Boston Globe -- Matthew Gilbert columns

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-28T17:54:58Z

Soul Train Awards 9 p.m., BET The 22d annual event is hosted by Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson. Scheduled performers include Toni Braxton (above). The red carpet show begins on BET at 8.

Funny how they see things

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-28T17:54:53Z

Character is the great currency of any good sitcom. Funny jokes, farcical situations, and ironic asides are nothing without well-developed characters and strong comedic actors to bring them to life. Here are three who have broken out recently:

Laugh tracking

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-28T17:53:59Z

Maybe it was when 10-year-old Manny put down his newspaper to get another cup of espresso, like a little executive Buddha, or maybe it was when he insisted on wearing his traditional Colombian poncho to grade school, that it came to me: “Modern Family’’ is an instantly lived-in and fleshed-out sitcom. The ABC comedy arrived in September fully formed, filled ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-27T17:42:00Z

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert Tomorrow at 8 p.m., HBO HBO is airing a concert held at Madison Square Garden last month, in honor of the Rock Hall of Fame’s 25th anniversary. Who’s on board for the four-hour special? Crosby, Stills and Nash, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Simon and Garfunkel, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Metallica, U2 - ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert — 2009-11-27T01:16:44Z

Storytellers 11 p.m., VH1 To mark almost 15 years since the release of their first album - oh yeah, and the release of their new greatest-hits collection - Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters perform and talk. Grohl (above) explains how “Everlong’’ revived the band creatively, and how Bob Dylan once praised the song.

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-25T17:32:54Z

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 9 a.m., Channel 7 It’s the 83d annual march through Manhattan, with lots of big balloons in tow including Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man. Among all the performers, including Andrea Bocelli, Gloria Gaynor, Katharine McPhee, the cast of “Sesame Street,’’ and Carly Simon, don’t look for the cast of “Glee.’’ NBC, in a fit of desperate competition, ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-24T18:13:55Z

Glee 9 p.m., Channel 25 This show is fun. A little twisted (Stephen Tobolowsky’s former glee club leader), a little absurd (Will Schuester being unaware his wife is not pregnant), a little overproduced and poorly lip-synched (all the songs), a little redundant when it comes to plot development, and a little uneven in overall quality from episode to episode. But ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-24T01:19:41Z

Frontline 9 p.m., Channel 2 Most of us - or those of us who didn’t study economics - are pretty confused about the rules and fees attached to our credit cards. Tonight’s episode tries to untie the knot a bit, looking closely at the credit card industry as it faces public anger, new regulations, and the recession.

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2009-11-24T01:19:41Z

Critic's corner

Matthew Gilbert — 2009-11-23T01:39:24Z

The Lost JFK Tapes: The Assassination 9 p.m., National Geographic The assassination of President John F. Kennedy, on Nov. 22, 1963, gets a compelling re-telling tonight. Nowadays, with cable news channels and cellphone cameras, we get to watch every big news event unfold minute-by-minute, in an insane amount of detail. We’re all Zapruders. This two-hour documentary goes back and assembles ...

Critic’s Corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-22T05:00:00Z

2009 American Music Awards 8 p.m., Channel 5 The 37th annual event will air live from Los Angeles. Scheduled performers include Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry, Alicia Keys (above), Jay-Z, Lady Gaga, Eminem, Jennifer Lopez, and Adam Lambert.

Fine state of comedy

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-21T02:20:49Z

Massachusetts is a funny place. Or at least a lot of people originally from the state are currently at the forefront of TV comedy, including Conan O’Brien, Amy Poehler, and “Office’’ workers such as Steve Carell. Also on the list: Robert Carlock, executive producer and writer of “30 Rock,’’ who grew up in Weston and graduated from Harvard. I spoke ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-20T17:23:36Z

Saturday Night Live 11:30 p.m., Channel 7 Last week’s episode was a bummer, and not because the writing was so weak. I really expected January Jones to surprise the world with comic chops she’d been keeping hidden on “Mad Men.’’ Boy, was I wrong. She was so half-hearted about performing in the sketches, I felt sad for her. Tonight has ...

