THURSDAY

MAY 18

2017

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

THE BEATLES CHANNEL

SiriusXM, 9:09 a.m. ET

CHANNEL PREMIERE: I know, I know. As channels go, this one is on radio, not TV – and only on satellite radio, at that. But this is the Beatles we’re talking about, so until I launch a sister website called Radio Worth Hearing (don’t hold your breath), I’m taking the time and space here to note the launch of the world’s first official Beatles 24-hour radio channel. It’s got special programs (including Chris Carter’s long-running FM radio staple “Breakfast with the Beatles”), vintage interview clips, rare outtakes, and lots more. The on-air promos have sounded terrific – and better than that, they’ve sounded smart. The ultimate number for a Sirius/XM channel devoted to the Beatles would, of course, be “number nine, number nine” – but that channel location already is taken by the decade-devoted channel ’90s on 9. So for The Beatles Channel, you have to tune your satellite radios to Channel 18. But numerology enthusiasts, such as Yoko Ono, will be happy to note the time this new channel is launching: 9:09 a.m. ET. And if you don’t know the significance of “The One after 909,” or “number nine, number nine…,” then maybe this channel isn’t for you anyway. Or, come to think of it, maybe it’s for you most of all.

GREY'S ANATOMY

ABC, 8:00 p.m. ET

SEASON FINALE: I don’t recommend watching this show, really, not any more. But I do marvel at both its impact and its longevity. With tonight’s episode, Grey’s Anatomy concludes Season 13, a truly impressive stretch. And it’s not just limping to the seasonal finish line – it’s sprinting there as ABC’s most popular drama series. That’s why so many of ABC’s dramas, for good or for ill, tend to be painted with the same Shonda Rhimes brush, whether they’re shows from that prolific producer or just shows striving to copy her feverish, popular program elements.

SUPERNATURAL

CW, 8:00 p.m. ET

SEASON FINALE: And here’s another series that’s not being recommended, really, but also is being noted for its durability. Supernatural, with tonight’s two-hour episode, concludes Season 12 – and that’s really an astounding achievement, when you consider that the network presenting it, the CW, is only 11 years old. (Nothing paranormal about that fact: Supernatural began on the WB, and was imported to its new home when the WB and UPN merged to form the CW.)

SOUNDTRACKS

CNN, 10:00 p.m. ET

For two weeks running now, the scheduled episode of CNN’s Soundtracks – about the shooting of students at Kent State University by the Ohio National Guard in 1970, and the music it inspired, such as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s searingly swift response, “Ohio” – has been pre-empted by breaking news emanating from the White House. And a betting man, or woman, would be wise to bet that tonight will make it three for three. But I’m setting my DVR anyway, in the fervent but most likely futile hope that, for one day at least, headlines will calm down a bit.

BIG NIGHT

Starz!, 10:01 p.m. ET

Stanley Tucci co-directs (with Campbell Scott), co-writes (with Joseph Tropiano) and co-stars (with Tony Shalhoub) in this utterly captivating 1996 movie, about dissimilar brothers, both gifted cooks, teaming together to make a go of it with their proudly authentic Italian restaurant. The restaurant’s future all comes down to one super-important “big night,” and it’s as hilarious as it is touching, dramatic and intense. And the final scene, performed and shot in real time, is one that anyone who’s ever cooked in a kitchen – especially, but not exclusively, an Italian one – will absolutely adore. Co-stars include Minnie Driver, Ian Holm, Isabella Rossellini, Liev Schreiber, Marc Anthony and Allison Janney. This movie is now 21 years old – but like the food it serves, couldn’t seem more fresh.

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1145 Comments

Joe in SF

Thanks for the Beatles Best Bet. We still need them. We'll still feed them. I guess SiriusXM could have put their music on Channel 64.

May 18, 2017 | Reply

dave

Minor correction - Jason Bourne is on HBO tonight, not Cinemax

May 13, 2017 | Reply

SharonGS

Today (Saturday) is the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest, which will stream from Kiev, Ukraine. Logo is streaming it in the US; it starts at 3 p.m. ET. This long-running competition--it began in 1956--is a strange combination of pop music and politics, since voting is done by country.

May 13, 2017 | Reply

JP Becca

Dick is not a series premiere, it might be a season premiere.

