Other Things I’ve Written Lately
Here are some recent pieces I've written elsewhere: A story for the Washington Post on the pioneering light artist Thomas Wilfred at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. A piece for…
Thursday TV: Original Charlie Brown Tree
The first, and best, Peanuts special is back for its first holiday run at the end of November: “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (ABC, 8 p.m.). It’s paired with a theme…
‘Mrs. Maisel’ Begins Marvelously
The pilot episode for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon, streaming) is so fresh and entertaining, I almost started tearing up my (premature, yet due tomorrow) Year End Top 10 list.…
Also Wednesday: Awkward Tree Lighting
Scratch one “Today” show host from the ill-timed annual “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” (NBC, 8 p.m.). Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker will still be there to assist in…
Tuesday TV: ‘Drunk History Christmas’
Here’s one holiday special I can get behind: the “Drunk History Christmas Special” (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.) in which Rich Fulcher drinks and tells the tale of how Christmas trees…
Monday TV: November Christmas Specials
Reba McEntire hosts the “CMA Country Christmas” (ABC, 9 p.m.) from the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville with holiday songs from Luke Bryan, Kelsea Ballerini, 3B30, Dan + Shay, Brett…
Sunday TV: Soul Train Awards, Springsteen
Erykah Badu hosts the “Soul Train Awards” (BET, VH1, 8 p.m.) Jessi J, Toni Braxton, Tank, Tamar Braxton, 112, Kirk Franklin, Luke James, Keyshia Cole, SWV, Le’Andria Johnson, Ro James,…
Saturday TV: Opie’s Fab Four on PBS
A holiday weekend is the perfect time for the broadcast premiere of Ron Howard’s lively “The Beatles: Eight Day a Week — The Touring Years” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local…
Friday TV: Trolling the Christmas Specials
The Christmas special floodgates open, with the one new one “Dreamworks Trolls Holiday” (NBC, 8:30 p.m.), based not on internet scoundrels but on the candy-colored dolls and movie. Along with…
Thursday TV: ‘She’s Gotta Have It’ Series
Spike Lee updates his signature 1986 directoral debut “She’s Gotta Have It” (Netflix, streaming) for the modern day, with DeWanda Wise playing the the new Nola Darling, whose bold sexual…