Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Sunday, September 8. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
Boardwalk Empire (HBO, 9 p.m.): Beg your pardon, sir or madam: Might you be in the market for a certified, pre-owned cathouse? One of the finest in Atlantic City, with only one previous owner—though he doesn’t come around very often these days. (Ya know: absentee landlords and their contentious relationships with “local business leaders.”) And if you have no interest in The Artemis Club, perhaps our colleague Genevieve Valentine can interest you in a fourth season of Boardwalk Empire, straight off the assembly line—comes standard with a Chalky plot in the very first episode!
REGULAR COVERAGE
Breaking Bad (AMC, 9 p.m.): The plot synopses of these final Breaking Bads are taking previews of the show to new heights of obliqueness. This week, from TV Guide: “Things heat up for Walt in unexpected ways.” In turn, we can only say that Donna Bowman will write things about things heating up—and the unexpected ways in which they do so.
Dexter (Showtime, 9 p.m.): Three episodes of Dexter remain, so is it really time to say “Goodbye Miami”? If this week’s episode title is any indication, yes. A further indication: Joshua Alston’s recurring frustrations with the show’s direction.
Low Winter Sun (AMC, 10 p.m.): We sense that Dennis Perkins is starting to lose his patience with this show. Our suggestion: Imagine internal affairs is investigating the death of Alex Murphy. Imagine the show takes place in New Detroit. Fuck it: Just imagine the whole series is RoboCop.
The Newsroom (HBO, 10 p.m.): Earlier this week, your What’s On Tonight? correspondent witnessed the sheer delight that washed over Todd VanDerWerff’s face after he unwrapped his screener for The Newsroom’s two-part, election-night finale. At least we think it was sheer delight—maybe it was nervous terror. We’re bad at reading faces.
Ray Donovan (Showtime, 10 p.m.): It’s “Fite Nite” at Donovoan Fite Club, a dual intentional misspelling that threatens to drive Sonia Saraiya up the wall. She can work out that rage by showing her mite in the rite place: Fite Nite at the Fite Club. It’s out of site!
TV CLUB CLASSIC
Saturday Night Live (Classic) (1 p.m.): Phil Dyess-Nugent’s SNL review will not be seen today, so that he can bring you this special presentation: 5,000 words on Mr. Bill, and how his unflappable clay spirit represents the truest comedic representation of the American Dream.
The Simpsons (Classic) (3 p.m.): On the occasion of “Bart’s Comet,” David Sims introduces you to the “Super Friends”: Ham, Email, Cosine, Report Card, and Database. Also: “Cosmos Kramer,” which is what the other Super Friends call David.
WHAT ELSE IS ON?
Last Tango In Halifax (PBS, 8 p.m.): The latest British TV hit to come Stateside via PBS ditches costume drama for the honest, heartfelt representation of a romantic relationship between widowed septuagenarians. And no, neither of them is as acid-tongued as the Dowager Countess—not that Sonia Saraiya minds.
Rachel Vs. Guy: Kids Cook-Off (Food Network, 8 p.m.): After years of putting kids’-menu fare in adult dressing, Guy Fieri finally works with some chefs whose palates are more on his level.
Unforgettable (CBS, 9 p.m.): Forgot that this procedural was airing its surprise second season in the summer months? Well…
Miami Monkey (VH1, 10 p.m.): Please do not inform us of the actual premise of Miami Monkey. Please allow us to continue operating under the assumption that the opening of this new series involves footage of a Capuchin moving to Magic City, the strains of “The Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” blaring from the speakers of a monkey-sized convertible.
Cinderella (Disney, 8 p.m.): Ignore the dubious concept of a Disney Channel “Princesses Weekend” and just enjoy this, the effervescent fairy-tale adaptation that saved the Walt Disney Animation Studios from collapsing in on itself.
Foreign Correspondent (TCM, 8 p.m.): Joel McCrea plays a reporter dispatched to Europe and assigned to investigate the possibility of all-out war during Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. But even those who know their history—and their Alfred Hitchcock films—will be surprised at what McCrea turns up.
Sunday Night Football: Giants at Cowboys(NBC, 8:20 p.m.): New York and Dallas face off in a season opener that might as well be subtitled “America: The Football Game.”
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Strike Back (Friday): The second standalone “movie” of the third U.S. season hinges on a Bonnie-and-Clyde-style spree—only with less bank-robbin’ and more ’splodin’. TV Club’s own Marvin “Buck” Barrow, Myles McNutt, has the review.