Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Sunday, April 28. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
Revenge (ABC, 9 p.m.): The spring sweeps period puts all network hands on deck—and that includes the newly driven characters of Revenge, who took almost all of April after re-upping on their commitment to take the Graysons down. All relaxed and raring to go, Emily Thorne goes after the mysterious Falcon (and a clear path to the end of the second season) tonight. If you are the Falcon, Carrie Raisler request that you do not reveal yourself until the end of the episode’s East Coast broadcast.
REGULAR COVERAGE
Once Upon A Time (ABC, 8 p.m.): If you’re confused where the residents of Storybrooke currently stand on the good-evil divide, an episode titled “The Evil Queen” ought to at least point a long, bony finger in the direction of the show’s current Big Bad. Oliver Sava is glad to have all these details straightened out.
The Simpsons (Fox, 8 p.m.): “It’s no laughing matter when the dry cleaner mistakenly switches Marge’s wedding dress for one of Krusty’s costumes,” says TV Guide—though we’d argue that’s a perfect example of a matter intended to inspire laughter. Of course, that’s ultimately for Robert David Sullivan to decide.
Bob’s Burgers (Fox, 8:30 p.m.): Twice within the span of two weeks, an animated character played by Kristen Schaal has gone gonzo for a boy band—will this episode pick up the ball Gravity Falls dropped by maximizing crossover larfs and featuring Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie as the voices that make Louise swoon. Otherwise, newly minted Bob’s Burgers correspondent Pilot Viruet made that puffy-paint Flight Of The Conchords sweatshirt for nothing.
The Good Wife (CBS, 9 p.m.): Wait, The Good Wife’s fourth season is ending tonight? That’s not how sweeps works! Guess the rules don’t apply to CBS. Nonetheless, David Sims thanks the network for de-complicating his Sunday nights.
Game Of Thrones (HBO, 9 p.m.): There’s mention of judgement for The Hound and Jamie, yet Todd VanDerWerff and David Sims are most interested in the part of this episode that concerns Tyrion allocating funds for the royal wedding. Read all about it in their upcoming book on the economics of Westeros, Cha-Ching’s Landing.
Family Guy (Fox, 9 p.m.): Normally, this space is reserved for side-eyeing the latest Family Guy plot, but Stewie’s relationship with his teddy bear Rupert is one of the last recognizably human facets of the show, and an episode where the boy attempts to reunite with his lost ursine confidant ought to warm even the Seth MacFarlane-blackened cockles of Kevin McFarland’s heart.
American Dad (Fox, 9:30 p.m.): With Deputy Director Bullock experiencing dementia, Stan is told he must erase his boss’ memory. Though if Kevin McFarland has learned anything from Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, this ends with the two former CIA colleagues ending up on the same train to Montauk all over again.
Mad Men (AMC, 10 p.m.): So Peggy didn’t end up stealing Heinz Ketchup from her old co-workers—Todd VanDerWerff still won’t forgive her for bending to Ted Chaough’s backhanded, client-swiping motives. Oh, who is he kidding: He can’t stay mad at Peggy!
Veep (HBO, 10 p.m.): Selina’s tussle with the Secretary of Defense over a hostage situation has “Dr. Stragelove homage” written all over it. Madam Vice President and Mr. Secretary! You can’t fight in here! This is the Robert David Sullivan!
Vikings (History, 10 p.m.): Nothing ruins a good sacking like a plague. Dennis Perkins knows this from firsthand experience, which he’ll apply to this review of Vikings’ first-season finale.
The Borgias (Showtime, 10 p.m.): More plots involving finance of yore, as a purged cardinal sets the vatican treasury on fire. Les Chappell reminds you to keep a close watch on all of your Renaissance period finances.
TV CLUB CLASSIC
Farscape (11 a.m.): Normally Alasdair Wilkins takes on two Farscape installments at a time, but “A Human Reaction” is too good to not to stand alone. Read on to find out why.
The Simpsons (Classic) (3 p.m.): Outside of The Love-Matic Grampa, it’s hard to find a Simpsons installment that pays as much attention to the show’s elderly characters as “Lady Bouvier’s Lover.” Nathan Rabin thinks we should be The Simpsons to treasure the elderly. You know, we’ll be old someday. [GASP.]
WHAT ELSE IS ON?
Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited (BBC America, 8 p.m): A documentary on the Fourth Doctor, Tom Baker, which may or may not just be an hour of Baker following the long, long trail of his character’s famous scarf.
The Real Housewives Of Atlanta (Bravo, 8 p.m.): The most recent season of this Real Housewives series ended a month ago, but the network eked four more episodes out of it—now that’s economy! Tune in to see “secrets revealed,” assuming there are any left over from the three reunion specials.
Chopped (Food Network, 9 p.m.): The condensed cooking competition (Just add water!) pits four celebrities against each other in the kitchen: But which celebrities are a mystery. We’ll just assume its four clones of Guy Fieri flinging donkey sauce all over the place.
The Vanilla Ice Project (DIY Network, 10 p.m.): Before he goes Amish, the “Ice Ice Baby MC” and honorary Juggalo must hold an open house—just as it is written in the Ordnung.
Iron Man (FX, 5:46 p.m.): Before Iron Man 3 opens the summer-movie season in earnest, head back to the beginning of the franchise and wash the taste of Iron Man 2 (akin to a Mickey Rourke soaked in Russian Standard!) out of your mouth!
They Live By Night (TCM, 8 p.m.): Nicholas Ray made his directorial debut with this proto-Bonnie & Clyde noir, which is not to be confused with the bat-monster Mystery Science Theater 3000 feature It Lives By Night. (Warning: This movie features no bat monsters.)
MLB Baseball: Braves at Tigers (ESPN, 8 p.m.): We can’t think of a good reason for Atlanta and Detroit to face off in interleague play, aside from the short-sighted deal that sent promising pitching prospect John Smoltz to the Braves in the late ’80s, ensuring the Tigers’ utter inability to field a decent pitching rotation for all of the 1990s. But tonight, the current Detroit squad can get its revenge—in primetime!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
House Of Cards (Friday): At last, Ryan McGee reaches the conclusion of the David Fincher-produced political thriller—and only part of him wishes he would’ve just shotgunned the thing in 13 hours like everyone else!