Treat yourself to a double dose of finales you’ve probably already watched with Orange Is The New Black and Monty Python
Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Thursday, August 22. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
Orange Is The New Black (Netflix, 4 p.m.)/Monty Python’s Flying Circus (11 a.m.): One of these shows features a colorful cast of characters, some of whom speak in bizzare accents—and the other is Monty Python’s Flying Circus. But both shows have season finales under review today—season finales you might have watched long ago and have waited, ever so patiently, for Myles McNutt and Zack Handlen to weigh in on. Today that patience is rewarded, and it will be a glorious day of discussing unappealing meals, life-and-death circumstances, and men saying things in roundabout fashion—and we’re sure there’ll be lively comment threads on the end of OITNB’s first season, too.
REGULAR COVERAGE
Wilfred (FX, 10 p.m.): Wilfred has it bad for a bulldog, who’s owned by Kristen Schaal’s character. If only the bulldog was Kristen Schaal’s character, then we think Rowan Kaiser’s review might read a-something like this: “Kristen Schaal is a bulldog! Kristen Schaal is a bulldog! Look at her dance like a look at her go like a look at her dance like a bulldog! Kristen Schaal is a bulldog! Kristen Schaal is a bulldog! Look at her dance like a look at her go like a look at her dance like a bulldog! Kristen Schaal is a bulldog! Kristen Schaal is a bulldog! Look at her dance like a look at her go like a look at her dance like a bulldog! Kristen Schaal is a bulldog! Kristen Schaal is a bulldog! Look at her dance like a look at her go like a look at her dance like a bulldog! Kristen Schaal is a bulldog! Kristen Schaal is a bulldog! Look at her dance like a look at her go like a look at her dance like a bulldog! Kristen Schaal is a bulldog! Kristen Schaal is a bulldog! Look at her dance like a look at her go like a look at her dance like a bulldog! Kristen Schaal is a bulldog! Kristen Schaal is a bulldog! Look at her dance like a look at her go like a look at her dance like a bulldog! Kristen Schaal is a bulldog! Kristen Schaal is a bulldog! Look at her dance like a look at her go like a look at her dance like a bulldog!”
And so on.
Graceland (USA, 10 p.m.): By presenting an episode titled “King’s Castle,” it’s almost like Graceland wants us to make Elvis jokes about it this week. Well Genevieve Valentine will have none of that, opting instead to take all of her pop-culture-riffing cues from Paul Simon’s Graceland. Ladysmith Black Mambazo provides background reviews.
Childrens Hospital (Adult Swim, midnight): The series broaches the hot-button topic of imaginary friends. David Sims has nothing to say on the subject, but the 7-foot-tall, purple-spotted bird who feeds David all his best ideas might.
NTSF: SD: SUV:: (Adult Swim, 12:30 a.m.): A restaurant owned by the President of the Navy is in trouble, and only the NTSF crew can save it. Kevin McFarland figures Gordon Ramsay wasn’t called in because Rob Riggle does all the angry screaming around these parts, thank you very much.
TV CLUB CLASSIC
Friends (3 p.m.): Joe Reid and Sonia Saraiya are grateful they now live in a world where they can discuss Leah Remini’s involvement in “The One With The Birth” without fear of reprisal of the Church of Scientology. Not that your What’s On Tonight? correspondent believes the church is in the business of conducting reprisals. [An angry knock is heard at the door, delivered by a hand that is clearly not held back by body thetans.] Holy shit, did you hear that? Okay, everybody be quiet, be cool, and don’t make any Battlefield Earth jokes.
WHAT ELSE IS ON?
Little Mosque (Pivot, 7:30 p.m.): As a public service to anyone who hasn’t caught this Canadian import on Hulu yet: It’s now airing daily on the Official Network of the #HeroGeneration, Pivot, which will broadcast the second-season finale tonight. Enjoy it on all your favorite screens, Millennials!
Kid Rock: Live From Buffalo Chip (CMT, 8 p.m.): If you still haven’t read Drew Magary’s essential GQ piece on Kid Rock’s Chillin’ The Most Cruise, this taped performance from the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally will give you a good idea of what that article entails—give or take the image of a “Heineken Light bucket filled with warm vomit.”
Pregnant Behind Bars (Discovery Fit & Health, 10 p.m.): As if the network knew The A.V. Club was about to run out of Orange Is The New Black, it debuts the first episode of this self-explanatory docuseries set in a women’s jail. Thanks, Discovery Fit & Health!
Sullivan & Son (TBS, 10 p.m.): As if the network knew The A.V. Club was about to run out of Orange Is The New Black, here’s another show that feels like prison and is unfortunately open to accusations of racism. Thanks, easy jokes!
Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai (Sundance, 8 p.m.): Not to be confused with the Syfy Original Movie Ghost Shark, in which Ruthie from 7th Heaven and Bull from Night Court go searching for that most elusive of quarries: The next Sharknado.
Ghost Shark (Syfy, 9 p.m.): Not to be confused with the Jim Jarmusch film Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai, in which Forrest Whitaker plays a hitman following the code of Japanese warriors and not a cheap launching pad for stupid Twitter puns.
UEFA Champions League Soccer: Fenerbahce vs. Arsenal (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.): Watch some football so you can say football things in a football voice. And then read this article and see if you can make any sense of its opening paragraph. (Talk about a ludicrous display.)
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Modern Dads (A&E, 10:30 p.m.): If current, Duck Dynasty-set trends hold, this docuseries—about dude-bros learning to be father-men—will be the biggest thing on cable in six months. And when it is, Jessica Jardine can say she was there when the Duck Commander family of December 2013 was just a collection of humble dad-guys.