Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Friday, March 16, and Saturday, March 17. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
Supernatural (The CW, 9 p.m., Friday): It’s been a troubled season for the long-running CW series, with lots of characters leaving the show and fans revolting and other fans getting angry at the fans who are revolting and a general sense that critics who used to love the show are slowly turning on it. And, to be fair, it’s a show that’s seven seasons old. This is just one of those things that happens when you’re on a show that’s that old. But will the series pull it together for the final stretch of this season? Will it find a way to get to season eight? Phil Dyess-Nugent doesn’t know, but he does know that monsters are awesome.
REGULAR COVERAGE
Spartacus: Vengeance (Starz, 10 p.m., Friday): The summary suggests that Spartacus will contemplate “an opportunity for revenge.” Honestly, is there anything else that guy thinks about? Ryan McGee is pretty sure that he’s thinking about revenge every single moment of every single day. As it should be.
TV CLUB CLASSIC
Veronica Mars (11 a.m., Friday): There’s a point at which the first overarching mystery of this show’s third season tries way too hard to outsmart the audience and ends up seeming just sort of dumb and slightly offensive. That point is now. The man to realize this with a groan is Rowan Kaiser.
Angel (1 p.m., Friday): “Hey,” Noel Murray said over the phone to us one day. “I like the shows I’m covering, but I’d really like if I could cover more Mexican wrestling-related material.” “Is that so?” we said. “Because if that’s the case, you only need wait a few weeks with Angel.” He’s so happy now!
The Adventures Of Pete And Pete (3 p.m., Friday): This week’s Pete And Pete review opens with Marah Eakin’s apologies for having never seen an ‘80s coming-of-age classic. But which will it be? The Princess Bride? Stand And Deliver? Spaceballs? Out Of Africa? We wouldn’t blame you for the last one, Marah.
The Twilight Zone (1 p.m., Saturday): If there’s one guy who’s going to be totally fine with covering an episode all about Christmas on St. Patrick’s Day, it’s Todd VanDerWerff, who really enjoys when holidays bump up incongruously against each other. Put on your Santa hats and celebrate the luck of the Irish!
WHAT ELSE IS ON
Nikita (The CW, 8 p.m., Friday): The other major networks (if we can even call The CW a “major network”) are taking the night off so they don’t have to go up against March Madness, so if you’re not basketball inclined, here’s a chance to catch up on the beleaguered, low-rated spy action hour.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Cartoon Network, 8 p.m., Friday): Here’s another show we don’t know much about, but people we trust insist it’s not half bad and is, indeed, the best new Star Wars product in a long, long time. Not that that’s a high bar to clear, but the season finale’s tonight if you’re curious.
Fairly Legal (USA, 9 p.m., Friday): USA is programming Fridays now for no real reason, and its weapon of choice to face down the forces of audience apathy is this Sarah Shahi star vehicle. And, honestly, if you need to combat viewer apathy, there are few better weapons than Sarah Shahi. Wink wink.
North Woods Law (Animal Planet, 9 p.m., Friday): Animal Planet just can’t wait to send us into the north woods of Maine with a bunch of animal control officers who have to face down wild moose. Who will charm the most reluctant viewers, then: a moose or Sarah Shahi? For us, it’s neck and neck.
Chasing Leprechauns (Hallmark, 8 p.m., Saturday): Hey, it’s St. Patrick’s Day, and that means it’s time for the Hallmark Channel to make a weird romantic comedy that is sort of about the holiday but also not at all. In this one, a businessman slowly falls for a leprechaun expert. No. Seriously.
Leprechaun’s Revenge (Syfy, 9 p.m., Saturday): At least Syfy knows that the only reason to make a movie about leprechauns nowadays is if they’re killin’ folk. In this one, a leprechaun returns to get revenge on the citizens of a small town, who are the descendants of those who stole its gold. Amazing!
Jason And The Argonauts (TCM, 8 p.m., Friday): Ray Harryhausen contributes the special effects to this retelling of the classic story from Greek myth. We haven’t seen the latter, but we’re almost completely certain you will enjoy this a whole lot more than you will Wrath Of The Titans. We guarantee it.
Standing In The Shadows Of Motown (Sundance, 8 p.m., Friday): Andre Braugher narrates this fascinating music documentary about the Funk Brothers, the backing musicians who contributed to many of the biggest hits to emerge from Motown. The film also boasts some great performances.
The Day After Tomorrow (Fox Movie Channel, 8 p.m., Saturday): We this this movie just hasn’t gotten its due as one of the great bad movies of all time. For God’s sake, there are two separate scenes in which characters outrun bloodthirsty wolves and the cold. The cold! That’s great bad movie stuff.
NCAA Basketball Tournament: Duke vs. Lehigh (CBS, 7 p.m., Friday): Round two of March Madness continues as What’s On Tonight’s arch-nemesis, the Duke Blue Devils, hopefully is forced to forfeit against Lehigh, because who doesn’t want to see an unexpected Lehigh win? We certainly do!
NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament (ESPN2, 6:30 p.m., Saturday): In addition to the men’s tournament continuing throughout the weekend, don’t forget that the women’s tournament starts Saturday, and ESPN2 will be carrying many of the best games throughout the day. Lady sports!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Archer (Thursday): Todd VanDerWerff had been waiting for Archer and the gang from ISIS to head into space for the longest time, and now, here they go. But the surprise twist ending and the guest vocal performance from Bryan Cranston are the things that make this one as great as it is.