Diane Werts is previewing the new summer shows for TVWW, with the first batch available to see in her current "For Better or Werts" blog. Comedy Bang! Bang!, the smart and offbeat podcast, goes televisual on IFC starting on Friday, June 8 at 10 p.m. with creator Scott Aukerman hosting ...As a special extra, IFC is showing the second episode featuring guest Amy Poehler in it's entirety...

2012

May

SNL: KRISTIN WIIG FAREWELL By Eric Gould

Kristin Wiig signed off of Saturday Night Live last weekend -- and it's hard to think of the show being as good without her. SNL has had a resurgence beginning with her becoming a cast member seven years ago, and you could even say has triumphed since Seth Meyers took over as head writer...

2012

May

THE SIMPSONS: LISA GOES GAGA By Eric Gould

The Simpsons have had a long line of guest stars, from James Earl Jones to Elizabeth Taylor. For this Sunday night's season finale (May 20th, 2012) on Fox, 8:30 p.m. ET. Lady Gaga goes to Springfield, in "Lisa Goes Gaga". As a long time champion of the socially downcast, she arrives to encourage Lisa to just be herself, and perform for the town...and sing about accepting monsters, among other things.

2012

May

JOHNNY CARSON: KING OF LATE NIGHT By David Bianculli

My enthusiastic response to the new PBS American Masters biography, Johnny Carson: King of Late Night, has been echoed by TVWW readers – one of whom admitted to crying at the end, even without having been aware of Carson before. For readers old and new, here’s a treat: the entire two-hour special, courtesy of a shared embed from PBS. – DB

2012

May

JOHNNY CARSON AND THE POTATO CHIP COLLECTION By Eric Gould

In Bianculli's Blog, David Bianculli reviews Johnny Carson: King of Late Night, the PBS American Masters profile of one of the greats of television talk. Carson conducted thousands of interviews, and on October 16, 1987, this included Myrtle Young, with her potato chip collection...

2012

May

DARK SHADOWS - 1967 By David Bianculli

DARK SHADOWS, 1967 - Diane Werts, in her review of the new, complete Dark Shadows TV series box set HERE, describes how the daytime gothic soap opera series changed when Jonathan Frid entered the fray, by exiting his coffin, as long-dormant vampire Barnabas Collins. Here’s the moment, from 1967, when Barnabas emerged – released by Willie Loomis, who was in search of treasure. – DB

2012

May

REMEMBERING MAURICE SENDAK By David Bianculli

Maurice Sendak died Tuesday at age 83, and the media are paying proper tribute – if you know where to look, and listen. Tuesday’s edition of NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross is devoted to Sendak, and includes a crushingly tender and raw interview. Then there are the folks at Moyers & Company, who distributed this full-length program from NOW in which Moyers talks to Sendak – and begins the interview by quoting what Joseph Campbell told Moyers about the hidden message of Where the Wild Things Are. – DB

2012

May

BBC AMERICA'S "WHITE HEAT" PREMIERES By Eric Gould

The new BBC America miniseries White Heat kicks off on Wednesday, May 9 at 10/9c, as part of the Dramaville series. Taking up where The Big Chill left off, it's a retrospective story about seven diverse London flatmates who meet during the political heat of 1965, and return after word that one of them has passed away. Events of the late 20th century serve as the backdrops. --EG

2012

May

MASTERPIECE MYSTERY! SHERLOCK RETURNS By Eric Gould

The 21st Century reboot of the Sherlock Holmes saga returns for its second season on PBS this Sunday night, May 6th on Masterpiece Mystery! Sherlock, Season 2. It adapts all the brilliance of Holmes affected deductive powers and his oddball relationship with Dr. Watson, but with all the modern tech tools at their disposal. (Watson is a blogger now.) See David's recommendation here. --EG

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