Palin leads her own charge into the reality spotlight

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-19T17:58:06Z

This week’s Sarah Palin TV tour has been like “Jon & Kate & Sarah & Todd & Bristol & Levi Plus Kids.’’ A 2012 presidential candidacy may not be on Palin’s “radar screen right now,’’ as she told both Oprah Winfrey and Barbara Walters in separate interviews, but her desire to remain a free-floating reality star on the American stage ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-19T17:27:00Z

Happily Ever Faster 10 p.m., TLC Most of the wedding shows on TV - and there are many of them - support the whole blow-many-thousands-of-dollars-on-a-spectacle model. But this new reality series tracks the goings on at a Las Vegas wedding chapel, which probably means a lot less money - and a lot more day-glo rice - gets thrown around. The ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-18T16:52:21Z

Grey’s Anatomy 9 p.m., Channel 5 It has been interesting watching “The Wire’’ cast show up - and, alas, not show up - on other TV series. A partial list of those we’ve seen includes Sonja Sohn (Kima) on “Brothers & Sisters,’’ Seth Gilliam (Carver) on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,’’ Michael K. Williams (Omar) on “The Philanthropist,’’ Tristan Wilds ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-17T18:28:33Z

Friday Night Lights 9 p.m., DirecTV Most viewers won’t be seeing this fourth season until it airs this summer on NBC, even though DirecTV is airing it exclusively now. I’ve seen the first four episodes, and they are remarkably good. What can I say? This show continues to be soulful, emotionally honest, naturalistic, and willing to stare issues of race ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-16T19:27:04Z

Melrose Place 9 p.m., Channel 56 The Locklear is coming, The Locklear is coming. Tonight, the actress who began as a stiff-faced young Aaron Spelling creation on “Dynasty’’ and “T.J. Hooker,’’ who blossomed into a stiff-faced vixen on the original “Melrose Place,’’ who had a run as a stiff-faced victim in a series of TV movies, and who continues to ...

Critic's Corner

Matthew Gilbert — 2009-11-16T02:29:18Z

House 8 p.m., Channel 25 The writers have been toying with the cast list a lot this season, getting rid of the new guard, bringing in the old guard, getting rid of the old guard, bringing back the new guard, etc. At some point this month, Jennifer Morrison will have her last regular episode as Cameron (above). Last week, oddly, ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-15T05:00:00Z

The Prisoner 8 p.m., AMC The six-hour, three-night, and thoroughly tedious remake of the 1967 Patrick McGoohan series begins tonight. Jim Caviezel (above) and Ian McKellen star in the story of a man imprisoned in a mysterious village in the middle of the desert.

A TV guide that tells you what’s really on

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-14T18:23:37Z

What if some of TV’s networks and cable channels promoted themselves as they really are? What if there were - hang on to your hats - truth in advertising? Their names, slogans, and mission descriptions might look something like this:

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-13T17:39:05Z

Saturday Night Live 11:30 p.m., Channel 7 I’m extremely curious to see what January Jones does as the host tonight. On “Mad Men’’ her cold beauty and stiff demeanor fits in with the show’s unromanticized look back to the early 1960s. She’s meant to be a Grace Kelly type but without the warmth. But can she do comedy? I hope ...

Strangers whose lives collide make an emotional journey

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-13T17:25:14Z

Forcing together disparate characters through a highway pile-up has been done before, most recently in “Crash.’’ And it can be an effective device when it comes to capturing the random nature of existence, how both disasters and gifts can come out of the blue and alter everything despite our most elaborate plans. We can control our lives until we can’t.

Better late than never

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-13T17:23:39Z

You can scrutinize the elements of a talk show in order to judge it. Is the set too cozy, or too cavernous? Are the segments - the monologue, the sketches - strategically ordered and paced? Are the interviews superficial, or meandering?

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-12T17:33:17Z

Californication 9 p.m., Showtime This season, Peter Gallagher has been playing Stacy Koons, a dean at the college where Hank has been teaching. That’s right, he’s Dean Koons. And in one episode, aware that Gallagher is famous for his eyebrows, the writers made a bushy brow joke. “Californication’’ can be an insipid sex romp, and David Duchovny’s irresistibility eludes me; ...

