SATURDAY
JULY 21
2018

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

NBC, 7:00 a.m. ET

NBC provides lots of third-round coverage of today’s British Open, which includes the familiar Open sight of absurdly imposing pot bunkers. And in addition to the sand traps, it also includes the unfamiliar sight, at least of late, of Tiger Woods in weekend play (he tees off about 8 a.m. ET). He made the cut – although the world’s two highest-ranked golfers, Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas, did not.

 
  
 
 

Starz!, 10:14 a.m. ET

The entire first season of American Gods is repeated today, in a Saturday marathon, by Starz. This TV adaptation of the Neil Gaiman novel includes memorable appearances by Gillian Anderson – who, like Season 1 showrunners Bryan Fuller and Michael Green, will not be returning for Season 2, which Starz already has committed to presenting. The former X-Files star, in Season 1, plays a chameleonic modern goddess named Media – as opposed to Medea – whose alter-ego appearances include likenesses of Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball and (pictured) David Bowie.

 
  
 
 

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

This weekend, TCM celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Leonard Bernstein, with a tribute that should have your DVRs humming in overdrive. Last night, TCM presented movies featuring some of Bernstein’s most beloved film scores, including music for the big-screen versions of West Side Story and On the Town. That would be an expected approach from a network called Turner Classic Movies – but today and tomorrow, the treats, very rarely shown by anyone, are taken from television. Starting tonight at 8 p.m. ET, TCM presents four episodes of Bernstein’s monumental, influential New York Philharmonic Young People’s Concerts. My favorite episode, “What Is Sonata Form?,” is not among them (that’s the one, from November 1964 on CBS, in which Bernstein complimented, and demonstrated, the Beatles’ “And I Love Her”). But the quartet of shows here includes the very first Young People’s Concerts installment, 1958’s “What Does Music Mean?” (at 8 p.m. ET), 1959’s “Humor in Music” (9:06 p.m. ET), 1966’s “What Is a Mode?” (10:15 p.m. ET), and 1967’s “A Toast to Vienna in 3/4 Time” (11:16 p.m. ET). I highly recommended watching, and recording, them all. And save room and time for tomorrow, when TCM presents even older Bernstein TV appearances, from the iconic Omnibus series in 1961.

 
  
 
 
 
 
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)
 
OIIEV
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 218  | Go to page: 
4358 Comments
 
 
I admire this article for the well-researched content and excellent wording. I got so involved in this material that I couldn’t stop reading. I am impressed with your work and skill. Thank you so much
Jul 30, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This is gold! I’ve already forwarded it to a couple of friends who were asking about this.
Jul 29, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Thanks for the practical advice. It’s much more useful than theoretical concepts.
Jul 29, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
The website style is perfect, the content material is really good
Jul 29, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
You will see all styles and models of fashion blogs as being the internet is stuffed with them.
Jul 29, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This is my first visit to your blog! Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on.
Jul 29, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
One of the biggest competitions of today is staying fit
Jul 29, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Seen you are aware of the trend in this case.
Jul 29, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
You will discover all types and designs of fashion blogs since the internet is filled with them.
Jul 29, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
The Bahrain visa application status refers to the current progress
Jul 28, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I really like how you balanced the pros and cons in this article.
Jul 27, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
"Really enjoyed this blog.Much thanks again. Great.

"
Jul 27, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
"You are a great writer. Please keep it up!

"
Jul 27, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
"You are a great writer. Please keep it up!

"
Jul 27, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Thanks, I have been hunting for details about this subject for ages and yours is the best I ave found so far.
Jul 27, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This article gives the light in which we can observe the reality. This is very nice one and gives in-depth information. Thanks for this nice article.
Jul 27, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
"You are a great writer. Please keep it up!

"
Jul 27, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
"Well I really enjoyed studying it. This article offered by you is very practical for proper planning.

"
Jul 27, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
"Well I really enjoyed studying it. This article offered by you is very practical for proper planning.

"
Jul 27, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
"Well I really enjoyed studying it. This article offered by you is very practical for proper planning.

"
Jul 27, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 218  | 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.