FRIDAY

SEPTEMBER 5

2014

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

2014 U.S. OPEN TENNIS

CBS, 12:30 p.m. ET

The women’s semifinals are played today, and there’s quite a contrast in both styles and track records. The first match, scheduled to start after 1:30 p.m. ET, pits unseeded Peng Shuai of China vs. No. 10 seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark. Neither has yet won a major. After that, the other semifinal match pits No. 17 seed Ekaterina Malarova of Russia – who hasn’t won a tennis major yet, either – against No. 1 seed Serena Williams. Williams, so far, has won 17 of them. Expect this to be on the path to 18.

STAND UP TO CANCER

Various Networks, 8:00 p.m. ET

This annual TV fundraising marathon occupies only an hour of TV time, yet it’s spread across more than 25 different television networks, including the four major broadcast networks – ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox – as well as such outlets as ABC Family, Bravo, E!, Encore, FXM, HBO, Lifetime Movie Network, MLB, National Geographic, Showtime, Starz!, TNT and VH1. Katie Couric hosts, and scheduled performers for this live showcase include The Who, and celebrity appearances are virtually nonstop.

BABY FACE

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

Many Baby Boomers, such as myself, came of age at a time when we were introduced to Barbra Stanwyck as the tough matriarch on the prime-time Sixties Western The Big Valley. But once we did our homework, and started looking at old movies, going back more than three decades’ worth of Stanwyck’s films was nothing short of revelatory. Here she is, for example, way back in 1933, playing a shrewd and sexy woman who decides to use her charms to shoot her way up the social ladder – and finds it almost depressingly easy.

SAVING MR. BANKS

Starz!, 9:00 p.m. ET

This delightful, fact-based 2013 movie stars Emma Thompson as the persnickety British writer P.L. Travers, author of Mary Poppins, and Tom Hanks as Walt Disney, the Hollywood filmmaker determined to bring her novel to the big screen. It was not an easy sell – but certainly makes this light-hearted film easy to watch. It goes down easily – no spoonfuls of sugar required.

THE KNICK

Cinemax, 10:00 p.m. ET

This episode, the fourth in the series, is the last one provided to critics for advance review – and it’s the best of the bunch, bringing simmering conflicts to a boil, and also making the most of following the post-op care in the case of a particularly gruesome facial reconstruction medical procedure. You’ll know it when you see it – and I haven’t forgotten it since.

<< 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:

3694 Comments

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

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

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

CBS, 12:30 p.m. ET

Various Networks, 8:00 p.m. ET

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

Starz!, 9:00 p.m. ET

Cinemax, 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