On a slow Labor’s Eve, why not get a bit Vicious?
Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Sunday, September 6th. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
Vicious (PBS, 10:30 p.m.): It’s the last weekend of summer, one of the last chances for drinking beers on your porch as the sun sets, grilling hot dogs around a campfire, or embarking on a last-minute trip to the beach. And fall premieres still twinkle off in the distance, promises of Jake Peralta and Alicia Florrick and whoever Patricia Arquette’s character is on CSI: Cyber maddeningly out of reach. That means that there’s close to nothing on tonight. So in this vast wasteland, why not check out something off the beaten path that sounds like it could be fun, like the latest episode of this Ian McKellen/Derek Jacobi sitcom about two elderly gay men whose favorite past time is insulting everyone within earshot?
Also noted
Hand Of God (Amazon, 11 a.m.): The concept of a day off means nothing to The A.V. Club’s daily coverage of streaming series. Dennis Perkins has some more thoughts about Ron Perlman’s alleged marching orders from the Almighty, which he’ll offer in between barbecues.
The Strain (FX, 10 p.m.): While Labor Day was established to honor the American labor movement and the efforts of the working man, vampires are the Koch brothers of the undead and have no regard for said movement and its efforts. Consequently, Kyle Fowle is spending what should be his night off wading through another week of plots that stubbornly refuse to go anywhere.
Masters Of Sex (Showtime, 10 p.m.): Similarly, Bill Masters refuses to let a long weekend get in the way of his research. And when Masters works late into the night, so too does John Teti.
Regular coverage
Nothing else: Fear The Walking Dead and Rick And Morty are taking the week off, and we’re putting our coverage of classic The Simpsons on hold for the holiday.
What else is on?
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NBC, 7 p.m.): Cars! Going in circles! For four hours! On what’s apparently known as “The Track Too Tough to Tame!”
The Great British Baking Show (PBS, 7 p.m.): Sick of burgers and hot dogs? Watch the contestants of this show make “simple sandwich cakes and angel food cakes.”
Big Brother (CBS, 8 p.m.): “Nominations for eviction are revealed.” We hope it’s one or more of our enemies! Those guys suck.
Arthur & George On Masterpiece (PBS, 8 p.m.): Part one of a three-part adaptation of a Julian Barnes novel, which skirts up against the “another goddamned Sherlock Holmes story” gripe by virtue of being about Holmes’s creator Arthur Conan Doyle, played here by Martin Clunes of Doc Martin.
Ray Donovan (Showtime, 9 p.m.): Ray Donovan also doesn’t take Labor Day weekend off, because Ray’s a professional, damn it.
The Last Ship (TNT, 9 p.m.): The season two finale is called “A More Perfect Union.” The Last Ship writers appear to have cribbed heavily from Falling Skies, who did the exact same thing in season two. Maybe this finale will also end with the underwhelming introduction of a brand-new alien race.
Married To Medicine (Bravo, 9 p.m.): We’ve never seen this, but we assume it’s a reality show about how hard it is being married to various medical supplies. Perhaps this week a torrid affair with the MRI scanner goes awry.
Barbershop and Barbershop 2: Back In Business (Cinemax, 8 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.): A double feature of Ice Cube and Cedric The Entertainer? There’s worse ways to spend a night.
Step Brothers (Comedy Central, 8 p.m.): Case in point, this grating comedy about Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as a pair of obnoxious manchildren.
Now You See Me (TBS, 8 p.m.): We still cannot forgive Lionsgate for refusing to call this movie’s upcoming sequel Now You Don’t.
We Are Marshall (A&E, 8 p.m.): In between Matthew McConaughey’s stint as go-to romantic comedy leading man and the glory of the McConaissance, he played a football coach brought in to save Marshall University’s football program after a tragic plane crash. It’s a standard underdog sports story, but Ian McShane and David Strathairn turn in strong supporting performances.
Casino Royale (BBC America, 8 p.m.): Still sad about Hannibal’s cancellation? We are too. But you can take heart in Mads Mikkelsen doing a solid job as a blood-weeping terrorist financier opposite Daniel Craig in the latter’s first turn as James Bond.
Back To The Future Part III (Syfy, 9 p.m.): Those of you who are partying late tonight should pay attention to this movie and the bartender’s recipe for wake-up juice.
Sportsball!
MLS Soccer, Columbus vs. FC Dallas (Fox Sports, 7 p.m.)
MLB Baseball, Pirates at Cardinals (ESPN, 8 p.m.)
In case you missed it
Survivor’s Remorse: Starz’s show about the world of pro basketball just earned a third season. Between that renewal and consistently positive reviews from Joshua Alston, this looks like a show worth paying attention to.