THURSDAY
JUNE 26
2014

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

ESPN, 12:00 p.m. ET

The third and final game played by the U.S. team in Group G, the so-called “Group of Death” because of its competitive toughness, is televised by ESPN today at noon ET, preceded by a 30-minute pregame show. The previous U.S. game was a thriller down to the last minute – and beyond, since it was in the final minute of bonus time that a goal by Portugal robbed the U.S. of victory, and an automatic trip to the knockout round. Now the U.S., like Germany, has to play today’s game to advance – but will do so with either a win or a draw, and Germany pretty much moves on no matter what. Even if the U.S. loses, though, there are ways for the team to advance based on the outcome and score of the other Group G match, but root for a win, or a tie, just to make it simple. Then, at 4 p.m. ET, ESPN presents a Group H game, Korea Republic vs. Belgium. Belgium has qualified for the next round already, while South Korea needs to win this game, and get some help from other teams in its group, to have a chance.

 
  
 
 

ESPN 2, 12:00 p.m. ET

The first game shown today on ESPN2 is Group G’s Portugal vs. Ghana. Fans with a rooting interest in the U.S. should back Portugal in this game, because the U.S., even with a loss to Germany, probably will emerge with the edge in the goal-differential tiebreaker. Both of these teams, though, need Germany to win, and many other things to happen, before they can move on. Then, at 4 p.m. ET in Group H, Algeria plays Russia. Algeria advances if it wins, while Russia has to win this game, plus get some help from other Group H outcomes.

 
  
 
 

CNN, 9:00 p.m. ET

Part 5. A Long March to Freedom examines and recounts the civil rights battle as it exploded in the 1960s – a tall order, and one which already has sparked an excellent documentary series of its own (PBS’s Eyes on the Prize). But The Sixties, thus far, has found a way to mine local TV footage to look at old stories in new ways, so expect the same here.

 
  
 
 

Sundance, 9:00 p.m. ET

Last week’s Season 2 premiere took place with Daniel (Aden Young), the death row inmate freed after 19 years in prison because of overturned evidence, in a coma after his brutal beating. In this episode, he emerges from that coma – if not, there’s no series, so don’t yell “Spoiler Alert!” – and faces an even more traumatic return to society than when he first was released from prison.

 
  
 
 

ABC, 10:00 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: This ABC medical documentary summer series returns tonight, with another set of intertwined stories observing patients, physicians and caregivers at specific New York area hospitals. As with previous outings, the stories are told patiently and artfully, and everywhere the camera turns, it captures humanity at its most unvarnished. This is not reality TV – it’s reality, on TV. And this season, I set a personal record, and didn’t cry until midway through the second hour. For a full review, see Bianculli’s Blog.
 
  
 
 
 
 
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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.