FRIDAY

MARCH 6

2015

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

Netflix, 3:00 a.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: Ellie Kemper, who played Erin on NBC’s The Office, brings her effervescent eccentricity to another quirky sitcom – this time on Netflix, in the new comedy from Tina Fey and producing partner Robert Carlock. This time, she’s the star, playing one of several women held underground for more than a decade in the doomsday bunker of a deluded cult leader. When she surfaces, she decides to make her way in New York City, very quickly finding both a roommate and an employer (Tituss Burgess and Jane Krakowski, respectively, both from 30 Rock). But things get more challenging almost instantly, wherein lies the humor. And, because this is Netflix, an entire season of that humor is unspooled at once, and available whenever you want to watch. For my review on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross, visit the Fresh Air website.

MALEFICENT

Starz!, 8:00 p.m. ET

It’s a good period for the three-dimensional reenactment of classic Disney characters and films. The new live-action remake of Cinderella, directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Lily James from Downton Abbey in the title role and Cate Blanchett as the wicked stepmother, has gotten strong reviews. Three classic Disney villainesses, including Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, currently are populating ABC’s Once Upon a Time. And last year, Angelina Jolie starred in the stylistic Maleficent, exploring the origins of that ultimately wicked character. All of these projects, not at all coincidentally, come from Disney – which, after all this time, has learned to use its powers for evil as well as good.

ARGO

FX, 9:00 p.m. ET

Made in 2012, this fact-based movie revealed the amazing, formerly top-secret rescue of captives during the Iranian hostage crisis. Ben Affleck stars as the extractor who pushes an extremely unorthodox mission plan – and John Goodman, and Alan Arkin play two of the particularly colorful and imaginative Hollywood types who help him.

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER

HBO, 10:00 p.m. ET

This week’s installment, given its timing and guests, can’t help but be worth watching. Last week the show was on hiatus, so Bill Maher has two weeks of volatile headlines to explore. And tonight, Maher’s guests include David Axelrod, John Ridley (pictured), Matt Taibbi – who, respectively, have a provocative new book, a provocative new TV series, and the same old scrappy journalistic attitude.

VICE

HBO, 11:00 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: Last week, Vice preceded its new season with a one-hour special examining experimental new treatments that, according to some doctors, may eradicate cancer in our lifetimes. It was an extremely persuasive, informative, and encouraging, report – and set the stage for tonight’s Season 3 premiere episode, which includes a report on “Our Rising Oceans.” But will reports such as this one persuade everyone that climate change can no longer be denied? The chance of that happening, I fear, doesn’t stand a snowball’s chance in Congress…

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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.

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BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

Netflix, 3:00 a.m. ET

Starz!, 8:00 p.m. ET

FX, 9:00 p.m. ET

HBO, 10:00 p.m. ET

HBO, 11:00 p.m. ET

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