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

Television

Henry Louis Gates Apologizes Over Ben Affleck 'Find Your Roots' Episode

Gates has apologized for not being more transparent in handling a controversial episode of the series he hosts on PBS, Finding Your Roots. PBS has delayed scheduling the show's third season.

Henry Louis Gates Apologizes Over Ben Affleck 'Find Your Roots' Episode

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Why Isn't The Second Season Of 'True Detective' More Surprising?

Rachel McAdams appears with Colin Farrell in HBO's new season of True Detective. Lacey Terrell/HBO hide caption

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Lacey Terrell/HBO

Television

Why Isn't The Second Season Of 'True Detective' More Surprising?

HBO's crime drama returns for its second season on Sunday. It has a new cast, setting and story. Our TV critic says the new episodes should have retained a bit more of what worked from last season.

Why Isn't The Second Season Of 'True Detective' More Surprising?

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Media

Reports: Brian Williams Out As 'Nightly News' Anchor But Will Stay With NBC

Several reports indicate Brian Williams will remain at NBC but will no longer anchor the Nightly News. Williams was suspended after it turned out some of the stories he told about himself were false.

Reports: Brian Williams Out As 'Nightly News' Anchor But Will Stay With NBC

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Amazon's 'Catastrophe' Isn't One — Unlike Some TV Rom-Coms

Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney co-star in the new Amazon romantic comedy, Catastrophe. Ed Miller/Channel 4 hide caption

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Ed Miller/Channel 4

Television

Amazon's 'Catastrophe' Isn't One — Unlike Some TV Rom-Coms

Amazon on Friday debuts a comedy about an American man and Irish woman united by an unexpected pregnancy. NPR TV Critic Eric Deggans says it's a wonderful, fresh vision of romance on TV.

Amazon's 'Catastrophe' Isn't One — Unlike Some TV Rom-Coms

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A Good But Not Great New Season For Netflix's 'Orange Is The New Black'

Taylor Schilling, left, with costar Laura Prepon on Netflix's Orange is the New Black. JOJO WHILDEN/Netflix PR hide caption

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JOJO WHILDEN/Netflix PR

Television

A Good But Not Great New Season For Netflix's 'Orange Is The New Black'

Netflix debuts 14 new episodes of prison dramedy Orange Is the New Black. NPR TV Critic Eric Deggans says the show remains compelling, despite the loss of a powerful character from last season.

A Good But Not Great New Season For Netflix's 'Orange Is The New Black'

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Television

Child Molestation Scandal Involving TLC's Duggar Show Unfolds In Media

The controversy around the TLC show 19 Kids and Counting continues. Family members have appeared on Fox News to try to portray the child molestation accusations against Josh Duggar as overblown.

Child Molestation Scandal Involving TLC's Duggar Show Unfolds In Media

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Racial Diversity Grows On Network Television, But Will Quality Lag Behind?

Ken Jeong, right, stars in the new ABC series Dr. Ken. Jeong appears with, from left, Kate Simses, Tisha Campbell-Martin and Jonathan Slavin. Danny Feld/ABC hide caption

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Danny Feld/ABC

Code Switch

Racial Diversity Grows On Network Television, But Will Quality Lag Behind?

Network TV's fall schedule has a lot of new shows with non-white stars and casts. But NPR television critic Eric Deggans wonders if those series will explore race and culture as well as current shows.

CBS' Bob Schieffer Retires Sunday As Last Of The Old-School TV Anchors

Bob Schieffer on the set of Face the Nation in September. Chris Usher/CBS hide caption

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Chris Usher/CBS

The Two-Way

CBS' Bob Schieffer Retires Sunday As Last Of The Old-School TV Anchors

Bob Schieffer, anchor of CBS' Face the Nation, retires Sunday after 46 years at the network. NPR TV Critic Eric Deggans says Schieffer is the last among a vanished breed of traditional news anchors.

CBS' Bob Schieffer Retires Sunday As Last Of The Old-School TV Anchors

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Television

New Season Of 'Halt And Catch Fire' Is A Welcomed Upgrade

AMC's show Halt and Catch Fire chronicles the dawn of the PC-era at a time when companies like Texas Instruments dominated the Silicon Prairie. The second season debuts Sunday.

New Season Of 'Halt And Catch Fire' Is A Welcomed Upgrade

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Letterman Leaves Late-Night TV With A Near-Perfect Final Show

David Letterman hosts his final Late Show episode on Wednesday. Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS hide caption

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Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS

Television

Letterman Leaves Late-Night TV With A Near-Perfect Final Show

Late Show host David Letterman said goodbye Wednesday night with his trademark self-deprecating sarcasm. He left as he had arrived: with a hilarious show made on his own terms.

Letterman Leaves Late-Night TV With A Near-Perfect Final Show

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'Mad Men' Finale: A Love Letter To Fans Filled With Mostly Happy Endings

The cast of Mad Men: January Jones (from left), Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser, Christina Hendricks and John Slattery Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC hide caption

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Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC

Television

'Mad Men' Finale: A Love Letter To Fans Filled With Mostly Happy Endings

AMC's Mad Men ended its seven-season run on Sunday. Fans may have loved how characters' stories were resolved, but critics may question how writers got them there.

'Mad Men' Finale: A Love Letter To Fans Filled With Mostly Happy Endings

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Television

Network's Fall TV Shows Embrace Diverse Casts

The TV industry was in New York to present its new lineup to advertisers. We examine whether the networks have doubled down on diversity after the success of shows like Empire and Jane the Virgin.

Network's Fall TV Shows Embrace Diverse Casts

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