Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
After February 3, I think the Patriots will be able to find a Quantum of Solace in the fact that they played really well this season. They worked hard. They went undefeated during the regular season, and they came oh-so-close to having a truly perfect season. There has to be a Quantum of Solace they can take from that. There just has to be.
Sunday, February 3:
8:00 – 9:00PM
Nature – “Unforgettable Elephants”. I know the joke they're making and fine, I'll play along. Really? An elephant is unforgettable? That's funny because I always thought the line went that elephants never forgot. Ha, ha, ha, oh so funny.
9:00 – 10:30PM
Masterpiece Theatre – "The Complete Jane Austen". Holy macaroni! They're going to show pretty much every Jane Austen work they can get their hands on. That's actually why they call it "The Complete Jane Austen," they're going to show all of it. Up this week, "Miss Austen Regrets." Okay, so this one isn't from her canon, it's about her specifically.
10:30 – 11:00PM
The Queen Family. Appalachia. It's a-changing. The Queen family, seriously, they're named Queen. And, even better, they play mountain music. Mountain music. Their way of life is passing though, the modern world is encroaching, and Mary Jane Queen, her husband, and their eight kids are changing with it.
Monday, February 4:
8:00 – 9:00PM
Antiques Roadshow – "Orlando (Hour Two)". The Roadshow is going to Disney World! Let's admit it, there's nothing else there. I know, Sea World, Universal Studios, whatever, none of it is Disney. Disney definitely has antique stuff, not antique like 500 years old, but antique like collectible.
9:00 – 10:00PM
American Experience – "Grand Central". There's nothing like Grand Central Station. Nothing in the world like it all. I love not having to commute to the city every day, but if there was one good part about spending an hour each way to and from work, it was Grand Central Station.
10:00 – 11:00PM
Prince Among Slaves. Mos Def narrates the true story of an African prince who was a slave in Mississippi for 40 years before being able to buy his freedom. Now my description of the show doesn't say when this took place, but do you want to give me odds on it being the twentieth century?
Tuesday, February 5:
8:00 – 9:00PM
Nova – "The Mummy Who Would Be King". So, there’s a mummy sitting on a shelf in a museum at Niagara Falls. There are some who are of the opinion that this might be the body of Ramses I. The scientist types are looking into it. My opinion? I’m glad you asked. I think that he probably went there on his honeymoon, as all honeymooners do, went over the Falls in a barrel, as everyone who visits does, and the rest is history.
9:00 – 10:00PM
Frontline – "A Dangerous Business". This episode first aired five years ago. I imagine it's no longer quite on the "frontline" but that doesn't make it bad, does it? It won the Pulitzer Prize after all. Plus, it's about workplace safety and I'm sure that many of the issues the show raises still exist.
10:00 – 12:00AM
Super Tuesday. You know what this is. I know what this is. I can't wait to see what happens on Super Tuesday. You can't wait to see what happens on Super Tuesday. I really can't wait to see what happens on the first Tuesday in November, either.
Wednesday, February 6:
8:00 – 9:00PM
America's Ballroom Challenge – “American Rhythm”. Some of the finest dancers in North America gather at the Columbus Convention Center in Ohio to dance their hearts out. Up this week, the American Rhythm division. They're going to cha cha. They're going to rumba. They're going to swing. They're going to bolero. They're going to mambo. I just hope it's going to be the Mambo No. 5.
9:00PM – 11:00PM
African American Lives 2 – "The Road Home/A Way out of No Way". The first episode of these season looks at Tom Joyner's great-uncles and Bliss Broyard's discovery about her father's identity. The second episode examines Chris Rock and Don Cheadle's lineage, not that they're related.
Thursday, February 7:
8:00 – 9:00PM
The This Old House Hour – Episode TBA. It’s This Old House and Ask This Old House. It’s like maintenance… for your home. Wait, no, that’s exactly what it is. That doesn’t mean it’s not awesome though. Seriously, The This Old House Hour is one of the finest home improvement hours on PBS. No joke.
9:00 – 10:00PM
Antiques Roadshow – "Orlando (Hour Two)". The Roadshow is going to Disney World! Let's admit it, there's nothing else there. I know, Sea World, Universal Studios, whatever, none of it is Disney. Disney definitely has antique stuff, not antique like 500 years old, but antique like collectible.
10:00 – 11:00PM
Soundstage – "John Fogerty". Put him in, coach. He's ready to play. Today. Look at him. He could be centerfield. I like that Fogerty kid. He doesn't only sing a good song, he writes a great tune. Tonight he sings some of those tunes.
Friday, February 8:
8:00 – 8:30PM
Washington Week with Gwen Ifill and National Journal #4732. Another whole week has gone by and good old Gwen Ifill and National Journal are here to fill us in. For the record, I like to pretend the National Journal is a sidekick, like Robin to Batman, Starsky to Hutch, or chocolate sauce to chocolate ice cream.
8:30 – 9:00PM
NOW on PBS #406. It’s the Emmy award-winning weekly newsmagazine. It looks at issues facing our democracy. The show is hosted by David Brancaccio. And, even better, they still send me e-mails (I think that makes me cool and them nice). Thanks, Now, you guys are awesome!
9:00 – 10:00PM
Bill Moyers Journal #1144. It’s Bill Moyers. It’s his 1,144th journal (not really, but I’m not going to explain to you the way in which TV shows are numbered at this point in time, maybe later if you’re nice). He’s a good journalist so I assume this will be good journalism (at least the odds are it will).
10:00PM – 11:00PM
In Search of Shakespeare – "A Time of Revolution". This is a four-part series. It's all hosted by Michael Wood. This week he's looking at the "dark side of Shakespeare's world." I just hope he doesn't get too close to the dark side. Once you start down the path to the dark side forever will it dominate your destiny.
Saturday, February 9:
9:00 – 10:00PM
Austin City Limits – "Etta James". Everything's betta with Etta. Try Etta, she's betta. Etta, betta. Betta, Etta. Not only does her name make for some fun rhyming, she's a fantastic singer. Watch, you'll see what I mean (about the rhyming mainly).
Quantum of Solace, that's what the Patriots need, a Quantum of Solace. And, by the way, that's the name of the movie that I want a walk-on role in. Quantum of Solace. If you've been reading the column you know what I'm talking about. Quantum of Solace. Me. I'm going to need way more than that if I don't get my walk-on role.
