Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Friday, October 2 & Saturday, October 3. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
Saturday Night Live (NBC: 11:30 p.m., Saturday): Live, from New York, it’s season 41 of Saturday Night Live. It appears not much has changed over at 30 Rock— Jost and Che behind the Update desk, all last year’s cast members (even those now moonlighting as supernatural exterminators) in place, and now three-time host Miley Cyrus is kicking things off, giving Vanessa Bayer a boost right out of the gate. Sure, there’s one new cast member (who will carry the “featured player” tag, at least until he proves that his decent Matthew McConaughey impression will eclipse the Trevor Noah-esque Twitter stain people uncovered once he was hired), but it’s still Lorne Michaels’ world. We’re just watching it. (And, speaking of “live from New York!”, why not tune up for the season by tuning in to the SNL documentary Live From New York! at 8 p.m.) Dennis Perkins has socked in all the coffee for his weekly SNL reviews. Sorry about the coffee—Dennis has all the coffee now.
Also noted
Dr. Ken (ABC, 8:31 p.m., Friday): Renowned scene-stealer and real-life M.D. Ken Jeong gets a chance to anchor his own sitcom, playing a doctor trying to balance his family life, medical practice, and a propensity for being far too honest with his patients. Can the Chang magic sustain itself over the course of an entire series—as a sitcom leading man, even? In the Fall TV Preview, Erik Adams had…issues.
The Unauthorized Beverly Hills 90210 Story (Lifetime, 8 p.m., Saturday): For these, it’s really best to let the promo pics do the writing. (Although Alex McCown will be doing the actual writing for his review.)
Doctor Who (BBC America, 9 p.m., Saturday): The Doctor and Clara wind up on a malfunctioning underwater nuclear reactor? Man, what else can go wrong? What—ghosts? Even Alasdair Wilkins is, like, “Seriously, universe?”
Blunt Talk (Starz, 9 p.m., Saturday): When Walter heads out to help Rosalie track down her missing husband, Jim has to take over for Walter. Brandon Nowalk fully expects Jim to immediately go bald and start firing photon torpedoes, but that’s him.
Survivor’s Remorse (Starz, 9:30 p.m., Saturday): Everyone knows being a professional athlete is the key to big bucks, fame, and a comfortable life for you family—unless you get hurt. Tonight, NBA phenom Cam gets hurt. Joshua Alston’s holding his breath, along with the rest of Cam’s family.
Elsewhere in TV Club
Look, it’s us, it’s not you—we know that some things are universally loved and respected and enjoyed, and that’s great. But sometimes we just can’t get on board with something everyone else agrees is the best thing ever, as this week’s AVQ&A can attest. After that, Will Harris gets Deadbeat star Tyler Labine to answer our AV Club Questionnaire and then shifts over to legendary character actor Ed Begley, Jr. for another stellar Random Roles. (No word at press time if he asks about Transylvania 6-5000.)
What else is on
Anjelah Johnson: Not Fancy (Netflix, 3:01 a.m., Friday): The press release for this standup special from standup Johnson asserts, “Johnson has the audience rolling from her hilarious impressions of European Gypsies, Vietnamese manicurists, and breakdown of cholo church vs. regular church.” So, you know, see if that grabs you. It sort of did grab Kayla Kumari Upadhyahya, who gives it a solid B and is very smart about such things.
The Amazing Race (CBS, 8 p.m., Friday): Buenos Aires hosts an episode entitled “Get In There And Think Like A Dog.” That sounds like the setup for a really clever joke, but damned if we can see it.
Last Man Standing (ABC, 8 p.m., Friday): Tim Allen continues to assert that men are a certain way while women are a very different way.
Masters Of Illusion (8 & 8:30 p.m., Friday): In the two-part season finale, competing magicians ask the question, “Is this your card? It just has to be your damned card! C’mon… I’m dyin’ our here. Six of clubs? Aaaarggg!”
Hawaii Five-O (CBS, 9 p.m., Friday): The bomb squad is attacked—with bombs! How did they not see that coming?
America’s Next Top Model (CW, 9 p.m., Friday): The pretty person competition show continues. A clip:
Shark Tank (ABC, 9 p.m., Friday): “My pitch is about a reality show where millionaire judges help aspiring inventors achieve their dreams.” “Pass.” “Wait—what if the whole thing is sort of exploitative and mean-spirited?” “Now that’s an idea we can get behind! Also, why don’t you do a little dance for us.”
Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case (PBS, 10 p.m., Friday): From the POV documentary series comes this portrait of impish artist Ai Weiwei, who couldn’t help razzing the Chinese government, even after they jailed him for criticizing the Chinese government. Those are some big, artsy balls, right there.
