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Television
9:07 am
Tue December 20, 2011

Bianculli Picks The Best (And Worst) TV Of 2011

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Credit Gregory Peters / AMC
Over the past few seasons, Breaking Bad's Walter White (Bryan Cranston) has changed from meek hero to forceful villain. TV critic David Bianculli says he isn't just breaking bad anymore — he's entirely broken.
Credit Showtime

In Showtime's Homeland, Claire Danes plays a CIA agent who suspects a heroic American POW is actually a double agent for al-Qaida.

Credit Mark Seliger / FX
Timothy Olyphant plays Raylan Givens, a present-day U.S. marshal with Wild West inclinations, on the FX series Justified.
Credit HBO
Larry David returned for an eighth season of Curb Your Enthusiasm this year.
Credit Brian Hamill/MGM / PBS
Filmmaker Woody Allen was given the American Masters treatment this year on PBS.
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Fresh Air's TV critic David Bianculli liked so many shows this year that he says he couldn't pick just 10 favorites. Instead, he split his favorites into several lists, including best documentaries and best scripted comedies/dramas.

Bianculli also highlights some of the worst shows to hit TV screens this year — including not one but two shows featuring Snooki.

Despite his Snooki misgivings, Bianculli says it was a banner year for TV.

"There is more good television on a weekly basis than there has ever been," Bianculli says. "I am absolutely certain of it."

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It's All Politics
8:59 am
Tue December 20, 2011

Flagging In Polls, Gingrich Urges Voters To Reject Negative Campaigning

Credit MIKE THEILER / UPI /Landov
Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich makes remarks at a town hall meeting at Level 10 Apparel's screen-printing warehouse, in Hiawatha, Iowa, Dec. 19.
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By Debra Rosenberg

New polls — both in Iowa and nationwide — show front-running GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich losing his edge. Over at the New York Times' blog FiveThirtyEight, Nate Silver's latest forecast shows Ron Paul taking the lead in Iowa.

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The Two-Way
8:55 am
Tue December 20, 2011

VIDEOS: Lights Go Out At Candlestick During 'Monday Night Football'

Credit Ezra Shaw / Getty Images
Most of the lights were out, but between camera flashes and emergency back-ups it wasn't pitch black when there were two power failures Monday night at San Francisco's Candlestick Park.
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Shots - Health Blog
8:52 am
Tue December 20, 2011

Hospitals That Serve The Poor Struggle With Readmissions

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By Jordan Rau and Michelle Andrews

Hospitals across the country are trying to clamp down on frequent readmissions in anticipation of new penalties Medicare is readying. But it's a bigger problem at hospitals that treat lots of low-income patients.

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The Salt
8:49 am
Tue December 20, 2011

11 Food Gifts We'd Like To See On The Doorstep

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Credit Ethan Taniguchi for Pezzini Farms
Artichokes for Christmas? For some veggie lovers, a box from Pezzini Farms may be the perfect gift.
Credit SeaBear
Wild salmon filets from SeaBear.
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By Nancy Shute

When it comes to a gift that embodies the warmth and sharing of the holidays, food wins every time. This week, millions of boxes of treats are jetting across the country, spreading cheer and calories. We asked the denizens of NPR's science desk what food they're hoping to find on their doorsteps this week. Here are their picks, from traditional to outré.

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