Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
Grace & Frankie (Netflix, 3:01 a.m., Friday): From Friends co-creator Marta Kaufmann, this Netflix series sees lifelong enemies Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda hurled together to figure out what to do when their husbands (Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen) discover they’re gay and run away together. Is all this elderly, seriocomic relationship drama your next online binge-watch? Well, you’ve got two guides to help you make up your mind as Joshua Alston handles the pre-air TV Review, and Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya takes on weekly duties.
Also noted
Other Space (Yahoo): If an episode entitled “The Death Of Art” suggests that Trace Beaulieu’s hobo robot (“hobot”?) will be leaving Paul Feig’s delightfully weird sci-fi comedy series, then we’re gonna lost it around here. Molly Eichel assures us that it’s all gonna be okay, you guys.
Grimm (NBC, 8 p.m., Friday): Hank and Nick hunt down a serial killer. Les Chappell asks, ”Could it be a…monster serial killer?” Grimm is like, “Maaaaaaybe.”
Comedy Bang! Bang! (IFC, 11 p.m., Friday): Scott and Reggie welcome Pitch Perfect (and, sure, Pitch Perfect 2)‘s Skyar Astin. Emily L. Stephens says as long as he leaves the musical number to Reggie Watts, everything’ll be fine.
Childrens Hospital (Adult Swim, 11:59 p.m., Friday): Henry Winkler’s Sy tries to impress a blogger in advance of the hospital’s big gala. LaToya Ferguson says trying to impress someone who writes on the internet is a fool’s errand. Good luck, Childrens Hospital.
Orphan Black (BBC America, 9 p.m., Saturday): It’s clone vs. clone again this week as the Maslanys continue to battle the less interesting male clones. Caroline Framke says, “Always bet on Maslany.”
Outlander (Starz, 9 p.m., Saturday): Jamie’s captured by the Redcoats (again?), and Claire and Jenny set out to spring him, Claire presumably muttering under her breath. Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya just hopes that Jamie’s dilemma peps things up after last week’s downer of an episode.
Saturday Night Live (NBC, 11:30 p.m., Saturday): In her only other hosting gig in 2001, Lorne Michaels famously asked Reese Witherspoon to drop an F-bomb in her monologue in order to announce that New York was still New York after September 11th. Ever the genteel Southerner, Witherspoon demurred (she did say “freezing my balls off”). This time, Dennis Perkins is hoping she simply cuts loose with a string of truck driver profanity just for the hell of it. Musical guest: Florence + The Machine.
Elsewhere in TV Club
In this week’s AVQ&A, your favorite AV Clubbers list the shows they’re holding off on until they can power through the entire run of the series all at once. Then, in her TV Club 10 feature, Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya examines the groundbreaking lesbian drama The L Word through the lens of its ten most representative episodes. After that, Av Club film critic par excellence Ignatiy Vishnevetsky lays out the case for revisiting the sci-fi horrors of Event Horizon in his Watch This.
What else is on
NBA Playoffs:
Cavaliers at Bulls (ESPN, 8 p.m., Friday)
Rockets at Clippers (ESPN, 10:30 p.m., Friday)
Hawks at Wizards (ESPN, 5 p.m., Saturday)
Warriors at Grizzlies (ABC, 8 p.m., Saturday)
NHL Playoffs:
Capitals at Rangers (NBCSN, 7 p.m., Friday)
Ducks at Flames (NBCSN, 9:30 p.m., Friday)
Lightning at Canadiens (NBCSN, 7 p.m., Saturday)
Tyler Perry’s For Better Or Worse (OWN, 9 p.m., Friday): Angela’s mad at Marcus for letting Richard stay at their house. Apparently, he’s been churning out lowbrow-but-preachy movies and television series while wearing a dress.
The Messengers (CW, 9 p.m., Friday): In their quest to avert the apocalypse, one angel lands in the slammer, while the rest attent an energy summit? You’re sure these are angels we’re talking about?
Bitten (Syfy, 9 p.m., Friday): Veteran werewolf Elena tries to guide rookie werewolf Dr. Bauer through her first change. “Just hang back on the pitch and watch for the break,” Elena says, completely misunderstanding the concept.
Lost Girl (Syfy, 10 p.m., Friday): Syfy’s supernatural mantor Saturday continues, when Bo has to decide whether or not to help a young succubus who comes to her for help. “Succubussing isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” Bo tells her, draping her arm around the young girl’s shoulders. “Now howsabout I teach you how to hit a change-up?”
Mysteries At The National Parks (Travel, 10 p.m., Friday): There’s a second new episode at 10:30, but this one is called “Chupacabra Island!” Who would go there? Do not go to that island!
Brad Williams: Fun Size (Showtime, 10 p.m., Friday): In his new standup special, Williams examines whether it’s harder to be a dwarf actor/comedian or to be Carlos Mencia’s longtime opening act.
The Grace Helbig Show (E!, 10:30 p.m., Friday): Very funny comedian Helbig welcomes newly ordained Late Late Show host James Corden and Lance Bass, for some reason.
Vice (HBO, 11 p.m., Friday): The newsmagazine series explores how we’ve managed to screw up the most basic building blocks of life with reports on genetically modified foods and India’s appalling lack of clean water. Way to go, humans!
Stockholm, Pennsylvania (Lifetime, 8 p.m., Saturday): Lifetime continues its campaign to scare every woman in the world from doing anything but staying indoors and watching Lifetime under a blanket with this movie about a woman trying to adjust to normal life after being held captive by a man for 17 years. Lesson: never go outside.
Just The Way You Are (Hallmark, 9 p.m., Saturday): When a professional matchmaker sees her own marriage failing, she invites her hubby on a blind date. As she’s played by Candace Cameron Bure, one can assume it was set up at Christian Mingle.
Christopher Titus: The Angry Pursuit Of Happiness (Comedy Central, 1:59 p.m., Saturday): Comedian Titus continues to strip mine his insanely troubled life for material in his new standup special.
In case you missed it
Louie: AHHHHHHHHHH! Let’s check in with Brandon Nowalk for his professional opinion. Brandon? AHHHHHHHHHH!