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Eric Deggans Eric Deggans is NPR's first full-time TV critic.
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Eric Deggans

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TV Reviews

New documentary shows how comedy legend George Carlin went from genial to cynical

George Carlin's American Dream, which debuts Friday on HBO, shows how the comedian's persona sharpened over the years, from genial jokester to hardened cynic.

New documentary shows how comedy legend George Carlin went from genial to cynical

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Review

TV Reviews

2 new shows fall into the smart-dumb TV category

Bosch: Legacy, which premiered Friday, and The Lincoln Lawyer, which starts next Friday, exemplify a certain kind of show. They fall within well-established genres, but have a little creative heft.

2 new shows fall into the smart-dumb TV category

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Review

TV Reviews

Review: Welcome back, 'Star Trek'

The Paramount+ series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds recaptures the sentiment of the original show — a return to a diverse, charismatic group of explorers who prove the value of peace among the stars.

Review: Welcome back, 'Star Trek'

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It's time for a non-white host of 'The Late Late Show'. Here's our critic's shortlist

Clockwise from top left: Amber Ruffin, Cristela Alonzo, Trevor Noah, Ali Wong, Roy Wood Jr. and Hasan Minhaj could be successors to James Corden on The Late Late Show. Noam Galai and Kevin Winter/Getty Images, Michael Schwartz/CBS, Max S Gerber/Netflix, Rich Polk and Kevin Winter/Getty Images hide caption

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Noam Galai and Kevin Winter/Getty Images, Michael Schwartz/CBS, Max S Gerber/Netflix, Rich Polk and Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Television

It's time for a non-white host of 'The Late Late Show'. Here's our critic's shortlist

Ali Wong, Roy Wood Jr., Amber Ruffin and Hasan Minhaj are all on this critic's shortlist of candidates for the job.

Television

'Winning Time' portrays the rise of the L.A. Lakers. Its subjects call it defamatory

"Winning Time," HBO's series about the 1980's Los Angeles Lakers, has been criticized by some of the people portrayed for being defamatory, raising larger questions about the ethics of biopics.

'Winning Time' portrays the rise of the L.A. Lakers. Its subjects call it defamatory

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Netflix's 'Ozark' ends as a thrilling, yet disappointing take on a criminal family

Jason Bateman as Marty Byrde and Laura Linney as Wendy Byrde on the Netflix drama Ozark. Netflix hide caption

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Review

TV Reviews

Netflix's 'Ozark' ends as a thrilling, yet disappointing take on a criminal family

It's likely Ozark will be remembered as more of a clever thrill ride than a series with a coherent message.

Netflix's 'Ozark' ends as a thrilling, yet disappointing take on a criminal family

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HBO's 'We Own This City' is the closest fans will get to a sequel of 'The Wire'

Jon Bernthal plays Baltimore police officer Wayne Jenkins on HBO's We Own This City. Paul Schiraldi/HBO hide caption

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Paul Schiraldi/HBO

Television

HBO's 'We Own This City' is the closest fans will get to a sequel of 'The Wire'

Executive producers George Pelecanos and David Simon first teamed up on The Wire.

HBO's 'We Own This City' is the closest fans will get to a sequel of 'The Wire'

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TV Reviews

Review: The 3rd season of 'Barry' shows a far darker vision of him than seen before

The new season of HBO's Barry takes Bill Hader's character to places fans might not be ready to go. There's something more unpredictable and brutal about him this time around.

Review: The 3rd season of 'Barry' shows a far darker vision of him than seen before

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Television

What the shutdown of CNN+ might indicate about the future of streaming TV

Just a month after its launch, streaming service CNN+ will shut down at the end of April. The company's president said some programming will migrate to CNN and its other networks.

What the shutdown of CNN+ might indicate about the future of streaming TV

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Television

How Netflix plans to recover after losing 200,000 subscribers

Subscription numbers are disappointing Netflix investors and the stock price has dropped. The company's plan to crack down on password sharing could backfire.

How Netflix plans to recover after losing 200,000 subscribers

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The legacy of ABC's 'Black-ish': Presenting a Black TV family that isn't a monolith

Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross in the series finale episode of Black-ish, "Homegoing." Richard Cartwright/ABC hide caption

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Television

The legacy of ABC's 'Black-ish': Presenting a Black TV family that isn't a monolith

The sitcom ends Tuesday after eight seasons.

The legacy of ABC's 'Black-ish': Presenting a Black TV family that isn't a monolith

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Television

Encore: 'First Lady' series is compelling when it dramatizes the unseen moments

Showtime's limited series, The First Lady, weaves together the stories of three of America's most distinctive presidential spouses. (Story first aired on All Things Considered on April 17, 2022.)

Encore: 'First Lady' series is compelling when it dramatizes the unseen moments

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Review

TV Reviews

'First Lady' series compels when dramatizing the unseen moments

Showtime's new limited series, The First Lady, weaves together the stories of three of America's most distinctive presidential spouses.

'First Lady' series compels when dramatizing the unseen moments

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