Our Twilight Zone reviews return in the most ironic way possible! (Okay, they just return)
Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Friday, February 22, and Saturday, February 23. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
The Twilight Zone (1 p.m., Saturday): Todd VanDerWerff and Zack Handlen didn’t mean to take so much time off from this show. Honest! But they got all caught up in The X-Files and Millennium, and you know how that goes, and it also takes a long time to make your way through a season of this show, because they’re all, like, 500 episodes long. But they’re back to a place where nothing is as it seems, and a seemingly friendly but actually kind of threatening man in a very nice suit will drop by to make fun of all the ironic punishments he’s going to rain down upon you. What can they say? It’s good to be back!
REGULAR COVERAGE
House Of Cards (Netflix, 1 p.m., Friday): After spending last week dealing with the Peachoid, Ryan McGee watches as Frank heads back to Washington to deal with some troublemakers or whatever. We’re surprised you’re keeping up with these reviews. We thank you for sustaining our business model!
Spartacus (Starz, 9 p.m., Friday): Ryan McGee’s first sentence of this review contains the phrase, “Jupiter’s cock!” which is not the sort of phrase you can drop into a review of just any show. Actually, the only other show it applies to airs just opposite this one and is named Dog With A Blog.
Portlandia (IFC, 10 p.m., Friday): With just two more episodes in the season to go, it’s time to join the debate whether the increased degree of serialization—if such a thing even applies to a sketch comedy—is a good or bad thing. Les Chappell argues good, and he will hit you over the head until you agree.
Young Justice (Cartoon Network, 10:30 a.m., Saturday): “A crew of misfits launch a rescue mission at Lex Luthor’s bidding” says the episode description, and we’re so in for that. Oliver Sava is always down for people trying to rescue others at the behest of evil geniuses. Wasn’t that the basis of Rescue 911?
WHAT ELSE IS ON
Four Weddings (TLC, 8 p.m., Friday): It appears the marriage industrial complex has just swallowed TLC whole, to the degree that the network doesn’t even seem to be trying anymore. Yes, TLC. There was a popular movie with “Four Weddings” in the title. We’re only watching if you put the “fun” in “funeral.”
CSI: NY (CBS, 9 p.m., Friday): This show’s season finale is tonight already, and given the fact that CBS doesn’t have a lot of other things it might cancel, it seems likely this one could end up on the chopping block. So if you’re a huge fan of Gary Sinise or something, you might consider stopping in one last time.
20/20 (ABC, 10 p.m., Friday): Robin Roberts bone marrow transplant—and her return from her treatments—have been all over the various ABC News programs this week, but this is the most in-depth look at it yet. If you generally enjoy Roberts, this might be a neat way to see what her recovery entailed.
Out There (IFC, 10:30 p.m., Friday): If you missed our coverage of this series’ “sneak peek” a few weeks ago, you can read Cory Casciato’s review again, in advance of the show’s official debut tonight. And this time, you’ll be able to actually watch one of the episodes he was able to review in advance! Progress!
Cops (Fox, 8 p.m., Saturday): Another venerable series facing the chopping block is the long-time Fox reality hit about, well, cops in various American cities, chasing down perps and arrested law-breakers and what have you. Here’s your chance to get all caught up on what’s been happening on the show.
End Of The World (Syfy, 9 p.m., Saturday): Two video store employees who’ve seen a lot of disaster movies are, of course, the perfect people to survive the apocalypse, and we’re surprised that we might actually find this Syfy movie slightly entertaining, if it lives up to its agreeably post-modern premise.
Fahrenheit 9/11 (Flix, 8 p.m., Friday): Look, if you’re an American of a certain political persuasion, you probably went and saw this movie opening weekend, or you might have bought the DVD, or something. But watching it in 2013 on a movie channel you probably don’t get just seems pointless, honestly.
Winter’s Bone (Lifetime Movie Network, 8 p.m., Friday): Jennifer Lawrence received her first Academy Award nomination (and, yes, that’s a stealth firstie) for this excellent rural noir from the director Debra Granik. Watch as Lawrence’s character tries to keep her life from spiraling out of control. Good times!
On The Waterfront (TCM, 8 p.m., Saturday): The Oscars are coming on Sunday, so maybe you should check out one of the 10 best Best Picture winners. Actually… we’re almost certain it is, because can you think of 10 better Best Picture winners than this one. We can only think of, like, five or six. Maybe seven.
NBA Basketball: Timberwolves at Thunder (ESPN, 8 p.m., Friday): Of the last 14 meetings between these two teams, the Thunder have won 13—which might stretch back to when they were in Seattle, honestly—so if you’re a big fan of the T’wolves, you might not want to get your hopes up. Just sayin’.
College Basketball: South Dakota State at Murray State (ESPN2, 8 p.m., Saturday): Well, you guys know that we don’t know a lot about college basketball, but RING THE BELL FOR SOUTH DAKOTA/ THE YELLOW AND THE BLUE!/ CHEER THE TEAM FROM SOUTH DAKOTA/ WITH LOYAL HEARTS SO TRUE!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Community (Thursday): Second Opinions Week is largely over, but not before Erik Adams takes something you loved and then just tears its heart out and makes you watch, and doesn’t that just make you angry? Yeah! It does! Better go let him know in comments, and you’d better let him know right now. (Sorry, Erik. But it’s important you experience this.)