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2009-11-12T17:33:17Z

Six, Two, and uneven

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-12T17:18:33Z

Ian McKellen could probably make Ashton Kutcher’s tweets sound like poetry. The British actor just about sings his lines of dialogue, using melody, dissonance, phrasing, and meter in service of his intentions. With his majestic delivery, he almost gives the existential blather of AMC’s “The Prisoner’’ a sense of profundity. For the duration of this six-hour miniseries, he adds a ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-11T17:50:59Z

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 9 p.m., Channel 4 Some viewers feel that Laurence Fishburne hasn’t met the challenge of replacing William Petersen. Well, duh. Petersen and his warm cool were a definitive part of the series from the start. No one could replace him. But I do think Fishburne is creating a solid characterization as Ray Langston, a man who, ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-10T18:39:22Z

Criminal Minds 9 p.m., Channel 4 “Gavin Rossdale guest stars as a gruesome goth rocker.’’ There’s so much wrong with that plot description, it sounds so right! Rossdale (above), former lead singer of Bush and husband of Gwen Stefani, continues to pursue his acting aspirations as a star whose concert tour schedule just happens to coincide with a serial killer’s ...

‘V’ debut makes its sci-fi alluring, mysterious

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-02T21:40:18Z

Like some of the best sci-fi, ABC’s “V’’ is bursting with allegorical possibility. The alien “Visitors’’ who come to Earth appear as attractive GQ models, and they try to seduce us into cult-like devotion to them. They promote peace and prosperity, glowing with the tranquillity of the “after’’ photos on antidepressant ads. They’re particularly interested in appealing to teenagers, as ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert — 2009-11-02T02:16:41Z

Kate: Her Story 9 p.m., TLC As if you didn’t already know it. The last original episode of “Kate Plus 8’’ aired last week, but Kate Gosselin now talks to Natalie Morales about divorce, the media frenzy, and, you know, herself.

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-11-01T04:00:00Z

Shadow of a Doubt 6 p.m., TCM In this creepy Alfred Hitchcock suspense film from 1943, a young woman fears that her beloved Uncle Charlie may be a villain. Teresa Wright and Joseph Cotten star.

Either/or no more

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-31T16:48:35Z

Back in 1963, a sitcom named “The Patty Duke Show’’ defined what a girl could be. She was either a Cathy or a Patty. Cousin Cathy was a classy little lady who adored minuets and Crepe Suzette; rock ’n’ roller cousin Patty lost control when it came to, um, hot dogs. The pair, both played by Patty Duke, were matching ...

New questions about an old murder

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-31T01:37:56Z

When journalists and detectives on TV get too emotionally invested in their work, it can be a good thing for the viewer. Assuming the script is smart, we get a chance to watch parallel dramas unfold. As we figure out who committed the crime, we also figure out how the investigator’s unresolved issues are driving him or her. The crime ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-30T16:07:20Z

Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew Tomorrow at 10 p.m., VH1 Oh good lord. The sequel series to “ Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew’’ premieres tomorrow night, with eight sex addicts sharing their stories in hopes of healing (and, of course, national attention, which is not healing). Whatever. The group includes porn actress Penny Flame, Playboy Playmate Nicole Narain, and drummer ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-29T16:35:15Z

White Collar 10 p.m., USA I’m really curious about the second episode of this series. Last week’s premiere, which did extremely well for USA in the ratings, was a strong introduction to the buddy chemistry of the lead characters, FBI agent Peter (Tim DeKay) and con artist Neal (Matt Bomer). But good pilots don’t always follow through (I feel a ...

Having a field day with guy humor

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-28T16:30:47Z

With the popularity of Judd Apatow movies, men have been given permission to act like 15-year-old boys - and still be lovable. Apatow heroes can’t be dismissed as terminal stoners, sexists, or slobs; they ultimately have some redeeming sensitivity. What was once considered definitively caveman behavior, from the explicit sex talk to the relentless you’re-so-gay teasing, can now be understood ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-27T17:31:27Z

Time Warp 10 p.m., Discovery Channel Tonight, the show that slows reality way down welcomes Blue Man Group. It will be Blluue Maaannn Grrrouppp: Three of the silent ones will clown for the “Time Warp’’ cameras, catapulting blue paint at one another, and then we’ll watch the footage in the slowest of slo-mo. You’ll have a good time, gradually.

