TUESDAY
MARCH 21
2017

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

Netflix, 3:00 a.m. ET

SPECIAL PREMIERES: Since Dave Chappelle walked away from Comedy Central and his popular, very funny series in 2005, he hasn’t gotten any less funny. He’s just spent the time, since his extended break, doing live standup appearances around the country – including one hilarious stop in Philadelphia, which I saw as he made one of his first return appearances. But Chappelle hasn’t made a TV standup special in the dozen years since his abrupt departure. Until now, when Netflix today presents a pair of standup Chappelle specials – one filmed in Los Angeles, the other in Austin, Texas. They aren’t super-topical or brand new, so don’t tune in for reactions to the latest Trump tweets and revelations. But for the Age of Spin special, especially, wait for what he has to say about Bill Cosby. It’s a lot, and it’s very thoughtful.

 
  
 
 

NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET

The “Battle Rounds” continue, along with the input from the guest mentors brought on by this cycle’s judges. It’s a combination of good advice, genial competitiveness, and very talented vocal performances. It’s also a feel-good program which, on TV these days, is an increasing rarity.
 
  
 
 

PBS, 10:00 p.m. ET

My head is so close to exploding from the day’s headlines and analysis each day, I approach a Frontline special analysis of Iraq with equal parts curiosity and trepidation. If this is a scandal of sorts, how many scandals ago is it? And does my brain have the capacity for unpacking yet another important, detailed timeline of who did what when why and to whom? If there’s such a mental condition as news fatigue, I think, after four decades in journalism, I finally may be suffering from it. Check local listings.

 
  
 
 

FX, 10:00 p.m. ET

Tonight’s new episode is titled “The Midges,” and it’s the one in which Elizabeth, on a mission that takes her to a remote greenhouse, uncovers the scary details of a covert plot to influence and weaken a rival superpower – but in this Reagan-era period spy series, it’s apparently the U.S. planning to use bio-engineered insects to destroy the Russian wheat crop. “Midge” is the name of the devastating, tiny little pest used as the object of wanton destruction in this devious agricultural attack. It’s also, for the record, the name of my sister…

 
  
 
 
 
 
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4484 Comments
 
 
Such a well-researched and thoughtful post! I enjoyed reading every bit of it. Your expertise really shines through.
Aug 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
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Aug 19, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Robin_B
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Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
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Aug 18, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
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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.