Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Tuesday, March 27. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
Frontline (PBS, 10 p.m.): Sure, the Mad Men return got all of the magazine covers, but we’re almost as excited for the return of motherfuckin’ Frontline, with its red-hot current events-based storytelling, and the return of that mysterious narrator with the sexy, sexy voice, the one who hides all the secrets the show is so acclaimed for. Tonight, Meredith Blake watches as the show takes on the wire-tapping scandal that rocked the Rupert Murdoch empire last year, the one that had extreme consequences over in the United Kingdom but seemed to be something of a blip here. But what we really want to know is when the other people on Frontline will learn the narrator’s true identity.
REGULAR COVERAGE
Raising Hope (Fox, 8 p.m.): Many of the networks have decided to take tonight off, and the cable channels have ended the runs of shows like Switched At Birth or Southland. That leaves the Fox comedies. Luckily, Phil Dyess-Nugent assures you that you will laugh heartily at blue collar shenanigans.
New Girl (Fox, 9 p.m.): This episode’s called “Fancyman,” and if you’ve seen Who Won TV, then you know why we call Erik Adams that around the office. You’ll also wonder just why the show’s theme song isn’t, “Hey, Erik! Whatcha doin’? Hey, Erik! Where you goin’? Who’s that Erik? Who’s that Erik? It’s Erik!”
Ringer (The CW, 9 p.m.): “Let’s Kill Bridget,” tonight’s episode title proclaims. “Okay!” a nation of exhausted people still watching Ringer agrees. Unfortunately, Carrie Raisler’s seen enough TV to know that you can’t kill one of the identical twins in your “identical twins switch lives” show this early on.
Justified (FX, 10 p.m.): A couple of Detroit hitmen take off after Raylan, while Boyd and Quarles square off. Scott Tobias thinks he might like Quarles a little more if the show’s theme song had been replaced by Zooey Deschanel singing, “Hey, Quarles! Whatcha doin’?” (Repeat joke ad nauseum.)
TV CLUB CLASSIC
The Muppet Show (1 p.m.): Erik Adams watches as the Muppets hang out with Edgar Bergen, a guy they’d probably get along with pretty well, as well as Steve Martin, a guy we know they’ll get along with pretty well. Erik can’t wait for when he’s asked to guest host The Muppet Show. Any day now, Erik!
WHAT ELSE IS ON
90210 (The CW, 8 p.m.): “PJ pops the question to Naomi, but Annie finds out he may have ulterior motives,” reads the opening sentence to this week’s episode summary. First, there’s a character named PJ? Unironically? Second, are we gonna have to get 90210 super-fan Steven Hyden to explain this to us?
Dance Moms (Lifetime, 9 p.m.): Tonight’s episode is called “Waiting For Joffrey,” and we’re pretty sure that means the Joffrey Dance Academy, but wouldn’t it be much cooler if they were waiting for Prince Joffrey from Game Of Thrones, and then the rest of the hour was just the dance moms slapping him?
16 And Pregnant (MTV, 10 p.m.): We know that the title of this show is meant to be a cautionary tale, but as it embarks on its latest season with a two-hour premiere, we can’t help but read the title as one of just too many options, like you might say, “Cake and pie?!” There’s an interrobang understood there.
Best Ink (Oxygen, 10 p.m.): “Great!” you might be saying. “Another fucking tattoo show?” Well, yes. Another fucking tattoo show. But c’mon, what else are you going to watch on a sleepy Tuesday night? Justified, you say? That’s… that’s actually a much better option than another fucking tattoo show.
Cape Fear (TCM, 8 p.m.): It’s the original version airing, which is great, because we love to see Gregory Peck in overheated trash like we love our own mother. But didn’t TCM miss a great opportunity by not following this one up with the even-more-lurid 1991 remake, with Robert DeNiro and Martin Scorsese?
Changing Lanes (Reelz, 8 p.m.): We don’t like this movie—or Amanda Peet’s enormously brief appearance in it—nearly as much as Roger Ebert, but as longtime fans of movies where people shout a lot and sound vaguely profound doing so, we guess we’ll recommend it for all who are curious.
Women’s Softball: Alabama at Auburn (ESPNU, 8 p.m.): Who’s not ready for a little college women’s softball? Particularly a game between longtime rivals Alabama and Auburn? Okay, we know basically nothing about college women’s softball, but this seems like it could be a fun game nonetheless.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Inside Fenway Park: An Icon At 100 (Monday): Laugh all you want about how the media is only interested in the Yankees and Red Sox—true!—but this PBS documentary about the history of one of baseball’s most storied ballparks is pretty solid stuff. Scott Von Doviak runs out on the field to report.