FRIDAY
OCTOBER 27
2017

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

Amazon Prime Video, 3:00 a.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: This Amazon import presentation from Britain’s ITV begins in familiar territory, like so many cold-case mystery stories. A woman approaches a prominent human rights lawyer, and begs her to take on the case of her husband, who has been imprisoned for more than a decade for a crime he continues to insist he didn’t commit – despite his confession at the time of arrest. The lawyer, played by Helen McCrory of Peaky Blinders, visits the convicted killer in prison, and begins to re-investigate in a way that points to his confession having been coerced. It also leads to a conspiracy involving both the police and the government – which, in turn, leads to another prominent Fearless player: Michael Gambon, star of my all-time favorite miniseries, The Singing Detective.

 
  
 
 

Netflix, 3:00 a.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: Season 1 of Stranger Things sort of sneaked up on everyone, becoming a pop-culture cult hit on the basis of its Eighties nostalgia and its classic horror-story sensibilities. Season 2, at least in the four episodes on which I’ve binged this morning, holds up the tradition and the energy, introducing some new characters (played by Sean Astin and Paul Reiser, whose resumes are hints to one reason they were cast) and introducing new mysteries that are part jigsaw puzzles, part Gremlins allusions, and a lot more visits to and from Down Under. The action begins in 1984, circa Halloween, with a presidential election around the corner, and with the gang dressed up as – what else – Ghostbusters!

 
  
 
 

Fox, 8:00 p.m. ET

The first game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros was a high-wire pitching duel, resulting in the shortest World Series game in 25 years. The second game was more like a home-run derby batting exhibition, extending into extra innings and presenting a dramatically timed series of fortune-turning homers. After all that drama at Dodger Stadium, this year’s World Series is tied 1-1, and Game 3 will be played tonight in Houston.

 
  
 
 

Showtime, 9:00 p.m. ET

It’s sad that this eight-part documentary series has no problem filling its program schedule with installments devoted to different mass shootings. This week’s focus: the 2016 mass murders at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, FL. As with previous installments, this documentary not only recounts the shooting, but also hones in on the first responders, the survivors (two of which are pictured in recovery), and others affected by the unexpected and brutal tragedy. For a full review, see David Hinckley's All Along the Watchtower.
 
  
 
 

CMT, 10:00 p.m. ET

This combination documentary and tribute concert celebrates just what’s in its title. Included among the performances: Lady Antebellum’s version of his “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” and Reba McEntire doing the song that, when sung by Janis Joplin, broke Kristofferson into the big leagues: “Me and Bobby McGee.”  Also performing:  Willie Nelson, Roseanne Cash, Martina McBride, Larry Gatlin, Dierks Bentley, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and others. For a full review, see David Hinckley's All Along the Watchtower.

 
  
 
 

HBO, 10:00 p.m. ET

Among tonight’s guests: Woody Harrelson and Joy Behar.

 
  
 
 
 
 
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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.