The Jacksons: Next Generation (Lifetime, 10 p.m., Friday): Various Jackson family children decide to follow in their famous musical family’s footsteps. What could possibly go wrong there?
Blue Bloods (CBS, 10 p.m., Friday): Tom Selleck’s manly loins spawn nothing but cops. This week, several of his brood chase a serial killer. Another thinks about becoming a judge. Meanwhile Selleck just sits back in his leather chair, smokes a cigar, and ruminates on whether he’s bred sufficiently to eliminate all crime.
Strike Back (Cinemax, 10 p.m., Friday): Scott and Stonebridge bash their way over to Switzerland in search of that nuclear bomb they lost. It’s okay, though—they managed to squeeze a pair of wire-snippers in their bandoliers. Plus, they’re pretty sure it’s always the blue wire. It’s almost usually the blue one.
Z Nation (Syfy, 10 p.m., Friday): Again, for those out there who like their zombies a little more—shall we say—loopy than those grim Walking Dead/Fear The Walking Dead curmudgeons, tonight’s Z Nation sees the survivors seeking to treat zombieism with a natural cure from a greenhouse guarded by zombie-plant hybrids! That is not a typo, not have we here at What’s On Tonight central just started making listings up. Zombie. Plant. Hybrids.
Continuum (Syfy, 11 p.m., Friday):Kiera’s mad that Brad seems to like the soldiers from the future more than her. To be fair to Brad—they probably have access to jetpacks.
SXSW Comedy Night Two With W. Kamau Bell (Showtime, 11 p.m., Friday): Since Totally Biased was totally cancelled, W. Kamau Bell’s been busy being hilarious and smart in other places, including hosting this series of standup specials from SXSW. On this second outing, he welcomes the likes of Wyatt Cenac, Todd Glass, and Rachel Feinstein, none of whom will presumably be cancelled in the middle of a totally funny set.
Black Jesus (Adult Swim, 11 p.m., Friday): Someone thinks Black Jesus and his disciples are terrorists. Chill, weed-smoking terrorists preaching nonviolence.
Night Of The Wild (Syfy, 9 p.m., Saturday): Your dogs are coming to kill you! Rob Morrow says so in this Syfy original movie about a meteor crash that sends a small town’s entire canine population on a kill-crazy rampage. If you’re missing Zoo, Rob Morrow’s got just the movie for you!
Autumn Dreams (Hallmark, 9 p.m., Saturday): At their 15th high school reunion, former sweethearts discover the annulment of their quickie marriage was never finalized. Should they get back together, since they’re married and stuff? Well, teenagers do seem to make great romantic decisions.
Guardians Of The Galaxy (Disney XD, 9:30 p.m., Saturday): He is still—we have it on good authority—Groot.
And now…sport college football
College Football: Iowa At Wisconsin (ESPN, noon, Saturday)
College Football: Purdue At Michigan State (ESPN2, noon, Saturday)
College Football: Army At Penn State (ESPNU, noon, Saturday)
College Football: Texas At TCU (ABC, noon, Saturday)
Barclays Premier League Soccer: Chelsea vs. Southampton (NBC, 12:30 p.m., Saturday)
MLB Baseball: Angels at Rangers or Royals at Twins (Fox, 12:30 p.m., Saturday)
College Football: Alabama At Georgia (CBS, 3:30 p.m., Saturday)
College Football: Ohio State At Indiana (ABC, 3:30 p.m., Saturday)
College Football: Florida State At Wake Forest (ESPN, 3:30 p.m., Saturday)
College Football: Texas Tech-Baylor or Ohio State-Indiana (ESPN2, 3:30 p.m., Saturday)
College Football: North Carolina At Georgia Tech (ESPNU, 3:30 p.m., Saturday)
College Football: Kansas State At Oklahoma State (Fox Sports 1, 4 p.m., Saturday)
College Football: Mississippi At Florida (ESPN, 7 p.m., Saturday)
College Football: Arkansas At Tennessee (ESPN2, 7 p.m., Saturday)
College Football: Eastern Michigan At LSU (ESPNU, 7 p.m., Saturday)
College Football: Arizona State At UCLA (Fox, 7:30 p.m., Saturday)
College Football: Notre Dame At Clemson (ABC, 8 p.m., Saturday)
College Football: Oregon At Colorado (ESPN, 10 p.m., Saturday)
Showtime Championship Boxing: Broner-Allakhverdiev (Showtime, 10 p.m., Saturday—although there are rumors this may actually be another college football game)
College Football: Hawaii At Boise State (ESPN2, 10:15 p.m., Saturday)
In case you missed it
Review: Emily L. Stephens looked into the abyss that is Forrest MacNeil’s commitment to the reality show/Biblical tragedy that is Review and gave it an A. Sure, her hair turned white, but an A’s an A.