THURSDAY
AUGUST 21
2014

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

BBC America, Check local listings

There are now two warring series marathons on cable this week. The one that’s been running since Monday, and continue through Saturday night, is BBC America’s Doctor Who modern sampler. I’ve been watching way too much of this particular marathon, because there’s always something to hold my attention. And that continues with the Matt Smith episodes, featuring the actor who played the Doctor in the show’s most recent seasons.

 
  
 
 

FXX, 10:00 a.m. ET

Every episode, in order, from the start – this FXX presentation isn’t a Simpsons marathon, it’s a Simpsons miracle. Starting at 10 a.m. ET, the gang’s all here – every single installment of The Simpsons series, beginning with the 1989 Christmas special and moving on from there. Yesterday, I previewed the marathon on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross – and Terry took it from there, devoting the rest of the hour to excerpts of interviews with various people involved in bringing The Simpsons to life. You can hear the entire show on the Fresh Air website – but hurry, because once the marathon begins, you won’t have a spare minute to think about The Simpsons until Sept. 2.
 
  
 
 

Lifetime, 9:00 p.m. ET

The designers always are charged with some challenging task on this fashion competition series, but tonight it’s personal: The contestants have to design clothing for the show’s host, Heidi Klum, to wear at a red-carpet event.

 
  
 
 

Sundance, 9:00 p.m. ET

SEASON FINALE: Tonight this series ends its second season – and since it only recently was renewed for a Season 3, tonight’s season finale may offer a bit more finality than most, because the show’s writers couldn’t count on continuing the story.

 
  
 
 

IFC, 10:00 p.m. ET

Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci have turned their new series into a clever showcase, and not just for their songs. They’re playing with sitcom conventions, much in the tradition of Louis C.K., Marc Maron, Sarah Silverman, Flight of the Conchords, and Larry David before them. If you haven’t seen this series yet, give it a chance.

 
  
 
 
 
 
Read and add comments HERE for today's Best Bets!
 
 
 
 
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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.