An All-Approval ‘American Idol’
Anyone who needs proof that “American Idol” has changed completely from the show it once was need only look at Thursday’s episode of Pittsburgh auditions. Where once the audition rounds…
Thursday TV: ‘Unsupervised,’ ‘Idol’ in Pittsburgh
FX lucked out when it went into the animation business, presenting the funny “Archer” (FX, 10 p.m.), the spy caper that starts its third season with a star turn by…
Finding Missing Black Americans, Too
A common staple of national cable news outfits is the missing person. Almost always, it is an attractive young white woman who is being pursued. But cases of the missing…
Cast Announced for ‘Survivor: One World’
The cast for next month’s “Survivor: One World” was announced Wednesday, looking more like the buff young cast of “Big Brother.” In a season that will emphasize the how men…
Can ‘American Idol’ Overcome Singer Overload?
Every year, it seems that people question whether “American Idol” (Fox, 8 p.m.) can continue its run as No. 1 show on TV. It happened especially last year when the…
Also Wednesday: ‘Mistresses’ Return, Helgenberger Walks
I’m not much for soap operas, but there’s something about the UK import “Mistresses” (BBC America, 10 p.m.) that is appealing to me. It could be the maturity of the…
On Tonight: ‘Justified’ Returns
The highly esteemed “Justified” (FX, 10 p.m.) returns for its third season at its highest profile yet. Timothy Olyphant’s portrayal of U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens is now poised to eclipse…
Also On Tuesday: Custer’s Land Stand and a Couple of Season Premieres
An underlying American archetype for either the hero or the aggressor, George Armstrong Custer continues to reverberate in the culture. In the well-wrought portrait “Custer’s Last Stand” premiering tonight on…
Ten Portrayals of Martin Luther King
In honor of the holiday, we recall 10 different portrayals of the civil rights leader over the years. Paul Winfield, left, for a time seem to have the MLK role…
Monday TV: Breaking Into ‘Alcatraz’
Those missing a certain something on TV these days may be cheered by the debut tonight of “Alcatraz” (Fox, 8 p.m.). It’s not exactly “Lost,” but it has J.J. Abrams,…