Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Thursday, February 26. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
How To Get Away With Murder (ABC, 10 p.m.): How To Get Away With Murder earns a two-hour chunk of ABC’s “Thank God It’s Thursday” programming (sorry Scandal) for its double-sized season finale. Annalise defends a priest, Connor and Oliver take things to a new level, Wes and Rebecca continue their falling out, and the facts of Lila’s murder are finally revealed. It remains to be seen whether the finale will be more like last week’s excellent penultimate episode or more like the rest of the lackluster season that preceded it. Either way, this DIY homicide tutorial has definitely given Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya some new ideas about how to spend her summer vacation.
Also noted
Victoria Secret Swim Special (CBS, 10 p.m.): Victoria’s Secret managed to turn an annual hour-long commercial (it’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show) into something resembling a cultural event, and now the company hopes to do the same with this brand new swimsuit special. Supermodels like Adrianna Lima, Lily Aldridge, and Alessandra Ambrosio shoot a swimwear campaign in Puerto Rico, while Maroon 5 and Juanes are slated to perform. We’re barely putting up with it, but that doesn’t mean others can’t enjoy.
Archer (FX, 10 p.m.): After a mediocre episode centered on Area 51, Caroline Framke hopes a more domestic plot can bring the spark back to Archer. And since one of Caroline’s big concerns is that Lana has been defined solely by motherhood this season, hopefully introducing Lana’s own parents can add some nuance to her character.
Fortitude (Pivot, 10 p.m.): Stanely Tucci’s acerbic DCI Morton continues his mysterious investigations in this Arctic-set original drama from Pivot. Libby Hill can’t help but think his gregarious Hunger Games character, Caesar Flickerman, might be slightly better at getting people to open up in the interrogation room.
Regular Coverage
Adventure Time (Cartoon Network, 7:30 p.m.)
The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 8 p.m.)
Vikings (History, 10 p.m.)
Portlandia (IFC, 10 p.m.)
TV Club Classic
Futurama (10 a.m.): The Planet Express crew head under the sea (under the sea!) and discover the lost city of Atlanta is now a thriving mermaid community in “The Deep South.” Then Bender joins the mafia in “Bender Gets Made.” Zack Handlen prepped for his review by marathoning The Little Mermaid and Goodfellas, which made for a rather jarring double feature.
Elsewhere in TV Club
WWE wrestler/metal band frontman/podcast host/occasional TV personality Chris Jericho really dislikes Rednex’s “Cotton Eye Joe,” and he tells us why in a new HateSong. As Jericho eloquently explains, “The less said about that piece of shit the better.”
Other than that, TV Club is a bit slow today so be sure to check out Annie Zaleski’s Primer on ’80s U.K. synth-pop and our interview with The Worst Idea Of All Time podcast hosts Tim Batt and Guy Montgomery, who watched Grown Ups 2 every week for a year. (Which is slightly less impressive than this dude who watched Julie & Julia every day for a year.)
What else is on?
Steven Universe/Regular Show (Cartoon Network, 6:30/7:30 p.m.): Greg and Amethyst find an old favorite at a garage sale on Steven Universe, while Regular Show introduces the world’s greatest suit (which comes with two interior pockets and military grade weaponry).
Mom (CBS, 9:30 p.m.): Stop the presses: Mom has a brand new time slot! The show celebrates its later hour with an “edgy” plot in which Christy discovers she likes the risk of getting caught while having sex (or “lovemaking” as TV Guide calls it).
The Slap (NBC, 8 p.m.): It’s Uma Thurman week on The Slap, and her character makes a game-changing discovery. Hopefully she’ll work out her subsequent angst through song. (R.I.P. Smash)
My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding (TLC, 9 p.m.): The only thing worse than turning on My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding to discover it’s the American version (and not the British original), is turning on Say Yes To The Dress only to discover it’s the Atlanta iteration. Oh well, the fourth season premiere of this subpar Gypsy spin-off (where are the British accents?!?!) is still better than nothing.
What Watch Happens: Live (Bravo, 11 p.m.): Funny men John Oliver and Mark Duplass stop by to bro out with Andy Cohen in the Bravo Clubhouse.
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (TCM, 3:45 p.m.): Admittedly, 3:45 p.m. isn’t the most convenient movie-watching hour for those working 9-5 (what a way to make a living). But it’s probably worth calling in sick and/or taking a really late lunch to watch this Frank Capra classic that turned Jimmy Stewart into a hero for high school government teachers everywhere. (Mostly because they can show this movie instead of teaching a lesson on filibusters.)
While You Were Sleeping (Lifetime, 6 p.m.): While You Were Sleeping received a slot on our list of 28 romantic gestures that are actually creepy, which should be recommendation enough. Sandra Bullock poses as the fiancée of a man she’s never met after he falls into a comma. Even weirder, she then falls in love with his brother, who’s played by Bill Pullman. Ahhh, young love!
Titanic (AMC, 8 p.m.): We’re pretty sure the world would stop turning if this movie didn’t air on TV at least once every few days. Thanks to AMC, we’re covered this week.
WWE SmackDown (SyFy, 8 p.m.): Since we’ve got that new HateSong with Chris Jericho and LaToya Ferguson just began her coverage of WWE Monday Night RAW, we went with a synergistic sports pick for tonight. Just don’t ask us to explain why this wrestling series airs on SyFy.
In case you missed it
The 100: In just two weeks the all-around solid second season of The 100 reaches its finale. Until then, Kyle Fowle will continue to chart the drama between the Mountain Men, the Sky People, the Grounders, and whatever other geographical cultures may emerge.