David Bianculli appears in the following:
Peter Pan's Magic Is In The Pixie Dust
Tuesday, December 02, 2014
NBC is airing a live version of Peter Pan on Thursday, nearly 60 years after the first live telecast. Critic David Bianculli says the cast and the revival of the medium are genius.
How Girls Are Developing Earlier In An Age Of 'New Puberty'
Tuesday, December 02, 2014
Two doctors wrote a book that probes the environmental, biological and socioeconomic factors contributing to early puberty. These girls face risks like anxiety and depression, one author says.
Holy Smokes 'Batman,' The '60s Series Is Out On DVD
Monday, November 17, 2014
Various rights issues kept the original Batman from home-video release until now. Young viewers may be surprised by its pop-art sensibility, vibrant colors — and that it was played for laughs.
In The Life Of 'Olive Kitteridge,' It's The Little Things That Add Up
Friday, October 31, 2014
The HBO miniseries starring Frances McDormand is based on a collection of stories about residents in a small town in Maine. It's about family, friends and the tenuous relationships that make up life.
Nostalgia, Now Out On DVD, With 'Wonder Years' And 'Pee-wee' Releases
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
In what may be a last gasp for DVD collections, some of the new box-set releases are aimed at baby boomers and Gen X-ers with favorites like The Wonder Years and Pee-wee's Playhouse.
Inconsistent Memories Are Revisited In 'The Affair,' A Captivating New Drama
Friday, October 10, 2014
The Showtime show is about two people who betray their spouses and fall into a relationship. It's told from more than one perspective, and the actors are so likable, you forgive them their trespasses.
'Homeland' Regains Urgency With Twin Protagonists And Divided Loyalties
Friday, October 03, 2014
Last year, the Showtime drama about a CIA agent with a bipolar disorder lost its way. But the show's intensity is back in Season 4 when the CIA accidentally bombs a wedding in Pakistan.
In 'Transparent,' A 70-Year-Old Divorced Dad Comes Out As A Woman
Friday, September 26, 2014
The new drama, which launches Friday on Amazon Prime, stars Jeffrey Tambor as a transgender woman coming out to her three grown kids. Tambor acts the role without any hint of cheap humor.
Fall TV Preview: 'Gotham,' 'Scorpion' And 'Black-ish'
Monday, September 22, 2014
For major broadcast networks, Monday is the official start of the 2014-15 TV season. Fresh Air's critic has a not-very-long list of new shows you should make an effort to sample.
'Madame Secretary' Pales In Comparison To 'The Good Wife'
Thursday, September 18, 2014
The CBS dramas about women juggling family lives and high-intensity jobs showcase excellent acting. But while The Good Wife is one of the best shows on TV, Madam Secretary's writing is disappointing.
3 Roosevelts Come Alive In PBS Documentary, Ken Burns' Best Yet
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
A 14-hour biography of Theodore, Eleanor and Franklin Delano starts Sunday. Actors including Paul Giamatti and Meryl Streep put on Emmy-worthy vocal performances reading from an Emmy-worthy script.
'The Chair' Charts Two Filmmakers' Journeys As They Make Movies From The Same Script
Thursday, September 04, 2014
The new 10-episode reality show on Starz! follows Anna Martemucci, a graduate from NYU film school, and Shane Dawson, who's been making YouTube videos for eight years. They compete for $250,000.
Case Closed: Agatha Christie's Detective Poirot Solves His Last TV Mystery
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
After decades on air, Poirot's 13th and final season begins Aug. 25. David Suchet still stars as detective Hercule Poirot, but you won't find the show on PBS. So where is it?
Stick With 'The Knick,' A Medical Drama With Amazing Inventions
Thursday, August 07, 2014
The new Cinemax show stars Clive Owen as a rude doctor in a New York City hospital in 1900. It may take a few episodes, but you'll care about the characters and their inventions.
How Interactive TV Is Older Than TV Itself
Monday, August 04, 2014
As technology gets more complex, TV producers aim to take advantage of it, such as relying on phoned-in votes from viewers. The interactive talent show, it turns out, predates TV itself.
Maggie Gyllenhaal Is 'The Honorable Woman': A Series Both Ruthless And Rewarding
Thursday, July 31, 2014
The eight-part drama that begins Thursday stars Maggie Gyllenhaal as a British baroness with an Israeli passport. She's a fearless actor in a show full of kidnappings, seductions and betrayals.
'The Strain' And 'Extant' Play On Fears Of Forces Out Of Our Control
Wednesday, July 09, 2014
This week, two new TV series begin in the threats-from-nowhere genre: Extant on CBS and The Strain on FX. The better of the two, The Strain, about a disease outbreak, is effectively creepy.
A-List Celebrities Flock To Late-Night 'Graham Norton Show'
Monday, June 16, 2014
The late-night talk show, imported by BBC America, has been around for years. TV critic David Bianculli says it's never been better — it's like eavesdropping on an all-star cocktail party.
HBO's 'The Normal Heart' Looks At The Early Days Of The AIDS Crisis
Friday, May 23, 2014
On Sunday night, HBO presents a new TV version of Larry Kramer's 1985 play. Kramer himself wrote the adaptation, which stars Mark Ruffalo and Julia Roberts.
'The Maya Rudolph Show' And What It'll Take To Bring Back Variety
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
The comedian's prime-time NBC special is the latest rare attempt by network TV to revive the long-dormant genre. Fresh Air's critic doesn't think it succeeded, but he encourages TV to try, try again.