Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Thursday, November 13. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
Gracepoint (Fox, 9 p.m.): So far Gracepoint has been content to stick fairly close to its British source material, Broadchurch. And while Gwen Ihnat has found plenty to like in Fox’s familiar reimagining, other Broadchurch fans felt little incentive to revisit the same story in an American setting. Those skeptics can tune back in tonight as the show is finally set to deviate from its source material. Anna Gunn’s Detective Miller deals with a family crisis and David Tennant’s Emmett Carver receives a surprise visitor in an episode that reportedly ends with a big twist. We’re hoping it involves Carver remembering he’s actually a Time Lord. A TARDIS and a sonic screwdriver would come in quite handy during a murder investigation.
Also noted
The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 8 p.m.): There’s been a renewed focus to The Big Bang Theory since it returned to its Thursday night time slot. Tonight Leonard needs to get surgery for a deviated septum, which sends Sheldon into a panic that his roommate might die. Kyle Fowle has a sneaking suspicion Leonard will survive, but if he does die it would definitely give the season something to focus on.
How To Get Away With Murder (ABC, 10 p.m.): We know the logistics of TV production means tonight’s episode was filmed month ago. But after reading Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya’s scathing takedown of HTGAWM’s least successful character, we’re just a little disappointed Rebecca Sutter is still around this week. After all, if there’s any show that could pull off the sudden disappearance of a central character, it’s this one.
Elementary (CBS, 10 p.m.): Elementary’s third season boldly upended the partnership between Sherlock and Joan. After spending months on separate continents, the duo are now working as independent investigators in New York. Tonight Joan reaches out to Sherlock’s new protégé, Kitty, which means Myles McNutt gets the great joy of typing the name Ophelia Lovibond (the actor who plays Kitty) multiple times in his review.
Regular Coverage
Scandal (ABC, 9 p.m.)
Reign (The CW, 9 p.m.)
A To Z (NBC, 9:30 p.m.)
Parenthood (NBC, 10 p.m.)
TV Club Classic
Futurama (10 a.m.): Leave it to Zack Handlen to work the term “Kafka-esque pockets” into his first TV Club Classic review of this animated comedy. This week Bender gets self-destructive in “I, Roommate” and a planet implodes in “Loves Labours Lost In Space.” Come to think of it, maybe Zack was spot on about Futurama’s Kafka-esque storytelling.
Elsewhere in TV Club
In 1985 Big Bird made the leap from the small screen to the big one with Follow That Bird. The film was a commercial flop, but Marah Eakin decided to give it another look for a brand new Memory Wipe. What she found was an achingly sad film about identity and community that is a flawed but worthy entry in the Muppet pantheon.
Then Marah pushes away the residual Follow That Bird sadness as she drinks 20-year-old Snapple with The Adventures Of Pete And Pete’s Danny Tamberelli and Michael C. Maronna.
And at 11 a.m. Erik Adams shares a brand new Hear This in celebration of Stevie Wonder’s funky take on the iconic Sesame Street theme song.
What else is on?
Regular Show (Cartoon Network, 7:30 p.m.): Eileen wins a flatscreen TV at a modern dance contest. In an unexpected display of generosity, Rigby offers to assemble it for her. We suspect something is up.
Mom (CBS, 8:30 p.m.): While we aren’t covering Mom each week, we still recommend checking out this surprisingly strong, surprisingly dark female-driven comedy. This week Christy plays mediator for her parents Bonnie and Alvin (Kevin Pollak).
Project Runway All Stars (Lifetime, 9 p.m.): In perhaps the perfect meld of show and subject, the All Star designers are tasked with creating couture inspired by the hit Broadway musical, Wicked. We’ll be severely disappointed if at least one designer doesn’t paint his model green.
A Cookie Cutter Christmas (Hallmark, 8 p.m.): Hopefully Hallmark Channel realizes the irony of putting the term “Cookie Cutter” in the title of one of its generic holiday movies.
Magic Mike (Oxygen, 8:15 p.m.): Those who don’t want to drive to the local megaplex to watch Matthew McConaughey play a conflicted astronaut in Interstellar can stay in and watch him play a strip cub owner in Magic Mike. It’s basically the same thing.
The Philadelphia Story (TCM, 11:15 p.m.): It’s worth staying up late for this 1940 classic that casts Katharine Hepburn as a soon-to-be-wed socialite romanced by both Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart. What a lucky lady.
NBA Basketball: Bulls at Raptors (TNT, 8 p.m.): The Toronto Raptors are on a bit of a hot streak lately. They came from behind to win their games against Boston and Orlando and have secured victories against Washington and Philadelphia as well. Tonight they face off against the Chicago Bulls, and it will probably look something like this.
Hey, what’s on the Internet?
Before he was grumpy Detective Emmett Carver on Gracepoint, David Tennant played Barty Crouch Jr. in the fourth Harry Potter film. It’s just too bad Catherine Tate can’t remember his name.
In case you missed it
American Horror Story: Freak Show: First read Erik Adams’ review and then check out our fantastic interview with the actor who plays Paul, Mat Fraser. Of tonight’s episode, Fraser explains:
You could have knocked me down with a feather when I read it. I put the the script down part way through and I broke down and I cried. Then I thought, why am I crying? And I realized the irony of the following thing: It has taken playing a freak to be given a chance to show my universal humanity. And that is just there as a fact.