The CW moves The LA Complex because TV's lowest-rated show can handle things like that
Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Monday, August 27. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
The LA Complex (The CW, 8 p.m.): In its infinite wisdom, The CW has moved its goofily enjoyable Hollywood soap to Monday nights, for no real reason we can discern. We’re just going to believe that the network saw how much stress it was putting on Phil Dyess-Nugent to cover both this and MasterChef in the same night and decided to cut him some slack, but we really know that it secretly believes Monday night is the one night Canadian expatriates might be up for a little fun watching their countrymen struggle with our American ways.
REGULAR COVERAGE
Adventure Time (Cartoon Network, 7:30 p.m.): “A creepy peeper upsets Bubblegum,” reads the description for this episode, and the nice use of long-e sounds is all we need to be convinced to watch. Oliver Sava is already working on his own version of “Jeepers Creepers” to insert into his review.
Alphas (Syfy, 8 p.m.): Look, American nerds! Summer Glau has returned to this program! Won’t you watch, and prostrate yourselves before her Glau-iness? Because if you don’t, it might get canceled, and then Todd VanDerWerff would have to be angry with you. Granted, that’s not a real threat, but still.
Grimm (NBC, 10 p.m.): Every time we read that this show has a character named Hank—who tonight investigates the disappearance of a young girl—we like to imagine that it’s Breaking Bad Hank, then think that those two shows share a universe. Kevin McFarland bets Walt, Jr., is some sort of Wesen.
The Inbetweeners (MTV, 10:30 p.m.): The guys decide to go to a popular amusement park, where Will is going to ride an infamous roller coaster and where Simon attempts to impress Carly. Margaret Eby invites you to stop her if you have heard of this one before. No. Really.
Web Therapy (Showtime, 11 p.m.): Fiona and Conan O’Brien square off against each other, and we just enjoy the thought of Lisa Kudrow having some sort of battle to the death with the tall redhead, mostly because we can’t imagine he has any combat skills to speak of. Brandon Nowalk has +5 melee, actually.
TV CLUB CLASSIC
The West Wing (11 a.m.): Taking a page from executive producer John Wells’ other big series, ER, the show goes on the road, as CJ heads to Dayton for a high-school reunion, then discovers how far her father’s Alzheimer’s has progressed. It’s one fans like to fight over; Steve Heisler’s ready to rumble.
Justice League (1 p.m.): Apparently filled with election year mania, the Justice Lords launch an all-out assault on the White House and kill duly elected President Lex Luthor, which seems like a violation of the Constitution in some form or another. Oliver Sava is too busy pondering Luthor’s electoral college map.
WHAT ELSE IS ON
Regular Show (Cartoon Network, 8 p.m.): You’ve been crying out for coverage of this show to go with our coverage of Adventure Time for weeks and weeks now, and Alasdair Wilkins has finally agreed to step up to the plate. We’re hoping he enjoys the… little bird thing? We haven’t seen this one. Fill us in.
The Secret Life Of The American Teenager (ABC Family, 8 p.m.): ABC Family’s wrapping up its summer series this week. We haven’t watched this one this year. Has it just turned into Shailene Woodley thunking her head against a wall and mumbling about The Descendants, as we imagine it has?
The Baby Wait (Logo, 9 p.m.): This new series follows a gay couple that’s adopted a baby—fun!—then shows us the agonizing 30 days they have to wait before the biological mother finally waives her parental rights. Wait a second! That doesn’t sound fun at all! We don’t like feeling our feelings!
Push Girls (Sundance, 10 p.m.): It’s the season finale of one of the year’s best reality series. Tonight’s episode delves into the world of modeling and indie film, which gives you some sense of just how far the show has wandered (often thrillingly) from its original, more athletics-focused premise. Worth a watch.
Lost In Translation (Flix, 8 p.m.): Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson go to Japan, meet up in a hotel, kinda sorta fall in love, then part via ambiguous whispers. The second film from Sofia Coppola was a major arthouse hit and also scored with the Oscars. If it’s atmosphere you’re after, check it out.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (Encore, 8 p.m.): It’s also entirely possible what you’re looking for tonight is a batshit Nicolas Cage performance, in which case, you just might have come to the right place. Cage is the titular sorcerer, Jay Baruchel is the titular apprentice, and you’re going to be sad you watched.
CFL Football: Edmonton at Toronto (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.): Oh, Canada. Adorable Canada! First you think you can make TV shows about our entertainment capitals; then you think you can play our sports! The “Edmonton Eskimos” and “Toronto Argonauts” are all well and good, but you’re not fooling anyone!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
The Simpsons (Sunday): Nathan Rabin has a few thoughts: “Dental plan!” “Lisa needs braces!” “Dental plan!” “Lisa needs braces!” “Dental plan!” “Lisa needs braces!” “Dental plan!” “Lisa needs braces!” “Dental plan!” “Lisa needs braces!” “Dental plan!” “Lisa needs braces!” “Dental plan!” “Lisa needs braces!”