THURSDAY

APRIL 21

2016

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

This 1959 movie is considered one of the classic comedies of all time, and with more than a little justification. Jack Lemmon is great, and Tony Curtis surprisingly good, as musicians in Depression-era Chicago hiding from the mob by going undercover as members of an all-girl orchestra. And Marilyn Monroe, as one of the orchestra members who clearly isn’t faking, is tremendous.

THE ODD COUPLE

CBS, 8:31 p.m. ET

The original movie version of this Neil Simon Broadway comedy hit is shown tonight at 10:15 ET on TCM, so perhaps it’s better to wait for that. Tonight’s CBS sitcom reboot, though, does at least offer a few reasons for watching. Oscar (Matthew Perry) begins dating the young blonde nanny working for a neighbor – and that neighbor, played by Teri Hatcher from Desperate Housewives, has no problem ridiculing him for dating such a younger woman. The episode’s title: “From Here to Maturity.”

THE EIGHTIES: "TEAR DOWN THIS WALL"

CNN, 9:00 p.m. ET

Tonight’s scheduled documentary installment is all about President Ronald Reagan’s push to end the Cold War – starting, and ending, with a particularly divisive structure in Berlin.

ORPHAN BLACK

BBC America, 10:00 p.m. ET

The group is regrouping in tonight’s episode – and having to connect with and rely upon new allies, while flashbacks reveal new sides to some of the show's more tenured characters.

INSIDE AMY SCHUMER

Comedy Central, 10:00 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: Last year, Amy Schumer burst out of the blocks with a season premiere that was one comic triumph after another. After a long break, during which she made the movie Trainwreck, Schumer and her Comedy Central show are back. After the year she had last year, expect another big burst of comedy – and confidence. Here, she plays “The World’s Most Interesting Woman in the World.”

THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW

BBC America, 11:30 p.m. ET

Tonight’s guest on this all-new edition, shown in England just a few days ago: Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Keeley Hawes, and the musicians known as Joe and Jake.

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3685 Comments

Gerda Lundgren

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Rut Holmgren

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Sigrun Lindholm

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Solveig Johanson

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Arvid Berggren

Long-time TVWW devotee here. I manage a commercial vehicle operation and Colorado Springs Mobile Mechanic (https://coloradospringcosmobilemechanic.com) keeps our fleet going. Bianculli's picks keep us sane during maintenance delays - essential reading!

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Frida Sundberg

Fantastic recommendations as always. I coordinate deliveries for a regional freight operation and Citrus Heights Towing Company (http://www.towingcitrusheights.com/) handles our repairs. Your site handles our TV choices. Both indispensable!

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Viggo Lundqvist

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Tyra Stromberg

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Olle Lindgren

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Oskar Mattsson

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 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.

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BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

CBS, 8:31 p.m. ET

CNN, 9:00 p.m. ET

BBC America, 10:00 p.m. ET

Comedy Central, 10:00 p.m. ET

BBC America, 11:30 p.m. ET

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