May 12, 2017 | Reply

Mac

I have never seen an episode of Then Came Bronson.Was Michael Parks' top 20 single,Long,Lonesome Highway,eventually used as a theme? Written by a guy once married to Mama Cass.They were in a group,the Mugwumps, also included future Papa Denny Doherty,as well as two Lovin' Spoonful guys,John Sebastian & Zal Yanovsky. As faux singer/songwriter stuff goes,it was pretty good.

May 12, 2017 | Reply

Angela

I remember thinking that title clip was all wrong for a show about such a cool dude. And Long Lonesome Highway is shown on the site EG linked to (far right pic- top row) I had no idea Michael Parks sang that song. Here's a very interesting YouTube video that was the pitch video for potential investors and the making of the Michael Parks documentary project that sadly fell through. https://youtu.be/J0tDx6ZKRuE Also, Michael played Jean Renault the drug dealer in Twin Peaks.

May 15, 2017

Mac: The Gods of the universe have delivered a website dedicated to 'Then Came Bronson'... of course. (http://jimbronson.com) The title clip we're showing has a smooth jazz instrumental, standard for many series from the '60's and '70's. But I do recall "Long Lonesome Highway" being used as a theme... maybe during the closing credits. Wikipedia has it as a top 20 hit when it was released, along with the series. –EG

May 13, 2017

Mary Bolduc

Couple of theories, probably wrong:
Title of TV show "Castle" may refer or allude partly to the Castle law in Texas, which I think allows a property owner to defend himself and-or his family on his property or in his house.... or not. It's a fantasy of a civilian, non-cop, defending himself or helping defend himself or his family.... OK, maybe not.
And off topic, name of character Jamie in "Fifty Shades of Gray" (which I have not read or seen) may be a play on the French word jamais, or never. Jamie sounds like "jamais." The plot is so over-the-top, absurd, it would never happen? That might be a better theory.

May 11, 2017 | Reply

David, I'm surprised tonight's Late Show w/ Stephen Colbert (CBS, 11:35pm) didn't make your list. In celebration of Colbert's 20 years on late night television, he will host a "Daily Show" reunion with guests Jon Stewart, Samantha Bee, John Oliver, Ed Helms, & Rob Corddry. That's quite a lineup!

May 9, 2017 | Reply

Mac

Yeah,that could have gone on for a week. Good skit included. A shame it was cookie-cuttered like so much of late night TV has become. Still,better than Fallon.

May 12, 2017

Keith Robin

Mr. Bianculli, With reference to your preview of the "Billions" season finale, I would normally issue an admonishment to anyone revealing important plot points a mere seven days after broadcast. Many is the time, and I am sure I am not alone, when I am too busy to watch a TV show sooner than a week after it premiered. But...in this case, it's my opinion that anyone watching "Billions" already knows that the ONLY way to watch every episode is the same as watching "Game of Thrones": Live on Sunday night! It is, to me, the embodiment of the term "Must See TV"! I think it is one of the best dramas currently available on ANY medium! And last Sunday's episode was exceptional. I regret that too many viewers are either unaware or uninterested in watching it, but that's their loss! With so many shows available on so many platforms, it makes one feel good to know they've chosen wisely when deciding which of them is worth the time invested in entertainment of this quality.

May 7, 2017 | Reply

George Ashur

"Almost guaranteed, there will be a sketch about a bunch of old white guys in suits and ties, celebrating their legislative “victory” in the Rose Garden." -- More likely is a sketch about Stephen Colbert sticking a fork in his "career."

May 6, 2017 | Reply

Casey

Whatcha wanna bet, George?

May 7, 2017

Angela

David, In answer to your pop quiz question, I believe it was The Americans but I don't know the name of the show they were watching. Hopefully someone else will chime in with the answer.

May 4, 2017 | Reply

Tom

(Hint: It wasn’t The Russians.)

May 4, 2017

Mac

Jia Talentino's New Yorker online story about the Sam Bee special describes taping starting mid-afternoon 4/29 for the 10PM broadcast,which was immediately repeated after the first showing. Lots of remote- button hopping that night between C-SPAN,Fox News,MSNBC and TBS. I missed the official correspondence remarks live because TBS ran the Bee special,but caught it on the first repeat later that PM. Lots of watching the Nerd Prom Cam on C-SPAN,wading through till the good stuff. Button hopping to hear Trump's Tall Tales. How tall? I live in Pa. minutes from the old steel works in Bethlehem and folks,there ain't ever gonna be any steel coming from there,ever. Billy Joel told you about that decades ago. It's all gambling,retail,music acts and movies today.
Note to Donald-Bethlehem Motors never used Bethlehem Steel in any of its cars. Bethlehem Motors never existed. Harold Robbins made that up to see if you were paying attention. Wrote the book,knowing you don't read.

