SATURDAY

FEBRUARY 7

2015

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

HBO, 8:00 p.m. ET

This 2014 Tom Cruise sci-fi film, co-starring Emily Blunt, is the action-movie equivalent of Groundhog Day: The characters have to relive a certain point in time until and unless they learn their lesson – in this case, how to defeat a deadly alien enemy. If you want to enhance the feeling, record this movie before watching it, then stop halfway through and go back to the beginning. Rinse and repeat.

THE PHILADELPHIA STORY

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

As cinematic romantic triangles go, they don’t get much better than this. In this 1940 romantic comedy, directed by George Cukor, Katharine Hepburn is the fiancé caught between two men – and Cary Grant and James Stewart play the men. Oh, and neither of those men is her husband-to-be (played by John Howard), so technically, this is a comedy about a romantic rectangle.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE VINTAGE

NBC, 10:00 p.m. ET

Next Sunday, in prime time, Saturday Night Live will present a live, star-studded special honoring the show’s 40 seasons. Meanwhile, tonight in prime time, it repeats a vintage episode with at least one classic bit. It’s the Oct. 27, 1990 episode with guest host Patrick Swayze, and includes the sketch in which Swayze and repertory member Chris Farley portray rival male-stripper finalists at a Chippendales audition.

HERE COMES MR. JORDAN

TCM, 10:00 p.m. ET

This 1941 comedy is about a heavyweight boxer (Robert Montgomery) who dies a very untimely death – so untimely that it wasn’t supposed to occur, which results in him being reincarnated in the body of a recently deceased multi-millionaire. If the plot sounds familiar, maybe that’s because Warren Beatty remade it as Heaven Can Wait in 1978, casting himself in the starring role, and changing the athlete from boxer to pro quarterback.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

NBC, 11:29 p.m. ET

Because everyone at SNL is readying for next week’s prime-time anniversary celebration, tonight’s SNL is a rerun – of last year’s show starring the very talented Amy Adams.

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3685 Comments

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

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Birger Samuelsson

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Inga Henriksen

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Sigrun Lindholm

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Karl Forsberg

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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

Tyra Stromberg

Loyal reader checking in! I'm in freight logistics and Lauderhill Towing Company (https://lauderhilltowing.com) keeps our trucks roadworthy. Your Best Bets column keeps our break room lively. Much appreciated.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Olle Lindgren

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Vilhelm Lindqvist

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Oskar Mattsson

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Astrid Svensson

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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TVWW is the gold standard for TV commentary. My fleet uses Aurora Auto Glass Repair at https://auroraautoglassrepair.net/ - they're as reliable as Bianculli's picks. Thanks for keeping TV criticism alive!

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

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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

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