SUNDAY

JANUARY 31

2016

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

Fox, 7:00 p.m. ET

SPECIAL: NBC is the network that revived the concept of live TV musical specials, with The Sound of Music and others, but it’s the Fox network that may solidify the trend. At the end of the year, it’s presenting a live telecast of The Rocky Horror Show, starring transgender Orange Is the New Black actress Laverne Cox. And tonight, Fox presents a revised stage version of one of the most durable musicals of the past two generations: Grease, starring Julianne Hough as Sandy (pictured), Aaron Tveit as Danny, and Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo. I’m expecting big ratings for this one, whatever its quality – and I’m hoping for some quality, too. For a full preview, see David Hinckley's All Along the Watchtower.

THE CIRCUS: INSIDE THE GREATEST POLITICAL SHOW ON EARTH

Showtime, 8:00 p.m. ET

This documentary series launched itself at the perfect time, as each week leading up to tomorrow’s Iowa caucus seems to have been more momentous, and more unpredictable. And now, we’re on the brink of the first votes cast in the race for the 2016 presidential nominees – with The Circus covering, among other things, the Donald Trump-less Republican debate.

THE GOOD WIFE

CBS, 9:00 p.m. ET

All season, Alicia (Julianna Margulies) has run afoul of one particular judge – and tonight, she does it again.

MASTERPIECE: "DOWNTON ABBEY"

PBS, 9:00 p.m. ET

“Racing cars and pigs – who could better that?” Only Downton Abbey, which also presents a visit to Downton by Neville Chamberlain, where politics are thick and tempers are simmering – until an unexpected outburst, at that very tony dinner, that shakes the household to its core. For a rundown and reaction of each week’s Downton Abbey episode, see David Hinckley’s All Along the Watchtower. Check local listings.

BILLIONS

Showtime, 10:00 p.m. ET

Tonight’s episode is called “Yum Time.” Given the sexual predilections of this show’s primary characters, that might be construed as some sort of happy-ending sexual act – but it’s actually the name of a candy Axelrod (Damien Lewis) used to love as a kid, and whose current incarnation distresses him enough to do something about it. I can relate. If I had Axelrod’s money, I might buy up Chips Ahoy! – just to make them go back to the cookie’s original, much bigger size.

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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

Fox, 7:00 p.m. ET

Showtime, 8:00 p.m. ET

CBS, 9:00 p.m. ET

PBS, 9:00 p.m. ET

Showtime, 10:00 p.m. ET

David Bianculli

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