TUESDAY

MAY 6

2014

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

ABC, 8:00 p.m. ET

This week the surviving S.H.I.E.L.D. agents are united – at least in the knowledge that they were betrayed by Ward. Or were they? This series has served up enough double agents, so effectively, that the possibility of a triple agent isn’t out of the realm of possibility. Meanwhile, Coulson and Melinda (Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen) go undercover to get closer to enemy origanization H.Y.D.R.A. – calling back to the comic book era when acronyms were C.O.O.L. (Clever Objects Of Levity).

PIONEERS OF TELEVISION

PBS, 8:00 p.m. ET

I love the subject of this series, but continue to be painfully frustrated by its superficial execution. The new interviews with some of TV pioneers make the series worth watching, but these are interspersed with appearances by minor players who a) said yes to the interview request and b) are still alive. Last week’s treatment of Amos ’n’ Andy was shamefully uninformed, and uninformative, for a PBS documentary series. This week, the series concludes its season by looking at “Acting Funny” – including a visit with one of TV’s true greats, Bob Newhart. Check local listings.

FROM DUSK TILL DAWN: THE SERIES

El Rey, 9:00 p.m. ET

Tonight is episode eight of this 10-part series, which already has been renewed for a second season. This current story line, though, would seem to be on track to finish this season, as most of the characters venture deeper into the sinister snake-vampire temple, while their leader, Eiza Gonzalez, sets her sights squarely on the unstable Richie (Zane Holtz).

FARGO

FX, 10:00 p.m. ET

Tonight’s episode four of Fargo was the last one sent out for preview by FX – and kept up the impressive streak in which each installment was even better than the one before. In particular in this episode, both Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman, in their respective roles, get to shine by playing markedly against their established characters. Freeman, by being more forceful and menacing – and Thornton, by being comically less so. But for a very good, and sly, reason…

THE COLBERT REPORT

Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m. ET

I have a feeling tonight’s interview segment could be truly outrageous, because Stephen Colbert is at his very best when his guests are as sharp, and fast, as he is. Tonight’s guest: Bette Midler.

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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

ABC, 8:00 p.m. ET

PBS, 8:00 p.m. ET

El Rey, 9:00 p.m. ET

FX, 10:00 p.m. ET

Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m. ET

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