Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Wednesday, January 21. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
Arrow (The CW, 8 p.m.): R.I.P. Oliver Queen. He saved the world. A little. So now that Arrow is most likely all about Roy Harper and his love of unnecessary flips, what’s next Arsenal and his sidekicks? According to the the episode description, everyone’s favorite character, Laurel, is finally taking up the mantel of Black Canary! Meanwhile, Felicity refuses to believe that Oliver is dead. Come on, Felicity—didn’t you hear? The show is about Roy now. Dead things stay dead, especially in comic book-based entertainment. Reviewer and real life comic book villain Alasdair Wilkins will set her straight.
Also noted
Empire (Fox, 9 p.m.): According to the TV Guide Dude, “the Lyons visit Philadelphia and get a taste of what their lives could have been like if Lucious never became a giant success in the music biz.” Could it be? Is Empire already dipping into the wonderfully wacky arena of alt-worldly goodness so soon? Please say yes, Joshua Alston. Please say yes. Or at least say it means Maximum Cookie Guaranteed.
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia (FXX, 10 p.m.): In “The Gang Group Dates,” the gang decides that the “online dating scene” is the best way to “expand their matchmaking potential.” First of all, online dating didn’t work so well the first time one of them tried it. So of course their logic would be that they have a greater chance of success if they all try it. Second of all, hopefully the episode ends with the gang realizing that the only people they’re compatible with are each other, and the rest of the show’s tenth season is an amazing Big Love situation. Dennis Perkins has his fingers crossed for such a thing, but that’s just because he wishes most shows would turn into an amazing Big Love situation.
Regular coverage
The 100 (The CW, 9 p.m.)
Top Chef (Bravo, 10 p.m.)
Workaholics (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.)
American Horror Story: Freak Show (FX, 10 p.m.)
Broad City (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.)
Man Seeking Woman (FXX, 10:30 p.m.)
Elsewhere in TV Club
While it’s 100 percent true that the greatest moment in Bradley Cooper’s career is a toss-up between his sex scene with Michael Ian Black in Wet Hot American Summer and his “reaction” in Alias (you know the one), there are still some parts of Cooper’s pre-Serious Actor career that deserve a lot more attention. One of those things is Jack & Bobby, but after that, there was something else: the Anthony Bourdain-based Fox sitcom, Kitchen Confidential. In the latest One Season Wonders, Wannabes, And Weirdos, Fran Hoepfner takes a look back at the 2005 sitcom that gave Bradley Cooper his first taste of one of those meaty leading man parts and featured a “strange but endearing cast.”
What else is on?
Melissa & Joey (ABC Family, 8 p.m.): This week on Melissa & Joey, Mel (which is actually short for Melanie, because this show is a paradox) tries to prove that she’s not a regular step-mom: She’s a cool step-mom. Meanwhile, Lennox’s ex-boyfriend Zander finds out she’s dating her cousin (through marriage) Marco. There’s a lot of strange family stuff happening on Melissa & Joey these days, so hopefully it will all going to end up being an amazing Big Love situation.
American Idol (Fox, 8 p.m.): “Auditions continue.” Sounds like a—as Scott and Scott would say—“great ep.”
Criminal Minds (CBS, 9 p.m.): In this Joe Mantegna-directed episode of Criminal minds, “the BAU searches Tallahassee for a serial killer who calls the authorities to report the crimes prior to committing murder.” Yep. That sounds exactly like something that would happen in Tallahassee.
Stalker (CBS, 10 p.m.): What’s that, Stalker? You love the ‘90s? That certainly explains why Jack McPhee himself, Kerr Smith, is the stalking victim of the week. Stretching the ‘90s connection even more, as millennials are wont to do, it also explains the inclusion of Eion Bailey, the ersatz Paul Rudd. Oh Stalker—you’ve got us again.
Web Therapy (Showtime, 11 p.m.): In the penultimate episode of the series’ fourth season, Abel (Dax Shepard) reveals to Fiona that her sessions have been leaked online. Being no stranger to scandal (hey, that’s the episode title!), we’re sure Fiona will handle this with all the grace and aplomb she’s come to be known for.
Dick (Showtime Next East, 5:50 p.m.): In Dick, Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams plays “two ditzy high-school girls” who get involved with the Watergate scandal. As far as terrible history lessons go, we’ll go out on a limb and say it’s a better one than Forrest Gump.
Brüno (Logo, 8 p.m.): MY WIFE! (Yes, we’re aware that’s the wrong movie, but it wasn’t until we wrote “MY WIFE!” that we realized that. “MY WIFE!” stands.)
Summer School (Cinemax, 8:05 p.m.): Before he was NCIS (that’s the character’s name, right?), Mark Harmon was too cool for school. Summer school, that is. In Summer School, Mark Harmon plays a teacher who is conned into teaching a remedial English summer school class instead of going on vacation. We can’t exactly remember what else happens in this movie, but according to this poster, a dog wears sunglasses. That’s basically the ‘80s in a nutshell, kids.
NBA Basketball: Thunder at Wizards (ESPN 8 p.m.): Earlier in the month, Oklahoma City beat the Washington Wizards 109-102. Will it be this close again tonight, or will the Wizards finally take control of the Thunder, the way wizards should always be able to control thunder? These are the types of questions people should be asking regularly when it comes to sports.
WWE NXT (WWE Network, 8 p.m.): The latest edition of WWE Monday Night RAW worked overtime to remind us all that lazy millennials will never reach for that brass ring like the NWO did when they helped kill WCW. They called it a “RAW Reunion” to keep that from sounding like a downer. Luckily, WWE NXT manages to exist in a universe separate from WWE proper, and that’s all we really need in this life.
In case you missed it
The Flash: The Flash is back, Jack! (That was directed at any “Jack” who is reading this.) Scott Von Doviak’s review of last night’s episode praised the show for doing a good job of world-building. Too bad Flash couldn’t do a good job of saving Oliver Queen, though. Because Oliver Queen is dead.