Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Wednesday, February 3. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
Madoff (ABC, 8 p.m.): Ah, the versatility of the name Bernie—feel every single Bern, right? Right. Richard Dreyfuss. Blythe Danner. A two-part miniseries. Here’s what we’ve got: “The story of infamous financier Bernie Madoff, whose fraudulent activities led to a major fallout with his family and his eventual imprisonment after he committed a massive financial scam that resulted in the loss of billions of dollars for his clients around the world.” Hopefully these are too many spoilers. We’ve also got a pre-air review for the miniseries from Molly Eichel, so let’s hear it for fun Wednesday night viewing choices.
Top pick No. 2: Revenge Of The Mutant Killer Snowman
The Challenge: Battle Of The Bloodlines / The Challenge Aftershow (MTV, 10 / 11 p.m.): You’re calling your episode “Tear Down This Wall”? Really, The Challenge? We’ll only allow this if it ends up with another trivia challenge. Do it for us. Do it for TJ.
Also noted
Arrow (The CW, 8 p.m.): It’s like the old saying goes: You can take the Greg Berlanti out of the earnest WB series, but you can’t take the earnest WB series out of the Greg Berlanti. (By the way, said old saying was created by your friendly neighborhood What’s On Tonight contributor after a few glasses of wine but before a Dawson’s Creek season three binge-watch.) Part of that is what makes Arrow, Supergirl, and The Flash work (especially The Flash), but the other part of that is who Berlanti is casting as “The Calculator,” Everwood’s Tom Amandes. Alasdair Wilkins is more interested in the fact that both Roy and Nyssa are in this episode, but Wednesdays aren’t Alasdair’s What’s On Tonight nights, now are they?
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia (FXX, 10 p.m.): Finally, it’s happening. We’ve been asking for it. You’ve been asking for it. Dennis Perkins has been asking for it. (Maybe not out loud, but all of this asking has been there for seasons, bubbling just beneath the surface.) And now it’s here. Finally, “Mac & Dennis Move To The Suburbs.”
Younger (TV Land, 10 p.m.): “Josh and Liza go to dinner and Josh learns more about her.” Really? We don’t mean to call Younger repetitive—because it really is not—but that is literally every single episode of Younger. We know the episode will give us so much more than that, and so will Alexa Planje’s review. Because how can you not give more than “Josh and Liza go to dinner and Josh learns more about her”?
Regular coverage
Star Wars Rebels (Disney XD, 9 p.m.)
American Crime (ABC, 10 p.m.)
Man Seeking Woman (FXX, 10:30 p.m.)
Elsewhere in TV Club
You want Random Roles? We’ve got your Random Roles right here, as Joel Keller gets Richard Masur to open up “on Transparent, Norman Lear, and surviving Heaven’s Gate.” There. Now you have your Random Roles.
What else is on?
Miami Flip (DIY, 12:30-3 p.m.): It’s a Miami Flip marathon, if that’s what you’re into. We’re assuming it’s something someone’s into, otherwise, why would there be a five-episode Miami Flip marathon in the early afternoon?
2 Broke Girls (CBS, 8 p.m.): In “And The No New Friends,” we can only assume that this is in regards to no one wanting to get into the vortex that is Max and Caroline’s world of cupcakes and canned chaos. “When Max reconnects with an old friend, Caroline’s jealousy inspires her to try to make some new friends of her own.” Oh, so it’s not what the episode is about—it’s just where it winds up.
Diners, Drive-ins & Dives (Food Network, 8 p.m.): A “Comfort Food Mash-up,” huh? Sounds greasy.
American Idol (Fox, 8 p.m.): “Hollywood week continues and the contestants are put to the test. Who will come out on top? Find out on the all-new ‘Hollywood Round #3’ episode of American Idol airing Wednesday, Feb. 3 (8:00-9:01 PM ET/PT) on Fox.” This is apparently how the episode wants to be promoted, so we’re just giving it what it wants.
Young & Hungry (Freeform, 8 p.m.): We’ve missed you and your confusing episode titles, Young & Hungry. Now, for the season three premiere, “Young & The Next Day.” That’s not where the nonsense ends though, because this is what happens in the episode: “A trip to the desert has Gabi seeing mirages, but there’s no oasis in sight.” If you think this has to be the most ridiculous plot on a Freeform sitcom tonight, just wait until we get to Baby Daddy.
