Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Thursday, July 11. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
Orange Is The New Black (Netflix, midnight): Who could’ve expected that Jenji Kohan’s follow-up to Weeds would more than just “Weeds in a prison”? (And no, the space between seasons six and seven doesn’t count as “Weeds in prison.”) Certainly not The A.V. Club’s own Todd VanDerWerff, whose review of this prison-set series’ early episodes marks them as one of the first, unqualified successes of the Netflix Original Programming era. And now you can test that theory by watching the whole thing alongside Myles “Fool me once, Kohan” McNutt, who’ll have a full-season review just as soon as he polishes off the last of Taylor Schilling’s adventures in the penal system.
REGULAR COVERAGE
Wilfred (FX, 10 p.m.): Ryan’s in search of a roommate with Wilfred in tow—though they shouldn’t try to court Rowan Kaiser, a noted cat enthusiast who probably doesn’t want his furry best friends mauled by an Aussie in a dirty dog costume.
Graceland (USA, 10 p.m.): Another week at Graceland, another undercover assignment for the agents living in Graceland—which this week entails two agents posing as “an amorous couple.” Genevieve Valentine hopes they pose as an amorous couple from history, like Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI or Pepe Le Pew and a female cat who’s been accidentally painted to look like a skunk.
TV CLUB CLASSIC
Monty Python’s Flying Circus (11 a.m.): Inside The What’s On Tonight? Studio: Every week that Flying Circus is in rotation, your What’s On Tonight? correspondent runs down the list of sketches featured in the week’s double header, then riffs on the one whose mere title is enough to induce laughter. But he doesn’t have any strong memories of any of the scenes featured in “Déjà Vu (Or: Show 5)” or “The Buzz Aldrin Show (Or: An Apology),” and for that he’d like to issue an apology. He would like to apologize for the way in which he and Zack Handlen have been represented on this programme…
Gilmore Girls (1 p.m.): Look, David Sims has been around the block a few times, so believe him when he tells you this: Ain’t no such thing as a box social that doesn’t go awry. You’d think the Gilmores would’ve seen Oklahoma! enough times to know that!
Friends (3 p.m.): Finally, the moment you’ve all been waiting for: Introducing Marcel The Monkey. This gives Joe Reid and Sonia Saraiya something even more exciting to look forward to: The departure of Marcel The Monkey.
WHAT ELSE IS ON?
Summer Camp (USA, 8 p.m.): In case the sudden influx of debuts didn’t tip you off, summer TV is in full swing, meaning viewers are getting reacquainted with the self-esteem-boosting (and/or self-esteem-destroying) thrill of outdoor competition (and/or nostalgia for Meatballs)…
Farm Kings (GAC, 9 p.m.): …soaking up other people soaking up the sun (and the docuseries drama of running a family farm)…
Airplane Repo (Discovery, 10 p.m.): …remembering that summer where they had a very particularly set of skills, skills they have acquired over a very long career, skills that make them a nightmare for people who owe back payments on a private jet…
Hollywood Game Night (NBC, 10 p.m.): …or just pretending that they’re playing parlor games in Jane Lynch’s living room. (Which is in no way similar to pretending you’re playing Pictionary in Burt Reynolds’ living room—and how dare you suggest that.)
Jason And The Argonauts (TCM, 8 p.m.): Of course, we wouldn’t blame you for ignoring summer TV entirely in favor of an effects-stuffed summer blockbuster like Pacific Rim, the massive CGI kaiju creations of which probably wouldn’t exist without Ray Harryhausen effects like the skeleton army from this 1963 epic.
Sharknado (Syfy, 9 p.m.): Another thrilling effect that simply couldn’t exist without innovators like the late Harryhausen: A tornado full of sharks, which is only slightly less ludicrous than the type of double-feature companion Jason And The Argonauts would’ve gotten at a ’60s drive-in.
Tour De France: Stage 12 (NBC Sports, 8 p.m.): Cyclists ride from Fougéres to Tours, a 218 km leg which we believe pairs nicely with a Cabernet Franc.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Camp: Summer camp: It’s very hot right now, which is more than Carrie Raisler can say about this NBC oddity, which takes place at one of those “family” summer camps everyone’s always talking about. You know the ones—they’re the kinds with… the things? For enjoying summer fun and coming of age while your parents mellow into maturity? Sounds fun!