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-26T20:58:36Z

2009 Scream Awards 10 p.m., Spike Yeah, it’s on Spike, the guy’s guy’s guy channel. But expect “Twilight’’ to win a prize or two. Presenters include Kate Bosworth, Jessica Alba, Eliza Dushku, and Liv Tyler - you get the point. Also, expect to see plenty of love for J.J. Abrams, William Shatner, and Stan Lee, who will fly over the ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert — 2009-10-26T02:07:34Z

Castle 10 p.m., Channel 5 “Castle’’ is developing a loyal fan base, with ratings in the 9-10 millions, and CBS recently gave it a full-season pickup. The light show is an old-fashioned crime series, by which I mean it’s not all about forensic evidence and cool atmosphere. It’s like “Bones’’ - Nathan Fillion’s Castle and Stana Katic’s Beckett banter and ...

Critic's corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-24T16:56:25Z

Endgame 9 p.m., Channel 2 This installment of “Masterpiece Contemporary’’ is a political thriller set in South Africa amid the negotiations that led to the release of Nelson Mandela. Chiwetel Ejiofor, William Hurt, and Jonny Lee Miller (above) star.

Just can’t get past these characters

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-24T16:55:42Z

Lately, I’ve been loving “House.’’ But every time Omar Epps’ Eric Foreman shows up in a scene, I cringe. He just annoys me. Plain and simple. Ditto Katherine Heigl’s Izzie on “Grey’s Anatomy.’’ She’s a mosquito buzzing around my ear.

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2009-10-24T16:55:42Z

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-23T16:41:39Z

Always and Forever 9 p.m., Hallmark Channel You go, Hallmark. The cable channel just keeps churning out these watered-down romantic movies starring C-list actors. Tonight’s entry is about a pair of high school sweethearts, played by Dean McDermott and Rena Sofer, who meet up again at their 20th reunion.

‘White Collar’ pair are a comfortable fit

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-22T17:04:54Z

On the surface, there’s nothing special about “White Collar.’’ The latest in a long line of lighthearted crime dramas from USA, including “Monk,’’ “Burn Notice,’’ and “Psych,’’ the show follows a by-the-book FBI agent and a charming young con artist who team up to catch white-collar criminals. Yup, another odd-couple buddy set-up in the manner of “48 Hrs.’’

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-22T16:38:19Z

Monk 9 p.m., USA Bitty Schram. Oh how I’ve missed being able to use those two words. Bitty Schram. It almost sounds like a porn name. The former costar of “Monk,’’ who left during the third season due to a contract dispute - er, I mean “creative differences’’ - will return tonight for one episode as Sharona. She has a ...

‘Dunham Show’ laughs are strictly for dummies

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-21T16:28:52Z

There are those who enjoy watching a guy lock his jaw closed and tighten his lips, clenching his entire face into an expression of no expression, looking as if there is a gremlin freaking out at the entrance to his esophagus because his throat muscles are flexing and twisting so demonically. You know who you are.

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-21T16:27:19Z

30 Rock 8:30 p.m., Channel 7 This sitcom has won three best-comedy Emmys and countless media plugs, but it nonetheless lags in the ratings. Last week’s season premiere drew 6.3 million viewers, which was down 30 percent from last year’s. I wonder if the show would do better on a different night, when the competition isn’t so fierce. In any ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-20T17:06:49Z

Modern Family 9 p.m., Channel 5 One of the best new characters of the fall season? Manny on “Modern Family.’’ He’s a passionately romantic 10-year-old who likes to write love poetry and wear hair gel. Alas, he’s doomed to be bullied at school, which his bullyish stepfather (Ed O’Neill) knows too well. Played by Rico Rodriguez (above), he’s an old, ...

NBC took a risk and lost. Now it’s time to pull the plug on an experiment gone wrong.

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-19T23:53:47Z

There’s something hollow and disingenuous about the nightly kick-off of “The Jay Leno Show.’’ Wearing his best “modest face,’’ which looks more like a “maniacal-wizard face,’’ Leno is greeted at the stage’s edge by a small rush of audience members. They high-five Leno like a pack of dutiful, embarrassed eighth-graders. Then the standing ovation recedes on cue, the music peaks, ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Correspondent — 2009-10-19T23:49:44Z

NCIS: Los Angeles 9 p.m., Channel 4 This is the season’s most popular new series, ratings-wise. And that makes me happy for Linda Hunt! As Hetty, she’s the division’s own Edith Head, suiting up the team for their oh-so-dangerous undercover work. And her owl glasses? They’re NCI-Spectacular.

