Theater

Television critic David Bianculli reflects on the final episode of "Dallas" and the show's 13 year history.

Essmann is known for portraying an eclectic mix of characters in his performance pieces. He's currently performing his one-man show, "Artificial Reality," in New York City.

Actress Daisy Eagan and her father, actor Richard Eagan. Daisy is starring as the young heroine, Mary Lenox, in the Broadway production of "The Secret Garden." Richard is working on a performance piece about stories from Coney Island. Guest host Frank Browning talks to them about pretending, acting, and how a Broadway career affects their family life.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the re-release of the 1960 movie, "Spartacus," directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Laurence Olivier, Tony Curtis, and Kirk Douglas. It contains previously cut and censored scenes featuring sexually suggestive material.

Television critic David BianculliI tells us about two new series premiering on ABC this week: "My Life and Times," by the creator of "Beauty and the Beast," and "Dinosaurs," a comedy that was the last project of Jim Henson.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the new French film, "Daddy Nostalgia," starring Dirk Bogard as a man at the end of his life reconnecting with his daughter.

Stephen Schiff reviews the new movie about British rule in Nigeria.

British actress Joan Plowright. She's one of her nation's leading actresses, having appeared on the London stage since the mid 50s. She's also been on Broadway, had numerous role on British television, and appeared in the films "The Dressmaker," "I Love You To Death," and "Avalon." She was also married to the late actor Sir Lawrence Oliver.

Television critic David Bianculli takes a break from talking about his current favorite show to review the season premiere of "Northern Exposure."

Film critic Owen Gleiberman reviews the recent video release of "The Last Picture Show," which was first released at the beginning of a new renaissance in American filmmaking. He describes it as Peyton Place directed by Ingmar Bergman.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Two: The Secret Ooze." He says that, while several elements are borrowed from other movies, it's surprisingly watchable.

Television critic David Bianculli previews three shows worth catching this week...David Frost's interview with General Norman Schwarzkopf, Bob Costas' interview with musician Paul Simon, and the political comedy "House of Cards," premiering this week on Masterpiece Theater.

Shawn co-starred in and co-wrote the movie, "My Dinner With Andre," and also appeared in "Manhattan," "The Princess Bride," and "Radio Days." Now Shawn is performing a one-man monologue called "The Fever," about a well-to-do man coming to grips with the world's poverty.

In the new thriller, Hopkins plays Doctor Hannibal Lecter, a brillant psychiatrist turned sociopath killer, who also holds the key to the identity of another crazed killer. He tells Terry how he developed the character, including his distinctive voice. Earlier in his career, Hopkins was a stage actor.

Stoppard wrote the award-winning plays "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead," "The Real Inspector Hound," and "The Real Thing;" and the screenplays for "Empire of the Sun," "Brazil," and "The Russia House." He's just made his debut as a film director in the movie adaptation of "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead." During his early life, he lived in India and Singapore.

Television critic David Bianculli reviews "Darlings of the Gods," a TV miniseries about the real life romance between two of this century's greatest actors; Lawrence Oliver and Vivian Leigh.

Stephen Schiff reviews the new film starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. He says that, despite its macabre premise, the movie is oddly comforting and fairy-tale like.

In honor of Saint Valentine's Day, film critic Owen Gleiberman reviews the 1946 romance, "Humoresque," with Joan Crawford and John Garfield. He says no recent romance films capture Hollywood's early edginess.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the new movie, "Not Without My Daughter." It stars Sally Field and Alfred Molina and is based on the true story of an American woman and her daughter who are trapped in Iran after the Iranian revolution. Among the movie's many problems is its demonization of Muslims -- which, in light of the Gulf crisis, couldn't have come at a worse time.

The 60's soap opera "Dark Shadows" returns from the dead this weekend. Television critic David Bianculli says the original, like a vampire, bites and sucks. The reboot remains, at best, a guilty pleasure.