Television

Arts

Funny, Dirty, Sad: The 'Holy Trinity' For 'Transparent' Creator Jill Soloway

1:32pm December 12, 2014

When writer Jill Soloway's father came out as a trans woman, Soloway says, it was a huge relief. And it helped her create the series Transparent about "boundaries, legacy, gender, family."

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Arts

The Great 'Parks And Rec' Clip War Of 2014

9:41am December 12, 2014

by Linda Holmes

When critics are anticipating the end of a show they've liked a lot, strange things happen.

Charlie Hunnam co-stars with Katey Sagal (center) and Drea De Matteo on FX's biker drama Sons of Anarchy.

Arts

'Sons Of Anarchy' Ends As A Macho Soap Opera Often Anchored By Women

9:29pm December 09, 2014

by Eric Deggans

FX's biker drama Sons of Anarchy airs its final episode tonight, capping a seven-season run. NPR TV critic Eric Deggans says cable's most macho series succeeded by finding strong roles for women.

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A still image from the Discovery TV special Eaten Alive, which angered some viewers after it aired Sunday.

Arts

(Not) Eaten Alive: A Snake Tale, Made For TV

1:31pm December 09, 2014

by Bill Chappell

More than 20 million people watched Discovery's YouTube trailer for the special, in which naturalist Paul Rosolie said, "We're going to get me inside of a snake." But that didn't happen.

The cast of WKRP in Cincinnati, recently reissued on DVD by Shout! Factory, which collected licenses to include most of the original music broadcast on the show.

Music & Culture

WKRP In Perpetuity

11:06pm December 06, 2014

by Michaelangelo Matos

The AM radio station that gave the late 1970s series WKRP in Cincinnati its name was better than most real radio stations of its era. A new reissue includes most of the songs broadcast on the show.

Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani appeared on the Fox Business Network earlier this year. He has been a frequent cable news commentator about the Eric Garner and Michael Brown cases.

Four Lessons From The Media's Conflicted Coverage of Race

1:52pm December 06, 2014

by Eric Deggans

After grand jury decisions not to indict police officers in the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, NPR TV critic Eric Deggans notes media missteps in discussing race.

Mary Martin won a Tony Award playing the lead role in the 1954 Broadway production of Peter Pan.

Hate The Idea Of 'Peter Pan Live'? NBC Is Counting On It

10:40am December 04, 2014

by Eric Deggans

NBC's Peter Pan Live! production seems to be utterly in earnest — but TV critic Eric Deggans wonders if the show will need a viewership boost from critics snarking on Twitter to really succeed.

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So festive: Latte the Pomeranian poses in a reader-submitted photo, part of a look at the humblest Christmas trees.

A #SadTree Lot: Your Photos Of The Charlie Browniest Trees

5:20pm December 02, 2014

by Bill Chappell

To mark 50 years of A Charlie Brown Christmas airing on American televisions, our readers are sharing photos and memories of Christmas trees that reflect the spirit of that TV classic.

In Peter Pan Live, Christopher Walken plays Captain Hook. David Bianculli says Walken has credibility that should draw people to the live telecast on Thursday.

Arts

Peter Pan's Magic Is In The Pixie Dust

3:15pm December 02, 2014

by David Bianculli

NBC is airing a live version of Peter Pan on Thursday, nearly 60 years after the first live telecast. Critic David Bianculli says the cast and the revival of the medium are genius.

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Mexican TV Icon Roberto Gómez Bolaños Dies At 85

6:29pm November 29, 2014

by Nate Rott

The a popular Mexican comedic actor and screenwriter known by the nickname "Chespirito," has died after a long illness. He was 85 years old.

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