The Mysteries Of Laura (NBC, 8 p.m.): Ooh, “The Mystery Of The Morning Jog” sounds very “Cop Mom/Mom Cop”-like. But that’s actually a trick, since it’s really about this: “Laura and team investigate a Men’s Rights group implicated in the murder of the city’s top sports surgeon.” So this should at least be a fun episode for social media.
Mob Wives (VH1, 8 p.m.): “Ang gathers the ladies in a warehouse for an old-fashioned sitdown.” Someone’s getting whacked, right? Does anyone get whacked on this damn show?!?
Mike & Molly (CBS, 8:30 p.m.): “Molly is shocked when Joyce reveals she’s leaving the house to Victoria in her will.” Aww, Molly’s mom loves her sister more.
Baby Daddy (Freeform, 8:30 p.m.): Ahem, like we said above: “In the season premiere episode ‘Love and Carriage,’ Riley faints after Danny asks her to marry him; and when she wakes up, she has no memory of his proposal.” Mirages and amnesia are what Freeform is all about. We think. We’re still not sure about any of that.
Duck Dynasty (A&E, 9 / 9:30 p.m.): Here, have slightly less Duck Dynasty than last week!
Tia Mowry At Home (Cooking Channel, 9 p.m.): “Tia sets one of her producers up on a blind date, which includes a romantic meal of roasted asparagus, fettuccine Alfredo with chicken and broccoli, meringue thumbprint cookies, and a roasted grape martini.” Go home, Tia! (Yes, we get that by virtue of the show title, she is at home. But this is like “Go home, Roger!” from Sister Sister. You’re a ‘90s kid, you get it.)
Supernatural (The CW, 9 p.m.): Hey, Sheriff Jody Mills is back! Now we have to worry again about Supernatural killing her off. (Same goes with Alex and Claire, who are also in this episode.)
Hell’s Kitchen (Fox, 9 p.m.): “After an unexpected elimination for the red team, Chef Ramsay starts at the quack of dawn, as he challenges contestants to a rubber duck hunt to determine what ingredients they will use with duck in the next team challenge.” No. Don’t question us. You saw “quack of dawn” too. No.
Little Women: LA (Lifetime, 9 p.m.): “Elena has a preview party to test her new beauty products, but Jasmine becomes angry when she’s left off the guest list. Elsewhere, an unexpected family member goes behind Briana’s back and asks Terra and Christy to help bring her back to the family.” These women all sound very unpleasant.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC, 9 p.m.): There are going to be 18 seasons of Law & Order: SVU, but now is not the time for that. Now is the time for “Forty-One Witnesses,” which is an episode title that immediately sets off our “oh no” meter. And what do you know? There’s a reason for that: “A woman is followed home and raped outside her building, where several neighbors witness the crime but fail to call for help.” But on the plus side (for Hamilton fans, at least), Daveed Diggs is guest starring in this episode.
Face Off (Syfy, 9 p.m.): “Special-effects makeup artists try to outdo each other in this reality-competition series.” Oh. Okay.
My 600-lb Life (TLC, 9 p.m.): “Dottie’s Story” is not a happy one. Go figure. “A woman with two children weighs more than 600 pounds, so she agrees to go on an extreme new diet, but her weight-loss efforts are threatened by her debilitating habits and a child’s health emergency.”
Newlyweds: The First Year (Bravo, 10 p.m.): Let us guess: The couples are still having problems. Fingers crossed.
Code Black (CBS, 10 p.m.): Tommy Dewey, Jesse Bradford, and Jeff Hephner have all been guest-starring on Code Black to make it the stealth haven for handsome actors (The CW is the true haven, but there’s nothing stealth about it). But now Code Black has its real get on that front, as “Boris Kodjoe begins his recurring role as Dr. Will Campbell.” We appreciate you, Code Black.
Rev Run’s Sunday Suppers (Cooking Channel, 10 p.m.): “A sushi craving leads to a Japanese meal of miso soup, chicken teriyaki, a simple salad with carrot-ginger dressing, and maki rolls.” We’re guessing Tia Mowry overheard Rev Run was craving sushi, and the rest was hostage history.
Little Women: Atlanta (Lifetime, 10 p.m.): “Emily decides to reveal her pregnancy to the group as tensions continue to escalate between the twins and Cheeks. Elsewhere, Minnie confronts Miss Juicy about her lies.” At least they sound less unpleasant than the Little Women: LA cast.
