FRIDAY
JANUARY 30
2015

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

What a behind-the-scenes comedy powerhouse was at work here, for this 1972 dark comedy character study. Bruce Jay Friedman wrote the story, Neil Simon wrote the screenplay, and Elaine May directed it. That’s about as potent as it gets, comedy-wise – and on screen, everything works, too. It’s the story of a young Jewish man who becomes smitten with a beautiful young blonde from the Midwest – but it’s poor timing, because he meets her while on his honeymoon to someone else. Jeannie Berlin plays the someone else, Charles Grodin plays the conflicted newlywed, and the object of his fantasies is played by – wait for it – Cybill Shepherd.

 
  
 
 

PBS, 9:00 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: This marvelous arts documentary series returns for a second season, serving up double doses of installments devoted to a celebration and analysis of the plays of William Shakespeare. For this Season 2 opener, examining A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the host and guide is Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville, whose first acting job was in a 1986 stage production of Dream. This hour includes glimpses of the first film version (from 1909, a silent Shakespeare!), and of the infamous 1935 Hollywood version (James Cagney as Bottom! Mickey Rooney as Puck!). But there’s not nearly enough of the superb version, featuring Helen Mirren as a luminous Titania (pictured), made in 1981 for the BBC-PBS co-production of The Shakespeare Plays – and no glimpse of Diana Rigg in director Peter Hall’s 1968 movie version. But what is here is delightful, and valuable: historical perspective, poetic insights, and samples from recent stage productions by Julie Taymor in the U.S. and the Globe Theatre in London.  A great installment of a great series, and a worthy companion to the work of our greatest playwright. Check local listings.

 
  
 
 

PBS, 10:00 p.m. ET

The second of this season’s new examinations of Shakespeare plays, this hour looks at one of his darkest tragedies, King Lear. Christopher Plummer, one of the play’s veteran stars (pictured), is the guide, and one of the best elements here is how Plummer reflects on the various Lear performances captured on screen. Also, we hear from one of them, Ian McKellen, who was so impressive decades ago, on stage and later on TV, in his 1984 one-man theatrical production, Acting Shakespeare. He certainly deserves to be here – as does Jonathan Miller, one of the directors and stewards of the mammoth, ambitious Shakespeare Plays TV production of that same era, Check local listings.

 
  
 
 

Comedy Central, 10:00 p.m. ET

One of this comedy duo’s funniest and most famous sketches is the East-West Bowl lineup of college football players – a seemingly endless roster of increasingly ridiculously named players. The first sketch went on forever, which was part of its comic genius, and momentum carried on easily to a second installment. Now, as part of this one-hour special, we get Part 3 – and the more college bowls you watched this year, the funnier you’ll find this particular sketch. But watch regardless. These guys are good.

 
  
 
 

HBO, 10:00 p.m. ET

There’s another strong lineup on this week’s show, including Laura Poitras, whose documentary about Edward Snowden, CitizenFour, has been nominated for an Oscar. But the biggest draw is someone who’s already won an Oscar – and at least one Tony, Grammy and Emmy as well. It’s Mel Brooks – showing up to publicize his HBO special, Mel Brooks at the Geffen, which premieres tomorrow night.

 
  
 
 
 
 
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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.