THURSDAY
JUNE 5
2014

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

Esquire, 8:00 p.m. ET

This 1976 movie arrived when I was a graduate school student, studying both journalism and education. After the excitement and idealism brilliantly presented in this film version of the Washington Post Watergate reporting by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, journalism won – at least for a few decades. Alan J. Pakula directed, William Goldman wrote the screenplay, and Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman played the roles of the reporters, who did all this digging without either cellphones or computers. What a movie. And what supporting performances, from Hal Holbrook and Jason Robards to Jane Alexander and Stephen Collins.

 
  
 
 

ABC, 9:00 p.m. ET

The Miami Heat are here again – and so are the San Antonio Spurs, in a rematch of last year’s battle, which the Heat won in seven games. This time, Miami is going for a three-peat – and if that’s accomplished, it’ll be the first time since the 2002 Los Angeles Lakers.

 
  
 
 

CNN, 9:00 p.m. ET

Part 2. I don’t have to offer any disclaimers this time, because I’m not in this hour. It’s called World on the Brink, and looks at the white-hot events of the Bay of Pigs invasion and  Cuban Missile Crisis, with President John F. Kennedy and his brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, staring down the growling Soviet dogs of war.

 
  
 
 

IFC, 10:00 p.m. ET

It’s a tough week for poor Mark Maron: His girlfriend is leaving for good, and his cat Boomer is missing. Guess which one ends up bothering him more.

 
  
 
 

Comedy Central, 11:00 p.m. ET

Tom Cruise has been here before (pictured), to promote his most recent movie, Oblivion. That’s when we found out Tom Cruise and Jon Stewart were the same age. Now Cruise is back, to promote Edge of Tomorrow, and who knows what we’ll learn this time.

 
  
 
 
 
 
Read and add comments HERE for today's Best Bets!
 
 
 
 
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3694 Comments
 
 
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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
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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
 
 
Viggo Lundqvist
TV Worth Watching has guided my viewing habits for years. My dispatcher uses Lafayette Auto Glass Repair at https://lafayetteautoglassrepair.com for fleet repairs and turned me onto this site. Two great recommendations!
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.