Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Wednesday, February 8. All times are Eastern.
Top picks
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC, 9 p.m.): There are now 400 episodes of Law & Order: SVU. For some perspective, Big Boi was eaten by hyenas in the 209th episode. Time truly does fly when Dick Wolf is traumatizing you. And Law & Order: SVU is definitely planning for some 400 episode style trauma. After all, the episode is titled “Motherly Love.” But according to the synopsis, it’s not as traumatizing as you’d think: “A teenaged boy uses a rifle to stop an assault on his mother, but soon learns the target was someone he knows.” What does that mean? You’ll have to watch the episode to find out. Or watch this:
Legion (FX, 10 p.m.): FX has the TV shows. So what’s this one all about? “David considers whether the voices he hears might be real.” Really? Is that all, FX? Well, for you TV nerds: Fargo showrunner Noah Hawley is the creative force behind this series. As for the rest of you nerds: “Legion, based on the Marvel Comics by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz, is the story of David Haller (Dan Stevens), a troubled young man who may be more than human.” You should also know that it’s an X-Men thing. So there’s a chance he’s totally more than human.
Danette Chavez’s pre-air review of the series called it “a stunning visual and technical accomplishment.” She also gave the series an A. Will Alex McCown-Levy’s weekly reviews feel the same way? Hey, we’re not the ones with the superpowers here.
Man Seeking Woman (FXX, 10:30 p.m.): FXX also has the TV shows, such as Man Seeking Woman. In “Pad Thai,” “an exciting flirtation causes Lucy to question her relationship with Josh.” As usual, never trust Man Seeking Woman’s simple episode synopses to tell the full tale. That’s where the episode and Danette Chavez’s reviews come in. And oh what a tale “Pad Thai” tells:
Premieres and finales
The Expanse (Syfy, 10 p.m.): Kind of a premiere: The A.V. Club has heard your pleas and will post reviews of The Expanse season two, which kicked off last week. Zack Handlen will offer his take on this Mars-centric season, so watch along with him, won’t you? Since there were two action-packed episodes last week, in tonight’s episode three, “Static,” “Miller’s new plan could change the solar system, while Earth’s fate may be in the hands of an enemy.” Sounds sadly familiar.
Ice (Audience Network, 8 p.m.): Ice ends its first season with a bang. Probably. It’s about illegal diamond stuff, you know. Plus, the season finale is titled “Stand Off,” so context clues work. “With Pieter holding Ava hostage, Jake and Freddy must come together to save her; the investigation into Pieter begins to close in on Green & Green; Cam strikes out on his own, making a deal with the cartel.” Like we said.
Madiba (BET, 8 p.m.): Week two of the three-week Mandela miniseries continues tonight with “Spear Of The Nation” and “Total Strategy.” “Despite personal financial hardship, Nelson takes on the grueling task of raising funds for the ANC. Once he ends up at Robben Island serving a life sentence, his friend Oliver keeps the struggle alive on the outside.”
So Cosmo (E!, 8 p.m.): “Set at the glamorous epicenter of pop culture, Cosmopolitan Magazine follows the work hard, play hard lifestyles of the young women and men whose real life experiences inspire the pages of Cosmopolitan.” Former Cosmo editor-in-chief Joanna Coles executive produces and stars in the show. We know what you’re thinking: “Is this ‘docu-series’ even a fraction as entertaining as Ugly Betty/Dirt/Just Shoot Me!?” 1. Impossible. 2. You’re not funny. 3. We believe the answers you’re looking for are here. Also, we’ve realized that once NBC Universal failed at doing the scripted version of this, they settled for the next best thing.
Crazy Monster (Smithsonian Channel, 8 p.m.): Crazy Monster’s first season finale? It’s “Bugs.” Just like that first season Supernatural episode. Only here, “freaky and creepy bugs are examined,” and there are no ancient Native American burial grounds.
Excellence In Black Hollywood (TV One, 9 p.m.): In this special: “Roland S. Martin hosts members of the black Hollywood community to discuss entertainment, culture, and the black experience in television and film. Guests include John Legend, Common, Jurnee Smollett, Issa Rae, and more.”
Code Black (CBS, 10 p.m.): Tonight, Code Black looks to the “Fallen Angels” for its second season finale. What does that mean? “The doctors work with the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention to find an antidote to the deadly viral outbreak at Angels Memorial. Also, Leanne makes a life-changing decision, and Jesse welcomes a new batch of residents.” That didn’t answer our question. Unless the residents are the fallen angels?
Regular coverage
Santa Clarita Diet (Netflix)
Arrow (The CW, 8 p.m.)
Modern Family (ABC, 9 p.m.)
The 100 (The CW, 9 p.m.)
Star (Fox, 9 p.m.)
The Magicians (Syfy, 9 p.m.)
Black-ish (ABC, 9:30 p.m.)
Workaholics (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.)
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia (FXX, 10 p.m.)
The Expanse (Syfy, 10 p.m.)
Streaming pick
Just Shoot Me!, “The Withholder” (Amazon Video/iTunes/Vudu): There are places online you can watch Just Shoot Me! That’s the power of Enrico Colantoni. However, only the first three seasons are streaming on Amazon; on iTunes and Vudu, you can only get season three. So we hope you enjoy this season three episode of Just Shoot Me! Donald Trump is an integral part of the plot (but not actually in the episode), because this is an episode of a sitcom from the ’90s.