Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Tuesday, July 17. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
Workaholics (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.): The Olympics are just a handful of days away, but the gang on Workaholics is ready to race for the gold medal, or, rather, to not get fired. After the guys learn that they need to get to work before Alice, or they’ll be fired, they, naturally, embark on a mission to get there before she does. We’re sure that hilarity will ensue along the way, but we’re mostly hoping that the whole thing is like that old Hanna Barbara cartoon, and they get a dog who covers its mouth with its paw and snickers as they pull dirty tricks. Kevin McFarland will play that dog!
REGULAR COVERAGE
MasterChef (Fox, 9 p.m.): Even as we write about the second episode—which airs tonight—we’re watching last night’s episode, in which one of the contestants set a grill on fire and Gordon Ramsay yelled at her. Phil Dyess-Nugent remembers when this was to be the show where Gordon was cuddly.
White Collar (USA, 9 p.m.): Neal needs to get back into the United States. Collins would like very much to catch Neal in the act of doing that. Who’s Neal going to turn to? Well, since The A-Team isn’t around, he’s probably going to turn to Peter. Kenny Herzog’s okay with that, so long as there’s lots of banter.
Frontline (PBS, 10 p.m.): Meredith Blake checks out an episode where students at a West Philadelphia high school build hybrid cars and enter them in a 2010 competition. That’s impressive! When we were high school students, we were stuck building crappy entertainment centers in shop class.
TV CLUB CLASSIC
Dawson’s Creek (11 a.m.): It’s the season one finale, the last time that Dawson Leery felt totally relevant and like an important part of this show. Remember when you really cared if he’d finally admit his feelings for Joey? Ah, Dawson. You have so very far to fall. Brandon Nowalk can’t wait for the carnage.
Six Feet Under (1 p.m.): John Teti thinks “Back To The Garden” isn’t a bad episode or anything, but it would almost certainly be improved by somebody singing—or even just humming—Iron Butterfly’s “In A Gadda Da Vida.” Then again, pretty much every episode of everything would be improved by that.
WHAT ELSE IS ON
Wipeout (ABC, 8 p.m.): Tonight’s episode of Wipeout adds three new games, which are named “Udderly Ridiculous,” “Swinging In The Rain,” and “Swept Away.” Your mission in comments: Explain to us what these games are. “Udderly Ridiculous,” in particular, sounds like it could be completely disgusting.
American Gypsies (National Geographic, 9 p.m.): What’s up with all of the reality shows about little-observed subcultures lately? It’s like cable just can’t get enough of people who live in seclusion, away from the prying eyes of mainstream society and living their lives in carefully contained story arcs.
The L.A. Complex (The CW, 9 p.m.): Critics liked the first season of this Canadian series about breaking into show business, but audiences almost completely ignored it. Nevertheless, The CW has the rights to season two, and dammit, it’s gonna air the thing in the summer. Phil Dyess-Nugent wants to be an actor.
Tosh.0 (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.): The first episode of the clip show since Daniel Tosh became embroiled in controversy thanks to his general inability to be all that funny airs, and the TV Guide summary promises that “Daniel takes off his shirt.” So if that sounds appealing, definitely tune in.
Romeo And Juliet (TCM, 8 p.m.): It’s not the 1968 version your teacher made you watch in English class—y’know, the one with that famous song and Olivia Hussey—nor is it the 1996 Baz Luhrmann version. No, this 1936 version stars Norma Shearer, who was a super youthful 34 at the time.
The Help (Showtime, 9 p.m.): The racial politics of this movie are… troubling at best and utterly awful at worst, but it boasts some amazing performances that rise above all the crap, particularly from the great Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her terrific work.
SportsCenter Special: AFC West Preview (ESPN, 8 p.m.): “Oh, God!” ESPN says. “The NFL is back in just a few weeks! How can we distract people until then?!” And instead of distracting us exclusively with baseball, the network’s just going to run a bunch of division-level football previews for some reason.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Eureka (Monday): Myles McNutt checks in on the series finale of a show we somehow never wrote about before that finale, even though we’re well known for liking a little scientifiction here at the ol’ TV Club. Myles, who’d only seen one episode prior to the finale, liked what he saw quite a bit.