A Farce of Television Democracy
The new show CBS Summer Playhouse, which features failed television pilots, aims to draw in viewers by letting them vote for which programs they'd like to see more of. Critic David Bianculli doesn't see why people should bother. The show, he says, isn't very good.
Contributor
Related Topics
Other segments from the episode on June 22, 1987
A Poet Cleans Up and Moves On
Poet Jim Carroll is best known for his book The Basketball Diaries. He joins Fresh Air's Terry Gross to talk about his history of heroin addiction, writing, and sobriety.
Two Albums by a Prolific Jazz Iconoclast
Sun Ra's recent releases reveal the pianists' enduring interest in free improvisation and spectacle. Jazz critic Francis Davis says one is a prime example of the musician's ensemble work; the other is unlistenable.
Preserving Hobo History
Writer Roger Bruns discusses hobo culture with Fresh Air's Terry Gross, including migratory patterns, temporary encampments, and social stratification within various communities.
Transcript
Transcript currently not available.
Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.
You May Also like
The First Draft of "Gilligan's Island"
TV critic David Bianculli review the original pilot of "Gilligan's Island," which will be broadcast for the first time. He says it might be worse than the original.
A Critic Returns To The Books, TV, Music And Movies He Didn't Get To In 2019
Few things haunt a critic more than loving something and not being able to share it. Every year, I wind up being plagued by the ghosts of the things I wasn't able to review — dog-eared books, dust-covered DVDs, TV shows and songs that rattle the windows of my playlists. Each December, I try to placate them with this ghost list before time runs out.
Nothing Beats 'The Good Place': David Bianculli Picks The Best TV Of 2019
Good TV seems to be coming at us in increasingly large quantities and from so many different directions. Just last month, two major services — Apple TV+ and Disney+ — launched, joining the crowded field of streaming services. All this added up to a great year for quality television. Here's a list of my favorite shows of 2019.