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Trump-less Republican debate thumps Trump

Ratings were down nationally for Thursday’s Donald Trump-less Republican presidential candidate debate on Fox News Channel. But those other guys easily had enough juice to outdraw Trump’s belatedly arranged benefit for veterans, which was shown live in part on CNN and MSNBC. All the details are on our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.

Also, the TV Bulletin Board page has a new collection of tasty TV tidbits.
Ed Bark

O.J. Simpson rides again in absorbing first edition of FX's American Crime Story

It’s been 21 years since O. J. Simpson was acquitted of a brutal double murder. FX’s The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story re-tells the most famous modern-day trial in history in a way that never gets old. Our review is here.
Ed Bark

NBC ends up with You, Me and the Apocalypse

Hey, it’s a “comedic drama” this time around. Otherwise, the world again is on the even of destruction in NBC’s 10-episode You, Me and the Apocalypse, which earlier premiered in the United Kingdom and co-stars Rob Lowe as a Vatican-based priest. Our review is here.
Ed Bark

Moonshine, vittles and turf wars in WGN America's Outsiders

WGN America’s third original scripted drama series, Outsiders, pits a set-in-their-ways mountaintop clan against a rampaging coal mining conglomerate. Executive producers include Peter Tolan (Rescue Me) and acclaimed actor Paul Giamatti. So yes, it’s pretty durned good, and our review is here.

Plus, the weekend D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” spotlights the NFL’s NFC/AFC championship games and Fox’s return of The X-Files.
Ed Bark

The devil trades one hot spot for another in Fox's Lucifer

Picture the devil as evacuating hell, opening a trendy club in L.A. and then assisting in solving crimes. That’s the deal in Fox’s Lucifer. And our review is here.

Plus, the latest D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” is posted.
Ed Bark

Return of The X-Files is a limited "event" series that should be the end of it

Edgy and groundbreaking with its 1993 debut, Fox’s The X-Files returns for a limited six-episode engagement that can’t seem to find itself. It premieres after Sunday’s NFC Championship game, and our review is here.
Ed Bark

More comic book heroics in The CW's DC's Legends of Tomorrow

There’s just no stopping the onslaught of comic book superheroes going prime-time. The latest, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, premieres Thursday, Jan. 21st on The CW. Our review is here.

Also, we have a big catchup round of D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshots.” And Dallas-based TEGNA8 has added a new reporter.
Ed Bark

Zach Galifianakis is a downer of a clown in FX's one-of-a-kind Baskets

FX’s Baskets isn’t Zach Galifianakis’ first rodeo -- except that it literally is. He stars as a desperate runner from bulls in this decidedly dark FX comedy series. Our review is here.
Ed Bark

Latest on Bonnie and Clyde is PBS' American Experience reprise

Texas-bred robbers/killers Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow get the American Experience treatment on Tuesday, Jan. 19th. Our review is here.
Ed Bark

PBS' grim, Civil War era Mercy Street gives Downton Abbey an unappetizing followup act

The new six-episode Mercy Street is a rare PBS departure from the British pipeline. It premieres on Sunday, Jan. 17th, following the ongoing final season of Downton Abbey. Our review is here.
Ed Bark

TBS' Angie Tribeca is a Police Squad! for our times

Cast in the Police Squad! mold, here comes TBS’ Angie Tribeca with a Sunday, Jan. 17th, 25-hour marathon in which all 10 Season One episodes will be played over and over. There’s some very fine cop shop spoofery going on here. And here’s our review.

Also, Thursday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” is posted.
Ed Bark

Billions has on the money performances from its two name-brand leads

Paul Giamatti and Damian Lewis drive Showtime’s Billions into the black despite a few head-hurting financial plots and counter-plots. The 12-episode drama series premieres on Sunday, Jan. 17th, and our review is here.
Ed Bark

Hardly revolutionary: But USA network's Colony could have a future with this latest apocalyptic tale

Two familiar TV stars with hit sci-fi series under their belts return to co-star in USA’s Colony, which launches on Thursday, Jan.14th. Our review is here.

Also, Fox4 hires a new reporter for its morning Good Day program. And CBS drew the most viewers for its State of the Union Address coverage in Tuesday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings.
Ed Bark

Fox's Second Chance makes its first impression

The new Fox drama series Second Chance draws on elements from Frankenstein and The Six Million Dollar Man without overly aping either of them. It premieres on Wednesday, Jan. 13th, and our review is here.

Plus, the D-FW ratings for last night’s high-octane, closely fought college football championship game took a big plunge from last year’s. But there were some mitigating circumstances. Details are on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark

The Golden Globes' language problem

Sunday night’s Golden Globes awards ceremony on NBC turned out to be a festival of censored presentations. Some thoughts on what should be done are on the Network News & Reviews page.

Also, the weekend D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” spotlights both the Globes and the NFL’s four wild card games, one of which drew a much bigger local crowd than the Dallas Cowboys’ regular season-ender.
Ed Bark

Anchor/reporter Carla Wade leaving D-FW's TEGNA8 after three-year stay

Dallas-based TEGNA8 has decided to part ways with weekend morning anchor Carla Wade, informed sources tell unclebarky.com. Details are on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark

Angel From Hell gives CBS a lukewarm, earthbound sitcom

Jane Lynch, in her first scripted series since Glee, is tart and brassy anew in CBS’ Angel From Hell. Our review is here.

Plus, NBC5’s Eric King becomes this year’s first newsroom departure. Details are on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.

Also, the start of American Idol’s last season pumped up Fox’s D-FW ratings Wednesday night.
Ed Bark

Lopez, Liotta strive to make the best out of NBC's Shades of Blue

Think The Shield and you’ve pretty much nailed the new NBC cop drama Shades of Blue. But star player Jennifer Lopez isn’t Vic Mackey. Ray Liotta is. It premieres on Thursday, Jan. 7th after Lopez performs disparate duties on rival Fox’s American Idol. And our review is here.
Ed Bark

TEGNA8 mega-botches Wednesday's winning mega-million Powerball numbers

Anchor Cynthia Izaguirre couldn’t resist the obvious reference.”I feel like Steve Harvey -- all of a sudden,” she said on TEGNA8’s Wednesday 10 p.m. newscast after the station put up the wrong winning Powerball numbers and then waited 12 minutes to make a correction. Details are on our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark

Not to be missed: Season 2 of ABC's American Crime

American Crime returns to ABC on Wednesday, Jan. 6th with what looks to be a stellar second season based on the first four episodes available for review. There are 10 hours in all, with core cast members Felicity Huffman, Timothy Hutton, Regina King and others all returning in new roles. Our review is here.

Plus, Gary Cogill talks about joining NBC5 as the station’s freelance film critic while TEGNA8 anchor John McCaa advances the story of when he hopes to be back on the air. Details are on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark

Reviewing Netflix's Making a Murderer after viewing all 10 episodes

Netflix keeps churning it out -- and with a very high batting average in terms of hitting the mark. Its latest binge-worthy production, Making a Murderer, is a 10-hour dissection of a sensational crime committed in Manitowoc, WI. Be forewarned. Once you start watching, it will be no easy task to stop. Our review is here.
Ed Bark

Abbey road: It's the sixth and final season for PBS gem

Downton Abbey starts its final nine-episode season on Sunday, Jan. 3rd. Perfect for feasting, and our review is here.
Ed Bark