Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Thursday, December 3. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
The Wiz Live! (NBC, 8 p.m.): Could it be that this year’s live NBC musical might actually be… good? Sure there were things to like about The Sound Of Music Live! and Peter Pan Live!, but The Wiz Live! looks like it just might blow them both away with a cast full of people who can both sing and act. At the very least, it will be the most celebrity-filled live musical yet. The stars surrounding newcomer Shanice Williams include Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, David Alan Grier, Uzo Aduba, Ne-Yo, Common Amber Riley, original Dorothy Stephanie Mills, and former Hairspray star Elijah “Should Be More Famous” Kelley. Plus, for once, NBC is producing a musical that was written after Dwight Eisenhower left office with a score that almost approaches something modern sounding. Senior NBC Live Musical Correspondent Caroline Siede eases on down to her couch to review the live spectacle.
Also noted
Jessica Jones (Netflix, 10 a.m.): Kilgrave takes center stage this week as Jessica, Trish, and Simpson decide to take him down once and for all. Also, there are some flashbacks to Jessica’s superhero and sandwich-related past. Since Oliver Sava loves both superheroes and sandwiches, this episode sounds like it’s right up his alley.
Nathan For You (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.): First up, Nathan tries to solve the age-old problem of chipped nails by inventing a nail polish that doesn’t chip. Then he attempts to scientifically prove he’s a “fun” person by spending the day with a stranger and measuring his dopamine levels. Joshua Alston’s been there, done that.
Comedy Bang! Bang! (IFC, 11 p.m.): IFC airs a double dose of Comedy Bang! Bang! this week, which gives our rotating reviewers, Emily L. Stephens and LaToya Ferguson, the rare opportunity to do back-to-back reviews. First up, Emily checks out Adam Pally’s guest appearance. Then LaToya weighs in on Kathryn Hahn’s visit to Scott Aukerman’s couch. We’re considering this double-header our very own solo bolo.
TV Club Classic
Battlestar Galactica (11 a.m.): In a musical-free world this would have been our top pick, but since no one wants to live in that world less than Zack Handlen, we’ll take this opportunity to sing about the news that TV Club Classic coverage of Battlestar Galactica is frakking back! While we reviewed the fourth season live and the first season via TV Club Classic, there’s still a sizable gap in our coverage that we’ve finally decided to fill. Zack dives in with the first two episodes of season two. Tigh takes command in “Scattered” and then a Cylon boarding party wreaks havoc in “Valley Of Darkness.” Zack is ready, willing, and able to complete his mission. So say we all.
Elsewhere in TV Club
Will Harris chats with William Petersen about his role on Manhattan, his nine-season run on CSI, and his desire to give Gil Grissom fans the ending they wanted.
What else is on?
Adventure Time (Cartoon Network, 7 p.m.): In this two-part adventure Moe delivers a birthday surprise for BMO.
Regular Show (Cartoon Network, 7:30 p.m.): Rigby goes snow tubing with Eileen. Sounds tubular, dude.
CMA Country Christmas (ABC, 9 p.m.): Yeehaw, y’all! Jennifer Nettles hosts a Christmas concert featuring the best and brightest of country music plus a performance from Pentatonix, because apparently Pentatonix must be trotted out at every musical event for the rest of eternity. Non-acappella performers include Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes, Jewel, Brian Setzer, and many more.
Flip Or Flop (HGTV, 9 p.m.): HGTV’s most annoying hosts (which is really saying something) return for a fourth season of artlessly remodeling homes with cheap materials and tacky designs before quickly selling them for a profit.
Project Runway Junior (Lifetime, 9 p.m.): It’s the first team challenge for these teen designers. They’re divided into two teams and asked to create cohesive mini collections inspired by different decades, none of which these kids have been alive for.
Haven (SyFy, 10 p.m.): An “old trouble” traps the heroes of Haven and puts their lives at risk. The two-hour series finale airs in two weeks so soak up Haven while you can.
Lured (TCM, 8 p.m.): Before I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball starred in this 1947 film noir as an American dancer living in London who goes undercover to find her kidnapped friend.
The Princess Bride (Nickelodeon, 8 p.m.): Let us explain. No, there is too much. Let us sum up: Nickelodeon is airing one of the most entertaining movies of all time at 8 p.m. Watch it.
Hallmark Christmas Corner
Each week leading up to Christmas we’ll highlight one of Hallmark’s dumbest sounding made-for-TV holiday movies.
Angel Of Christmas (Hallmark, 8 p.m.): “A newspaper staffer is assigned her first big article: She must write about a hand-carved angel crafted by her own great-grandfather. As her research gets underway, she uncovers past romantic complications that parallel her current romantic triangle.” If we had a nickel for every time that happened to us…
Thursday Night Football: Packers at Lions (CBS, 8:25 p.m.): Fans of CBS’ Thursday night line-up will have to settle for this football game instead. Just image the Packers are Sheldon Cooper and the Lions are Joan Watson.
In case you missed it
Empire: The Empire mid-season finale featured guest appearances from Da Brat, William Fichtner, and the one and only Naomi Campbell. Did they help course correct this uneven season? Joshua Alston weighs in.