Arts & Life Fresh Episodes, New Series: A Weekend-TV Sampler January 16, 2009 • What's new on TV? A slew of new television episodes and series are premiering this weekend. David Bianculli reviews a sampling, including Friday Night Lights, The L Word, Big Love, Flight of the Conchords and the premiere of The United States of Tara. Fresh Episodes, New Series: A Weekend-TV Sampler Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99457192/99457219" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Fresh Episodes, New Series: A Weekend-TV Sampler Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99457192/99457219" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
On Television New Clocks, New Challenges As '24' Returns January 9, 2009 • The seventh season of 24 premieres this Sunday. Critic David Bianculli assesses the four-hour, two-night return of counterterrorist Jack Bauer — who's got some new allies, and some new enemies. New Clocks, New Challenges As '24' Returns Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99156369/99163967" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
New Clocks, New Challenges As '24' Returns Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99156369/99163967" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Pop Culture Channel Changes: Jay Leno And 'Boston Legal' December 12, 2008 • TV critic David Bianculli shares his thoughts on the final episode of Boston Legal — and the announcement this week that Jay Leno will begin a new nightly prime-time talk show on NBC next year. Channel Changes: Jay Leno And 'Boston Legal' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98183841/98184368" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Channel Changes: Jay Leno And 'Boston Legal' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98183841/98184368" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Arts & Life Jack Bauer's Compressed, Two Hour 'Redemption' November 21, 2008 • A two-hour self-contained 24 movie on Fox follows Jack Bauer to Africa, where he's hiding out from his own government and working at a charity boys' school. But as reviewer David Bianculli reports, wherever Bauer is, trouble surely follows. Jack Bauer's Compressed, Two Hour 'Redemption' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/97309976/97311052" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Jack Bauer's Compressed, Two Hour 'Redemption' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/97309976/97311052" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Pop Culture '30 Rock': Tina Fey Sitcom Back For a Third Season October 29, 2008 • The NBC comedy returns tomorrow night. Critic David Bianculli has a preview. '30 Rock': Tina Fey Sitcom Back For a Third Season Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/96262551/96266519" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
'30 Rock': Tina Fey Sitcom Back For a Third Season Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/96262551/96266519" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Pop Culture 'Friday Night Lights': The Glow Is Limited Fresh Air October 1, 2008 • Fans of NBC's Friday Night Lights might want to look into DirecTV; the show, about a small Texas town and its high-school football team, begins its third season exclusively on DirecTV's "The 101," and won't hit broadcast TV until 2009. David Bianculli has a review. 'Friday Night Lights': The Glow Is Limited Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/95244229/95249516" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
'Friday Night Lights': The Glow Is Limited Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/95244229/95249516" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Pop Culture Cranston Cooks Up Emmy Gold In 'Breaking Bad' Fresh Air September 26, 2008 • Actor Bryan Cranston recently won the Emmy for outstanding actor in a drama series for his performance in the AMC's Breaking Bad. Cranston plays a high-school chemistry teacher who begins producing crystal meth after being diagnosed with cancer. Cranston Cooks Up Emmy Gold In 'Breaking Bad' Listen · 18:58 18:58 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/95080978/95088126" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Cranston Cooks Up Emmy Gold In 'Breaking Bad' Listen · 18:58 18:58 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/95080978/95088126" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
On Television 'Dexter' Returns, And The Suspense Is Murderous September 24, 2008 • TV's most charming serial killer is back for a third season on Showtime. With new murders, new dangers and new characters, TV critic David Bianculli says the new season is a real thrill. 'Dexter' Returns, And The Suspense Is Murderous Listen · 5:22 5:22 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/94981331/94979328" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
'Dexter' Returns, And The Suspense Is Murderous Listen · 5:22 5:22 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/94981331/94979328" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Pop Culture At The Emmys: Basic Cable Has A Big Night Fresh Air September 22, 2008 • NBC's 30 Rock cleaned up the major comedy prizes, but the big drama awards went to basic-cable breakouts like AMC's Mad Men and FX's Damages. TV critic David Bianculli recaps the evening. At The Emmys: Basic Cable Has A Big Night Listen · 6:04 6:04 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/94882679/94882678" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
At The Emmys: Basic Cable Has A Big Night Listen · 6:04 6:04 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/94882679/94882678" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Arts & Life 'Pushing Daisies,' Alive With Fantasy, Mystery September 19, 2008 • In the ABC series, Pushing Daises, co-executive producers Barry Sonnenfeld and Bryan Fuller combine romance, fantasy and mystery to tell the story of a man who can bring the dead back to life. The first season of the show is now out on DVD. 'Pushing Daisies,' Alive With Fantasy, Mystery Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/94800858/94800857" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
'Pushing Daisies,' Alive With Fantasy, Mystery Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/94800858/94800857" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
On Television 'True Blood,' Tasty New TV From Alan Ball And HBO Fresh Air September 5, 2008 • The new HBO series centers on a vampire clan living in a small Louisiana town. It's by Alan Ball, creator of the hit series Six Feet Under, and based on a series of novels by Charlaine Harris. Anna Paquin stars. 'True Blood,' Tasty New TV From Alan Ball And HBO Listen · 5:23 5:23 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/94320825/94320906" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
'True Blood,' Tasty New TV From Alan Ball And HBO Listen · 5:23 5:23 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/94320825/94320906" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Arts & Life Last Act For 'The Shield' Fresh Air September 2, 2008 • TV critic David Bianculli considers the impact of the FX drama series The Shield, which begins its seventh and final season. Last Act For 'The Shield' Listen · 5:34 5:34 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/94194013/94194012" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Last Act For 'The Shield' Listen · 5:34 5:34 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/94194013/94194012" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
On Television Reporter Helen Thomas Gets An HBO 'Thank You' Fresh Air August 18, 2008 • Documentarian Rory Kennedy, who's won acclaim and awards for her documentaries American Hollow and The Ghosts of Abu Ghraib, turns her lens on legendary White House correspondent Helen Thomas. David Bianculli has a review. Reporter Helen Thomas Gets An HBO 'Thank You' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/93696714/93697101" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Reporter Helen Thomas Gets An HBO 'Thank You' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/93696714/93697101" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
On Television Season Two Of A 'Mad Men' World July 25, 2008 • TV critic David Bianculli reviews Mad Men, the drama about advertising execs during the Kennedy years. Season two of the Emmy-nominated series begins on Sunday night on AMC. Season Two Of A 'Mad Men' World Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92910588/92917216" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Season Two Of A 'Mad Men' World Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92910588/92917216" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
On Television 'Generation Kill' Takes TV To The War Zone July 11, 2008 • Fresh Air's TV critic has a look at the new HBO miniseries, created by The Wire's David Simon and Ed Burns. Generation Kill focuses on a unit of Marines during the first 40 days of the Iraq war. 'Generation Kill' Takes TV To The War Zone Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92449797/92451132" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
'Generation Kill' Takes TV To The War Zone Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92449797/92451132" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
