Blogs and Stories
Beyond Ryan Seacrest
)
What do the networks program on a holiday week? Think Christian orgies, Caroline Kennedy and a Law & Order marathon. Our weekly roundup of what's worth watching.
MONDAY DECEMBER 29
Le Cirque: A Table in Heaven is a smart glimpse into the well-garnished lives of restaurateurs Sirio Maccioni and his three sons, Mario, Marco, and Mauro. The filmmakers document the closing of the landmark eatery in 2004 and preparations for its grand reopening in 2006. Says the New York Times: “These people appear to be absolutely miserable, and yet they do their jobs with admirable skill. It makes for great theater.” Even better than Top Chef. (8 p.m.)
PBS’s season 3 premiere of Great Performances at the Met features the John Adams opera “Doctor Atomic,” set around the 1945 testing of the first atomic bomb. It ain’t over till the mushroom cloud blooms. (9 p.m.)
Some redheaded child stars turn into Danny Bonaduce. Others become Ron Howard. TCM celebrates the latter with Ron Howard: 50 Years in Film. (8 p.m.)
Just in time for New Year’s resolutions, The History Channel kicks off its Seven Deadly Sins series with everyone’s favorite, “Lust.” Learn about Gnostic Christian orgies and those wacky Puritans. (9 p.m.)
TUESDAY DECEMBER 30
Nothing goes to plan after Liev Schreiber recruits Iraqi film student Muthana Mohmed—whose school was destroyed by American bombs—to work on a Hollywood movie. PBS’s Independent Lens documents the mayhem: “On set, idealistic expectations and cultural misunderstandings collide, launching Mohmed on a journey more complicated than either he or his American benefactors ever anticipated.” (10 p.m.)
Morgan Freeman, George Jones, Barbra Streisand, Twyla Tharp, Pete Townshend, and Roger Daltrey are the honorees at the 31st Annual Kennedy Center Honors. Caroline Kennedy hosts (and no one objects); musical guests and luminaries include Beyonce, Glenn Close, Clint Eastwood, B.B. King, Queen Latifah, Lily Tomlin, and Denzel Washington. (CBS, 9 p.m.)
John Talks Joe
Lloyd Grove is editor at large for The Daily Beast. He is also a frequent contributor to New York magazine and was a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio. He wrote a gossip column for the New York Daily News from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, he wrote the Reliable Source column for the Washington Post, where he spent 23 years covering politics, the media, and other subjects.
The Right Dumps Carrie
Jacob Bernstein is a senior reporter at The Daily Beast. Previously, he was a features writer at WWD and W Magazine. He has also written for New York magazine, Paper, and The Huffington Post.
Aniston on The View, and Holiday Specials Galore
Nicole Ankowski writes about television, pop culture, and—on occasion—more frivolous matters. She lives in Brooklyn.
'Momma's Boys' and Other TV Highlights
Nicole Ankowski writes about television, pop culture, and—on occasion—more frivolous matters. She lives in Brooklyn.
What to Watch on TV This Week
Nicole Ankowski writes about television, pop culture, and—on occasion—more frivolous matters. She lives in Brooklyn.
Thank you.
As a first time user, your comment has been submitted for review. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a day or two for your comment to be reviewed, depending on the time of week and the volume of comments we receive.
Please log in to leave comments.