Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Wednesday, May 13. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
American Idol (Fox, 8 p.m.): A moment like this. Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this. We’re talking about the season finale of what is now the penultimate season of American Idol. That’s right, next season will be the last, and by then, the winner of this season will probably just be a blip on the Idol radar. But until that blip is blopped (not to be confused with “Drip Drop”), it is time to crown the newest Idol of America. Our money’s on Kelly Clarkson. But just to be clear, our money’s always on Kelly Clarkson. Hasn’t failed us yet.
Also noted
The Middle (ABC, 8 p.m.) / The Goldbergs (ABC, 8:30 p.m.): The Middle and The Goldbergs see their sixth and second season finales tonight, respectively, in “The Graduate” and “Goldbergs Feel Hard.” In The Middle, Sue finally starts to worry that “the year of Sue” may not be end well, while Brick—for all of his idiosyncrasies—is offered the chance to skip eighth grade and head right to high school. As for The Goldbergs, they apparently feel hard. Will Harris isn’t ready for “the year of Sue” to end either, but that’s because feels are hard. Or something like that.
Arrow (The CW, 8 p.m.): If you’re a person who doesn’t get enough of the words “My name is Oliver Queen” with each episode of Arrow, then you are in luck: the third season finale is titled “My Name Is Oliver Queen.” It will no doubt be the best season finale since Veronica Mars’ “Duncan Kane: He Used To Be My Boyfriend.” Alasdair Wilkins guarantees it.
Regular coverage
Grace And Frankie (Netflix)
Survivor (CBS, 8 p.m.)
Modern Family (ABC, 9 p.m)
Black-ish (ABC, 9:30 p.m)
Big Time In Hollywood, FL (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.)
Elsewhere in TV Club
In the latest Random Roles, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky speaks with Michael Jai White about Spawn! Obviously, they talk about his other roles, but: Spawn! Then, Will Harris has 11 Questions for Artie Lange, comedian and, well, 11 Questions subject.
Last, but certainly not least, is the conclusion to the four-part Inventory on children’s programming. But this time around, Gwen Ihnat doesn’t want to talk adult-friendly kids’ shows. These are the shows you should “avoid at all costs.”
TV Club Classic
Lost (Classic) (1 p.m.): Do you like Desmond and Sun? Well, this week’s Lost (Classic) episodes, “Catch-22” and “D.O.C.,” mean you’re going to have more of them, in flashback form. Myles McNutt finds it kind of funny how that works out—you know, you liking a character and then them having a flashback episode—but some of us just find it funny that Lost (Classic) isn’t dedicated solely to “Exposé.”
What else is on?
CSI: Cyber (CBS, 9 & 10 p.m.): Two CSI: Cyber episodes. No waiting. The second episode, in its usual time slot of 10 p.m., is the first season finale. At this point, the best thing to do with this show is just quote the actual episode synopses. In the first episode, “Bit By Bit”: “The cyber team investigates when a power outage in Detroit is used to mask a jewelry store robbery-homicide in which gems weren’t the target.” Then, in the season finale, “Family Secrets” (ooh, scandalous): “Avery confronts the hacker who released her patient’s information online when she was a psychologist.” You know something? These aren’t nearly as exciting as previous synopses.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC, 9 p.m.): How has it taken 16 seasons (which is how many seasons of Law & Order: SVU there have been) for Law & Order: SVU to title an episode “Parents’ Nightmare?” That is literally a description for every single episode of the show. That is the show’s entire premise.
Supernatural (The CW, 9 p.m.): “Dean is on a rampage.”
Nashville (ABC, 10 p.m.): Nashville’s season three finale sees the show choosing to focus on whether or not Deacon will die (probably not) and Avery making a decision that supposedly impacts his and Juliette’s lives “forever.” That’s all interesting, we suppose, but how does Teddy feel about all of this?
Sing It On (Pop, 10 p.m.): Pop is sweeping the nation with its new original programming, and now it has the series premiere of Sing It On, a Pitch Perfect-inspired reality show, under its belt. The show chronicles the real life struggles of being in the United States’ top competitive collegiate a cappella teams, and it might just be here to fill the Sing Off-sized hole in some of our hearts. Warning: If you’re not looking for music-based puns in your programming, this probably isn’t be the best choice for you.
Fake Off (TruTV, 10 p.m.): According to the press release, Fake Off “takes viewers into the visually stunning world of Faking: a mix of theater, acrobatics, black light and illusion.” If you read “illusion” in the voice of G.O.B. Bluth, then you’re in probably in the right mood for this. Each episode has teams reimagine (which possibly means recreate) iconic pop culture moments, with the goal of being named America’s Fake Off Champions (and winning $100,000) in mind. Tonight’s episode is “Faking The ‘90s,” where “five new teams recreate the 1990s right on the Fake Off stage,” “a hip-hop crew fakes a legendary sports hero, a theater group builds a pop star from scratch and a lighting troupe leaves the audience seeing double.” We’re thinking the more vague the descriptions of this show are, the more interesting it gets.
Fallen (Syfy, 8 p.m.): Denzealots, assemble! Looks like someone at Syfy has been listening to Denzel Washington Is The Greatest Actor Of All Time Period.
Sports, sports, all type of sports
MLB Baseball: Marlins at Dodgers (Fox Sports Network, 7:30 p.m.)
Stanley Cup Playoff: Game 7: Capitals at Rangers (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.)
MLB Baseball: Mets at Cubs (ESPN, 8 p.m.)
MLS Soccer: D.C. United vs. Orlando City SC (ESPN2, 8 p.m.)
NBA Playoff: Game 5: Wizards at Hawks (TNT, 8 p.m.)
NBA Playoff: Game 5: Grizzlies at Warriors (TNT, 10:30 p.m.)
Lucha Underground (El Rey, 8 p.m.)
WWE NXT (WWE Network, 8 p.m.)
In case you missed it
Grace And Frankie: Unfortunately for Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya, Grace And Frankie still hasn’t been renamed LADIES! But that won’t keep her down, as you can see in her review of the Netflix series’ “most focused chapter” so far.