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David Bianculli David Bianculli is a guest host and TV critic on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross.
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David Bianculli

David Bianculli

TV Critic and Guest Host, Fresh Air

David Bianculli is a guest host and TV critic on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross. A contributor to the show since its inception, he has been a TV critic since 1975.

From 1993 to 2007, Bianculli was a TV critic for the New York Daily News.

Bianculli has written four books: The Platinum Age Of Television: From I Love Lucy to The Walking Dead, How TV Became Terrific (2016); Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story of 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (Simon & Schuster/Touchstone, 2009); Teleliteracy: Taking Television Seriously (1992); and Dictionary of Teleliteracy (1996). He is at work on a fifth.

Bianculli is professor of Television Studies at Rowan University in New Jersey.

Story Archive

Thursday

Television

'A Man on the Inside' is one of the sweetest TV series since 'Ted Lasso'

Ted Danson stars as a retired professor who goes undercover at a retirement community in a charming new Netflix series that's both entertaining and surprisingly philosophical.

'A Man on the Inside' is one of the sweetest TV series since 'Ted Lasso'

Listen · 6:16
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Friday

Obituaries

Remembering actor Teri Garr, of 'Young Frankenstein' and 'Tootsie' fame

Garr, who died Oct. 29, started out as a dancer in Elvis films, and was later nominated for an Oscar for Tootsie. David Bianculli offers an appreciation, and we listen back to a 2005 interview.

Remembering actor Teri Garr, of 'Young Frankenstein' and 'Tootsie' fame

Listen · 38:08
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Tuesday

Television

What's new this season on network TV? Not much

So many of the network's new prime-time series are like cafeteria casseroles: aggressively and intentionally bland. But late-night shows continue to offer spice in the form of biting humor.

What's new this season on network TV? Not much

Listen · 8:28
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Friday

Review

Movie Reviews

'Saturday Night' feeds on the energy, and insanity, of the first ever 'SNL' broadcast

This expertly cast film captures the rehearsals and the logistics that lead up to opening night. Saturday Night is a nonstop joy ride — and a testament to the adage that the show must go on.

'Saturday Night' feeds on the energy, and insanity, of the first ever 'SNL' broadcast

Listen · 7:33
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Thursday

Television

Sweet but sharp, 'Nobody Wants This' could set the rom-com standard for a new age

Netflix's 10-part series features Adam Brody and Kristen Bell as 30-something singles who meet and are attracted to one another, despite the fact that he's a rabbi and she's not Jewish.

Sweet but sharp, 'Nobody Wants This' could set the rom-com standard for a new age

Listen · 7:32
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Wednesday

Television

'SNL' opens its 50th season with Jean Smart, Jelly Roll and a heap of politics

It’ll be tricky for the writers to hit the right comic and satirical tones for the remainder of this election, but SNL has a good cast this year, with some promising new additions.

'SNL' opens its 50th season with Jean Smart, Jelly Roll and a heap of politics

Listen · 6:58
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Tuesday

Television

'WandaVision' spinoff is just as creative and magical as its predecessor

Kathryn Hahn stars as a witch who's lost her powers in Agatha All Along. To regain them, she has to assemble a witches’ coven and lead them on a journey down a magical, threatening witches’ road.

Agatha All Along

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Friday

Television

'The Penguin' is a darkly engrossing entry into the Batman cannon

With no costumes, no superpowers and no Batman, HBO's The Penguin is less like a comic book series than a crime drama — closer to The Sopranos than to the Batman movie from which it came.

'The Penguin' is a darkly engrossing entry into the Batman cannon

Listen · 7:35
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Friday

Television

Celebrating 25 years of 'The Sopranos,' the series that changed TV

Fresh Air

David Bianculli reviews Wise Guy, a documentary about the landmark HBO series. Plus, we listen back to archival interviews with creator David Chase, and actors Michael Imperioli and Lorraine Bracco.

Celebrating 25 years of 'The Sopranos,' the series that changed TV

Listen · 39:43
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Thursday

Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez) are whisked to Los Angeles where a legendary film studio intends to adapt their podcast in Season 4 of Only Murders in the Building.

In Season 4 of Only Murders in the Building, Charles (Steve Martin), left, Mabel (Selena Gomez) and Oliver (Martin Short) are whisked away to Los Angeles, where a legendary film studio intends to adapt their podcast. Eric McCandless/Disney hide caption

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Eric McCandless/Disney

Review

TV Reviews

The real ‘Only Murders’ crime is that it hasn’t won more Emmys

Fresh Air

Season 4 brings a fresh influx of guest talent to Only Murders in the Building — but the new faces don’t outshine the crimefighting, podcasting stars: Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez.

