Revolution is TV's number one new show, so you're no longer allowed to complain about it
Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Monday, October 29. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
Revolution (NBC, 10 p.m.): This is the number one new show of the fall, somewhat unexpectedly and to the everlasting anger of the “BUT SCIENCE DOESN’T WORK THAT WAY!” crowd. (Actually, science doesn’t work that way crowd, it does work that way if you’re J.J. Abrams. So there.) Now, as the show prepares for its first sweeps period, we’re expecting lots of pointless and boring questions to be sort of answered, then put off until February sweeps next year. Les Chappell knows why the lights went out, and it’s because you left the refrigerator door open. What? Were you raised in a barn?
REGULAR COVERAGE
How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 8 p.m.): It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. And over on HIMYM, it was the “autumn of breakups,” according to tonight’s episode title. Donna Bowman is steeling herself for that title to also encompass Marshall and Lily, against all odds. So much crying!
Regular Show (Cartoon Network, 8 p.m.): Ready for an episode about a drum solo? Well, you’re going to get one, even if you’re not (like Alasdair Wilkins). In this installment of everybody’s favorite raccoon-thing and bird-thing star vehicle, Benson, whoever that is, wants to prove he performed said solo.
2 Broke Girls (CBS, 9 p.m.): Pilot Viruet is stranded because of that damned Hurricane Sandy, so somebody else will be filling in. In the meantime, we’d like you to come up with some sort of Photoshop that depicts the storm as the dog from Lil’ Orphan Annie, because let’s make destruction cute, yeah?
RuPaul’s Drag Race (Logo, 9 p.m.): We find the idea that there are only six episodes in this season just a bit suspect, but, hey, we’re not the ones who make the show. Mostly, Oliver Sava just wishes there was going to be more of Pandora Boxx, but last week’s episode sure took care of that particular dream.
Castle (ABC, 10 p.m.): Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. And so passes another show from the TV Club mantle, as Phil Dyess-Nugent takes his final crack at reviewing the unreviewable, and you take your final crack at being mad at him for not properly respecting Nathan Fillion or whatever it is you’re mad about.
The Inbetweeners (MTV, 10:30 p.m.): This episode is called “Spa Time,” but it’s about some of the girls hosting a car wash. We’re not sure what, exactly, the line is between those two items, but Margaret Eby invites you to fill in the blanks on your own and try and figure it out for yourselves. Go on. Don’t be shy.
TV CLUB CLASSIC
The West Wing (11 a.m.): And, lo, Aaron Sorkin left The West Wing—or, rather, was fired by a network tired of him going overbudget—and he did so in a fashion that would make whoever took over for him have fits trying to write their way out of the cliffhanger. Steve Heisler has intense sympathy for them.
WHAT ELSE IS ON
Dancing With The Stars (ABC, 8 p.m.): You have to feel for ABC, in a way. The network launched an all-star season of this show to stanch the Nielsen bleeding it underwent last spring and promptly found it plummeting in the 18-49-year-old demo but being watched by tons of old people. Just like Harry’s Law!
Stephen King’s Storm Of The Century (Encore, 8 p.m.): If you’ve never seen this ‘90s miniseries, we can’t say we recommend it, exactly, since it’s rather predictable and not particularly scary, but it’s kind of fun, and weirdly coincidental that it’s airing as Hurricane Sandy bears down on the East Coast.
Hoarders (A&E, 9 p.m.): The time for this show seems to have passed, but we always enjoy reading the episode descriptions on TV Guide, which basically boil down to, “This week, we’re going to show you another two hoarders, but we’ll try to make it sound a little different.” Tonight, one of them has a dog!
$24 In 24 (Food Network, 10:30 p.m.): This enjoyable new Food Network shows closes out its season by taking viewers to Philadelphia, where presumably the $24 of the title will be spent solely on cheesesteaks, since we’re pretty sure Philadelphia doesn’t make any other foods. Mmm. Cheesesteaks.
Inherit The Wind (TCM, 8 p.m.): This adaptation of the classic stage play about the Scopes Monkey Trial features some of the more irritating things about many stage-to-screen adaptations, but it’s also a highly enjoyable film, particularly if you’re into that period of history/like Clarence Darrow (and who doesn’t?).
Orphan (Lifetime, 8 p.m.): In the annals of ridiculous twists, we have to say that this one takes the cake for utter ridiculousness. If you haven’t heard what it is, you could watch tonight, or you could just go spoil yourself on Wikipedia. Really, that would probably be just as worthwhile. Go ahead. We’ll wait.
Monday Night Football: 49ers at Cardinals (ESPN, 8:30 p.m.): Everybody expected the 49ers to be pretty good this year, and they have been. What no one was counting on was the Cardinals also being good. Tonight’s game should establish a clear favorite in the NFC West. Or it won’t! Who knows?
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
The Walking Dead (Sunday): Zack Handlen doesn’t want to spoil which character beloved by fans of the comic turned up last night, but he will tell you that his name starts with a G. And the second letter’s an O. Okay, and the third letter’s a V. And then there’s an E-R-N-O-R. That’s right. It’s Michonne!