FRIDAY
MARCH 8
2019

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

Netflix, 3:00 a.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: Ricky Gervais stars in this new Netflix series, and also wrote and directed it. He plays a recent widower living a morose and solitary life (except for his dog), going through the paces of visiting his ailing father (who has dementia) and working at a tiny local “free” newspaper (where he’s assigned pitifully dull feature stories). Co-stars include the endearing Ashley Jensen, from Ugly Betty and Gervais’ own Extras – and, as always, there’s a message, and a warm heart, beneath the surface of Gervais’ characters and TV series.

 
  
 
 

Netflix, 3:00 a.m. ET

MOVIE PREMIERE: Alfre Woodard stars in the title role of this new Netflix movie, playing a woman who tires of her life as a taken-for-granted one-woman support system for her three grown children, her grandchildren and others. So this “giving tree” rips up her roots and heads impulsively to Montana, where she meets new people, gets a new job, and has intermittent fantasy conversations with her dream man, Blair Underwood. The part of Blair Underwood is played by Blair Underwood. And Alfre Woodard looks just as lively and luminous as she did when she co-starred in St. Elsewhere in the 1980s. I suspect a Dorian Gray pact, or some sort of trickery like The Shadow, where she’s actually been replaced by her own granddaughter… Regardless, this is a charming little character study.

 
  
 
 

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

Jesse Pearson, who plays the Elvis-like rock star in this 1963 movie musical, didn’t get much traction out of this film, but others did. Dick Van Dyke and Janet Leigh already were stars, thanks to TV’s The Dick Van Dyke Show and the movie Psycho respectively, and Ed Sullivan, playing himself, had been a TV mainstay since 1948. But Ann-Margret, who played a Birdie-brained teen and danced with wild enthusiasm in the opening credits, stole the movie before it even got started. Bye Bye Birdie, in one memorable song, explains why Ed Sullivan was such a central cultural touchstone – and Sullivan himself, who had introduced the real Elvis Presley to middle America on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1956, reinforced his own impact in 1964, a year after Bye Bye Birdie was released, by introducing another musical act on his live TV show. What was the name of that quartet again? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah – The Beatles.
 
  
 
 

HBO, 10:00 p.m. ET

Tonight’s guests, after a week of anti-Semitism charges in Congress and presidential debate charges against Fox News, include author Noah Rothman and political commentator Michael Steele.

 
  
 
 
 
 
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)
 
NGPBY
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 145  | Go to page: 
2883 Comments
 
 
I just couldn’t depart your site prior to suggesting that I extremely enjoyed the standard information an individual provide for your visitors? Is gonna be back frequently in order to inspect new posts.
Dec 24, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Amazing post! Karaoke is a fantastic way to bond with friends and family.
Dec 23, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu licik menjalankan operasi kotor yang dibangun di atas kebohongan dan penipuan.
Dec 23, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu kelas rendah melakukan apa yang paling mereka kuasai—berbohong, menipu, dan menghilang dengan uang orang lain.
Dec 23, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Sialan para penipu ini karena telah mencuri uang dan kepercayaan orang lain.
Dec 23, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu ini pantas untuk diungkap kebohongan dan kebusukan mereka.
Dec 23, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Tidak ada yang nyata di sini. Hanya omong kosong penuh tipu daya dari orang-orang serakah.
Dec 23, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Very informative post! There is a lot of information here that can help any business get started with a successful social networking campaign.
Dec 21, 2025   |  Reply
 
Dave Bianculli
I don't know what you're smoking Ja-moke, but please pass that pipe over here!!!

ROTFLMBFFAO!!!!!!!

SEriously, we're here to talk about TV, seriously. I am the Professor Emeritus of TV.

And that is all.

Dave
Dec 21, 2025
 
 
 
Your Site is very nice, and it's very helping us this post is unique and interesting, thank you for sharing this awesome information. and visit our blog site also.
Dec 19, 2025   |  Reply
 
Dave Bianculli
your letter was perfectly fine until that last phrase.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again:

MY TV WEBSITE, THE GREATEST IN THE WORLD, IS NOT A PLACE FOR YOU TO SHILL YOUR SHITTY BLOG!!!!!

Please delete your post.

Merry Christmas,

Dave
Dec 20, 2025
 
 
 
Feedback
Korea’s online slot site rankings and slot machine game information
https://rcgormangallery.com/kr-33/
Dec 19, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
"all the time i used to read smaller articles or reviews that as well clear their motive, and
that is also happening with this post which I
am reading now."
Dec 18, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
av19
Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon every day.
Dec 18, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Pelayanan paling anjing yang pernah kami alami. Setelah uang masuk, sikap berubah total. Komplain diabaikan, solusi tidak ada, dan tanggung jawab nol besar.
Dec 17, 2025   |  Reply
 
Dave Bianculli
Hei bajingan, pergilah dan tiduri kuda yang kau tunggangi itu, lalu tinggalkan komunitas cinta dan damai yang berfokus pada TV ini.

Hormat saya,

Dave
Dec 18, 2025
 
 
 
You made some decent points there. I looked on the net to the issue and found most people may go as well as using your site.
Dec 16, 2025   |  Reply
 
Dave Bianculli
FRom your lips to GOD'S ears mother-fucka!!!!!!!

I want to see this little corner of the internet become THE go-to site for everything and anything that has to do with TV. Some of you may know that TV is my middle name. Seriously!!!!!!!!!!!!! ROTFLMBFFAO!!

Marry Chritmas,

Dave
Dec 16, 2025
 
 
 
Karakoe stands out as a truly impressive platform, offering a smooth and enjoyable experience for its users. The quality, creativity, and attention to detail are evident in every aspect, making it both reliable and engaging. Whether it’s the user-friendly design or the consistent performance, Karakoe delivers excellent value and leaves a positive, lasting impression.
Dec 14, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Your work is very good and I appreciate you and hopping for some more informative posts. Thank you for sharing great information to us.
Dec 14, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
hey! I just want to give an full-size thumbs up for the pleasant info you've got right here in this put up.
Dec 14, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
This Post is providing valuable and unique information; I know that you take a time and effort to make a awesome article
Dec 14, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Great articles and great layout. Your blog post deserves all of the positive feedback it’s been getting.
Dec 14, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
When your website or blog goes live for the first time, it is exciting. That is until you realize no one but you and your.
Dec 14, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 145  | 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.