May 3, 2017 | Reply

Mac

Entire Lehigh Valley is basically in the warehouse business,with Amazon leading the way,and dictating temp workers with few benefits and subpar wages. Proximity to major East Coast sites like NYC,Philly,Boston & D.C. Amazon now has two,count-em tow,warehouses and pretty much will control the airport. Fed-Ex is building a mega site that will jam vehicle arteries and keep wages well under what UPS is faced with. Sure,the unemployment numbers look good on paper,but folks have taken a financial hit. The life of a temp worker is one of the dirty little secrets of employment today.

May 12, 2017

Tom

Bethlehem is one of the few steel towns that has a population about the same as its steel period peak. The people that ran the town brought in tech and other business to keep the town going. One of the great success stories.

May 4, 2017

Mary B.

"Jane the Virgin" is charming and quite watchable, but it's slightly alarming that the characters are so childish. Although most have left high school and college, and are adults, they talk continually about who has had sex, or is having sex. And they don't seem to have boundaries. Of course it's fiction ..

May 2, 2017 | Reply

Angela

Warning! Severe pain can kill. It can damage the heart and other organs. And I know I never want to see a loved one suffer like people do in some other countries because it is illegal to prescribe opioids ever! That pendulum has already swung too far the other direction. Now doctors often have little say in how they can treat pain. Their hands are tied. And in the instances where a doctor may have discretion their too afraid to prescribe pain medicine for fear of DEA retribution. That's one big reason civil forfeiture needs to be made illegal. There's too much money to be made busting doctors. I sure hope HBO finds the middle ground.

May 2, 2017 | Reply

Tom Ranftle

Hey, David! Keep in mind those of us who've been with you since TCM was a novelty. Some, dare I say most of us don't get all the pay channels. Some don't even get CNN. We need options on the low end of the pay scale. One over-the air network, one basic cable and four pay nets. I don't begrudge people who can pay, but we on this end need more help than they do.

May 1, 2017 | Reply

Angela

"Paige turner" and "paid scale". Groan! ;)

Apr 26, 2017 | Reply

Mac

The next chapter in FoxGate will not be seen but heard as Billo Reilly returns to his personal Spin Zone podcast online. Like any laundromat, you have to pay for this Spin Cycle,so news outlets have to pony up the $4.99 to hear if Billo takes a cue from his recent Papal visit and comes clean,or continues his Nixonian "I am not a cop feeler!"defense.
Meanwhile,a trivia tidbit from Wiki about Tucker Carlson and Anderson Cooper,now going head-to-head @ 8PM. Anderson's mommy is heiress Gloria Vanderbilt. Tucker's mommy abandoned him at six but his stepmommy is an heiress to Swanson TV dinners. Gloria has shown up on Anderson's show. Wonder if we'll see a Tucker mother soon?

Apr 24, 2017 | Reply

Angela

Thanks Mac. And here I am watching the Trump "rally". (Can't believe he's blown off the WHC dinner.) I just tuned in and Trump said, "Before I talk about my first 100 days that's going great, let's talk about the media's 100 days." Of course you can imagine the rest. Now the crowd is chanting, "Get them out!, Get them out!" Not sure who they're want to leave but it sure seems Trump rallies incite anger and hatred. Now Trump is talking abut the Times. He's giving them a failing grade for dishonesty. Look who's talking!?!

Apr 30, 2017

Mac

Listening now to Billo's 4/26 18 min. podcast. He is breaking down Trump's proposed tax plan. This is a guy lost without visuals. Pretty lame as right wing radio. El Rushbo may be Evil Incarnate but at least he knows how to fill up three hours of yakking. I listen to a lot of left of the dial volunteers newsreading,and Billo ain't that much better. Only one more freebie from the site(today),then back to the Premium Paywall 5/1.
Look for Billo's nemesis Keith Olbermann's op-ed take on what might happen next in Variety(online,too). Like Billo,Keith was given a bushel of money(couple of times?)to walk away from the mike,but not for Billo's reasons. Keith thinks Bill might actually have bigger numbers online,with more control,both with content and finances. Keith knows Bill won't change or admit anything but fans could pay for the next trip to the Vatican.

