Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Friday, March 18 & Saturday, March 19. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
Pee-wee’s Big Holiday (Netflix, 3:01 a.m., Friday): Pee-wee’s back! While it’s been 28 years since Mr. Herman (“paging Mr. Herman”) graced the big screen, his new feature (co-written by Herman alter ego Paul Reubens and Love’s Paul Rust) finally comes… to Netflix. Okay, so maybe that’s not the biggest screen—although maybe you have a really enormous TV, we don’t know your life—but Pee-wee’s back and hitting the road again. This time, everyone’s favorite weirdo sets out on a cross-country trip in pursuit of his first ever vacation, running into the likes of Alia Shawkat, Joe Manganiello, Stephanie Beatriz, Jordan Black, David Arquette, and more along the way. And don’t forget about Caseen Gaines’ For Our Consideration about why our Pee-wee nostalgia is what Reubens, Rust, and producer Judd Apatow are counting on. Meanwhile, in his review, Erik Adams says “nostalgia-shmostalgia,” Pee-wee’s return stands just fine on its own, possibly on tippy-toes in platform shoes.
Marvel’s Daredevil (Netflix, 3:01 a.m., Friday): And here’s another guy in a funny suit running around on Netflix. Matt Murdock may have defeated Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin at the end of last season, but his Hell’s Kitchen is hardly out of the woods, as both The Punisher (The Walking Dead’s Jon Bernthal) and Elodie Yung’s Elektra show up to complicate his super-heroics. In his pre-air review, Dennis Perkins says this season ramps up the body count and the moral dilemmas (and takes a good swing at outdoing that famous hallway fight) and provides star Charlie Cox with a chance to show off some new moves, acting-wise, just as the now armored-up Daredevil tries out some new moves, kicking-wise. Reviewing-wise, Oliver Sava’s back doing twice-weekly reviews, while Caoline Siede’s got her eyes propped open for the big weekend binge-watch.
Also noted
The Characters (Netflix): Dennis Perkins’ reviews of this comedy anthology series conclude with one each on Friday (Tim Robinson’s) and Saturday (Dr. Brown’s).
House Of Cards (Netflix): Scott Von Doviak reviews episodes eight and nine of this fourth season on Friday. SPOILER: Frank Underwood may not be on the up-and-up.
Sleepy Hollow (Fox, 8 p.m., Friday): “A surprise supernatural event forces Abby and Ichabod to ally themselves with their natural enemies.” Wait, a “supernatural event?” Way to spoil things, Sleepy Hollow synopsis writers, jeez. But seriously, Zack Handlen’s almost certain that this show is about supernatural things on a weekly basis. He’ll review this one and get back to you.
Grimm (NBC, 9 p.m., Friday): Monster Mexican wrestlers? Monster luchadores! Les Chappell will, as ever, be on hand to revie—What!? Les Chappell has just been knocked out with a steel chair by LaToya Ferguson! Now she’s claiming the review! But… my God, that’s Kyle Fowle’s music! This is going to be one slobberknoker of a review the likes of which The A.V. Club has never seen!
Childrens Hospital (Adult Swim, 11 p.m., Friday): It’s an episode called “Childrens Horsepital,” so, yeah, the Chief hides a champion racehorse in the hospital. LaToya Ferguson’s sure that, with that plot, someone’s getting surgical gloves glued to his hands and someone else gets into a tug-of-war with her old college barbershop quartet. Let’s just check that out—whoa, yup. Latoya nailed it once again.
Elsewhere in TV Club
Not to perpetuate any stereotypes about what they get up to on St. Patrick’s Day, but this week’s AVQ&A sees your favorite AV Clubbers picking the entertainment that’s their low-maintenance go-to when feeling a little bit, um, delicate.
Mike D’Angelo’s Scenic Routes film course then looks at a totally different kind of overindulgence, albeit of a more comic (and stabby) one, with his frame-by-frame examination of a scene from Stephen Chow’s enduringly loopy Kung Fu Hustle.
After that, Corbin Reiff plays 11 Questions with rock legend (and legendary survivor) David Crosby. Find out what group of people he calls “squid shit!”
And any time comics legend Daniel Clowes puts out a new graphic novel, like this week’s Patience, it’s big news, so Oliver Sava’s review is the big news about the big news. From the (all-caps) description: “A COSMIC TIMEWARP DEATHTRIP TO THE PRIMORDIAL INFINITE OF EVERLASTING LOVE BY DANIEL CLOWES.” So, you know, heads up for that.
What else is on
My Beautiful Broken Brain (Netflix, 3:01 a.m., Friday): Executive produced by David Lynch, this documentary follows the harrowing, ultimately hopeful journey of Dutch-French filmmaker Lotje Sodderland who, after a shocking brain event, had to cope with her completely altered perceptions of the world.
