THURSDAY
JULY 5
2012

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

Encore, 8:00 p.m. ET

This is the golden anniversary of the James Bond movie franchise, which is still going strong. Sean Connery starred as 007 in this first cinematic adaptation of an Ian Fleming novel, and the majority of the reason the Bond phenomenon caught on was due to his rugged appeal and cool, ranging on cold, reactions under fire, as well as under the sheets. But give some credit, too, to the original “Bond girl,” back when calling them girls was unquestionably accepted. Playing the role of Honey Ryder, and first seen emerging from the ocean wearing a bikini and sporting a knife, was Ursula Andress.

 
  
 
 

Flix, 8:00 p.m. ET

John Cassavetes wrote and directed this 1974 character study, partly improvised, about a wife and mother who fears she’s going mad, and the husband who tries to cope with her mental instability. Gena Rowlands and Peter Falk star – and they’re so good, and Cassavetes’ camerawork so mobile and fluid, much of this film seems more like a documentary.

 
  
 
 

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

Spike Lee is tonight’s guest programmer, and he’s selected a roster of films that share a certain intensity. His evening begins with this 1951 Billy Wilder film, exposing the cynicism, manipulation and competitiveness of broadcast news back when the reigning news medium was radio. Kirk Douglas stars as a reporter who capitalizes on a mine cave-in to grab the spotlight for himself as well. Other Lee selections include 1955’s The Night of the Hunter at 10 p.m. ET, 1954’s On the Waterfront at 11:45 p.m. ET, and the capper, which turns out to be scheduled very serendipitously indeed. (See today’s final BEST BETS entry.)

 
  
 
 

FX, 10:30 p.m. ET

Tonight’s hilarious episode has Louie (Louis C.K.) accepting a dinner invitation at a friend’s house, only to arrive and learn he’s been set up with an unofficial blind date. She’s played by Melissa Leo, and her character takes an instant dislike to Louie, and isn’t shy about saying what she thinks. But oddly, for the outspoken Louie, that doesn’t necessarily make her less attractive. Their chemistry is volatile, unpredictable and hilarious – and so is this episode.

 
  
 
 

TCM, 1:45 a.m. ET

Spike Lee’s final choice as tonight’s TCM guest programmer, selected months ago, has special resonance this week. It’s the 1957 movie that made a star of Andy Griffith, who died Tuesday. Elia Kazan directed this film, released three years before The Andy Griith Show. It tells of an aimless, unknown folksinger – Larry “Lonesome” Rhodes, played by Griffith – who becomes a national singing and TV star, and reacts to fame less than graciously. The screenplay was written by Budd Schulberg, whose ability to predict, and comment cynically upon, the future of television makes this a worthy precursor of Paddy Chayefsky’s Network. Co-stars include Patricia Neal, Lee Remick and Walter Matthau.

 
  
 
 

AMC, 1:00 p.m. ET

The Walking Dead walk down memory lane – and it’s a slow, zombie-like walk – continues today with Season 2, repeated in its entirety, beginning with the gang’s exodus from Atlanta. If you’re looking for an entertaining way to spend the day waching TV, here’s a gripping one.
 
  
 
 

AMC, 1:00 p.m. ET

The Walking Dead walk down memory lane – and it’s a slow, zombie-like walk – continues today with Season 2, repeated in its entirety, beginning with the gang’s exodus from Atlanta. If you’re looking for an entertaining way to spend the day waching TV, here’s a gripping one.
 
  
 
 
 
 
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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.