David Hiltbrand

A TV columnist and pop culture writer, Hiltbrand has worked as a critic at People and as a columnist and editor at TV Guide. Despite being romantically challenged, he has written for the soap operas All My Children and Guiding Light. Hiltbrand is the author of three mystery novels featuring Jim McNamara, the rock n’ roll detective. He has, God help him, seen every episode of American Idol. His column "Dave on Demand" appears every Saturday in The Inquirer.

Read David's blog Dave on Demand
Latest post: Howard Stern’s dubious ‘Talent’ - 05/15/2012
Email David at dhiltbrand@phillynews.com

Howard Stern’s dubious ‘Talent’

Howard Stern’s dubious ‘Talent’

Fox fall schedule: A modest harvest, with a degree of Kevin Bacon - 05/15/2012: By David Hiltbrand, INQUIRER TV WRITER

Fox announced its fall lineup on Monday with great fanfare and minimal changes. The presentation at the Beacon Theater in New York began with a video of the cast from New Girl interviewing prospective additional roommates — everyone from Fringe’s Walter Bishop to the Rubber Man from FX’s American Horror Story.
‘Desperate Housewives’ ending its eight-year run - 05/10/2012: By David Hiltbrand, INQUIRER TV WRITER

It’s time for one last block party on Wisteria Lane. We’ve been through so much with our Desperate Housewives over eight madcap seasons. That turns out to be both a good and a bad thing as Sunday’s two-hour series finale approaches.
Jessica Paré a best actress nominee? Travesty! - 05/11/2012: David Hiltbrand

I’d be the first to admit that I watch and think entirely too much about television. But that doesn’t mean that I understand it. Case in point: AMC’s intention to put Mad Men’s Jessica Pare up for the outstanding-lead-actress category in a drama at this year’s Emmys.
Good acting saves 'Common Law' - 05/10/2012: By David Hiltbrand, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

USA's Common Law shifts the formula to the buddy cop genre. The result is distinctly forced, but a standout cast manages to put a breezy top spin on some leaden material.
Sit right back and hear some songs - 05/04/2012: David Hiltbrand

You remember Landau Eugene Murphy Jr.? He was the sixth-season proof positive that America’s Got Talent. In the middle of a benefit concert in his native West Virginia last week, he instructed the audience members to refer to the handout sheets they had been furnished. Junior had an agenda. He wanted to set a world record for the most people singing a TV theme song in one place. Are you ready?
Generational angst as humorously told - 05/02/2012: By David Hiltbrand, Inquirer Staff Writer

Jen Lancaster is up on her high horse again. Fans of the witty memoirist are delighted to see her back in the saddle. Her just-published book, Jeneration X (NAL, $25.95) is a plea for her contemporaries to stand apart from the willfully infantile generations that bracket them -- the boomers and the millenials -- by acting like adults.
Dave on Demand: Tummy troubles — but Seacrest carries on - 04/27/2012: David Hiltbrand

According to everyone at the American Idol dream factory, Ryan Seacrest had an aggressive strain of stomach virus in the hours leading up to Wednesday’s Queen-themed performance show.
Philly pretzel CEO is 'Undercover Boss' - 04/25/2012: By David Hiltbrand, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Friday night’s episode of Undercover Boss will have a distinctly local flavor. That’s because the subject of the show is Bensalem native Dan DiZio, with the Philly Pretzel Factory.
Why the networks root for a hard freeze - 04/20/2012: David Hiltbrand

One of my favorite soap opera plots of all time played out on General Hospital in the summer of 1981 when Mikkos Cassadine was well on his way to freezing the planet, starting of course with Port Charles, using a cleverly designed weather machine. He might have gotten away with it, too, if Luke and Laura had not foiled his evil plot.
The road from Mt. Airy to Comedy Central - 04/18/2012: By David Hiltbrand, Inquirer Staff Writer

As the second youngest in a raucous family of six, Mt. Airy's Paul F. Tompkins learned early that being funny go him noticed. These days, he's part of killer row of stand-up cable TV specials.