Diversity Comes to ‘Downton Abbey’
One of the more lopsided Super Bowl games in recent history (and not too many memorable commercials to look out for) made it easy to slip over to "Downton Abbey"…
Lots of People, Little Material on ‘SNL’
Holiday homecomings at "Saturday Night Live" can mean a raft of former cast members making their reappearances with other stars. Such it was this week when the Paul Rudd hosted…
Eastbound and Gone
I was generally repulsed by "Eastbound and Down" in its first season. I took too seriously how big a jerk Kenny Powers was in adjusting to a post-baseball career. The…
Music Review: Randy Newman at the Library of Congress
At the Library of Congress Randy Newman concert Saturday, it was kids beware. If they came to hear one of his many songs from Pixar animation -- certainly his most…
Kerry Washington on ‘SNL’
It didn't take long for "Saturday Night Live" to address its major criticism this season: Its lack of female cast members of color. Earlier this season, Kenen Thompson, go-to cross…
Before Iran, Carrie Deals with Dana
One of the most frustrating episodes of "Homeland" on Sunday also became the one of most grave personal danger to Carrie Mathison. The business of the quite short episode -- 46 minutes…
Sunday TV: ‘Blackout’ a Disaster All Right
Beware a TV movie not given a description of fiction or documentary; whose style is pegged as "Blair Witch Project." That usually means: amateurish actors, no production values, shot with…
Norton Utility Needed on Flat ‘SNL’
If "Saturday Night Live" hopes to mine this week's episode for some material to use in a prime time Halloween compilation special Thursday, good luck to them. The Edward Norton-hosted…
‘Homeland’s Whiplash Twist
For a show that hid its main mystery for a season, "Homeland" is good at hiding its hand. Sunday's episode turned on a conclusive twist so deliciously unexpected, it set…
Terrific and Succinct ‘Toy Story’ Special
Pixar has had a history of not quite knowing how good the movies it makes. "Toy Story 2" for example was originally made for the home video market until someone…