David Bianculli

Heroic POW or al-Qaida double agent? Howard Gordon, creator and producer of the new Showtime thriller, Homeland, talks about the twists and turns of the series, and explains why it's very different from his previous show, 24.

TV critic David Bianculli says most shows on TV this fall are a big disappointment. But three offerings this upcoming Sunday night — Prohibition, Dexter and Homeland — are all excellent, invigorating and exceptionally intelligent.

Ted Danson and James Spader join the casts of CSI and The Office this season — and Simon Cowell returns to TV with an Americanized version of his British hit The X-Factor. Critic David Bianculli says the three TV vets each bring something else to their roles: a likability factor.

High-profile changes in returning shows --Two and a Half Men and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation — offer the most excitement in broadcast TV this fall. Critic David Bianculli says the new shows mostly disappoint, though you may be intrigued by Sarah Michelle Gellar in CW's Ringer.

New York Times food columnist Mark Bittman is known for his straightforward approach to recipes. In How To Cook Everything: Vegetarian, he explains how to make more than 2,000 meatless meals.

Chandler talks about playing Coach Eric Taylor on Friday Night Lights, the NBC series about the big drama of small-town Texas high-school football. The award-winning drama wraps up its five-season run tonight on NBC.

This interview was originally broadcast on April 21, 2008. Friday Night Lights will end its five-season run on Friday July 15, 2011 on NBC at 8 p.m. ET.

The star of Friday Night Lights discusses her role playing Coach Taylor's wife on the NBC drama, which wraps up its five-season run Friday on NBC.

This interview was originally broadcast on June 23, 2010. Friday Night Lights will end its five-season run on Friday July 15, 2011 on NBC at 8 p.m. ET.

New seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Torchwood premiered over the weekend, and three other cable shows return to prime time starting Wednesday. Never mind that it's the height of summer — TV critic David Bianculli says this week will be a TV fan's Christmas.

A new version of the British sci-fi series and a new season of the Larry David comedy begin this weekend on Starz and HBO, respectively. TV critic David Bianculli says while the broadcast networks are taking it easy, these competitors are serving up excellent, unusual television.

Romano recently picked up a Peabody Award for his TNT show Men of a Certain Age, which co-stars Scott Bakula and Andre Braugher. Romano explains why he returned to TV after taking a few years off when his hit sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond ended in 2005.