TV Reviews

Scandal's Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) is based on real-life African-American political fixer Judy Smith.

Arts

'Scandal' Will Keep On Giving Long After Olivia Pope Handles Her Last Crisis

5:00am April 18, 2018

by Eric Deggans

When the show premiered in 2012, it had been decades since network TV presented a drama starring a black woman. Scandal reshaped the landscape. Its final episode airs Thursday.

Arts

Latest Episode Of 'Legion' Delivers A Thrillingly Original Hour Of TV

1:48pm April 16, 2018

by David Bianculli

Legion began its second season in early April on FX. David Bianculli says the new episode of the series, "Chapter 11," is strange and compelling in a way that reminds him of the original Twin Peaks.

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Antiques Roadshow appraiser Lark Mason and a guest in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Arts

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'Antiques Roadshow'

7:00am April 13, 2018

by Glen Weldon

To talk about the PBS institution that celebrates used crap and how much it may or may not be worth, we're joined by the host of NPR's Bullseye — and lifelong used-crap devotee — Jesse Thorn.

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In Netflix's new Lost in Space, young Will Robinson (Max Jenkins) faces danger. Again, and again ... and again.

Arts

Will Robinson, Meet Danger; Danger, Will Robinson: The 'Lost In Space' Reboot

5:00am April 13, 2018

by Glen Weldon

Netflix's remake of the campy 1960s series is everything that show was not: dark, suspenseful, with great-looking special effects. It gets a bit repetitive, but it's worth sticking with.

Zooey Deschanel and Jake Johnson in the "About Three Years Later" season seven premiere episode of New Girl.

Arts

'New Girl' Comes Back To Put A Coda On A Successful Run

1:57pm April 10, 2018

by Linda Holmes

After six full seasons, New Girl returns for an eight-episode run that will lead to the series finale. It's a structure that might suit a lot of character-driven comedies.

Apu is a supporting character on The Simpsons drawn in broad caricature, and Sunday's episode addressed — sort of — criticisms about the portrayal.

Arts

'The Simpsons' To 'The Problem With Apu': Drop Dead

3:06pm April 09, 2018

by Linda Holmes

The Simpsons addressed complaints about its caricature of an Indian convenience store owner by making clear that it ... doesn't really care.

Hayley Atwell stars in the adaptation of Howards End that begins Sunday night on Starz.

Hayley Atwell Shines In A New Adaptation Of 'Howards End'

8:27am April 09, 2018

by Linda Holmes

An adaptation of the E.M. Forster novel relies on a clever central performance from Hayley Atwell, who decodes a sometimes puzzling central character.

Nicola Walker as DCI Cassie Stuart in Unforgotten.

Arts

'Unforgotten' Is The Detective Show You Didn't Know You Needed

5:00am April 07, 2018

by Linda Holmes

Unforgotten, a new series on PBS that comes from the UK, is a satisfying mystery about secrets. And while it has some things in common with American prestige television, it also stands alone.

Al Pacino plays Penn State football legend Joe Paterno and Kathy Baker plays his wife, Sue, in the HBO movie Paterno.

Arts

'Paterno' And 'Killing Eve' Bring Complexity And Intrigue To Cable

4:20pm April 06, 2018

by David Bianculli

Critic David Bianculli highlights two new TV dramas: an HBO film starring Al Pacino as Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, and an eight-part BBC America series about a sociopathic killer.

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Arts

Perfectly Preserved And Wallpapered With Nostalgia, 'Trading Spaces' Returns

9:18am April 06, 2018

by Linda Holmes

TLC's room-renovation show returns this weekend, almost unchanged after a decade off the air.