TV Club and Gordon Ramsay cordially remind you that MasterChef is a thing that exists
Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Wednesday, June 5. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
MasterChef (Fox, 8 p.m.): Did you forget that Gordon Ramsay’s best show was airing again this summer? Probably not, given Fox’s promotional onslaught, but we’re happy to remind you yet again. We ask you this: How many other cooking competition shows can actually teach you a little something about preparing food? The answer to that is: Most of them, if you’re really paying attention, but we’ll pretend that’s not the case. We still like this show, and we still like Ramsay wandering around like the cock of the walk, and we still like Phil Dyess-Nugent’s reviews. Come for the chefs; stay for the masters.
REGULAR COVERAGE
Arrested Development (Netflix, 11 a.m.): After catching up with Michael Bluth and his father last week, Noel Murray and Erik Adams are going to drop in on Lindsay Bluth-Funke and, uh, Michael again. Will they wonder at who’s sitting behind Lindsay on the plane to India, even though it’s blatantly obvious?
Don’t Trust The B—— In Apt. 23 (Hulu, 5 p.m.): We are on a plane, so we can’t tell you precisely which episodes these are, but we’re pretty sure we can promise you they’re a ribald good time. Emily Guendelsberger promises to not have to push this to Thursday this week and celebrate the ribaldry.
TV CLUB CLASSIC
Freaks And Geeks (1 p.m.): When Lindsay decides to host a kegger while her parents are out of town, Sam and his friends decide to protect the sanctity of the Weir household by swapping in near-beer for the real thing. Todd VanDerWerff once tried this at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and was nearly killed.
Sports Night (3 p.m.): Since we’re on this plane and can’t look this up on Wikipedia, we’re just going to assume that this is one of the episodes with William H. Macy, because the second season of this show has all those awesome episodes with William H. Macy. Donna Bowman has his face on a T-shirt.
WHAT ELSE IS ON
The Amazing World Of Gumball (Cartoon Network, 7:30 p.m.): People keep telling us that we need to check this show out, even though we have no idea what it’s about. It probably has something to do with a talking gumball. Anyway, it’s back from a lengthy hiatus this evening, should you be so inclined.
Beverly Hills Pawn (Reelz, 9 p.m.): C’mon, Reelz. You should realize the time for pawn shows was a year-and-a-half ago. Now, we’ve moved on to everything being set in a swamp, and pretty soon, we’ll have moved on to everything being about teacup pigs. Sorry, cable reality producers. Did we spoil that?
Forever Jones (Bounce TV, 9 p.m.): For a time, we thought that this broadcast network was a brand new one. Then we learned that it has actually been around for a couple of years without us ever having heard of it. Kevin McFarland rectifies that mistake on our part by taking in this gospel reality show.
The Good Buy Girls (TLC, 10 p.m.): What’s this show about? Well, again, we’re not precisely sure because we don’t have the Internet right now, but judging from the punneriffic title, it probably has something to do with women who tell you how to get the best deals on stuff. Like contracting out a hit!
The Far Country (TCM, 8 p.m.): The great Anthony Mann directs Jimmy Stewart in this Western, which leads us to remember how Variety used to call Westerns “oaters.” Which makes sense, we suppose, since horses eat oats, and there are lots of horses in Westerns, but still. Who the hell thought of that?
RoboCop (BBC America, 8 p.m.): Don’t tell anybody, but we’ve never seen RoboCop, even though we’re assured we should and we’ve enjoyed the other Paul Verhoeven movies we’ve seen. See, we just find Peter Weller oddly terrifying, and we’ve never been able to get over that. Please don’t have us shot.
Stanley Cup Playoffs: Game 3: Penguins at Bruins (NBC Sports, 8 p.m.): The Eastern Conference finals continue, with the Bruins up two games to none and the Penguins—the number one seed—having to try to battle back on the Bruins’ home ice. C’mon, Penguins! What else does Pittsburgh have going for it?
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Six Feet Under (Tuesday): John Teti’s terrific reviews of this seminal HBO drama returned yesterday. Did you notice? Of course not. You were too busy contemplating your own mortality, having discussions with your dead father, or quietly pretending you never had those odd commercials in your first season.