Friday TV: Time’s Up, ‘Chuck’; But Not for Tony Bennett
It’s a miracle “Chuck” (NBC, 8 and 9 p.m.) lasted long as it did. Though I know it had its partisans, it only had enough fans to barely hang on…
Assessing the ‘Idol’ Auditions
How many did tney send through to Hollywood this week? One hundred? Two hundred? In the three "American Idol" audition shows they've aired since Sunday it seems as if there…
Thursday TV: David Steinberg’s ‘Inside Comedy’
Examining humor can be a deadly business. But it can also be the basis of some pretty amusing conversations, as was “The Green Room with Paul Provenza.” The newest talk…
Obama’s Speech Drew 37.8 Million
President Obama’s State of the Union address drew 37.8 million viewers Tuesday. It was the smallest audience of the four such speeches he has given to joint sessions of Congress.…
Wednesday TV: Kiefer’s ‘Touch,’ Marg’s March
I hadn’t realized how much I missed Kiefer Sutherland from network TV until the clock ran out on “24.” He’s back tonight in something that looks very good. “Touch” (Fox,…
Oscar Nominations: Hollywood Loves Hollywood
When it comes to Academy Award season, you can't deny Hollywood's own infatuation with itself. Hence two movies that celebrate filmmaking and film history are the most nominated in the…
Tuesday TV: State of the Union and Oscar Nominations
With a Republican debate every other night, it seems, for weeks running, it might be a change of pace to hear Barack Obama deliver his State of the Union (ABC,…
Monday TV: Remembering Phil Ochs and Etta James Too
Bob Dylan got out of protest music about as quickly as he got in it, but his contemporary Phil Ochs stayed firmly in the field of activism and song, from…
The Last ‘Prime Suspect’ Airs Tonight
“Prime Suspect” (NBC, 9 p.m.) winds up its unsuccessful season by showing its final two episodes before the hat is retired for good. Network chief Robert Greenblatt told TV critics…
Also on Sunday: Championships and Auditions
Clear the decks and cheer on the players of the next Super Bowl. They’ll come from the winners of the conference championships, Ravens vs. Patriots (CBS, 3 p.m.) and Giants…