Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Sunday, Nov. 27. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
Leverage (TNT, 9 p.m.): TNT and Timothy Hutton haul out the good-time criminal fun as Leverage returns for a short winter season of wrongs being righted via elaborate cons conducted by a bunch of do-gooder former bad guys or whatever. Honestly, the premise of this show is sort of ridiculous if you think about it too hard, which is why we choose to let Phil Nugent do the thinking and just enjoy the fact that this series is almost always slick, stylish, and fun. It’s a touch goofy, sure, but isn’t that true of just about everything nowadays?
REGULAR COVERAGE
The Amazing Race (CBS, 8 p.m.): Finally, the race has gotten to Belgium! We just wanted to say that so that someone would have said “Finally, the race has gotten to Belgium!” at least once. Scott Von Doviak watches the teams make waffles.
Once Upon A Time (ABC, 8 p.m.): TV super-producer Jane Espenson wrote this episode of the show, her first. If it’s anything like her previous work, it will feature vampires, spaceships, and fast-talking New Englanders. Oliver Sava can’t wait.
The Simpsons (Fox, 8 p.m.): John Slattery guest stars in what sounds like a vague Mad Men pastiche, though what’s really got us intrigued is the B-story, where Bart starts reading classic novels. Start with Typee, Bart! That’s all Hayden Childs asks!
Boardwalk Empire (HBO, 9 p.m.): Tonight’s episode is called “Georgia Peaches.” Noel Murray hopes it’s just the actors saying “Georgia peaches!” in Southern accents, then hooking their thumbs through their suspenders and rocking back and forth.
Dexter (Showtime, 9 p.m.): This one’s called “Get Gellar,” and since—according to our math—it’s episode nine out of 12, we’re going to guess that Dexter doesn’t get Gellar tonight. Joshua Alston thinks Gellar’s hiding out in the old church basement.
Family Guy (Fox, 9 p.m.): The Griffins hang out with a bunch of Amish people, mostly because that’s something they haven’t done before. Kevin McFarland is readying his rumspringa references for maximum effect.
The Walking Dead (AMC, 9 p.m.): It’s fall finale time. (The show will be back in February.) Tonight’s episode summary includes the phrase, “A grave threat rears its head.” Ha ha! Get it? Grave? Ah, humor’s wasted on you people and Zack Handlen.
American Dad (Fox, 9:30 p.m.): Sharon Lawrence and Shannon Sharpe provide guest voices for tonight’s episode, which definitely shows where American Dad is on the guest voice totem pole. Rowan Kaiser cares not. He’ll hug the show ever tighter.
Hell On Wheels (AMC, 10 p.m.): This episode title is in French, which is too bad, because that makes it harder to make fun of it, as we’re uncultured swine who don’t speak a lick of it. Well, Phil Nugent does, but he’s fluent in all languages. Like C-3PO.
Homeland (Showtime, 10 p.m.): Looks like we’ll get some serious flashbacks to Brody’s time in captivity in this episode, as well as Carrie dealing with a public relations nightmare. Todd VanDerWerff thinks that sounds like killing time.
Hung (HBO, 10 p.m.): “Ray takes back what was his after a physical confrontation with Jason.” Did… Jason take Ray’s penis? Is that what’s going on here? Will there be a week we’ll stop using this space to make penis jokes? Will Harris hopes not!
WHAT ELSE IS ON?
Junk Gypsies (HGTV, 7 p.m.): To us, HGTV has always just been the thing our mother-in-law has on every time we drop in on her unexpectedly. But we’re told some of you enjoy it, so Jessica Jardine will check the network’s latest offering.
Being Chaz/I Am Jazz (OWN, 8 p.m.): OWN’s Becoming Chaz, a documentary about Chaz Bono’s transition to manhood was a surprise success for the network. So here’s a sequel, as well as another new documentary about trans issues.
Mitch Albom’s Have A Little Faith (ABC, 9 p.m.): So, we’ll bet anything that Mitch Albom meets an old person, and then the old person tells him something warm and comforting that ultimately doesn’t mean anything, and your grandma will swoon.
Kourtney And Kim Take New York (E!, 10 p.m.): We still don’t entirely understand just why the Kardashians became so fascinating to the types of people who watch reality TV, but, hey, the second season of this show debuts tonight.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King: Extended Edition (Encore, 7:30 p.m.): If you’re looking for a way to kill four-and-a-half hours and you’ve never seen this one before (but have somehow seen the first two parts), here you go.
Strike Me Pink (TCM, 10:15 p.m.): We know nothing about this one, but we like supporting TCM, seeing Eddie Cantor here will make a nice continuity with Boardwalk Empire, and it features someone named “Parkyarkarkus” as “Himself.”
Sunday Night Football: Steelers at Chiefs (NBC, 8:15 p.m.): Are we yet at the point where NBC gets to pick these games? If so, why did they pick a game featuring the 4-6 Chiefs? In fact, why do the Chiefs keep getting primetime slots?
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Tyler Perry’s For Better Or Worse (Friday): We were mostly out of commission this weekend, but do check out Joshua Alston’s thoughtful piece on the latest Tyler Perry series and a spirited discussion of Perry’s place in pop culture in comments.