MONDAY

JANUARY 4

2016

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

AMC, 5:00 p.m. ET

With Creed, the latest chapter in the Rocky saga, actually getting some talk of being in Oscar contention, AMC is riding the wave by presenting a triple feature of the first three Rocky films, all starring, and written by, Sylvester Stallone. The triple treat starts at 5 p.m. ET, with the original Rocky movie in 1976 – which won the Academy Award as Best Picture that year. Which films did it knock to the canvas? Taxi Driver, Network, All the President’s Men, and Bound for Glory. Unbelievable, and every bit an underdog story as Rocky itself. Completing the Rocky road: 1979’s Rocky II at 8 p.m. ET, followed by 1982’s Rocky III at 10:30 p.m. ET.

SUPERGIRL

CBS, 8:00 p.m. ET

MIDSEASON PREMIERE: As the story of Supergirl is rejoined, Astra (Laura Benanti), the evil relative of Supergirl’s, is in custody at the DEO, kept prisoner by kryptonite cuffs. But there are other Phantom Zone escapees who are out to free her – and tonight, they embark on a plan to do just that. Melissa Benoist stars.

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

This 1943 movie, set during the Spanish Civil War, stars Gary Cooper as Ernest Hemingway’s American hero, fighting in a foreign war. It also stars Ingrid Bergman, co-starring in her second war movie in as many years. The year before, in 1942, she had appeared, in a drama about WWII, in a little film called Casablanca.

TELENOVELA

NBC, 8:30 p.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: After a series of sneak previews, this NBC series – so much better than its equally new lead-in, Superstore – begins its run officially, with an episode called “The Kiss.” Zachary Levi, doing double duty on NBC this season on Heroes Reborn, continues his recurring role here as James McMahon. Eva Longoria stars.

INDEPENDENT LENS: “CHUCK NORRIS VS. COMMUNISM”

PBS, 10:00 p.m. ET

Ilinca Calugareanu’s documentary explains how Hollywood movies, smuggled into Romania on bootleg VHS tapes, helped give rebellious citizens not only a few hours of entertainment, but sometimes an encouragement to rebel and revolt. Check local listings.

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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

AMC, 5:00 p.m. ET

CBS, 8:00 p.m. ET

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

NBC, 8:30 p.m. ET

PBS, 10:00 p.m. ET

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