THURSDAY
MAY 8
2014

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

CBS, 8:00 p.m. ET

In tonight’s new episode, called “The Gorilla Dissolution,” we visit the set of Penny’s monster movie, where Penny (Kaley Cuoco) is having problems with the director (Wil Wheaton, playing himself), the whole concept of the tacky movie – and maybe even her relationship with Leonard.

 
  
 
 

Showtime, 8:00 p.m. ET

This 2013 documentary is a behind-the-scenes look at the adaptation of Green Day’s American Idiot album into a Broadway musical, with lots of input from Green Day front man Billie Joe Armstrong.  About 20 years ago, a floor-to-ceiling painting of Green Day’s Dookie album cover adorned my son Mark’s bedroom wall – so this should be a special Best Bet for him. If he reads it.

 
  
 
 

Sundance, 8:30 p.m. ET

This romantic comedy-drama movie is 25 years old now, but has plenty of elements that make it worth revisiting. One is a relatively rare sibling showcase by brothers Jeff and Beau Bridges, who play piano-playing brothers who are down on their luck, and barely getting along, until they add to their act a flashy female singer, played stunningly by Michelle Pfeiffer. Put it this way: Pfeiffer on top of a grand piano is the flashiest show-biz ornament since Liberace’s candelabra.

 
  
 
 

IFC, 10:00 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: As Marc Maron returns for Season 2 on IFC, he returns by pretending to guest star on a show from a rival network: AMC’s The Talking Dead. Except, as rivals go, the two cable networks are fairly friendly. Both are owned by AMC Networks Inc., as are Sundance and WeTV.  For a full review of the new season premiere of Maron, see Eric Gould’s Cold Light Reader.
 
  
 
 

Comedy Central, 11:00 p.m. ET

Tonight’s guest is Katie Couric – whose sense of humor, and history on TV morning and talk shows, ought to give her plenty to talk about with host Stewart, a frequent critic of both.

 
  
 
 
 
 
Read and add comments HERE for today's Best Bets!
 
 
 
 
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3695 Comments
 
 
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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,

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Mar 22, 2026
 
 
 
Rut Holmgren
Another great set of picks! My trucking partners and I share your recommendations over coffee. We rely on West Palm Beach Auto Glass Repair (https://westpalmbeachautoglassrepair.com) for vehicle service. TVWW makes the downtime worthwhile.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Birger Samuelsson
Smart TV writing for smart viewers - that's TVWW in a nutshell. I manage a motor pool and Macon Auto Glass Repair at https://autoglassrepairmacon.com/ is our go-to service provider. David Bianculli's enthusiasm is contagious.
Mar 21, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
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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.
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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.
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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!
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Frida Sundberg
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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.