Jimmy Carr: Funny Business (Netflix, 3:01 a.m., Friday): Deadpan button-pusher Brit Carr gets his own Netflix special.
Adam DeVine’s House Party (Comedy Central, 12:30 a.m., Friday): When you think your Workaholics Adam DeVine is just too watered down. You know, like a huge blender cocktail left to melt while its comedy series host owner runs around doing Jell-O shots.
Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans (Showtime, 8 p.m., Friday): Documentary chronicles the making of McQueen’s would-be grand achievement, a documentary-style racing drama about the 24-hour car race. It… did not go well, turning McQueen’s passion project into one of the great forgotten follies in film history.
Last Man Standing (ABC, 8 p.m., Friday): Tim Allen’s Mike runs into an ex-girlfriend who’s now a famous rock climber (because those are a thing) but balks at stocking her line of rock-climbing equipment at Outdoor Man because of her conditions. (One: No more “men are like this, women are like this” jokes.)
Dr. Ken (ABC, 8:30 p.m., Friday): Ken’s turn as an expert medical witness at a big trial goes poorly when an attorney starts trying to undermine his credibility. “Exhibit A: Was that you naked in the trunk in The Hangover?” “Um, I’d like to plead the fifth.”
Second Chance (Fox, 9 p.m., Friday): Pritchard and Duval find out Albert Lin’s real identity, which only complicates things, sadly.
Shark Tank (ABC, 9 p.m., Friday): “Two beer enthusiasts from Pittsburgh believe they have come up with the second-best invention of all time.” Another beer! Are we right, sharks? We came all the way from Pittsburgh for that joke!
Animals (HBO, 11:30 p.m., Friday): In this week’s animated adventures of NYC’s least-loved critters, a pair of flies go through an existential crisis all in their one-day lifespan. Really makes you think, hu—Hey, what are you doing with that newspaper?
Mommy’s Little Girl (Lifetime, 8 p.m., Saturday): A mother is reunited with her 11-year-old daughter. Aw, that’s so sweet. Wait, it’s a Lifetime movie? Goddammit, who’s secretly a murderer this time, Lifetime?
School Of Rock (Nickelodeon, 9:30 p.m., Saturday): In this sitcom version of the movie, Summer and Tomkia argue about who gets to be lead singer. Nothing some sub-Jack-Black capering can’t cure!
We Are Still Here (Syfy, 9 p.m., Saturday): Our own Alex McCown said of this indie ghost story:
We Are Still Here is a strong entry to the horror subgenre of American myth-making, every bit as evocative a fable as that of Jason Voorhees or your friendly neighborhood Indian burial ground. Ultimately, it suggests the things from our past that haunt us can also be a useful element in our lives, and the pain we endure can be turned to good ends. It also suggests that you probably shouldn’t trust your local community, because our country has a terrible track record of throwing innocents under the bus when we’re panicked.
Sounds worth a look. Always listen to Alex on matters of stuff that will make you simultaneously think and wet yourself.
Black Sails (Starz, 9 p.m., Saturday): Pirate war! We’ve got pirate war, people! This is not a drill.
Beowulf (Esquire, 10 p.m., Saturday): “Abrecan must ensure the people of Bregan have a successful harvest season of the dangerous pandiri fish, an event on which their very survival depends.” Again, Beowulf, you had us at “dangerous pandiri fish.”
Party Over Here (Fox, 11 p.m., Saturday): In her review of last week’s premiere of this half-hour sketch show, Emily L. Stephens had some good—if not glowing—things to say about Alison Rich, Nicole Byer and Jessica McKenna’s comedy chops. Here’s hoping they snap things into shape with episode two.
And now… sport
NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament (CBS, TruTV, and TNT, all weekend)
NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament (ESPN2, all weekend)
College Wrestling: NCAA Tournament (ESPN, 8 p.m., Friday)
Women’s Tennis: BNP Paribas Open (ESPN2, 10 p.m., Frida)
NIT Men’s Basketball Tournament (ESPN, noon, Saturday)
Skiing: FIS World Cup (NBC, 1 p.m., Saturday)
Bundesliga Soccer: Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Hannover 96 (Fox, 1:30 p.m., Saturday)
Men’s Tennis: BNP Paribas Open (ESPN, 2 p.m., Saturday)
PGA Tour Golf: Arnold Palmer Invitational (NBC, 2:30 p.m., Saturday)
NBA Basketball: Warriors At Spurs (ABC, 8:30 p.m., Saturday)
In case you missed it
Vikings: Well, that happened.