Apr 27, 2017

Angela

Hi Mac, Thanks for the bad news about the Spin Zone. I can't bring myself to give O'Really the satisfaction of downloading his podcast for fear it will go to enlarging his already too unweildy ego due to whatever the number of listeners being recorded. That said, would you be willing to relay your take on it to us here?

Apr 26, 2017

Mac

This just in! Billo's podcast is on @7PM ET and is free till 4/30.I don't know if a signup or if any personal info is required to listen. Every news dept.save Fox,will probably be dissecting, anyway,but the nuances,tone,pauses and what he doesn't say should be interesting.

Apr 24, 2017

George Ashur

I tried Brockmire, and found it unwatchable.

Can we please show Hap and Leonard some love?

Apr 18, 2017 | Reply

Amy

George -- agreed on Brockmire -- I get easily turned off by too much vulgarity. I do really like Hank Azaria in general though. Also, thanks so much for the tip on Hap and Leonard -- just binge-watched the first season and thoroughly enjoyed it.

May 3, 2017

Mac

The reason why 1776 is on 4/17 and not 7/4 is because William Daniels,star of the original Broadway version as well as this film,is TCM's Guest Programmer tonight. Maybe some stories about Jack. L. Warner,who produced 1776 for Columbia after leaving Warner,the company founded by Jack and his brothers:Harry,Sam & Albert. Stanley Tucci has been playing Jack in the FX Duel series these past weeks so there is renewed interest in this tyrannical mogul. Add to that, J.L. caved in and cut the important song, "Cool,Cool,Considerate Men", because Richard Nixon was offended. It is back in,though Wiki reports Laserdisc versions have footage and music that have yet to be included on any DVD nor TCM's cut. Additional Wiki trivia-the Broadway cast came to the White House even before the film was made and Nixon's people pressured to cut the song then but the producers wouldn't budge. Wonder if Trump today would even allow credits with the stirring overture to be shown? Sit down,Don!

Apr 17, 2017 | Reply

Joseph in SF

Thanks for the "1776" note. A sub-plot in season three of "Frankie and Grace" has Martin Sheen's character performing as Adams in his community theater's production of "1776". It'll be fun to compare Sheen's character's take on the role to the William Daniels performance.

Apr 17, 2017 | Reply

Mac

This time-zone thingy with SNL has me stymied. Story from L.A. Times explain that these "live from coast-to-coast" viewings will be done ONCE,so folks on PT need to watch the show at 8:30PM,MT,9:30PM,CT,10:30PM and ET,11:30PM. Not sure what the L.A. Tribune reported since Lou Grant retired.I don't know how the live stream works. Makes sense as the ratings are so good with such amazing cold openings. Now,everyone much watch at once,like a football game,to be on the joke right away. Maybe Vegas is betting that Fallon might actually be involved with a show that matters in 2017. Just hope he doesn't have to interview anyone,unless it is a scripted gag.

Apr 15, 2017 | Reply

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David Bianculli

Founder / Editor

Behind David in the picture is the first TV owned by his father, Virgil Bianculli, a 1946 Raytheon. (The TV, not his father. His father was a 1923 Italian.) 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 also teaches TV and film history at New Jersey's Rowan University, and his most recent book, 2009's Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story of 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour',has recently been purchased for film rights. His next, The Platinum Age of Television: From I Love Lucy to the Walking Dead, How TV Became Terrific, is coming this fall, 2016.

Good news, TVWW readers: David’s new book from Doubleday, The Platinum Age of Television: From I Love Lucy to The Walking Dead, How TV Became Terrific is available on Amazon for $20.

Doubleday says: “Darwin had his theory of evolution, and David Bianculli has his. Bianculli's theory has to do with the concept of quality television: what it is and, crucially, how it got that way."

"The Platinum Age of Television is an effusive guidebook that plots the path from the 1950s’ Golden Age to today’s era of quality TV. For instance, animation evolved from Rocky and His Friends to South Park; variety shows moved from The Ed Sullivan Show to Saturday Night Live; and family sitcoms grew from I Love Lucy to Modern Family. A high point is the author’s interviews with Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, Norman Lear, Bob Newhart, Matt Groening, Larry David, Amy Schumer and many others...Bianculli has written a highly readable history." —The Washington Post

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BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

SiriusXM, 9:09 a.m. ET

ABC, 8:00 p.m. ET

CW, 8:00 p.m. ET

CNN, 10:00 p.m. ET

Starz!, 10:01 p.m. ET

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