Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Monday, November 30. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
Superstore (NBC, 10 / 10:30 p.m.): Superstore, huh? What is that? Is it just Chuck without the spy stuff? Well, if you squint, Ben Feldman and Zachary Levi could be vaguely related. Squint. Prove us right.
Where were we? NBC’s comedy Superstore premieres tonight, only to premiere again on January 4, once everyone’s already forgotten about it. We could be wrong about that last part, though. We mean, back in October, the series’ episode order was cut from 13 to 11, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Neither is the fact that two episodes of a sitcom are airing in the 10 spot over a month before the rest of the episodes will even start to air. But Erik Adams’ pre-air review of the series isn’t too hard on it, though he states that “the store may prove more interesting than the people who work there.” Here, you decide for yourself: “Jonah (Ben Feldman) begins his first day at the store, but his relationship with his supervisor (America Ferrera) immediately turns rocky, in the series premiere of this workplace comedy centering on offbeat staffers at a megastore.” Is it a megastore or a superstore?!? Pick a side! On the plus side (if that’s the side you’re picking), the show is from Justin Spitzer, who wrote for The Office and an episode of Scrubs (as well as an episode of Mulaney…). But he’s also the person who wrote The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour, so as you can see, this is really at the top because we’re just so confused.
Also noted
Supergirl (CBS, 8 p.m.): “Personal and professional stress get the better of Kara when she goes too far during a training exercise against Red Tornado, a military cyborg commissioned by Lucy Lane’s father, General Sam Lane.” Naturally, the episode is titled “Red Faced.” Get it? Because of all of Kara’s stress and anger and also Red Tornado? You get it. Caroline Siede gets it too.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW, 8 p.m.): If the past seven episodes of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend haven’t been heartbreaking enough—but in a fun way!—then tonight’s fall finale definitely sounds like it will fit the bill. (Just kidding, the past seven episodes of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend have been plenty heartbreaking enough!) So here’s what we’re getting in “My Mom, Greg’s Mom and Josh’s Sweet Dance Moves!” besides a lack of Oxford comma: “It is the holidays and Rebecca’s mom (guest star Tovah Feldshuh) decides to come visit her in West Covina. Old habits die hard and Rebecca, eager to please her mom, embellishes some facts about her life, which all comes crashing down at a local holiday event.” Yep, that all sounds heartbreaking. Also, we guess Josh dances. That’s all great, but what Allison Shoemaker really wants to know is when White Josh will show off his sweet dance moves. (And by “Allison Shoemaker,” we really mean “your friendly neighborhood What’s On Tonight contributor.”)
Gotham (Fox, 8 p.m.): It looks like Gotham’s fall finale synopsis is doubling up on mentioning characters it usually never cares about: “When Bruce Wayne is kidnapped, Gordon must look to some unlikely and dangerous allies for help.” But… But… This is Gotham. We don’t come to these synopses for Bruce and Gordon—we come for literally any other character (besides Bullock) so we can call out Gotham for not caring about Bruce and Gordon and that whole Batman thing. This synopsis clearly must have been written by a different person, because it’s the “Rise Of The Villains” aspect of it all that is completely glossed over, for the first time all season: “It is a battle of the villains, and not everyone makes it out alive.” For shame, Gotham synopsis. Kyle Fowle’s reviews don’t actually depend on what happens in these synopses, and he wishes we would stop getting so bent out of shape about them. For shame.
Super special coverage
Fargo (FX, 10 p.m.)
Regular coverage
The Man In The High Castle (Amazon)
WWE Monday Night RAW (USA, 8 p.m.)
Elsewhere in TV Club
It’s a Murray Christmas! It’s a Murray Christmas! (If you sang that like “It’s a Jordan Christmas!” from 30 Rock, then you’re allowed to be in the Club. Otherwise, move right along.) Alex McCown’s pre-air review of A Very Murray Christmas attempts to make sense of the Sofia Coppola-directed special. But, just writing that sentence, we definitely still haven’t made sense of it ourselves. As McCown states in the review: “There’s the sense that Murray knows A Very Murray Christmas is a little uneven, but he also gives the impression that he doesn’t really give a fuck.” It’s a Murray Christmas!
For those of you who had to move right along, you can at least experience Ryan Vlastelica’s Expert Witness piece with—and we quote—“the asshole who got drunk and started shit” on Top Chef, Dale Talde. That’s a “’tis the season” moment if ever there was one.
What else is on?
