MONDAY

FEBRUARY 3

2014

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

CBS, 8:00 p.m. ET

Last week, this show spent time with Cristin Millotti, in flashbacks showing her character’s life and how close it came to intertwining with that of Josh Radnor’s Ted – significant, since she eventually will become the show’s titular mother. But on tonight’s new show, the focus shifts to Ted, who, on the weekend of friend Barney’s wedding, spends the night on the beach with ex-girlfriend, and Barney’s bride-to-be, Robin (Cobie Smulders). But don’t worry: they while away the hours recalling, and ranking, Ted’s other ex-girlfriends.

HOLLYWOOD GAME NIGHT

NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET

SEASON FINALE: NBC seems to have thrown all its new episodes of this series into the first weeks of the year, so that tonight’s show actually serves as its Season 2 finale. With luck, there will be a Season 3, because this celebrity game show, hosted by Jane Lynch, recalls the more innocent and playful TV days of What’s My Line? And Hollywood Squares. Tonight’s celebrity contestants include Rosie O’Donnell and Donald Faison (pictured), as well as Penny Marshall and Fame co-star Chris Colfer.

A STAR IS BORN

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

Beginning with this 1954 musical, TCM tonight is presenting all five nominees for that year's best costume design in color films. A Star is Born, starring Judy Garland, is of particular interest. In 1983, American Film Institute made it the first film it treated to a top-to-bottom restoration, a treatment TCM itself applied, once again, in 2010. Take advantage of those efforts, because this is as complete, and reverently televised, a version (in Screen ratio as well as restored content) as you’re likely to see anywhere.

QUALITY BALLS -- THE DAVID STEINBERG STORY

Showtime, 9:30 p.m. ET

This 2013 documentary tells the story of David Steinberg, a comedy narrative more than worthy of such a long-term examination. His personal story stretches from Second City to Curb Your Enthusiasm, from The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour to his own Inside Comedy talk show. I haven’t seen this documentary, so I’m not sure it’s the one for which I was interviewed a while back – or, even it is, whether any of my remarks made the final cut. But I’ll say it here, in case I don’t say it on-screen: David Steinberg played a pivotal role in the history of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and is a very smart, very funny comedian, director, and interviewer. For more on Steinberg, see Bianculli's Blog.

INSIDE COMEDY

Showtime, 11:00 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: The only mistake Showtime has made in renewing David Steinberg’s talk show with comics for a third season is this: Steinberg, by now, has more than earned a more prominent, high-profile prime-time programming slot. As is, tonight’s Season 3 premiere doesn’t begin until 11 p.m. ET. Now granted, it comes right after a prime-time documentary about Steinberg – but still. When your Season 3 premiere features Jimmy Fallon and Zach Galifianakis, both of whom respond to Steinberg by giving him respect and wonderful stories of their early influences and experiences as comedians, attention must be paid. For more on Steinberg, 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.

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BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

CBS, 8:00 p.m. ET

NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

Showtime, 9:30 p.m. ET

Showtime, 11:00 p.m. ET

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