Accessibility links
Eric Deggans Eric Deggans is NPR's first full-time TV critic.
Eric Deggans
Stories By

Eric Deggans

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

Brazilian actor Wagner Moura looks so much like Colombian smuggler Pablo Escobar that Netflix's Narcos uses footage and photos of the real Escobar to heighten the show's realism. Daniel Daza/Netflix hide caption

toggle caption
Daniel Daza/Netflix

Television

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

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.

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

Listen · 3:57
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/435260185/435416113" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Television

Starz Hopes For Breakthrough Hit With Patrick Stewart Comedy

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 compete with more prestigious premium channels.

Starz Hopes For Breakthrough Hit With Patrick Stewart Comedy

Listen · 4:11
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/433544078/433544079" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Slowly Seeing It All Fall Apart Again, For The First Time

Kim Dickens, left, as Madison and Cliff Curtis as Travis in a scene from Fear the Walking Dead, which premieres Sunday. Frank Ockenfels/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Frank Ockenfels/AP

Television

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

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.

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

Listen · 3:02
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/433334573/433402382" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Television

'Sesame Street' To Air Next 5 Seasons On HBO

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.

'Sesame Street' To Air Next 5 Seasons On HBO

Listen · 3:29
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/432122616/432122617" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Television

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

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.

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

Listen · 3:06
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/430221675/430221676" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Jon Stewart's 'Daily Show' Legacy: Changing How Americans See Satire

President Obama talks with The Daily Show host Jon Stewart. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Evan Vucci/AP

Television

Jon Stewart's 'Daily Show' Legacy: Changing How Americans See Satire

Jon Stewart hosts his last episode of The Daily Show tonight, after 16 years as TV's satirist supreme. NPR TV critic Eric Deggans says Stewart's barbs changed how people talk about politics and media.

Jon Stewart's 'Daily Show' Legacy: Changing How Americans See Satire

Listen · 4:37
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/429916095/430077485" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Television

Despite Host Controversy, Amazon Takes A Chance On 'Top Gear'

The trio that made Top Gear the world's biggest car show will return to the small screen in a new show for Amazon Prime. The BBC canned one of its hosts last year after a fight with a producer.

Despite Host Controversy, Amazon Takes A Chance On 'Top Gear'

Listen · 3:30
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/428158450/428158451" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Television

'I Am Cait' Premieres As Reality Series With A Cause

NPR reviews the premiere of I Am Cait, E! network's new reality series in which Caitlyn Jenner introduces her female identity to her family and explores transgender issues.

'I Am Cait' Premieres As Reality Series With A Cause

Listen · 2:28
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/426842610/426842611" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Syfy's 'Sharknado 3' Fails At Being Really Good Bad Television

Mark Cuban, left, as President of the United States, faces killer sharks with Ian Ziering in the Syfy film Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! The Global Asylum/Syfy hide caption

toggle caption
The Global Asylum/Syfy

Television

Syfy's 'Sharknado 3' Fails At Being Really Good Bad Television

Syfy debuts the third installment in its disaster movie spoof franchise. But it isn't fun to watch — even ironically — and the film falls short, even as it inspires imitators on other channels.

Syfy's 'Sharknado 3' Fails At Being Really Good Bad Television

Listen · 3:44
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/425034045/425225074" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Emmy Nominations For 'Transparent,' Tatiana Maslany Showcase New Talent

Orange Is the New Black star Uzo Aduba, left, and So You Think You Can Dance host Cat Deeley announce the nominees for the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

Television

Emmy Nominations For 'Transparent,' Tatiana Maslany Showcase New Talent

Nominations for the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards were announced Thursday. The field of contenders shows a welcome turn toward recognizing new talent and new sources for TV.

Emmy Nominations For 'Transparent,' Tatiana Maslany Showcase New Talent

Listen · 3:22
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/423603415/423605266" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
In The Writer's Room, One Woman Quietly Makes Late Night History

Robin Thede is head writer for Comedy Central's The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. She's previously been a reporter for E! News, a writer for BET's Real Husbands of Hollywood and head writer for The Queen Latifah Show. Jaxonphotogroup/Courtesy of Robin Thede hide caption

toggle caption
Jaxonphotogroup/Courtesy of Robin Thede

Code Switch

In The Writer's Room, One Woman Quietly Makes Late Night History

Robin Thede's wide-ranging career has included stints in both journalism and comedy. Now, at The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, she's the first black woman to work as a head writer in late night TV.

In The Writer's Room, One Woman Quietly Makes Late Night History

Listen · 4:09
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/421883378/422275416" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Television

Bill Cosby's Accusers Say They Now Have Vindication

Bill Cosby's support appears to have eroded after court records show he admitted buying Quaaludes to drug a woman for sex. Why has it taken decades for people to believe women who accused him of rape?

Bill Cosby's Accusers Say They Now Have Vindication

Listen · 4:17
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/421684382/421684383" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Television

Hannibal Buress' Show Adds To Comedy Central's More Diversified Lineup

With the success of shows like Inside Amy Schumer, and Key and Peele — along with Wednesday night's debut of a show from comedian Hannibal Buress, Comedy Central is showing the power of diversity.

Hannibal Buress' Show Adds To Comedy Central's More Diversified Lineup

Listen · 5:09
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/421083596/421083597" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
USA's 'Mr. Robot,' HBO's 'Ballers' Among Picks For Best Summer TV Series

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (right) stars opposite Rob Corddry in the HBO series Ballers. Jeff Daly/HBO hide caption

toggle caption
Jeff Daly/HBO

Television

USA's 'Mr. Robot,' HBO's 'Ballers' Among Picks For Best Summer TV Series

A flood of some 120 series, both new and returning, are coming to TV sets this summer. So, how to choose which ones to binge-watch by the pool? Our TV critic picks his four favorite new shows.

USA's 'Mr. Robot,' HBO's 'Ballers' Among Picks For Best Summer TV Series

Listen · 3:51
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/418936119/419076224" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript