On Television

The Emmys, Where Cable Reigns Supreme

September 21, 2009 • TV critic David Bianculli reviews last night's Emmy awards — and considers the future of broadcast television in light of what the results revealed.

'Mad Men' Returns, With A British Invasion

August 14, 2009 • When last we saw the ad men and women of AMC's Mad Men, the firm had just been bought by a British company and the Cuban missile crisis was underway. Critic David Bianculli offers a sneak peak at what additional drama the new season might hold.

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.

'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.

'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.

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.

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.

'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.

At 'Hopkins,' a String of Real-Life ER Dramas

June 26, 2008 • Hopkins, which premieres tonight, is the sequel to a 2000 ABC documentary series that told intimate, very real stories about medical staff and patients at Baltimore's Johns Hopkins University. Fresh Air's TV critic has a review.

On FX, March Means the Return of 'The Riches'

Fresh Air

March 18, 2008 • Fresh Air TV critic David Bianculli previews season two of the FX series The Riches, staring Minnie Driver and Eddie Izzard.

Sliced, Diced 'Dexter' Moves from Cable to CBS

February 15, 2008 • The Showtime series Dexter, which tells the story of a criminologist who moonlights as a serial killer, will air (edited for content) on CBS. Fresh Air's TV critic David Bianculli talks about Dexter's move from cable to network.

The Writers' Strike Ends...Now What?

Fresh Air

February 11, 2008 • Fresh Air's TV critic David Bianculli discusses the long-term effects of the four-month-long writers' strike, and--more immediately--when we can expect new episodes of our favorite shows to return to the air.

Believe It or Not, 'Lost' Returns for a New Season

Fresh Air

January 31, 2008 • New mysteries, new jeopardies and only eight episodes to explore them: The survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 are back, but the ongoing Hollywood writers strike means a shorter season than planned. Fresh Air's TV critic — and him you can trust — previews the season premiere of Lost, airing tonight on ABC.

Gabriel Byrne, 'In Treatment' Nightly on HBO

Fresh Air

January 28, 2008 • HBO, once home to The Sopranos, has some experience with conflicted psychoanalysts. The latest one on the lineup: Paul Weston, played by Gabriel Byrne. The central figure of In Treatment, a nightly half-hour serial adapted from an Israeli TV drama, Weston is a calm, collected counselor on the outside — and an emotional mess on the inside. Fresh Air's TV critic offers a diagnosis.

Teacher Feature: 'Breaking Bad' on AMC

January 18, 2008 • Fresh Air's TV critic previews the new series Breaking Bad, about a cancer-stricken chemistry teacher who decides that cooking crystal meth is the best way to support his family after he's gone. The show premieres on the AMC cable channel on Jan. 20.

'The Wire,' Down to One Last Season

January 3, 2008 • The fifth and final season of the acclaimed HBO drama The Wire has its season premiere Jan. 6. Fresh Air's TV critic has a preview.

The Best Television Programs of 2007

Fresh Air

December 24, 2007 • David Bianculli, Fresh Air TV critic, shares his picks for the best television of 2007 and says he's looking forward to the 2008 seasons of ABC's Lost and HBO's The Wire. Bianculli is the author of Teleliteracy and Television's 500 Biggest Hits, Misses, and Events.

For TV Junkies, Some DVDs Worth Giving

Fresh Air

December 11, 2007 • There's nothing like binge-watching a season or three of first-rate television. Herewith, holiday gift suggestions for the serious TV-watchers on your list.

Guilty Pleasures: 'Project Runway' on Bravo

Fresh Air

November 21, 2007 • Fresh Air's critic at large tells us why he loves the high-fashion challenge, a reality-TV staple now in its fourth season on cable's Bravo channel.

Revealing Slices of 'Quarterlife'

Fresh Air

November 13, 2007 • Marshall Herskovitz and Ed Zwick, creators of Thirtysomething and executive producers of My So-Called Life, are making news again with a new series. It's called Quarterlife, and it's airing not on TV, but in short, six-to-an-hour episodes on the Web. Some pundits are touting it as an alternative for audiences during the ongoing Hollywood writers' strike. Critic David Bianculli, who's working on the Web himself now at TVWorthWatching.com, has a review.

'Aliens' and 'Daisies' Touch Ground This Fall

Fresh Air

October 1, 2007 • Fresh Air's TV critic reviews the fall season. New shows include the sitcom Aliens in America, premiering Oct. 1 on the CW Network, and ABC's comedy drama Pushing Daisies, making its debut Wednesday, Oct. 3.

Ken Burns, Documenting Another Iconic War

September 21, 2007 • Fresh Air's TV critic previews The War, the new documentary series about World War II from filmmaker Ken Burns (The Civil War). It premieres Sept. 23 on PBS.