THURSDAY

FEBRUARY 5

2015

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

Shout Factory TV, 12:00 a.m. ET

Another wonderful addition to the streaming TV universe begins today – and any faithful follower of TV Worth Watching should check it out as soon as possible, then prepare to lose hour after hour diving through its inventory. That’s because Shout! Factory, the packagers and distributors of some of the best, most eclectic musical collections and vintage TV series, has just gotten into the streaming business. Just check out the Shout Factory TV website home page, and look at some of the TV shows that may catch your eye, because they sure caught mine: The Ernie Kovacs Show, It’s Garry Shandling’s Show, Fridays, Route 66, Mystery Science Theater 3000. And there are movies, too. You’re welcome…

AMERICAN IDOL

Fox, 8:00 p.m. ET

Last night, the first installment from Hollywood week, front-loaded its best talent by having the early-round audition standouts called on stage to perform individually, without knowing why. It was a very effective way to generate enthusiasm quickly – but as the installment ended, things got more ruthless, and more tense, as the judges started winnowing through the remaining 100-plus contestants. That process continues tonight, as Idol works to regain its footing, and part of its audience.

THE BLACKLIST

NBC, 9:00 p.m. ET

Part 2 of 2. If you watched the Super Bowl on Sunday, and stayed tuned, you saw part one of this expanded episode of The Blacklist. (If not, you can catch up: NBC is repeating that first installment at 8 p.m. ET.) Well, here comes Part 2, with the show’s primary heroes in very serious jeopardy. Ron Perlman guest stars.

HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER

ABC, 10:00 p.m. ET

Marcia Gay Harden begins a guest-starring arc, playing Sam’s sister. She doesn’t believe her brother is guilty of murder – or on the lam, as the evidence suggests. And this puts her on a collision course with Viola Davis’ Annalise – which ought to make for some deliciously acted scenes.

FORTITUDE

Pivot, 10:00 p.m. ET

This is Episode 2 of Fortitude – and the one that turns it into more of a standard procedural series, with Stanley Tucci as the out-of-town murder investigator rubbing the locals the wrong way. But there’s a lot more going on here, and this is the episode that unveils it.

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3685 Comments

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

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Inga Henriksen

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Sigrun Lindholm

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Tyra Stromberg

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Olle Lindgren

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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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.

New From TVWW

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

Shout Factory TV, 12:00 a.m. ET

Fox, 8:00 p.m. ET

NBC, 9:00 p.m. ET

ABC, 10:00 p.m. ET

Pivot, 10:00 p.m. ET

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