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David Bianculli

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 three books: 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).

An associate professor of TV and film at Rowan University in New Jersey, Bianculli is also the founder and editor of the online magazine, TVWorthWatching.com.

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Television
9:52 am
Fri January 6, 2012

This Weekend, Some New Shows (And Old Favorites)

Next imagePrevious image
Credit Jordin Althaus / Showtime
Don Cheadle plays business consultant Marty Kaan in the new Showtime comedy House of Lies.
Credit Steve Wilkie / NBC
Josh Lucas stars in the NBC adaptation of John Grisham's bestseller The Firm.
Credit Patrick Ecclesine/Copyright:Show
In House of Lies, Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell play management consultants who are willing to do whatever it takes to get a deal finished.
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The New Year brings with it new TV programming, and this Sunday is an especially busy one for television. Two new series premiere, while one miniseries and several other series return.

But because it's a new year, let's start with the new shows.

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Television
8:07 am
Tue December 20, 2011

Bianculli Picks The Best (And Worst) TV Of 2011

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Credit Gregory Peters / AMC
Over the past few seasons, Breaking Bad's Walter White (Bryan Cranston) has changed from meek hero to forceful villain. TV critic David Bianculli says he isn't just breaking bad anymore — he's entirely broken.
Credit Showtime

In Showtime's Homeland, Claire Danes plays a CIA agent who suspects a heroic American POW is actually a double agent for al-Qaida.

Credit Mark Seliger / FX
Timothy Olyphant plays Raylan Givens, a present-day U.S. marshal with Wild West inclinations, on the FX series Justified.
Credit HBO
Larry David returned for an eighth season of Curb Your Enthusiasm this year.
Credit Brian Hamill/MGM / PBS
Filmmaker Woody Allen was given the American Masters treatment this year on PBS.
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Fresh Air's TV critic David Bianculli liked so many shows this year that he says he couldn't pick just 10 favorites. Instead, he split his favorites into several lists, including best documentaries and best scripted comedies/dramas.

Bianculli also highlights some of the worst shows to hit TV screens this year — including not one but two shows featuring Snooki.

Despite his Snooki misgivings, Bianculli says it was a banner year for TV.

"There is more good television on a weekly basis than there has ever been," Bianculli says. "I am absolutely certain of it."

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Television
10:29 am
Thu December 1, 2011

At Midseason, Serial Dramas Serve Up Some Big Twists

Credit Randy Tepper / Showtime
Showtime's Dexter, starring Michael C. Hall, just served up the biggest twist of the season to date.
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By now, I hope my position on spoiler alerts is firmly established. My feeling is that once something has been televised, it's fair game for discussion. I feel it's the responsibility of the person who's delaying his or her enjoyment of a TV show to avoid mentions of it, rather than putting the onus on critics. And believe me, I know that's not always easy. I have to do some time-shifting myself — there are so many good shows presented on Sundays this season that it sometimes takes me the whole week to catch up on the episodes I've recorded.

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Television
9:23 am
Wed October 5, 2011

'Breaking Bad,' 'Horror' Leave Viewers Wanting More

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Credit Gregory Peters / AMC

Over the past few seasons, Walter White (Bryan Cranston) has changed from meek hero to forceful villain. TV critic David Bianculli says he isn't just breaking bad anymore...he's entirely broken.

Credit Robert Zuckerman / FX

Connie Britton, Dylan McDermott, and Taissa Farmiga play a family moving into a house, where the previous tenants were found dead.

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If you don't want to hear details, especially about last night's season finale of Breaking Bad, turn away from this website now. But I consider it fair game to talk in detail about TV shows once they've been televised — especially if they're doing interesting enough work to be saluted for it.

[Note: If the previous paragraph didn't convince you, maybe this will: There are many, many spoilers for Breaking Bad ahead. Proceed at your own risk.]

I was blown away by the season ender of Breaking Bad.

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