Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Monday, November 17. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
State Of Affairs (NBC, 10 p.m.): For weeks now, NBC has touted the premiere of its new spy drama State Of Affairs as the (supposedly?) long-awaited return of Katherine Heigl to television. As Joshua Alston says in his pre-air review, it’s not exactly the comeback vehicle it desperately wants to be, and Heigl’s Charleston Tucker—an intelligence analyst who puts together the President of the United States’ daily briefing—feels more like a hackneyed caricature of a “strong female lead” than a truly complex and nuanced character. With its political thriller elements and the promise of lots of sexy times, it looks like it’s aiming to capitalize on the popularity of Scandal, and at least this show doesn’t have President Fitzgerald Grant to bring it down, but the most we’re really expecting out of this show is a solid hate-watch status.
Also noted
Jane The Virgin (The CW, 9 p.m.): “Chapter Six” places Jane Villanueva in a new setting: a Catholic high school… not exactly the best place for a pregnant virgin to be. Her new teaching job brings her closer to Rogelio’s stepdaughters, who turn out to be not so nice. Over in hotel world, Petra and Rafael deal with the consequences of Petra’s downright evil move last week—instigated by her ever-ominous mother. What’s On Tonight has been coping with the lack of Luisa by bingeing on Alpha House for a Yara Martinez fix. Will our favorite human disaster of a doctor show up tonight? According to the official TV Guide episode synopsis: unclear.
Regular coverage
Gotham (Fox, 8 p.m.)
Star Wars Rebels (Disney XD, 9 p.m.)
Sleepy Hollow (Fox, 9 p.m.)
TV Club Classic
Justice League Unlimited: Now that premiere season is dying down a bit, Oliver Sava returns with TV Club Classic reviews of the final season of Justice League Unlimited. We’re positive his return will be more triumphant than Katherine Heigl’s.
What else is on?
The Originals (The CW, 8 p.m.): No one quite does flashbacks like The Originals does flashbacks. This week, Kaleb takes Davina and the viewers back to 1914 as they continue their plots to take down Klaus (on this show, if you’ve never tried to take down Klaus, you basically don’t exist). Phoebe Tonkin does a high kick to a man’s neck in the promo, so What’s On Tonight is very excited.
The Millers (CBS, 8:30 p.m.): We don’t love The Millers, but we do love nemeses, and tonight, Carol confronts her former work nemesis at a retirement party. We’re rooting for you, Carol.
Scorpion (CBS, 9 p.m.): No one is really talking about Scorpion, because there really isn’t much to say about Scorpion, because honestly can you ever really make a show about people sitting at computers all that exciting? Well, you can certainly try, and Scorpion tries its darndest, this week killing off a congressman and putting the geek squad on the case.
Castle (ABC, 10 p.m.): Castle and Beckett leave the precinct to pretend to be newlyweds at an Old West resort where someone has been poisoned. So Beckett and Castle are saddling up, which begs the question: Will they outdo the sheer sexual magnetism of Julian McMahon and Shannen Doherty in the Old West episode of Charmed?
No. Literally no one will. Ever.
Bruce Almighty (ABC Family, 9 p.m.): If the never-ending trailers for Dumb And Dumber To have you aching for some old-school (2003 counts as old school now, right?) Jim Carrey, we’ve got you covered. This film is a cultural touchstone if only because Morgan Freeman at long last plays the role he was always meant to play: God.
Race To Witch Mountain (Disney XD, 6 p.m.): Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stars in this supernatural Disney adventure, and if you’re not sold on that fact alone then you should maybe reevaluate your life. Carla Gugino also stars, so you better believe What’s On Tonight is on board.
Monday Night Football: Steelers at Titans (ESPN, 8:15 p.m.): The Pittsburgh Steelers are hoping to come back from their recent loss to the Jets. Rookie Zach Mettenberger starts for the Tennessee Titans.
In case you missed it
Homeland: Josh Modell liked Homeland this week! The show got back on track, delivering life-or-death scenarios for the characters we’re invested in in ways that don’t feel forced or hollow.