Critic's corner

Matthew Gilbert — 2009-10-19T02:13:12Z

Lie to Me 9 p.m., Channel 25 This show is awkwardly written, which is too bad. The problem is that the supporting characters keep having to explain the science of face-reading while Tim Roth’s Cal Lightman is doing it. Their stilted dialogue to each other about how a smirk means this or that is really directed at us. In “The ...

Critic's corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-18T04:00:00Z

The Kennedy Assassination: 24 Hours After 9 p.m., History Channel This two-hour documentary revisits the events of the first day after President John F. Kennedy was killed, including LBJ taking the oath of office (above).

Putting me first

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-17T17:16:35Z

Matthew Gilbert is writing a story for the Globe. Matthew Gilbert is pondering the meaning of life.

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-16T17:27:27Z

Really Awards 10 p.m., Fox Reality Channel Vivica A. Fox (above) is the host of the awards show that pays tribute to reality TV. Categories include “Really Favorite Villain’’ and “Really OMG Moment,’’ and the, um, Innovator Award, um, will, um, go to Paris Hilton. Meanwhile, Lance Bass will give us the scoop from the red carpet. By the way, ...

‘Occupation’ captures inner battles of war

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-16T17:11:32Z

There have to be good reasons to watch a scripted drama about the war in Iraq, as opposed to a documentary. And BBC America’s powerful “Occupation’’ provides plenty of them. This four-hour epic, which premieres tomorrow night at 8, is a spectacularly acted and dramatically filmed look at three British soldiers during and after their service. A sort of “The ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-15T19:46:18Z

Law & Order 8 p.m., Channel 7 Take a few cubes of Octomom and a dash of the Florida parents of 16 disabled kids and mix them in boiling “Jon & Kate Plus 8’’ and - voila! - you have another ripped-from-the-headlines soup. Yuck is right. There are a zillion potential killers in this episode, and most of them are ...

‘30 Rock’ hasn’t lost any of its edge

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-15T01:39:17Z

‘Hello, everyone, I’m so happy to see all of you and welcome you to Season Four,’’ Alec Baldwin’s Jack Donaghy says at the start of tonight’s “30 Rock.’’ And then the camera quickly pulls back to reveal Jack, Liz, Tracy, and Jenna about to eat a meal at an Asian fusion restaurant called . . . Season Four.

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2009-10-15T01:39:17Z

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-14T16:25:34Z

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 9 p.m., Channel 4 The procedural “Without a Trace’’ disappeared - yeah, without a trace. And that was OK, since the crime stories had been played out after seven seasons and the character dramas never quite clicked. Tonight, Enrique Murciano, who played Danny Taylor on “Without a Trace,’’ guest stars on this series, as a detective.

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-13T17:14:25Z

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 9 p.m., Channel 7 When known actors and actresses do guest turns on the procedurals, I often groan. They tend to seriously overact. Did you happen to see Eric McCormack’s turn on “SVU’’ a few weeks ago? Or Erika Christensen on “Lie to Me’’? Wow. Tonight, Scott Foley (above) guests as an alcoholic who ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-12T19:40:51Z

The Good Wife 10 p.m., Channel 4 Tonight is a jury-tampering-in-a-class-action-suit-against-a-big-pharmaceutical-company case, which is one of those we’re-a-weekly-legal-drama-so-we-can-be-lazy-when-it-comes-to-originality plots we’ve seen on a million other shows, which is too bad because this show could have been a focused what-happens-when-a-political-marriage-faces-public-disgrace melodrama.

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert — 2009-10-12T02:16:52Z

Latin Music USA 9 p.m., Channel 2 This four-part series, covering salsa, Tejano, and reggaeton, among many other genres, “makes a startling case that its subject matter has been ignored for far too long,’’ wrote my colleague James Reed. Tonight: Latin jazz, mambo, and the cha-cha. Pictured: Gloria Estefan.

Critic's corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-11T04:00:00Z

Masterpiece Mystery! 9 p.m., Channel 2 Tonight’s episode of the “Inspector Lewis’’ series is called “Quality of Mercy.’’ An actor is murdered with a prop knife during a production of “The Merchant of Venice.’’ Pictured: Kevin Whately.

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-09T17:41:15Z

Mad Men Tomorrow at 10 p.m., AMC The Sally Draper Fan Club meets here every week. She’s fabulous, don’t you think, with her lisp and her righteous anger? Go little Thally! She’s a baby boomer parent in the making, learning from her parents precisely what not to do when she has kids of her own. Betty treats her daughter poorly ...

