Television

Jeffrey Tambor plays Maura on the new drama Transparent on Amazon Prime.

Arts

In 'Transparent,' A 70-Year-Old Divorced Dad Comes Out As A Woman

5:00pm September 27, 2014

by David Bianculli

The new drama, which launches Friday on Amazon Prime, stars Jeffrey Tambor as a transgender woman coming out to her three grown kids. Tambor acts the role without any hint of cheap humor.

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The cast of Gilligan's Island (clockwise from top left): Jim Backus, Natalie Schafer, Tina Louise, Alan Hale Jr., Dawn Wells, Bob Denver, Russell Johnson

Arts

Gilligan's Island At 50: A Goofy Show From A Time Of TV Innocence

6:23pm September 26, 2014

by Eric Deggans

As classic sitcom Gilligan's Island celebrates its 50th birthday, NPR TV critic Eric Deggans says it is an example of a show much loved by fans despite widely acknowledged mediocrity.

Thailand's Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, at the government house in Bangkok earlier this month. Prayuth, who seized power in May, has threatened to personally take over the writing of soap operas on Thai television.

World News

Thai Leader Threatens New Takeover: The TV Soaps

4:00pm September 26, 2014

by Scott Neuman

Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha says he's ordered a complete rewrite of Thailand's daily fare of infidelity and violence, and if it's not done right, he's threatened to do the job himself.

Network TV's Fall Lineup Distinguished By Diversity

11:12am September 26, 2014

by Eric Deggans

This season a dozen new network TV shows feature non-white characters as leads or co-leads. The shows aren't just notable for their casting diversity, but for how they talk about race and culture.

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'Saturday Night Live' Begins Season 40 This Weekend

7:17am September 26, 2014

A new edition of the book Live From New York pulls back the curtain on the last 12 years of Saturday Night Live. Author Jim Miller says SNL is a more professional place than when the show began.

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Columnist Bill Simmons, seen here in February, is suspended for three weeks.

Sports

Bill Simmons' NFL Talk Gets Him Three Weeks On The Sidelines

1:29pm September 25, 2014

by Linda Holmes

Earlier this week on his podcast, ESPN's Bill Simmons called NFL commissioner Roger Goodell a "liar" and dared the network to come after him for it. And then it did.

Shonda Rhimes (left) with Scandal star Kerry Washington at a 2012 press conference.

Arts

How Not To Handle A New Voice In TV

12:26pm September 25, 2014

by Eric Deggans

The firestorm kicked off by a New York Times analysis of TV's most successful black female showrunner mostly highlights how some struggle to handle new voices taking over the cultural conversation.

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World News

Media Group Evolves From Covering Vice To War Zones

9:49am September 25, 2014

by NPR Staff

Steve Inskeep talks to Vice Media founder and CEO Shane Smith about the reasons behind the rapid growth of his news and entertainment firm. Vice magazine migrated to videos, the Web and documentaries.

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Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross star in ABC's Black-ish.

Arts

'Black-ish' And The Color Of Money

10:30am September 24, 2014

by Linda Holmes

The new comedy Black-ish not only addresses itself to race in a way not many sitcoms do, but does the same with socioeconomic class.

Ben McKenzie (front right) and Donal Logue (left) lead the cast of Fox's Batman prequel Gotham.

Arts

Deggans Picks 'Gotham,' 'Black-ish,' 'The Flash' Among Fall TV's Best

10:20am September 23, 2014

by Eric Deggans

As the fall TV season begins this week, NPR TV Critic Eric Deggans gives his picks on new shows to watch and a few to avoid (or hate-watch, if you like).