Eric Deggans

Tv and Media Critic for the Saint Petersburg Times

Eric Deggans appears in the following:

'The Knick' Redefines Oscar-Winning Director's Role In Television

Friday, October 16, 2015

The Knick returns for its second season on Cinemax Friday night. And with it, Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh seems to be making good on his vow to turn his back on the film ...

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TV Series Review: 'Fargo' Returns To FX

Monday, October 12, 2015

FX's TV adaptation of Fargo returns for a second season Monday night. Our critic says the new episodes are a quirky, creative reinvention that improves on an already stellar show.

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At 41, 'Saturday Night Live' Enters Middle Age

Saturday, October 03, 2015

The politics, parodies and jokes of Saturday Night Live have been making viewers laugh — and sometimes cringe — for decades. As the show begins its new season, NPR TV critic Eric Degg...

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How A Pair Of Pretty Boys Got Their Groove Back

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Two new comedies debut on Fox on Tuesday night: Grandfathered and The Grinder, both of which feature TV pretty boys Jon Stamos and Rob Lowe amping up their images. NPR's TV critic, Er...

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'The Daily Show' Introduces A New Host — And A Familiar Feel

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Longtime viewers didn't know what to expect of Trevor Noah's debut Monday night. What they got resembled the old show, perhaps because it kept a lot of writers and producers from Jon Stewart's era.

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ABC's 'The Muppets' Brings The Classic Characters Into Modern Culture

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

The fall TV season begins this week and one of the most anticipated new shows is The Muppets. It's a mockumentary, behind-the-scenes type of show that premieres Tuesday night on ABC.

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As U.S. Announces Plan To Accept More Refugees, Michigan Gets Ready

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Southeast Michigan has taken in waves of refugees from the Middle East conflicts for decades, resulting in a strong Arab-American community. Refugee advocates say they're prepared to help Syrians.

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5 TV Shows To Watch In An Otherwise Uninspiring Fall Season

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

The networks mostly played it safe — and boring — this year. But critic Eric Deggans found a few shows you shouldn't miss: The Muppets, Supergirl, Grandfathered, The Grinder and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

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Viola Davis' Emmy Win Shows TV's Power To Shape Perception

Monday, September 21, 2015

She's the first black woman to win best actress in a drama series. NPR's TV critic says for those who've insisted diversity on TV is important, this is proof. Other awards stood out Sunday night, too.

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What To Watch For In This Year's Emmys Race (And Why It's Important)

Saturday, September 19, 2015

In a year when more than 400 series will air on various television-like platforms, why should anyone still care about Sunday night's Emmy Awards?

The short answer: It's still the biggest honor in TV, handed out by the very people who make all the stuff we're watching on our smartphones, ...

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Neil Patrick Harris Reimagines Variety Show Format In 'Best Time Ever'

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Song and dance man Neil Patrick Harris premiered his new show, Best Time Ever, Tuesday night on NBC. It's an attempt to bring back the variety show format.

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CBS Entertainment Chief Nina Tassler Is Stepping Down

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

For more than a decade, CBS Entertainment chief Nina Tassler seemed like the last woman standing in network TV, maintaining control of the most-watched broadcast network's drama, comedy and late-night offerings while executives at rival outlets rose and fell.

But today, Tassler announced plans to leave CBS by the end ...

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Hulu Version Of 'Mindy Project' Doesn't Miss A Beat, Our Critic Says

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

After being canceled by Fox, Hulu debuts the fourth season of The Mindy Project on Tuesday. Hulu will release new episodes once a week, not the entire season at once.

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Stephen Colbert Pays Tribute To Letterman, Makes 'Late Show' His Own

Wednesday, September 09, 2015

Excitement and enthusiasm for the comic's return to television helped paper over more than a few awkward moments during his debut as host for the CBS show. George Clooney and Jeb Bush were guests.

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A Colombian Kingpin Gets The 'Goodfellas' Treatment In 'Narcos'

Friday, August 28, 2015

A new Netflix series offers a fictionalized account of how smuggler Pablo Escobar built his cocaine empire. The show is compelling and complex — especially for fans of classic crime stories.

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Starz Hopes For Breakthrough Hit With Patrick Stewart Comedy

Friday, August 21, 2015

Blunt Talk stars Patrick Stewart as a British host on American cable TV. He wants to transform cable news, but he also has a taste for drugs and sex. With the show, Starz aims to com...

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Slowly Seeing It All Fall Apart Again, For The First Time

Friday, August 21, 2015

AMC's new zombie show, Fear the Walking Dead, a prequel of the channel's biggest hit, starts Sunday. TV critic Eric Deggans says it's not a clone of the original, but needs to get much livelier.

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'Sesame Street' To Air Next 5 Seasons On HBO

Thursday, August 13, 2015

After the first nine months of airing new episodes exclusively on HBO, Sesame Street will also be available on PBS for free. NPR takes a look at the agreement and its possible consequences.

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Prince Compares Record Contracts To Slavery In Rare Meeting With Media

Sunday, August 09, 2015

Music icon Prince is worried about the future of the music business for artists, and his top priority can be summed up in one word: Freedom.

"Record contracts are just like — I'm gonna say the word – slavery," Prince told a group of 10 journalists Saturday night, during a ...

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On Stewart's Final 'Daily Show,' Parting Was Standing-Room-Only Sorrow

Friday, August 07, 2015

How do you say goodbye to TV's smartest satirist, especially when he seems determined not to get too sentimental? You invite everyone who's ever been a correspondent, and a surprise guest or two.

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