???? ?? ?? ????. ??? ???? ?? ?? ?? ??? ?????. ?????! ??? ??, ??? ? ???,? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ? ????? ? ?? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???. ????? ???? ???? ??? ??????.

Oct 15, 2026 | Reply

Zonahoki28

Such a very useful article. Very interesting to read this article. I would like to thank you for the efforts you had made for writing this awesome article.

Oct 15, 2026 | Reply

?????

Very good topic, similar texts are I do not know if they are as good as your work out. These you will then see the most important thing, the application provides you a website a powerful important internet page:

Oct 14, 2026 | Reply

??????

Nice work i love your work keep it up.....

Oct 14, 2026 | Reply

??? ??? ??

I'm really enjoying the design and layout of your site. It's a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme? Superb work!

Oct 14, 2026 | Reply

?????

Excellent post.I want to thank you for this informative read, I really appreciate sharing this great post.Keep up your work

Oct 14, 2026 | Reply

Zonahoki28

I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. Thanks..

Oct 14, 2026 | Reply

Zonahoki28

Impressive work on the essayist's part.

Oct 14, 2026 | Reply

??????

After research a couple of of the weblog posts in your website now, and I really like your method of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website record and will probably be checking back soon.

Oct 14, 2026 | Reply

Zonahoki28

Sweet internet site , super pattern , real clean and employ genial .

Oct 14, 2026 | Reply

Zonahoki28

Very useful info. Hope to see more posts soon!.

Oct 14, 2026 | Reply

Zonahoki28

I really like the new design. It is a lot easier to use and visually attractive.

Oct 14, 2026 | Reply

Zonahoki28

Thanks for sharing these informations. I really like your blog post very much. You have really shared a informative and interesting blog post .

Oct 14, 2026 | Reply

Zonahoki28

This is a fantastic website, thanks for sharing. There's no doubt i would fully rate it after i read what the idea about this article is. You did a nice

Oct 14, 2026 | Reply

Page: 1 of 251 | 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.

New From TVWW

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET

HBO, 8:00 p.m. ET

National Geographic, 9:00 p.m. ET

PBS, 10:00 p.m. ET

TBS, 11:00 p.m. ET

David Bianculli

PBS' 'Frontline’ Examines Pension Promises and — Spoiler Alert — Finds the Math Doesn’t Add Up

The Decadence of ‘Versailles’ Comes to Ovation

Prescribing Mamie Gummer in 'Emily Owens, M.D.'

Looking for a Free Ride? HBO Can Deliver

'Pass the Biscuits' Part of the Hatfield-McCoy Pop-Culture Legacy