We travel back to the heady days of 2007 as our TV Club Classic reviews of Mad Men’s first season begin
Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Wednesday, November 6. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
Mad Men (1 p.m.): It was to our great misfortune that TV Club—which launched in the fall of 2007—just missed covering the first season of Mad Men. Over the years, we talked about revisiting the first season, but the time was never right. However, about a year ago, with the knowledge that the final season would begin in the spring of 2014, we thought the fall of 2013 would be the time to finally do it… only to have AMC split that final season into two parts for no good reason. Never mind, though. Todd VanDerWerff will be taking you back to 1960 with every new week.
REGULAR COVERAGE
Arrow (The CW, 8 p.m.): It’s always fun to watch a promising show find another gear in its second season, and that’s just what Arrow is up to right now. If you enjoy cheesy superhero fun with a healthy dollop of abdominal muscles on the side, has Alasdair Wilkins got the TV series to recommend to you!
Revolution (NBC, 8 p.m.): Tonight’s episode is called “The Patriot Act,” so Russ Feingold will be the only Senator to vote against it when the time comes to pass it. Les Chappell will be, like, “I think this deserves a B,” and Russ will be all, “No! This is an intrusion into our civil liberties! F!” And, sadly, no one will care.
Survivor (CBS, 8 p.m.): It’s time for the merge, which has always struck us as a slightly ungainly way to refer to the two teams coming together, even though we can’t think of anything better. Doesn’t “merge” kind of sound like two blobs becoming one? Carrie Raisler thanks us for that mental image.
American Horror Story (FX, 10 p.m.): The description for this episode says, straight out, that Zoe “unleashes a new power,” which means that whatever suspense you were in about the new Supreme can probably end in the most predictable way possible. Todd VanDerWerff is actually the new Supreme.
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia (FXX, 10 p.m.): The comedy wraps up one of its better seasons with a Thanksgiving episode, because it’s November, and that seems close enough to us, doesn’t it? It also involves the Gang trying to win forgiveness from its foes. Dennis Perkins can’t wait to see how that goes.
South Park (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.): Cartman accidentally creates world peace with his latest prank, and we’re betting that will be a change to the series going forward. Like if the show took place in a world without war or conflict, wouldn’t that be fun? Ryan McGee hopes it gradually turns into Spartacus.
Top Chef (Bravo, 10 p.m.): The chefs head into the countryside to make farm-to-table dishes and work with Creole tomatoes. Sonia Saraiya is in the middle of an epic road trip, so she might not be able to cover. And if she is, it will likely be all about her food going from drive-thru to her car’s backseat.
Key And Peele (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.): Tonight’s episode involves a production of Othello, which doesn’t just appeal to Brandon Nowalk because he enjoys incisive sketch comedy but also because that’s his favorite Shakespearean tragedy. If you try to say you prefer Lear, he will fight you over it.
The League (FXX, 10:30 p.m.): With Sunny leaving after tonight, The League will get another two weeks to wrap up this season, and Pilot Viruet will get another few weeks to try to save her own fantasy teams. Actually, the last we checked, they were doing quite well, so we don’t know what we’re talking about.
WHAT ELSE IS ON
47th Annual CMA Awards (ABC, 8 p.m.): Look, you can watch the CMAs and think they’re above board, but everybody knows that the whole thing is controlled by a big Nashville syndicate. Taylor Swift is on the board of directors. So is Brad Paisley. And Obama. Obama makes sure nobody cool ever wins.
Nature (PBS, 8 p.m.): Aw. It’s a whole episode about animals fucking. (No, seriously. It’s a whole episode about animals fucking.)
Extreme Cheapskates (TLC, 9 p.m.): The episode description for this says it will feature a man who saves all of the money he makes “even though he lives in Las Vegas.” That seems like a really weird qualifier to us. Like… you don’t have to gamble away your life’s fortune if you live in Vegas, right?
Guy Court (MTV, 11 p.m.): Having never met a program it couldn’t hammer endlessly into the ground, MTV presents yet another spinoff of The Guy Code, though we suspect this one won’t be as unexpectedly entertaining as the network’s Girl Code is. Plus, it’s on so late, and we’re far too old.
The Killers (TCM, 8 p.m.): Robert Siodmak directed this 1946 adaptation of an Ernest Hemingway short story that spends the first half-hour or so reprising the events of the story, then spends the rest of its running time making up other stuff. Despite that, Hemingway really liked the film, because it’s great.
The Terminator (Cinemax, 8:50 p.m.): In honor of our look back at Last Action Hero, take a look at Arnold Schwarzenegger’s most famous role, then have a debate in comments about whether this or Terminator 2 is better. Our vote is for the sequel, but we’re willing to be convinced otherwise.
Women’s Volleyball: Mississippi at Mississippi State (ESPNU, 8 p.m.): Will Rebels sophomore middle blocker Neketya Clair return to the form she established last season against Mississippi State, when she had a team-high 11 kills? Or will Mississippi State finally get one away from its rival? Are you on pins and needles, too? Well, you should be.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
The Originals (Tuesday): The CW was so high on this one that they sent us a screener, and Rowan Kaiser gave it a high grade and began his review with “Finally, Elijah,” so we’re guessing that some awesome shit went down. And even if it didn’t, there are a lot of pretty people worth looking at on this program.