MONDAY

MARCH 5

2018

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET

The new cycle of The Voice continues, with week two of the Blind Auditions stage, where contestants are judged on their vocal abilities alone. This is a contest Kelly Clarkson would have won in a short American Idol minute – and she won that first series competition, and now is on board as a judge, fighting alongside Blake Shelton, Alicia Keys and Adam Levine, to amass the best team of singers and emerge with the best performer overall. And even though Clarkson is a rookie as a U.S. Voice judge, and works the same side of the talented-and-empathic street as Keys, I like Clarkson’s chances.

CLEOPATRA

Smithsonian, 8:00 p.m. ET

MINISERIES PREMIERE: This new Smithsonian documentary series looks at one of the most famous leaders in history: Egyptian ruler Cleopatra, who was born into the royal family in 68 B.C. The pharaoh appointed her the next ruler of Egypt, then died shortly thereafter, leaving Cleo as a literal teenage queen. This first installment, “Blood and Betrayal,” covers the circumstances of her birth and her sudden ascent to power. It could have begun with her famous death scene and told her story in flashbacks, but that approach would have been asp backwards.

IZOMBIE

CW, 9:00 p.m. ET

Tonight’s new episode, the second installment of Season 4, is called “Blue Bloody,” and has Liv (Rose McIver) ingesting the brains, and taking on the personality, of a wealthy dowager. In accordance with the phrase “You’re only as old as you feel,” this episode will have Liv feeling very old indeed.

GOOD GIRLS

NBC, 10:00 p.m. ET

This is the second episode of this new NBC series, which I wish were better, because Christina Hendricks (Mad Men, Another Period), Mae Whitman (pictured, from Parenthood) and Retta (Parks and Recreation) are all very good, entertaining actresses. But the plot of this show careers wildly between its comic aspects (at the supermarket) and its allegedly serious ones (as in tonight, when the ladies, having committed one criminal act already, are forced to become mules and carry something illegal across the border.

<< PREVIOUS | NEXT >>

Read and add comments HERE for today's Best Bets!

Leave a Comment: (No HTML, 1000 chars max)

Name (required)

Email (required) (will not be published)


Type in the verification word shown on the image.

Page: 1 of 185 | Go to page:

3695 Comments

???????

Such a very useful article. Very interesting to read this article. I would like to thank you for the efforts you had made for writing this awesome article.

Mar 26, 2026 | Reply

Victory Foods OEM

Bianculli’s curation effectively balances nostalgia with timely cultural markers, especially highlighting the ironic origins of Aquaman alongside the poignant Morrison tribute. https://victoryfoodscn.com

Mar 25, 2026 | Reply

Nvidia DGX H100 Cost

This specific is generally clearly basic and in addition exceptional truth alongside without a doubt reasonable and besides in fact valuable My business is

Mar 24, 2026 | Reply

Pad-mount transformer

With our trusted and highly trained shipping professionals ready to answer all of your shipping questions,

Mar 24, 2026 | Reply

PBN murah

Great survey, I'm sure you're getting a great response

Mar 24, 2026 | Reply

?????

Even after using several ways to increase WordPress speed it was difficult to score high on Google Speed Test

Mar 24, 2026 | Reply

?? ????

This specific is generally clearly basic and in addition exceptional truth alongside without a doubt reasonable and besides in fact valuable My business is

Mar 24, 2026 | Reply

??? ??

It is a good site post without fail. Not too many people would actually, the way you just did. I am impressed that there is so much information about this subject that has been uncovered and you’ve defeated yourself this time, with so much quality. Good Works!

Mar 24, 2026 | Reply

Pornografi Pemerintah Indo

Penipu berkualitas rendah tanpa integritas dan penuh kebohongan.

Mar 24, 2026 | Reply

Pornografi mesum

Para penipu yang memalukan memangsa orang-orang dengan klaim palsu dan kebohongan.

Mar 24, 2026 | Reply

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

Another great set of picks! My trucking partners and I share your recommendations over coffee. We rely on West Palm Beach Auto Glass Repair (https://westpalmbeachautoglassrepair.com) for vehicle service. TVWW makes the downtime worthwhile.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Birger Samuelsson

Smart TV writing for smart viewers - that's TVWW in a nutshell. I manage a motor pool and Macon Auto Glass Repair at https://autoglassrepairmacon.com/ is our go-to service provider. David Bianculli's enthusiasm is contagious.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Inga Henriksen

Excellent as always! The shop guys at Lakewood Fence Company put your site on the break room TV. Find them at https://fencecompanylakewood.com - they do solid work. Best Bets is a daily read for all of us.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Harald Almgren

Excellent as always! The shop guys at Boca Raton Auto Glass Repair put your site on the break room TV. Find them at https://bocaratonautoglassrepair.com - they do solid work. Best Bets is a daily read for all of us.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Sigrun Lindholm

Another great set of picks! My trucking partners and I share your recommendations over coffee. We rely on Brighton Towing Company (https://brightontowingcompany.com) for vehicle service. TVWW makes the downtime worthwhile.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Karl Forsberg

Fantastic recommendations as always. I coordinate deliveries for a regional freight operation and Sunrise Towing Company (https://sunrisetowingcompany.com) handles our repairs. Your site handles our TV choices. Both indispensable!

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

Page: 1 of 185 | Go to page:

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

NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET

Smithsonian, 8:00 p.m. ET

CW, 9:00 p.m. ET

NBC, 10:00 p.m. ET

David Bianculli

PBS' 'Frontline’ Examines Pension Promises and — Spoiler Alert — Finds the Math Doesn’t Add Up

The Decadence of ‘Versailles’ Comes to Ovation

Prescribing Mamie Gummer in 'Emily Owens, M.D.'

Looking for a Free Ride? HBO Can Deliver

'Pass the Biscuits' Part of the Hatfield-McCoy Pop-Culture Legacy