MONDAY
SEPTEMBER 8
2014

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

CBS, 5:00 p.m. ET

A Monday afternoon men’s final at the U.S. Open is unusual enough – but the players vying for the title this year are even more so. It’s the first time in a long time, almost a decade, that the final is being played by someone outside of the men’s game’s so-called “Big Four” – Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray. It’s the first time that the U.S. Open men’s final will be played by two double-digit seeds: No. 10 Kei Nishikori of Japan (pictured) and No. 14 Marin Cilic of Croatia – and it’s the first time ever for an Asian male player to reach a Grand Slam final.

 
  
 
 

ESPN, 7:00 p.m. ET

This week, more NFL evening games will be played in prime time, I believe, than at any time in TV history. There’s already been one game last night on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. And in three days CBS launches the official start of Thursday Night Football. Meanwhile, tonight, ESPN presents the flagship evening NFL game it inherited long ago from ABC, Monday Night Football, with a rare doubleheader event. At 7 p.m. ET, it’s the New York Giants vs. the Detroit Lions. Then, at 10:15 p.m. ET, it’s the San Diego Chargers vs. the Arizona Cardinals. That’s four night games over a five-night stretch, which I suspect is a record.

 
  
 
 

HBO, 9:00 p.m. ET

Former firefighter Steve Buscemi, currently starring in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, interviews his old firehouse buddies, and others, in this fond salute to New York firemen, and firewomen. I’ve heard stories for years about how Buscemi, avoiding publicity and wanting only to help, rejoined his old Engine 55 company to show up at Ground Zero the day after 9/11. This documentary, directed by Liz Garbus, confirms that, and even includes eerie footage shot with Buscemi’s own video camera – footage showing, among other things, handwritten messages traced in the ash-white dust covering all surfaces in the surviving structures. The title A Good Job, it turns out, describes “a really tough fire” – and the details of the importance of the firehouse kitchen means that Denis Leary, in his FX series Rescue Me, got it right. But that was fiction. This new documentary, shown a few days before the anniversary of 9/11, is fact.

 
  
 
 

PBS, 10:00 p.m. ET

The point of view in tonight’s new POV, titled The Genius of Marian, is an intimate look at a family sadly familiar with Alzheimer’s. Marian Williams Steele, the renowned artist, died from Alzheimer’s in 2001. Her daughter, Pam White, set to work on a book about her mother, tentatively titled The Genius of Marian, then was stricken by Alzheimer’s herself. Her son Banker White, one of Pam’s three children – portrayed, along with his mother, Pam, in the Marian Steele watercolor shown here – teamed with his wife, Anna Fitch, to produce this documentary. The goal: to examine how Alzheimer’s affects not only its victims, but the surrounding family members.  Check local listings.

 
  
 
 

Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m. ET

Tonight’s guest: John Lithgow, whose new film is Love Is Strange, and who’s done double duty on the Broadway stage, having just played King Lear in Central Park, and preparing to play Tobias in A Delicate Balance, which begins previews next month. Colbert’s best guests are the ones who get, and can react to and keep up with, his sense of humor. That makes Lithgow an ideal guest, so stay tuned.

 
  
 
 
 
 
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)
 
MTXEA
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 268  | Go to page: 
5353 Comments
 
 
I read your post and I found it amazing! thank
Nov 10, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Great post i must say and thanks for the information. Education is definitely a sticky subject. However, is still among the leading topics of our time. I appreciate your post and look forward to more.
Nov 10, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Admiring the time and effort you put into your blog and detailed information you offer!.
Nov 10, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I was truly thankful for the useful info on this fantastic subject along with similarly prepare for much more terrific messages. Many thanks a lot for valuing this refinement write-up with me. I am valuing it significantly! Preparing for an additional excellent article
Nov 10, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
"This issue is currently being discussed quite actively across several online forums and communities, with many people jumping in to share their own perspectives."
Nov 10, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Thank you for some other informative blog. Where else could I get that type of information written in such an ideal means? I have a mission that I’m just now working on, and I have been at the look out for such information.
Nov 9, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Amazing website sir. A great information given by you in this blog. It really informative and very helpful. Thank you.
Nov 7, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
That is certainly on top of that a superb send i always basically liked mastering. It may not be everyday that any of us store the chance to determine the one thing.
Nov 7, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This article gives the light in which we can observe the reality. This is very nice one and gives indepth information. Thanks for this nice article.
Nov 5, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing blog that understand the value. Im glad to have found this post as its such an interesting one! I am always on the lookout for quality posts and articles so i suppose im lucky to have found this! I hope you will be adding more in the future...
Nov 5, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Glad to chat your blog, I seem to be forward to more reliable articles and I think we all wish to thank so many good articles, blog to share with us
Nov 5, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I am so pleased I situated your blog site, I actually situated you by mistake, while I was taking a look at on google for another point, Anyways I am below now in addition to additionally would certainly just like to insist give thanks to for an outstanding blog post along with an all-around entertaining internet site
Nov 5, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This is a great post. I like this topic.This site has lots of advantage.I found many interesting things from this site. It helps me in many ways.Thanks for posting this again
Nov 5, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Sweet internet site , super pattern , real clean and employ genial .
Nov 5, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon. Big thanks for the useful info
Nov 5, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. Thanks..
Nov 5, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Really amazing post. I just stumbled beside your blog. I will definitely suggest your blog to all of my friends. Thanks for sharing this valuable information for free
Nov 5, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I am definitely enjoying your website. You definitely have some great insight and great stories.
Nov 5, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This is a great inspiring article.I am pretty much pleased with your good work.You put really very helpful information. Keep it up. Keep blogging. Looking to reading your next pos
Nov 5, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Great knowledge, do anyone mind merely reference back to it
Nov 5, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 268  | 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.