The real ‘Only Murders’ crime is that it hasn’t won more Emmys

Listen · 7:30
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Friday

Television

Remembering Phil Donahue, the pioneering king of daytime talk shows

Donahue, who died Aug. 18, hosted an issue-oriented, afternoon talk show that paved the way for Oprah and others. David Bianculli offers an appreciation, and we listen back to a 1985 interview.

Remembering Phil Donahue, the pioneering king of daytime talk shows

Listen · 20:40
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Thursday

Fresh Air

'Bad Monkey' mystery series gets better as it goes

The 10-part Apple+ show, based on Carl Hiassen’s novel, is loaded with twists, turns and standout performances. Bad Monkey isn’t a great show, but it’s good, Florida fun.

'Bad Monkey' mystery series gets better as it goes

Listen · 7:35
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Tuesday

Television

Stars share the films they love On TCM's 'Two for One' series

Guest programmers, including Spike Lee, Olivia Wilde and even Donald Trump, present and discuss two favorite films on this TCM feature. It's yet another way the network celebrates the love of movies.

TCM

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Friday

Television

Remembering comic and actor Bob Newhart

David Bianculli offers an appreciation of the star of Newhart and The Bob Newhart Show, who died July 18. In 1998, Newhart told Terry Gross that his signature stammer was not an affect.

Remembering comic and actor Bob Newhart

Listen · 43:21
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Tuesday

Television

Apple TV+'s delightful 'Time Bandits' is much better than the film that inspired it

Time really does fly in this fun and charming adventure series, based on Terry Gilliam's 1981 film about a gang of thieves who steal treasures at different points in history.

Time Bandits

Listen · 8:42
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Friday

Television

'Omnivore' offers a fresh take on the history of the food on your plate

From tuna to chili peppers to salt, each episode of this new Apple TV+ docuseries focuses on a unique ingredient. But there’s an additional element that runs throughout the show: passion.

'Omnivore' offers a fresh take on the history of the food on your plate

Listen · 6:29
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Friday

Television

Remembering Martin Mull, an actor, comic, musician and painter

Mull, who died June 27, appeared in the 1970s series Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and later starred in Fernwood 2 Night. David Bianculli offers an appreciation, then we revisit a 1995 interview.

Remembering Martin Mull, an actor, comic, musician and painter

Listen · 21:05
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Tuesday

Review

TV Reviews

‘The Bear’ remains as delicious as ever in Season 3

If you saw the first two seasons of the Hulu series, you probably agree that it deserved every Emmy it won. Now The Bear is back, and serving up just as brilliant and beautiful a concoction as before.

The Bear Season 3

Listen · 7:34
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Monday

Review

TV Reviews

'Orphan Black: Echoes' fails to make a satisfying clone of the original series

Though this BBC America/AMC series has provocative things to say about identity, memory, love and loss, it fails to reproduce the best element of the original Orphan Black: the crazy, colorful clones.

'Orphan Black: Echoes' fails to make a satisfying clone of the original series

Listen · 7:08
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Thursday

Review

TV Reviews

'Kafka' conjures a thoughtful -- and occasionally bizarre -- portrait of an iconic artist

A new German miniseries about Franz Kafka is loose enough to have characters break the fourth wall, and bold enough to slip from scenes of the Czech writer's life to imagined scenes from his stories.

'Kafka' congers a thoughtful -- and occasionally bizarre -- portrait of an iconic artist

Listen · 5:43
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Thursday

Review

TV Reviews

Think you know how it ends? David Kelley's 'Presumed Innocent' will keep you guessing

The twists are plentiful in this eight-part Apple TV+ remake of Scott Turow's 1987 bestseller, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a prosecutor accused of murdering a colleague.

Think you know how it ends? David Kelley's 'Presumed Innocent' will keep you guessing

Listen · 6:08
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Tuesday

Review

Culture

A mild-mannered professor assumes the persona of a 'Hit Man' in this twisted tale

Loosely based on a true story, Richard Linklater's film about a professor working with the police features strong performances, shrewd writing and a light and funny tone.

A mild-mannered professor assumes the persona of a 'Hit Man' in this twisted tale

Listen · 7:23
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Tuesday

Fresh Air

Humor and horror make great bedfellows in the final season of ‘Evil’

The Paramount+ show about the paranormal continues to surprise. Sometimes the demons manifest themselves in very scary ways. Other times, they’re sexy — or silly.

Humor and horror make great bedfellows in the final season of ‘Evil’

Listen · 8:22
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Thursday

Review

TV Reviews

John Mulaney is a strange, brilliantly funny host on 'Everybody's in L.A.'

Fresh Air

Each episode of Mulaney's six-part Netflix special is structured loosely around a specific L.A. topic — earthquakes, palm trees, coyotes — and features a mix of real-life experts and stand-up comics.

John Mulaney is a strange, brilliantly funny host on 'Everybody's in L.A.'

Listen · 8:05
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