television

PASADENA, Calif. - "American Experience" executive producer Mark Samels pondered the question: When does history begin? At what point does it make sense for the respected PBS documentary program to profile a past U.S. president?

Fans of uncomfortable comedy ("Curb Your Enthusiasm") and the Ricky Gervais brand of uncomfortable comedy in particular ("The Office," "Extras") may be drawn to HBO's "Life's Too Short" (10:30 p.m. EST Sunday), but it's a little too familiar.

Q: Are there only two seasons to "Downton Abbey"? If so, the ending stinks!

-- Jeannette, 53, Crestwood, Pa.

For evidence of how ambivalent television can be about baby boomers, consider the story of "Hot in Cleveland" star Wendie Malick.

"Comic Book Men" (10 p.m. EST Sunday, AMC), set inside film director Kevin Smith's New Jersey comics-and-collectibles store, struggles to find a raison d'etre in its premiere episode.

PASADENA, Calif. - Looking back on it, actor Josh Lucas used to think it was only "a little strange."

But now, upon reflection, he sees it a little differently.

PASADENA, Calif. - The barn doors opened, and Carol Peletier's life changed.

At least a dozen or so zombies came wobbling out of the barn in that scene in the midseason finale of "The Walking Dead" in December. One of them was most unexpected: Carol's missing daughter, Sophia, was no longer the sweet child her mother knew. She was now a gray-skinned, flesh-eating monster.

PASADENA, Calif. - American history often gets passed on in a too-simple narrative, especially in pop culture. It's presented as black and white; there were good guys and bad guys.

Q: Can you tell me if "Rules of Engagement" has been canceled or moved to another time? I had been watching it on Thursday night every week.

-- Peg Kasmer, Plum Borough, Pa.

According to one poll released last week, 55 percent of U.S. adults said they planned to tune in to Sunday's Super Bowl as much or more for the commercials than for the game. If that's true, and if those viewers also spend any time on social-media sites like Facebook or Twitter, odds are this was a pretty disappointing year for them.