SEASON FINALE: Last weeks episode, which featured Laurie Metcalf and Christine Baranski as the respective mothers of Sheldon and Leonard, was strong enough to have been a season finale. But the Big Bang writers had one more explosion up their sleeves: Tonight, Sheldon, in order to deflect attention from his five-year “anniversary” with Amy, pushes Leonard and Penny to settle on a date for their wedding.
This is a good episode with which to give this series a second chance: Josh (Josh Gad) thinks he has a great shot at a movie role, and he isn’t exactly circumspect about his chances or his behavior. Billy (Billy Crystal), of course, doesn’t take this new attitude well – and he wasn’t even too fond of Josh’s old attitude. I like the performers here, and just keep hoping for the writing to get a little sharper.
In tonight’s episode, Louie takes daughter Jane (Ursula Parker) to the doctor. I love when Jane gets a scene now and then: When she pulled out her violin for an unexpected duet with Louie’s non-English-speaking girlfriend, it turned out to be my favorite moment yet from the series – and the direction, and Louie’s reactions, all added to the immediacy and believability of the moment. In the doctor’s office, who knows what can happen?
Jon Stewart, Like David Letterman, is on his exit lap, and pretty much can do, and is doing, whatever he wants. So tonight, his guests are one of his favored musical acts: Mumford & Sons.
David Letterman, like Jon Stewart, is on his exit lap, and pretty much can do, and is doing, whatever he wants. So tonight, his guests include one of his favorite comic writers and actresses: Tina Fey.
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.