Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Wednesday, May 14. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
Arrow (The CW, 8 p.m.): After a terrific season, Arrow is barreling into its finale with a full head of steam, the last few episodes having appropriately kicked off a story arc that will bring this season’s main plot to a close. Unless it doesn’t. Maybe the whole show will be about Slade next year, and Oliver will just be, like, a CPA or something, fighting to keep the city clean by making sure its budgets are balanced. This is just us spitballing right now, but Alasdair Wilkins got really excited when we called him up and told him about Arrow Accountants. Or maybe he just wanted us off the phone? Call us back, Alasdair!
ALSO NOTED
Suburgatory (ABC, 8:30 p.m.): A show that debuted promisingly in the fall of 2011 has been cut down in ABC’s ritualistic purge of pretty much everything that was even slightly underperforming. It’s too bad, but Brandon Nowalk will get his laughs where he can find them: in pushing sidewalk passersby over.
Modern Family (ABC, 9 p.m.): Modern Family has definitely not offered us cash payments to spend the last three weeks in the “Top Pick” and “Also Noted” sections. This is definitely not the result of payola. There’s a wedding tonight. Joshua Alston is excited. Not because Ed O’Neill slipped him a $20.
The Americans (FX, 10 p.m.): Last week’s episode ended with a cryptic message Kate delivered to Philip and Elizabeth. Now, they have to carry that mission out, but Larrick is hot on their tails. What will happen next? Genevieve Koski and Todd VanDerWerff have only this episode and the finale to find out!
REGULAR COVERAGE
The Middle (ABC, 8 p.m.)
Survivor (CBS, 8 p.m.)
TV CLUB CLASSIC
Band Of Brothers (1 p.m.): After last week’s episode elided a lot of the Siege of Bastogne in favor of following around Doc Roe for an hour, this week’s episode gives you the big battle you’ve been waiting for. Todd VanDerWerff would like you to note that Justified’s Graham Yost wrote this one.
ELSEWHERE IN TV CLUB
Hey, have you been reading our upfronts coverage? It’s probably time that you should, especially if you want to know what’s going to be on TV next season. So far, our verdict is that it will be a whole lotta nothin’. But CBS could change that! Probably not.
WHAT ELSE IS ON
Steven Universe (Cartoon Network, 7 p.m.): Regrettably, our experiment with regular coverage of this one didn’t work out, with each new article attracting half the readership of the previous one. We’ll drop in a few more times throughout the season, though, because it’s a good show!
American Idol (Fox, 8 p.m.): The top three are performing tonight, after visiting their hometowns. Quick: Name any one of the Idol top three. We pay attention to this stuff for a living, and we certainly can’t do it. Can you?
Dead Of Night (Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.): Did ID just make a show about people who get murdered at night? And give it that title? Will wonders never cease?
Kodiak (Discovery, 10 p.m.): In the first episode of this new series about people who live on the titular islands, a bunch of bears swarm a whale carcass. That’s the sort of problem you could have in any old town, Discovery! Why’d you go and make a show about it?
Let Me In (Syfy, 6:30 p.m.): Yes, Let The Right One In is probably a “better” film, but we’re in the camp that thinks this is a terrific remake that picks out new themes and ideas to highlight and features terrific performances. It’s made us very excited for director Matt Reeves’ Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes.
Meatballs (Sundance, 8 p.m.): Because we are sorely devoid of ‘80s pop culture knowledge—what with the Christianity and all—we always get this movie confused with Porky’s, even though they appear to be vastly different things. This one stars Bill Murray, for one.
Stanley Cup Playoffs: Game 7: Montreal at Boston (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.): The Canadiens have taken the Bruins to game seven, in yet another exciting series in this second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Who will win tonight? We hope Montreal, because we just like saying “the Habs.”
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
The Goldbergs (Tuesday): We thought it would be worth it to check out the season finale of ABC’s enjoyable comedy set in “the 1980s,” so we had Will Harris take a look. He did not disappoint, and now you can know how Jeff Garlin rang out the first season of his show.