Chicago P.D. (NBC, 10 p.m.): Chicago Platt Update: Again, Steven R. McQueen stands in for Oliver Platt (who is the purpose of these updates, not Chicago P.D. character Trudy Platt), rendering this entire concept both moot and handsome. In fact, Steven R. McQueen’s Jimmy is especially in this episode to be handsome (and sweaty) as “Antonio volunteers to take Roman’s place in the upcoming boxing match against Jimmy from Firehouse 51.” Jon Seda gets to have another reason for his character box, and we don’t even get any Oliver Platt. Come on, Dick.
Wild Things With Dominic Monaghan (Travel Channel, 10 p.m.): “Bearing Down On Bolivia” sounds sexy, but we’re going to go out on a limb and guess that it’s not. It’s probably closer to The Revenant than The Beach, you know?
Teachers (TV Land, 10:30 p.m.): Ballers’ Rob Corddry guest stars.
Suits (USA, 10 p.m.): “Harvey is back on his home court, with Donna back by his side, but there’s no time to get comfortable as Anita Gibbs’ next move hits both of them where it hurts. Meanwhile, it’s revealed that the Justice Department’s investigation into Mike was kicked off by an anonymous tip. Mike and Louis must identify the tipster before Gibbs can, in order to diffuse this damning piece of evidence. And Jessica confronts the fact that Gibbs isn’t only interested in Mike Ross – she’s set her sights on Harvey and Jessica as well.” Suits’ synopses just may be the most frustrating synopses around.
Watch What Happens: Live (Bravo, 11 p.m.): Ethan Hawke (“our greatest genre star,” according to Alexander Huls’ For Our Consideration piece) and Cynthia Nixon? We didn’t know they had a Bravo reality show together.
Wild ‘n Out (MTV2, 11 p.m.): “WNO Stand-up Special 2.” This show is really out of fuel, isn’t it?
The X-Files: I Want To Believe (IFC, 5:30 p.m.): Hey, you guys like The X-Files, right?
Wicker Park / The Talented Mr. Ripley (Showtime Showcase West, 5:30 / 7:30 p.m.): It’s a thriller twofer. The first has Josh Hartnett, Rose Byrne, Matthew Lillard, and Diane Kruger. The second has Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Honestly not a bad way to spend the night.
I, Robot / I Am Legend (Spike TV, 8 / 10:30 p.m.): More like I Am Will Smith, right?
Sports, sports, all type of sports
ESPNU National Signing Day Special (ESPNU, 8 a.m. / ESPN2, 1 p.m. / ESPNU, 5 p.m.)
Béisbol: Serie del Caribe 2016: Venezuela. vs. México (ESPN Deportes, 1:50 p.m.)
LPGA Tour Golf: Coates Golf Championship (Golf Channel, 2 p.m.)
Barclays Premier League Soccer: Watford vs. Chelsea (NBC Sports, 2:55 p.m.)
College Basketball: St. John’s at Xavier (FS1, 6:30 p.m.)
Béisbol: Serie del Caribe 2016: Puerto Rico vs. Tigres de Ciego de Ávila (Cuba) (ESPN Deportes, 6:50 p.m.)
College Basketball: Notre Dame at Miami (ESPN2, 7 p.m.)
College Basketball: Penn State at Iowa (ESPNU, 7 p.m.)
College Basketball: Creighton at Villanova (CBS Sports, 8 p.m.)
NBA Basketball: Warriors at Wizards (ESPN, 8 p.m.)
NHL Hockey: Red Wings at Lightning (NBC Sports, 8 p.m.)
College Basketball: Marquette at Seton Hall (FS1, 8:30 p.m.)
College Basketball: Oklahoma State at Texas Tech (ESPNU, 9 p.m.)
College Basketball: Kansas State at Kansas (ESPN2, 9 p.m.)
NBA Basketball: Timberwolves at Clippers (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.)
Lucha Underground (El Rey, 8 p.m.)
WWE NXT (WWE Network, 8 p.m.)
Ring Of Honor (Comet TV, midnight)
In case you missed it
American Crime Story: The People Vs. O.J. Simpson: Pilot Viruet wrote about Ryan Murphy’s O.J. Simpson show. What are you still doing here?