‘8’ is enough

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-08T17:15:10Z

When I think of the Gosselins, the “Jon & Kate Plus 8’’ stars who now dominate the celebrity press, I think of plastic dolls. The female wears an asymmetrical hairstyle and mom-glam sunglasses and the male has a slobby gut and a shrinking forehead. I also think of Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots.

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-08T16:30:30Z

The Manchurian Candidate 8 p.m., TCM This is the 1962 original version directed by John Frankenheimer, and it is so much better than the 2004 remake with Meryl Streep. The political thriller is about American soldiers who were brainwashed in Korea, and it features memorable performances by Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, and Angela Lansbury. Early on in “Lost,’’ I’d hoped ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-07T16:03:08Z

The Office 9 p.m., Channel 7 This sitcom tends to revolve around parties and events, and this time it’s a big one. Pam (Jenna Fischer) and Jim (John Krasinski) are getting married, after all these years of courtship. What I admire about “The Office’’ (and, OK, NBC) is that the ceremony is not going to take place during a sweeps ...

‘Girlfriend’ is an intriguing tease

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-06T21:00:13Z

The format of “Secret Girlfriend’’ is pretty cool. The protagonist of this new Comedy Central series is the invisible guy who’s holding the camera. We never see him, or hear from him; but all the other characters - his two buddies, his ex-girlfriend, his new love interest - look at him and talk to him and call him “you.’’ And ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-06T16:26:06Z

Glee 9 p.m., Channel 25 One of the benefits of this show is getting to see more of Jessalyn Gilsig, who plays Will’s lying, selfish, not-pregnant wife. Her breakthrough role was as a meek teacher on “Boston Public,’’ but she’s always at her best when she’s playing mean and twisted, as she did on “Nip/Tuck.’’ Perhaps you remember her? She ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-05T21:49:01Z

Darwin’s Darkest Hour 8 p.m., Channel 2 Desmond on “Lost’’ is doing some time-traveling tonight. This docudramatic episode of “Nova’’ stars Henry Ian Cusick as Charles Darwin in 19th-century puffy shirts. The story begins with Darwin competing with another scholar to break the whole-theory-of-evolution thing. Maybe you’ve heard of it. Frances O’Connor, who was so good as Fanny in the ...

Critic's Corner

Matthew Gilbert — 2009-10-05T01:36:14Z

Imus In the Morning 6 a.m., Fox Business Network Quack! Quack! Don Imus has been back on talk radio after CBS Radio fired him in 2007 for his offensive comments about the Rutgers women’s basketball team. Now he’ll be back on TV, too, as FBN begins airing the simulcast of Imus’s radio show. FBN picks up where MSNBC left off ...

‘Seinfeld’ reunion nothing short of brilliant

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-03T01:14:35Z

Track this scene from tomorrow night’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,’’ if you can. Playing “Larry David,’’ Larry David, who is the model for George on “Seinfeld,’’ is telling Jason Alexander’s “Jason Alexander,’’ who played George, that he wants to make a “Seinfeld’’ reunion in which George angles to get his ex-wife back, which is what “Larry’’ is doing by creating a ...

Diagnosis: weak plot

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-02T16:24:46Z

‘Three Rivers’’ is going to have a profound effect on viewers. After watching the new CBS medical drama about organ transplants, you’ll never think of coolers in the same way again. Once a sacred picnic essential, a portable home to beer and burger patties, coolers will hereafter be identified with the cross-country transfer of hearts on ice. And we’re not ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-10-01T17:08:02Z

Night at the Movies 8 p.m., TCM This month on Friday nights, TCM will be profiling different movie genres. Tonight is thriller night, with a look at the history and conventions of the genre, the roles of damsel in distress and femme fatale, and classic villains. Interviewees include Ken Follett, Bryan Singer, Diablo Cody (above), Kenneth Branagh, and David Koepp. ...

Critic’s corner

Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff — 2009-09-30T16:30:45Z

The Mentalist 10 p.m., Channel 4 By bringing in Terry Kinney as the cop who has now taken over the Red John case, “The Mentalist’’ creator Bruno Heller accomplished two goals: 1.) He found a way to explain the Red John history to new viewers and 2.) He has given Simon Baker’s Patrick Jane a formidable foe. When Jane and ...

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2009-09-30T16:30:45Z