The Flash would like you all to meet a happy little fellow he likes to call King Shark
Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Tuesday, February 23. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
The Flash (The CW, 8 p.m.): Once in a great while, television gives us something to believe in again. Such a moment came a dozen or so episodes back on The Flash, in which a running gag about some preposterous reports of a giant, land-based shark turned out to be completely, awesomely, hilariously accurate. But those fleeting glimpses of King Shark were just the prologue for tonight’s episode, as Diggle and Lyla from Arrow come to warn Barry and his buddies about a certain escaped walking, possibly talking shark. Scott Von Doviak is just wondering how he lived for so long without King Shark around.
Also noted
The Muppets (ABC, 8:30 p.m.): “Kermit and Miss Piggy pretend to be a couple again for Robin’s benefit.” You know, we’re not sure how this will play out on screen, but there’s definitely a version of that story playing in our head that is kind of making us cry our eyes out. That adorable little Robin just gets to us, for some reason. Dan Caffrey understands.
New Girl (Fox, 8 p.m.): “Reagan causes chaos when she tells Nick and Winston that she will only sleep with one of them, in an attempt to challenge the guys’ indecisiveness.” Hmm, no, really feels like there are more straightforward ways to help people work through their indecisiveness. Erik Adams feels like we should probably have a better understanding of what sitcoms are by now.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox, 9 p.m.): Jake is concerned about “an unstable detective who returns to the precinct after years undercover,” and there’s really only one actor in Hollywood acerbicly loudmouthed enough to pull of that kind of role, as Jason Mantzoukas follows up his work as Parks And Recreation’s Dennis Feinstein, The League’s Rafi, and that asshole director from that one late-period Community episode as the wonderfully named Adrian Pimento. LaToya Ferguson has fainted from the excitement (or possibly the flu, she’s got the flu real bad, you guys), so Genevieve Valentine is subbing in.
Regular coverage
Fresh Off The Boat (ABC, 8 p.m.)
Grandfathered (Fox, 8:30 p.m.)
Marvel’s Agent Carter (ABC, 9 p.m.)
The Grinder (Fox, 9:30 p.m.)
iZombie (The CW, 9 p.m.)
Girlfriends’ Guide To Divorce (Bravo, 10 p.m.)
American Crime Story: The People Vs. O.J. Simpson (FX, 10 p.m.)
The Shannara Chronicles (MTV, 10 p.m.)
What else is on?
Limitless (CBS, 10 p.m.): Unfortunately, we’re not going to be going ahead with regular coverage. But that doesn’t mean you can’t all enjoy the show on your own time! Here’s what’s on tap tonight: “Brian is covertly enlisted by Senator Morra’s henchman Sands, who finds that his dangerous past has caught up with him and he needs Brian’s help dealing with a life-or-death threat. Meanwhile, it’s up to Rachel to cover for her brother when the FBI comes calling about another case.”
CNN Democratic Presidential Town Hall (South Carolina)/America’s Choice 2016: Nevada Republican Caucuses (CNN, 8 p.m./10 p.m.): We can’t think of anything to say about this that won’t piss somebody off, so we’ll just acknowledge that these are still very much going on and this whole process is becoming incrementally more real with every new result. Also, if we were, say, the UK or Canada, how far away would we still be from the start of election season? You realize it was considered almost scandalous when last year’s Canadian general election lasted 78 days, right?
Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates Jr. (PBS, 8 p.m.): This week’s family history-exploring show looks at “The Pioneers,” which is actually a relatively legit way to find some common theme between openly gay actor Neil Patrick Harris, feminist icon Gloria Steinem, and Latina author Sandra Cisneros.
Frontline (PBS, 9 p.m.): And here’s your weekly reminder that, yeah, we should probably all just be watching Frontline: “The heroin epidemic in America is examined through the prism of four addicts in Seattle. Included: U.S. drug policy; and what happens when heroin is treated like a public health crisis, not a crime.”
Total Divas (E!, 9 p.m.): Help us out with this part of the episode description: “Brie drives her sister away when she refuses to enable Nikki’s fear of being alone.” So Nikki is mad at her sister for not helping her deal with her fear of being alone … so she runs off to be alone? That’s less a WWE-branded reality show plotline than it is an O. Henry short story.
Just Jillian (E!, 10 p.m.): “Jillian decides that her in-laws are part of a party-loving retirement community and surprising them with strippers and alcohol might be the way to their hearts.” We mean, when is that game plan not going to work? Even if you’re not into strippers or alcohol—and we actually legitimately have no interest in either!—who’s not going to appreciate the thought behind such a gesture?
Maine Cabin Masters (DIY, 10 p.m.): It’s a new show about some master builders in Maine doing some master building in Maine to save a cabin, Maine-style. On the one hand, this sounds just as uninteresting as every other over-produced building reality show. On the other hand, Maine is really pretty, so…
Prometheus/Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (FXM, 8 p.m./10:20 p.m.): Ooh, so here’s a fun question to ponder: Which of these movies is dumber? To our mind, this comes down to whether it’s more stupid to think you’re smart and then act dumb, or to intentionally act stupid and then not even be fun or interesting about it. Eh, we’re probably always going to choose the one that uncritically incorporates Erich von Daniken’s ancient astronaut bullshit, so Prometheus it is.
Waterworld (Flix, 9:30 p.m.): Because before director Kevin Reynolds had centurion Joseph Fiennes go on a manhunt for Jesus, he gave the world Kevin Costner’s piss-drinking fish-man Jesus.
Entourage (HBO Signature, 10 p.m.): Apparently they actually bothered to make a movie out of this, and they didn’t even use Sean O’Neal’s unsolicited spec script? Huh.
NHL Hockey: Columbus Blue Jackets at Detroit Red Wings (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.): The Blue Jackets, Columbus’ second biggest pro sports team (and no, we’re not talking about the MLS club for the top spot), is mired in its all too familiar place at the bottom of the standings, looking safely out of playoff contention for the 13th time in their 15-year existence. But, for whatever reason, they have had Detroit’s number of late, beating the United States’ most decorated hockey team in eight of their last 10 matchups.
CONCACAF Champions League Soccer: Querétaro vs. D.C. United/Seattle vs. América (FS1, 8 p.m./10 p.m.): Oh sure, the North American version of Champions League doesn’t have the luster of its European counterpart, but it’s still an opportunity to watch a pair of representatives from Major League Soccer square off against teams from Mexico’s Liga MX in some primetime action. Not too shabby, if you’re into this sort of thing.
In case you missed it
WWE Monday Night Raw: No, seriously, we’re actually justified in spotlighting wrestling in this week’s listings. Shane O Mac is back, and he hasn’t lost a single step since the last time he tried to steal a show out from under dear old dad.