THURSDAY

APRIL 9

2015

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

2015 MASTERS GOLF TOURNAMENT

ESPN, 3:00 p.m. ET

Some will tune in hoping for a fairy-tale-type comeback. Some will tune in expecting the latest in an increasing series of poor shots and poorer decisions. But there’s no denying that when Tiger Woods returns to tournament play today in the first round of the 2015 Masters at Augusta, enough people will tune in for viewership to be very high. For more, including when Woods tees off today, see Gerald Jordan’s Crossing Jordan.

THE BIG BANG THEORY

CBS, 8:00 p.m. ET

In tonight’s new episode, Howard reunites with his half-brother – a newly introduced character played by Matt Bennett, from Victorious and iCarly. Also, and perhaps more shockingly, Amy talks Sheldon into a sleepover.

AMERICAN CRIME

ABC, 10:00 p.m. ET

There’s a murder suspect on the loose in this week’s episode – which infuriates Russ (Timothy Hutton), who wonders if the person who killed his son may be coming for him, or his family, next.

THE COMEDIANS

FX, 10:00 p.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: I love Billy Crystal, and thought Josh Gad was hilarious on Broadway in The Book of Mormon, but there’s something about this new series, in which they play exaggerated versions of themselves forced to work together on a new TV show, that doesn’t gel – at least not in the first eight episodes provided for preview. There are moments, though, including their first meeting in tonight’s premiere, that hit the right tone, and make you want to root for them to right this ship in time, with better scripts and cleverer, subtler insights. For sample clips, and my full review on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross, see the Fresh Air website.

LIP SYNC BATTLE

Spike, 10:00 p.m. ET

After watching last week’s two-part premiere, I thought I already had seen plenty of this new spinoff competition series from Jimmy Fallon and company, and didn’t need to see any more. But then, this week’s contest was announced, with Anne Hathaway vs. Emily Blunt. Hathaway, who sang live on film rather than lip synch when she starred in Les Miserables, throws down the gauntlet by performing – without using her own voice – Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” – adopting many of the moves and poses from the singer’s video. To be Blunt, I don’t know how that can be topped… but it’s worth checking out to see.

LOUIE

FX, 10:30 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: Season 5 of Louie begins with a laugh-out-loud scene, and that’s even before the opening credits (yes, the old credits and music theme are back). FX provided four episodes for preview, and all four all smart little mini-movies. For a full TVWW review, see Eric Gould's The Cold Light Reader. For a sample clip, and my full review on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross, see the Fresh Air website.

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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

ESPN, 3:00 p.m. ET

CBS, 8:00 p.m. ET

ABC, 10:00 p.m. ET

FX, 10:00 p.m. ET

Spike, 10:00 p.m. ET

FX, 10:30 p.m. ET

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