TUESDAY
FEBRUARY 28
2017

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

Netflix, 3:00 a.m. ET

SPECIAL PREMIERE: Netflix has been signing more and more comics lately to headline comedy specials, suddenly rivaling HBO, Showtime, and Comedy Central as a major player in this regard. Tonight, Netflix gets first dibs on bringing Mike Birbiglia’s well-received one-man stage show to TV. Netflix’s Mike Birbiglia: Thank God for Jokes, which streams beginning today, is the answer to a prayer. It may be only Birbiglia who was praying, but hey…

 
  
 
 

NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET

CYCLE PREMIERE: The two-night cycle premiere continues, with Gwen Stefani joining Blake Shelton (her present significant other), Alicia Keys, and Adam Levine, returning judges from the previous cycle. This is the Blind Auditions portion of the series – still, after all this time and all these cycles, my favorite part.

 
  
 
 

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

Humphrey Bogart stars in this 1948 John Huston movie, Walter Huston almost steals it from under him as a grizzled prospector, and Alfonso Bedoya (pictured) gets to deliver the classic line, “I don’t have to show you any stinking badges!” TCM is up to the Ts in its alphabetical month-long Oscar salute, and this film really does fit the term Treasure to a T.

 
  
 
 

Various Networks, 9:00 p.m. ET

Back in 2009, appearing before a joint session of Congress, President Barack Obama was outlining his plans for health care reform when one member of the audience, Republican House member Joe Wilson, shouted out, “You lie!” That wasn’t a State of the Union Address (Obama had given that earlier in the year) – and technically, neither is tonight’s Joint Session address by President Donald Trump. But eight years later, President Trump is in the same hall, addressing the same august body, dealing with the same political divisions and passions. Televised by most broadcast and all cable news networks.

 
  
 
 

FX, 10:00 p.m. ET

SEASON FINALE: Tom Hardy, as James Delaney, has been through hell lately – and tonight, comes out the other side, squaring off against Jonathan Pryce’s Stuart Strange for a bloody good finale. (Insert comma if you like.) Tom Hardy stars. For a full review, see Eric Gould’s Cold Light Reader.
 
  
 
 
 
 
Read and add comments HERE for today's Best Bets!
 
 
 
 
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Gerda Lundgren
Long-time TVWW devotee here. I manage a commercial vehicle operation and Hialeah Auto Glass Repair (https://autoglassrepairhialeah.com/) keeps our fleet going. Bianculli's picks keep us sane during maintenance delays - essential reading!
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
Dave Bianculli
Golly Gerda, you make me blush with your kind words, but maybe instead of giving me praise, how about giving me a discount on your service bills!!!! ROTFLMBFFAO!!!!!!!

Sincerely,

Dave
Mar 22, 2026
 
 
 
Rut Holmgren
Another great set of picks! My trucking partners and I share your recommendations over coffee. We rely on West Palm Beach Auto Glass Repair (https://westpalmbeachautoglassrepair.com) for vehicle service. TVWW makes the downtime worthwhile.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Birger Samuelsson
Smart TV writing for smart viewers - that's TVWW in a nutshell. I manage a motor pool and Macon Auto Glass Repair at https://autoglassrepairmacon.com/ is our go-to service provider. David Bianculli's enthusiasm is contagious.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Inga Henriksen
Excellent as always! The shop guys at Lakewood Fence Company put your site on the break room TV. Find them at https://fencecompanylakewood.com - they do solid work. Best Bets is a daily read for all of us.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Harald Almgren
Excellent as always! The shop guys at Boca Raton Auto Glass Repair put your site on the break room TV. Find them at https://bocaratonautoglassrepair.com - they do solid work. Best Bets is a daily read for all of us.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Sigrun Lindholm
Another great set of picks! My trucking partners and I share your recommendations over coffee. We rely on Brighton Towing Company (https://brightontowingcompany.com) for vehicle service. TVWW makes the downtime worthwhile.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Karl Forsberg
Fantastic recommendations as always. I coordinate deliveries for a regional freight operation and Sunrise Towing Company (https://sunrisetowingcompany.com) handles our repairs. Your site handles our TV choices. Both indispensable!
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Solveig Johanson
Excellent as always! The shop guys at Lincoln Mobile Mechanic put your site on the break room TV. Find them at https://lincolnmobilemechanic.com - they do solid work. Best Bets is a daily read for all of us.
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
TV Worth Watching has guided my viewing habits for years. My dispatcher uses Lafayette Auto Glass Repair at https://lafayetteautoglassrepair.com for fleet repairs and turned me onto this site. Two great recommendations!
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Tyra Stromberg
Loyal reader checking in! I'm in freight logistics and Lauderhill Towing Company (https://lauderhilltowing.com) keeps our trucks roadworthy. Your Best Bets column keeps our break room lively. Much appreciated.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Olle Lindgren
Quality criticism is rare and Bianculli delivers every time. I run trucks for a living and Framingham Towing Company (https://towingframingham.com) handles our maintenance. Your site handles my entertainment. Both essential.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Einar Magnusson
Always trust Bianculli's taste. My brother-in-law drives commercially and swears by Oakland Park Towing Company (https://oaklandparktowing.com) for his rig. Same confidence I have in TVWW for TV picks. Two reliable sources.
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Vilhelm Lindqvist
Loyal reader checking in! I'm in freight logistics and Arlington Concrete Company (https://arlingtonconcretecompany.com) keeps our trucks roadworthy. Your Best Bets column keeps our break room lively. Much appreciated.
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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.