Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Thursday, January 28. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
You, Me And The Apocalypse (NBC, 8 p.m.): This British-American series makes the leap across the pond (where it debuted in September) to the welcoming shores of NBC. An ensemble of kooky characters deal with the days leading up to a massive comet collision that is scheduled to destroy Earth. Sure it sounds a bit like Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World, only this time it’s the likes of Jenna Fischer, Megan Mullally, Rob Lowe, and Mathew Baynton grappling with the end of days. In his pre-air review, Erik Adams notes that the show finds the right balance between its comedic and dramatic tones, exploring some big philosophical ideas in between jokes about looting and religion. So we asked Emily L. Stephens to pack up her survival kit and check it out in weekly reviews.
Also noted
DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow (The CW, 8 p.m.): Befitting a show about time travel, Legends Of Tomorrow asked its audience to travel a week into the future (in real time) to view the second half of its pilot. Tonight the team continues to battle Vandal Savage in 1975 and Victor Garber decides to enlist the help of his younger self. Oliver Sava hopes old Victor finds time to ask young Victor what it was like to star in the Godspell movie only a few years beforehand.
Elementary (CBS, 10 p.m.): In the delightfully titled “Alma Matters,” Watson and Sherlock investigate two collegiate murders linked to illegal recruitment. Elsewhere, Sherlock discovers his father has been keeping a secret from him. Genevieve Valentine hopes Sherlock has a breakdown that ends with him screaming, “Liar, liar pants on fire!”
Idiotsitter (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.): Gene is released from house arrest to attend a funeral. Which is good news for Gene, but bad news for Billie, who is terrified of funerals. Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya dons her best all-black ensemble to file her review.
Regular Coverage
Adventure Time (Cartoon Network, 7:30 p.m.)
The 100 (The CW, 9 p.m.)
Workaholics (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.)
Portlandia (IFC, 10 p.m.)
Baskets (FX, 10 p.m.)
Elsewhere in TV Club
Erik Adams shares his pre-air thoughts on You, Me And The Apocalypse:
The protagonists of You, Me And The Apocalypse aren’t blithe about the 8-mile-wide space rock hurtling toward their planet—they panic, they compose bucket lists, they scramble to reunite with lost loved ones. Already spinning a bizarre comedy-thriller mashup on a global stage, creator Iain Hollands pulls from a few more high-stakes, high-concept genres, integrating a few mistaken identities and a theological mystery fit for an airport paperback.
What else is on?
Clarence (Cartoon Network, 5 p.m.): The gang attends the Aberdale Renaissance Faire, which confuses Clarence. Fun fact: Your What’s On Tonight correspondent once saw two dudes dressed up as Jake The Dog and Finn The Human at a Renaissance Faire in Michigan. Apparently Cartoon Network and Ren Faires go hand-in-hand.
The Blacklist (NBC, 9 p.m.): A lethal medieval vigilante group begins murdering people with a device from the Middle Ages. Perhaps they bought their gear at Clarence’s Ren Faire.
Republican Presidential Debate (Fox News Channel, 9 p.m.): Bret Baier, Megyn Kelly, and Chris Wallace moderate this debate in Des Moines, Iowa. Donald Trump, however, will not be in attendance. As he puts it, “Like running for office as an extremely successful person, this takes guts and it is the kind mentality our country needs in order to Make American Great Again.” So salute the bravery of a true American hero by watching the debate he skipped.
Project Runway Junior (Lifetime, 9 p.m.): It’s the beginning of the end for this utterly delightful Project Runway spinoff. In part one of the two-part finale, the teen designers head home to create their New York Fashion Week collections.
London Spy (BBC America, 10 p.m.): In the second episode of this British thriller, Danny visits the parents of his murdered boyfriend to try to uncover more information about his beau’s mysterious past.
Ivy (TCM, 8 p.m.): A 1947 noir starting Joan Fontaine as a woman with a hunger to seduce men. Despite already having a husband and a lover, Ivy becomes obsessed with a new wealthy man named Miles Rushworth. But when Miles rejects her, Ivy decides to turn to… murder!
Billy Madison (IFC, 11 p.m.): Revisit the best shampoo/conditioner-related scene in cinematic history.
College Basketball: Michigan State at Northwestern (ESPN, 9 p.m.): While the Michigan Spartans are favored to win this Big Ten matchup, perhaps all Northwestern needs is a little encouragement from fellow Wildcat Troy Bolton.
In case you missed it
American Crime: Pilot Viruet is reviewing the second season of ABC’s anthology series so do yourself a favor and check out her reviews. In last night’s episode, the team prepares for DNA testing while Taylor tries to return to normal life at school.