Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Sunday, March 10. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
American Dad (Fox, 7:30 p.m.): The production cycles for Fox’s animated shows are so unpredictable, there’s no telling why American Dad is airing its second episode-length James Bond homage months after Skyfall’s theatrical run (and nearly a full 30 days after the latest 007 film was released on home video). There is telling, however, that Fox is unafraid of courting the maximum amount of controversy with the episode, which it’s airing in a pre-primetime slot. Kevin McFarland reminds you that, when it comes to FCC complaints, you only live twice.
REGULAR COVERAGE
The Simpsons (Fox, 8 p.m.): Or maybe the network just wanted to pair that American Dad with this Simpsons, which also features a “black eye” pun in its title. Coincidentally, Black Eyed Peas’ appl.de.ap fills in for Robert David Sullivan on reviewing duties this week.
Once Upon A Time (ABC, 8 p.m.): That old black magic has many a character in its spell, that old black magic that Once Upon A Time weaves so well. And up and down Oliver Sava goes, round and round Oliver Sava goes.
Revenge (ABC, 9 p.m.): If you were beginning to feel like Revenge was losing its thirst for, you know, REEEEEEEVEEEEEEEENGE!, Emily’s refocusing of her “commitment to vengeance” should lift your flagging spirits. Because once you make a commitment to vengeance, it’s hard to get out of it—something Carrie Raisler learned the hard way.
The Walking Dead (AMC, 9 p.m.): The history books will tell of the historic peace accords between Rick Grimes and The Governor, negotiations that ended all manner of suffering and violence in the world of The Walking Dead. Zack Handlen looks forward to next week, when this show becomes a workplace sitcom where the wacky neighbors are zombies.
The Good Wife (CBS, 9 p.m.): With a title like “Runnin’ With The Devil,” you’d expect this episode to be all about Alicia and co. jumping into a bitchin’ Camaro, cruisin’ down Lake Shore Drive with the windows rolled down and Van Halen on the stereo. But, alas, it isn’t, and now David Sims has to return the tiger-striped spandex pants he bought for the occasion.
Family Guy (Fox, 9 p.m): Lois breaks into the voice-over game, scoring a coveted gig as… a phone-sex operator. Sigh. Kevin McFarland was hoping, in some crazy, inside-out plot twist Lois would end up doing ADR for Alex Borstein’s Bunheads character, but no—he forgot that this is Family Guy.
Girls (HBO, 9 p.m.): All that time spent hanging out with Patrick Wilson and visiting Jessa’s dad may have had an adverse effect on the second season, as its penultimate episode seems to have a lot of loose threads to deal with in the space of 30 minutes. With the season finale a week away, Todd VanDerWerff just wants to make sure that the dog from “Boys” is doing okay.
Shameless (Showtime, 9 p.m.): “Wily cousin Patrick” enters the scene, seemingly some sort of super-Gallagher whom Joshua Alston assumes bleeds liquor, schemes 24-7, and feels the familial obligations of 100 Gallaghers.
Bob’s Burgers (Fox, 9:30 p.m.): In an attempt to prove a point about Thomas Edison’s evil ways, Louise seeks to electrocute an elephant. And yet her efforts are still less insufferable than that Oatmeal comic about Nikola Tesla (or any of the anti-direct-current literature Rowan Kaiser insists we take home whenever we visit him).
TV CLUB CLASSIC
Farscape (11 a.m.): In a rich bit of irony, Crichton ends up providing another planet’s inhabitants with their first contact with alien life. In turn, Alasdair Wilkins is shocked to discover his review is writing him!
WHAT ELSE IS ON?
Hillbilly Venom (Destination America, 9 p.m.): Unfortunately, this is not Marvel’s response to the popularity of Duck Dynasty, but rather a one-off special detailing the lives of God-fearing serpent handlers in Kentucky and Virginia. (Which makes it real-life Justified, season four—so it’s cool again.)
The Client List (Lifetime, 10 p.m.): This show returns with a season première directed by TV lifer Allan Arkush—whose time in the Roger Corman factory makes him the perfect candidate for the Jennifer Love Hewitt Cleavage Delivery Hour.
Vikings (History Channel, 10 p.m.): History may have inflated the ratings for this show’s debut, but its première numbers were still staggering—and resulted in enough reader interest for The A.V. Club to stick a horned helmet on Dennis Perkins’ head and set him adrift in the second week of Nordic mayhem.
Loiter Squad (Adult Swim, midnight): We may or may not be reviewing the second-season première of this sketch/prank show starring the members of Odd Future. Because that would require committing to something, and our teenaged sources for what’s hip and cool tell us committing isn’t hip or cool at all.
The Switch (Lifetime, 8 p.m.): If TV Guide is to be believed, Jennifer Anniston and Jason Bateman’s artificial insemination caper from 2010 has shed 41 minutes in order to fit into this pre-Army Wives slot. And all Bateman had to lose were a few lousy ccs of bodily fluids!
Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (TCM, 8 p.m.): Highlighted largely to class things up after some of those last few jokes. It’s an Oscar-nominated film where one of the leads is a nun! Nothing uncouth to say about that!
NHL Hockey: Sabres at Flyers (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.): This is a battle of last-place teams, so let’s salute the one good move the Sabres have made in the last few years: Ditching this logo. Yet that move somehow hasn’t returned the team to its Dominik Hasek-era glory.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Saturday Night Live (Saturday): You should catch up with Justin Timberlake’s entry into the SNL five-timers club before the workweek starts, lest you be left out of the loop when all your coworkers start crooning the latest variation on “Bring it on in to Omeletteville” or “Dick In A Box.” If not for yourself, do it for David Sims.