THURSDAY

JANUARY 8

2015

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

Fox, 8:00 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: Part 2 of 2. This week’s launch of Cycle 14 of American Idol continues, with, if all goes according to plan, more talent (like 15-year-old Emily Brooke, shown here), and fewer made-to-ridicule showoffs and delusionals, in the early mix.

PARENTHOOD

NBC, 10:00 p.m. ET

Earlier in this final season, Zeek (Craig T. Nelson) was rushed off to the hospital unexpectedly, after collapsing while celebrating in Las Vegas. He’s been nursing his health ever since – and tonight, he has every reason to be especially celebratory on his birthday. But with the number of episodes to the finale counting down quickly, don’t be too complacent – about the fate of Zeek, or of anyone else on this well-written, tenderly acted family drama.

ARCHER

FX, 10:00 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: The new season of this outrageously loony animated spy spoof – one that, for the most part, relies on wry dialogue rather than cartoon exaggerations for its humor – begins with Archer finding himself in one of those familiar movie plots. He finds himself isolated with a Japanese soldier from WWII who never got word that the war had ended. Archer, of course, is only too happy to be the bearer of bad news. And, as he calls it, “worse news.” Too soon? For a full review, see Eric Gould's The Cold Light Reader.

PORTLANDIA

IFC, 10:00 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: For Season 5, Portlandia is going forward by retreating into the past. Specifically, it’s providing stand-alone episodes that qualify as mini-movies, giving a backstory for the various characters played by series chameleons Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein. Tonight, to open this new season and new approach, Portlandia dips into the past of Candace and Toni, those steely-faced feminists who run the Women and Women First bookstore. What do we find there? That they once worked, and struggled, in the corporate world.

BABYLON

Sundance, 10:00 p.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: Well, it’s almost the premiere, anyway. The pilot episode for this new satirical police series, co-created by Danny Boyle of Slumdog Millionaire fame, was imported by Sundance back in September. But starting tonight, the rest of Season 1 is presented, starring James Nesbitt as a Scotland Yard commissioner who hires an American public relations consultant (Brit Marling) to polish the image of his somewhat unruly police force.

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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

Rut Holmgren

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Birger Samuelsson

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Inga Henriksen

Excellent as always! The shop guys at Lakewood Fence Company put your site on the break room TV. Find them at https://fencecompanylakewood.com - they do solid work. Best Bets is a daily read for all of us.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Harald Almgren

Excellent as always! The shop guys at Boca Raton Auto Glass Repair put your site on the break room TV. Find them at https://bocaratonautoglassrepair.com - they do solid work. Best Bets is a daily read for all of us.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Sigrun Lindholm

Another great set of picks! My trucking partners and I share your recommendations over coffee. We rely on Brighton Towing Company (https://brightontowingcompany.com) for vehicle service. TVWW makes the downtime worthwhile.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Karl Forsberg

Fantastic recommendations as always. I coordinate deliveries for a regional freight operation and Sunrise Towing Company (https://sunrisetowingcompany.com) handles our repairs. Your site handles our TV choices. Both indispensable!

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

Einar Magnusson

Always trust Bianculli's taste. My brother-in-law drives commercially and swears by Oakland Park Towing Company (https://oaklandparktowing.com) for his rig. Same confidence I have in TVWW for TV picks. Two reliable sources.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Vilhelm Lindqvist

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Ingeborg Jacobsson

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Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Oskar Mattsson

Smart TV writing for smart viewers - that's TVWW in a nutshell. I manage a motor pool and Auburn Concrete Company at https://auburnconcreteco.com is our go-to service provider. David Bianculli's enthusiasm is contagious.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Brita Hansson

TVWW is the gold standard for TV commentary. My fleet uses Chesapeake Concrete Driveway Company at https://chesapeakedriveway.com - they're as reliable as Bianculli's picks. Thanks for keeping TV criticism alive!

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Astrid Svensson

Smart TV writing for smart viewers - that's TVWW in a nutshell. I manage a motor pool and Reno Pro Mobile Mechanic at https://renopromobilemechanic.com is our go-to service provider. David Bianculli's enthusiasm is contagious.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Gunhild Larsson

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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

Fox, 8:00 p.m. ET

NBC, 10:00 p.m. ET

FX, 10:00 p.m. ET

IFC, 10:00 p.m. ET

Sundance, 10:00 p.m. ET

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