Long Live The Royals (Cartoon Network, 7:45 p.m.): “In the series premiere, preparations begin for the Yule Hare festival, but things go awry when Prince Peter realizes he has no friends with whom to celebrate.” Sucks to be Prince Peter, huh? Kevin Johnson weighs in on this and the next three
It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown (ABC, 8 p.m.): Wow, Blockhead. You don’t look a day over 8 years old! Celebrate the 50th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas with your slickest dance moves and a retrospective hosted by Kristen Bell. “Included: Kristin Chenoweth sings ‘Happiness’ from the Peanuts musical; and Matthew Morrison performs the original song ‘Just Like Me.’ Also on tap: Sarah McLachlan; Boyz II Men; Pentatonix; David Benoit; and the All-American Boys Chorus.” Definitely a good “family night” choice if you need one. Even if it all sounds just like a front for more The Sing-Off.
Guy’s Grocery Games (Food Network, 8 p.m.): “A New Year’s Eve dinner made on a Scrooge-like budget is the second challenge.” Like we’ve said before, we’re preeeettty sure Food Network is one big grift.
The Voice (NBC, 8 p.m.): Tonight, witness live performances from this season’s Top 10. Come on. Witness them!
Love & Hip Hop Hollywood (VH1, 8 p.m.): Like we said last week, get ready for a month of the Love & Hip Hop Hollywood reunion special. Part one is tonight, but we’re sure it will play over and over again, until you know of nothing else than all things related to this reunion of love and hip hop and Hollywood.
Vanderpump Rules (Bravo, 9 p.m.): “James seeks revenge when he’s convinced Kristen is cheating on him.” Where were you when Vanderpump Rules stopped being polite, stopped being real, and starting being psychotic? We repeat: “James seeks revenge when he’s convinced Kristen is cheating on him.”
Minority Report (Fox, 9 p.m.): Here it is—the “season” finale of Minority Report. “The precogs and Vega must come together to thwart a chemical attack by Memento Mori, meanwhile Blomfeld (guest star Reed Diamond) is determined to get the precogs back in the milk bath in the all-new ‘Everybody Runs’.” Well this sounds like it will be a cliffhanger. It definitely has to get picked up for a second season then. That’s just how television works.
Major Crimes (TNT, 9 p.m.): Originally, we read this week’s Major Crimes title—“The Jumping Off Point”—as the “The Jump Off Point,” so here, have some Lil’ Kim:
Après Ski (Bravo, 10 p.m.): “Staffers try to boost morale with a group bobsledding experience; Bobby and Charlotte deal with high-maintenance vacationers; Jim’s frustration with Elise peaks; and it’s a slippery slope when the gang tries to mend differences at a team dinner.” But no one’s seeking revenge, so what’s the point?
Follow The Rules (MTV, 10 / 10:30 p.m.): “The kids try to sabotage a family camping trip.” This sounds like the type of thing James—you remember James, right?—would seek revenge for.
Legends (TNT, 10 p.m.): Eek, this episode was supposed to air last week, but given its subject matter and the Paris attacks, it was switched in the schedule with a different episode. In last week’s What’s On Tonight, we called the synopsis for this episode “very specific.” So at least that hasn’t changed.
Super Into (truTV, 10:30 p.m.): “Director, writer and Academy Award® winner, Diablo Cody, is so crazy about roller coasters she even has one tattooed on her arm.” Well that’s… a hobby. But is it the type of hobby that would surprise viewers to their core? We’re not so sure, Super Into. We were promised that we’d be surprised by celebrities’ interests, and right now, all we can really think is: “Well that’s… a hobby.” Step it up, Super Into. We’re rooting for you. Some of us are rooting for you.
Bad Santa (WGN America, 9 p.m.): Hit it, TV Guide Guy! “Warped, crudely funny comedy about a boozy con artist (Billy Bob Thornton) who robs the department stores where he works as St. Nick. John Ritter is great in his last film role as a store’s nervous manager. Terry Zwigoff directed.” Thanks, TV Guide Guy! All of that sells this as the only movie we need to watch tonight.
Sports, sports, all type of sports
College Basketball: Illinois State at Kentucky (ESPN2, 7 p.m.)
College Basketball: Wake Forest at Rutgers (ESPNU, 7 p.m.)
Monday Night Football: Ravens at Browns (ESPN, 8:15 p.m.)
College Basketball: Clemson at Minnesota (ESPN2, 9 p.m.)
In case you missed it
The Walking Dead: Zack Handlen reviewed the fall finale, and we heard that [SPOILER] killed [SPOILER] and then [SPOILER] declared [SPOILER] a [SPOILER]. But that all could have just been lost in translation. That’s why you have to read the reviews!