Good 'Luck': HBO Brings David Milch, and Other Thoroughbreds, to a New TV Series

David Milch. Michael Mann. Dustin Hoffman. Nick Nolte. HBO's Luck, which premieres Sunday night at 9 ET, claims all of those defiantly individual artists and more, working towards a common goal: to produce an involved, multi-layered, intriguing show about the world of horse racing. At that goal, they cross the finish line impressively -- but not in record time. It takes a while to define, understand and warm up to the characters and conflicts in Luck -- but it's worth the effort, and the commitment. By episode three, all the pieces are in place, and Luck really begins to pay off... (more)

	CHUCK NBC, 8 p.m. ET SERIES FINALE: At the cliffhanger teaser for the end of last week’s episode, Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski), brainwashed by villains with all memory of her time with Chuck (Zachary Levi) erased, was given orders for her latest “mission” – to kill Chuck. But however this series will end tonight, that won’t be the way. Pictures released in advance show the heroes reunited, ready to take on the bad guys for one last stand. The real villains on this series, though, were the scriptwriters, who went downhill quickly after the first season.
	FRINGE Fox, 9 p.m. ET More cliffhangers, and more confusion – this time having to do with yet another possible universe, as well as that troubling prediction that has Olivia (Anna Torv) – one of the Olivias, anyway – worried about her future. As in: worried that she won’t have one.
	GREAT PERFORMANCES: “TONY BENNETT: DUETS II” PBS, 9 p.m. ET (Check local listings) When making his Duets II CD, Tony Bennett set up cameras during the recording sessions, and tonight’s special presents the visual, as well as aural, fruits of that labor. One clear highlight, seen already during Lady Gaga’s Christmas special for NBC, is her duet with Bennett – but another highlight, a more poignant one, is “Body and Soul,” as sung by Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse at England’s Abbey Road studios.
	SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE Starz, 10 p.m. ET SEASON PREMIERE: This may as well be a series premiere as well, since the death of Andy Whitfield, who played Spartacus last season, has resulted in the character being recast. Now it’s Liam McIntyre who leads the slave revolt – and, as Spartacus, encounters a character who, last season, was presumed (and left for) dead: Lucy Lawless’ Lucretia. She resurfaces, but mentally even more than physically, appears much the worse for wear.
	MERLIN Syfy, 10 p.m. ET Here’s a coincidence to warp the minds of genre fans. Last season’s Game of Thrones ended with the hatching of dinosaur eggs. Well, tonight on this medieval drama series, the plot involves… the last surviving dragon egg. And if Merlin (Colin Morgan) isn’t careful, the yolk’s on him.

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Made by Thoroughbreds, HBO's 'Luck' Can Be a Daze at the Races

Ed Bark

A horse is a horse, of course of course. If only it were that easy with Luck, a measured and at times almost mystical series devoted to the so-called "Sport of Kings" -- and degenerate gamblers. HBO took the unprecedented step of sending out all nine episodes of Season 1. And you'll pretty much win in the end if you ride this mount all the way to the finish line . . . (more)

Fox's 'Touch' Can Be Tough to Grasp

Ed Bark

The numbers, the premise, the interconnectivity and Kiefer Sutherland as a beaten-down airport baggage handler. None of these quite add up in Fox's Touch. Not that all involved aren't wholly well-intended in this far-flung aspirational new series from the creator and executive producer of NBC's Heroes. Fox is launching it via a special preview episode following Wednesday's edition of American Idol . . . (more)

Boston Gets a Gift, New York Gets a Break -- And I May Get an Ulcer

Eric Gould

Standing at midfield with CBS Sports' JIm Nantz Sunday night, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said into the microphone, his words reverberating throughout Gillette Stadium, "I sucked pretty bad today, but our defense saved us." It was blunt and accurate -- though not, perhaps, the most eloquent post-game recap by a top national sports figure. Especially with kids watching. But you had to admire the honesty and the grit of the moment . . . (more)

Barky Does 'Dallas' (The Next Generation)

Ed Bark

TNT's new version of Dallas won't be premiering until sometime this summer. But the network already has the opening episode completed, and sent it to TV writers . . . It's a briskly entertaining hour . . . (more)

FLICK PICKS: Bela Says 'Pull the String!'

If I tout a triple feature of Bela films, nobody's going to ask "Bela who?" Eighty years after his first Hollywood splash, Bela Lugosi remains an icon, whether it's from Martin Landau's delirious tribute in Tim Burton's Ed Wood or Lugosi's eerie work in films like the three '30s chillers unreeling Sunday night on Turner Classic Movies . . . (more)

PRESS TOUR: TV Critics Meet J.Lo

Oh, to have been at this press tour session! Train wreck! It's already going down in TCA lore, says this fun report from our friend Ray Richmond in Deadline Hollywood on Univision's J.Lo/Marc Anthony appearance, to promote the Jan. 28 premiere of their talent search series Q'VIva! The Chosen . . . (more)

ELLERY QUEEN

This perennially enjoyable '70s gem casts Jim Hutton (Timothy's dad) as an absent-minded mystery writer who helps his police inspector dad (David Wayne) solve murders in postwar NYC. Packed with cool vintage suspects -- er, guest stars! Now over half off!

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