Television

(Clockwise from upper left) Eugene Levy in Schitt's Creek, Leslie Odom Jr. in Hamilton, Anya Taylor-Joy in The Queen's Gambit, Jurnee Smollett in Lovecraft Country, Sacha Baron Cohen in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, and Kristen Bell in The Good Place.

Arts

Best TV Of 2020: Great Shows Brought Us Together In A Difficult, Distanced Year

3:33pm December 24, 2020

by David Bianculli

COVID-19 precautions kept us physically apart, but Fresh Air TV critic David Bianculli says shows such as Schitt's Creek, Better Call Saul, Fargo and Lovecraft Country provided virtual connection.

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A long investigation by Ken Dornstein, a documentary filmmaker whose brother died in the attack, identified Libyan Abu Agela Mas'ud as the possible maker of the bomb that shattered the New York-bound Boeing 747 as it flew over Lockerbie, Scotland on Dec.

Filmmaker Details Investigation That Identified Alleged Pam Am Flight 103 Bomb-Maker

6:29am December 24, 2020

Ken Dornstein talks about how his 2015 documentary led to the recent indictment of Abu Agela Mas'ud as the man suspected of making the bomb that took down Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.

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Shonda Rhimes Debuts A Romantic Drama, Set In 19th Century England, On Netflix

4:07pm December 23, 2020

by Eric Deggans

Grey's Anatomy and Scandal creator Shonda Rhimes will debut her first series for Netflix on Christmas Day. Bridgerton features storytelling techniques that have become hallmarks of Rhimes' style.

'Big Bang Theory' Star On Her New Miniseries

4:08pm December 17, 2020

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with actor Kaley Cuoco about her new miniseries, The Flight Attendant. It's a twisty caper that starts when her character wakes up next to a murdered man.

Arts

'Late Night' Comic Amber Ruffin On Her New Show — And Telling Jokes Seth Meyers Can't

1:36pm December 16, 2020

by Ann Marie Baldonado

The Late Night writer and performer hosts The Amber Ruffin Show on NBC's streaming service, Peacock. "I've earned (hopefully) enough grace to do whatever I want," she says of her new hosting gig.

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All four critics agreed that Michaela Coel's series I May Destroy You was "one of the most exciting of 2020."

Arts

NPR Critics Pick Their Favorite TV From A Strange 2020

7:12pm December 14, 2020

If you could watch it at home in 2020, it's here — four NPR critics give their picks for the best in streaming or broadcast TV in a year when current events turned the industry upside down.

Wonder Woman 1984, starring Gal Gadot, will open in theaters and stream on HBO Max when it's released on Christmas Day.

Arts

Christopher Nolan Calls Warner Bros.' Shift To Streaming New Movies 'A Great Danger'

6:33pm December 11, 2020

by Ari Shapiro

In an interview with NPR, the blockbuster director said the studio's decision to stream movies on HBO Max on the day of their release will hurt the people who work in the movie industry.

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Arts

The Best Of Television In 2020

5:01am December 11, 2020

by Eric Deggans

NPR TV critic Eric Deggans gives us his picks for best the TV programs of 2020 and a few more specific things viewers might want to seek out.

Robyn (voiced by Honor Kneafsey) heads into the woods in the animated film Wolfwalkers.

Arts

'Wolfwalkers' Is A Rich, Densely Packed Visual Feast

5:00am December 11, 2020

by Glen Weldon

The story is simple, the themes surprisingly complex, and the hand-drawn animation is stunning in this stylish tale of a young girl yearning for freedom.

Ellen DeGeneres appears in a Fox television special benefiting pandemic relief in March.

Arts

Ellen DeGeneres Tests Positive For the Coronavirus; Show Shut Down Until January

6:53pm December 10, 2020

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

The television host announced Thursday that she has tested positive for the coronavirus but is "feeling fine." Her talk show has been put on hold until January.