THURSDAY
JULY 6
2017

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

Showtime, 8:00 p.m. ET

After writing Being John Malkovich and the screenplays for Adaptation and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Charlie Kaufman wrote the screenplay, and co-wrote the original story, for this bizarre yet moving 2004 romantic fantasy drama. It stars Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey, playing a couple best described as ill-fated. She goes to a company to have her memories of him permanently erased – and when he finds out, he starts to react in retribution, then has what might be called second thoughts. The film’s central conceit is audacious. Its structure, and the direction by Michael Gondry, is bold. And Winslet, though it may sound oxymoronic, is unforgettable.  

 
  
 
 

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

Thursdays in July, Ronald Colman is TCM’s Star of the Month. He’s a star that may need rediscovery, as some of his most commonly known contributions to popular culture, at this point, are one step removed. He’s the actor, for example, whose voice was channeled by Don Adams when coming up with the clipped confident sound of secret agent Maxwell Smart on Get Smart. And one of Colman’s most famous early characters, a dogged detective featured in a series of movies, was name-checked in a song by the Searchers, which in turn was recorded by the Beatles and sung with great gusto by John Lennon. “Gonna walk right down that street,” goes the lyric, “like Bulldog Drummond.” But I digress. Tonight’s TCM salute begins at 8 p.m. ET with 1923’s The White Sister, a silent film in which Colman finds his destiny intertwined with that of two women – one of whom is played by Lillian Gish (pictured), one of the biggest stars of early cinema.

 
  
 
 

MGM HD, 8:05 p.m. ET

A decade ago, Vanity Fair wrote, “In many film circles, Sweet Smell’s devastating portrait of Walter Winchell is considered just as devastating as Orson Welles’ take-down of William Randolph Hearst in Citizen Kane.” In this 1957 classic, Burt Lancaster plays one of his very best roles as ruthless gossip columnist J.J. Hunsecker, the cinematic approximation of Winchell who lords over friends and foes alike – and especially over obsequious press agent Sidney Falco, played with perfect smarm and nervousness by Tony Curtis. (“Match me, Sidney!”) One noteworthy legacy of this film is when the late, great Spy magazine was in operation decades ago, one of its most vicious (but accurate) gossip columnists employed the pseudonym “J.J. Hunsecker.” Though rumored to be a reporter at the New York Times, that columnist’s true identity has, to my knowledge, yet to be confirmed. And we can rule out Mark Felt.

 
  
 
 

TCM, 12:15 a.m. ET

This first Bulldog Drummond movie, starring Ronald Coleman as the intrepid detective (think Nick Danger, played straight), was released in 1929 – and came so early after the sound era of movies was launched with 1927’s The Jazz Singer that one of its writers, Sidney Howard, has a special screenplay credit for “adapted for the talking screen by.”

 
  
 
 
 
 
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)
 
AJGBH
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 250  | Go to page: 
4986 Comments
 
 
Thanks for providing recent updates regarding the concern, I look forward to read more.
Oct 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I can see that you are an expert at your field! I am launching a website soon, and your information will be very useful for me.. Thanks for all your help and wishing you all the success in your business.
Oct 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This is my first time visit to your blog and I am very interested in the articles that you serve. Provide enough knowledge for me. Thank you for sharing useful and don't forget, keep sharing useful info
Oct 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I appreciated your work very thanks
Oct 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
https://www.newgenstravel.com/forum/topic/10473/assignment-writing-service&p=8
wow, great, I was wondering how to cure acne naturally. and found your site by google, learned a lot, now i’m a bit clear. I’ve bookmark your site and also add rss. keep us updated.
Oct 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Glad to read. Do you want help with essay? Get it right from here without burning your pocket. Know more about essay help
Oct 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Thank you for taking the time to share with us
Oct 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I am genuinely thankful to the holder of this web page who has shared this wonderful paragraph at at this place
Oct 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
You there, this is really good post here. Thanks for taking the time to post such valuable information. Quality content is what always gets the visitors coming
Oct 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
You…are…my…hero!!! I cant believe something like this exists on the internet! Its so true, so honest, and more than that you dont sound like an idiot! Finally, someone who knows how to talk about a subject without sounding like a kid who didnt get that bike he wanted for Christmas.
Oct 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
thank you for your interesting infomation
Oct 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This is also a very good post which I really enjoyed reading. It is not every day that I have the possibility to see something like this..
Oct 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Thanks for a very interesting blog. What else may I get that kind of info written in such a perfect approach? I’ve a undertaking that I am simply now operating on, and I have been at the look out for such info
Oct 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
You actually make it look so easy with your performance but I find this matter to be actually something which I think I would never comprehend. It seems too complicated and extremely broad for me. I'm looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
Oct 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I am so pleased I situated your blog site, I actually situated you by mistake, while I was taking a look at on google for another point, Anyways I am below now in addition to additionally would certainly just like to insist give thanks to for an outstanding blog post along with an all-around entertaining internet site
Oct 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Thankyou for taking the time to write this it was a great read. Good job!
Oct 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Thank you again for all the knowledge you distribute,Good post. I was very interested in the article, it's quite inspiring I should admit. I like visiting you site since I always come across interesting articles like this one.Great Job, I greatly appreciate that.Do Keep sharing! Regards
Oct 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I recently found many useful information in your website especially this blog page. Among the lots of comments on your articles. Thanks for sharing
Oct 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I truly like you're composing style, incredible data, thankyou for posting
Oct 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
That is the excellent mindset, nonetheless is just not help to make every sence whatsoever preaching about that mather. Virtually any method many thanks in addition to i had endeavor to promote your own article in to delicius nevertheless it is apparently a dilemma using your information sites can you please recheck the idea. thanks once more
Oct 13, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 250  | 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.