SATURDAY

APRIL 9

2016

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

PBS, 8:00 p.m. ET

Part 4. This installment, focusing on the years 1929-35, is set during the first years of the Depression – bad times for everyday people, but wonderful times for jazz. Especially jazz recordings, which began to come into their own. Check local listings.

THE EIGHTIES: "RAISED ON TELEVISION"

CNN, 8:00 p.m. ET

This is a repeat of the two-hour opener of The Eighties, which launched last week with an episode all about television. I’m in it, and advised on it, and last Thursday, when it premiered, I finally saw it. And liked it, despite my own presence it in. So to all my friends and relatives who complain that I never give warning when I’m going to pop up on TV (which, believe me, is a rarity) – here you go. Consider yourself forewarned. And you loyal TVWW readers, since I did mention it here last Thursday when it premiered, consider yourselves, I guess, fivewarned.

NOTHING LEFT UNSAID: GLORIA VANDERBILT & ANDERSON COOPER

HBO, 9:00 p.m. ET

Usually, when Anderson Cooper is interviewing someone, he’s revealing a lot more about his subject than he is about himself. Not this time. Not when the person he’s interviewing is his mother, and not when his mother was, for a brief time, one of the more famous people of the early 20^th century: the “Poor Little Rich Girl” at the heart of a bitter custody fight between her wealthy and high-profile parents. So when he interviews her – or talks to her, really – we learn a lot about both.

OUTLANDER

Starz!, 9:00 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: I see England, I see France. I see that this time-travel romance series is back for another season, and moving to a new and more glamorous setting. See David Hinckley’s All Along the Watchtower for a full review, and for an interview with the show’s star, Caitriona Balfe.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

NBC, 11:29 p.m. ET

Russell Crowe is the guest host, and Margo Price is the musical guest. I think that’s the way you spell her name – let me check. Yep. The Price is right.

<< PREVIOUS | NEXT >>

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Email (required) (will not be published)


Type in the verification word shown on the image.

Page: 1 of 185 | Go to page:

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

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,

Dave

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

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

Quality criticism is rare and Bianculli delivers every time. I run trucks for a living and Framingham Towing Company (https://towingframingham.com) handles our maintenance. Your site handles my entertainment. Both essential.

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

Loyal reader checking in! I'm in freight logistics and Arlington Concrete Company (https://arlingtonconcretecompany.com) keeps our trucks roadworthy. Your Best Bets column keeps our break room lively. Much appreciated.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Ingeborg Jacobsson

Been following TVWW since my nephew showed me this site years ago. He drives for a freight company and uses Opelika Towing Company (https://opelikatowing.com) for repairs. Your recommendations are his off-hours staple.

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

TVWW is the gold standard for TV commentary. My fleet uses Aurora Auto Glass Repair at https://auroraautoglassrepair.net/ - they're as reliable as Bianculli's picks. Thanks for keeping TV criticism alive!

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Page: 1 of 185 | 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.

New From TVWW

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

PBS, 8:00 p.m. ET

CNN, 8:00 p.m. ET

HBO, 9:00 p.m. ET

Starz!, 9:00 p.m. ET

NBC, 11:29 p.m. ET

David Bianculli

PBS' 'Frontline’ Examines Pension Promises and — Spoiler Alert — Finds the Math Doesn’t Add Up

The Decadence of ‘Versailles’ Comes to Ovation

Prescribing Mamie Gummer in 'Emily Owens, M.D.'

Looking for a Free Ride? HBO Can Deliver

'Pass the Biscuits' Part of the Hatfield-McCoy Pop-Culture Legacy