Enlightened gives Amy something like a happy ending. But let’s hope it’s not the end.
Remembering Bonnie Franklin, One Day at a Time‘s Single-Mom Hero
Mary Richards may have been history’s female sitcom heroine of the ’70s, but for Ann Romano, keeping her family together was itself a feminist act.
TV Weekend: History Launches Vikings (and an Action-Packed Bible)
Human history is full of people finding creative ways to open up one another’s bodies, and History channel has realized that it’s sitting on vast, untapped reserves of historical bloodletting
Dead Tree Alert: TV’s Bumper Crop of Blood; Plus: Kurt Sutter on the Uses of Mayhem
TV has too much dumb, mindless violence, but also too much smart, mindful violence. And the reasons it’s so exhaustingly bloody have something to do with the reasons much of it is so good.
On the Importance of Bunheads
ABC Family’s delightful, little-watched dance drama-comedy is the kind of show that TV, for all its newfound ambition, doesn’t have enough room for.
TV Tonight: Parade’s End
If Downton is a nostalgic champagne toast to the bygone Edwardian aristocracy, HBO’s five-hour miniseries is more of a cold, bitter drink of scotch at its wake.
American Dud: Seth MacFarlane’s Awkward Oscars
The prolific cartoon creator may have drawn young dudes to the Oscarcast, but he didn’t translate well to live-action figure
Idol Watch: The New Judges, Judged
At least for one night, it seemed like the judging panel is once again willing–and encouraged–to offer specific, substantive feedback. You know: to judge.
Dead Tree Alert: The Charged Debate Between Tesla and the Times
In my print column, I take a look at the throwdown over the past week between Tesla Motors and the New York Times over a bad review, and what it might mean for the future of p.r. spats. This time, the squeaky wheel got the grease.
The Americans Watch: Honey, I Forgot to Duck
“In Control” showed that you can live in a country for years and years and yet have so much to learn about it. Not unlike a marriage.
“Djesus Uncrossed,” Grievance, and How Satire Actually Works
How can this skit have insulted Jesus when its whole premise is based on the most positive parts of his image?
The Good Wife Watch: Team Red Team!
“Red Team / Blue Team,” was a top-to-bottom an example of why no other broadcast drama is pulling off this level of entertainment and subtlety.
Saturation Coverage: With the Cruise Story, Is CNN Charting a New Course?
The network was on the Carnival Triumph story like flies on, um, the Carnival Triumph.