Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Friday, March 11 & Saturday, March 12. All times are Eastern.
Top picks—Netflix-style
Flaked (Netflix, 3:01, a.m., Friday): In his new Netflix sort-of sitcom, Will Arnett is sad. But, since he’s also the womanizing layabout de facto cool guy of sunny Venice, California, he’s got plenty to console him in this series about how Arnett’s aging screw-up uses his very vocal presence in Alcoholics Anonymous and his beach bum charm to manipulate everyone around him as he pursues the pretty new waitress in town (Ruth Kearney). In his pre-air review, Dennis Perkins says the series will test your ability to empathize with Arnett’s self-serving but soulful antihero, but that Arnett makes the most out of the more somber colors he’s given himself to play. (He’s also a co-writer and producer, alongside his Arrested Development guru Mitch Hurwitz.) Kyle Fowle’s on hand, too, however, with his episodic reviews of the whole series, so who knows what will happen there. Could be that A.V. Clubber cage match you’ve all been waiting for. (Kyle’s first two reviews drop on Friday, with one-a-day after that.)
The Characters (Netflix, 3:01 a.m., Friday): The “Netflix writes a check and lets funny people do whatever the hell they want” model in miniature, this new comedy anthology series sees eight comics (Lauren Lapkus, Tim Robinson, Kate Berlant, Dr. Brown, Paul W. Downs, John Early, Natasha Rothwell, and Henry Zebrowski) given 30 minutes to do whatever the hell they want. Funny people given free rein? In her pre-air review, Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya says this worked out great pretty much all the way around. Let’s have a look, shall we?
Also noted
House Of Cards (Netflix, Friday): We’re gonna let the title of Scott Von Doviak’s review of the next House Of Cards say it all: “Chaos reigns as House Of Cards blows up its season.” So business as usual except more so, then. Got it, Scott.
Sleepy Hollow (Fox, 8 p.m., Friday): Abbie and Sophie have to go through some sort of FBI team-building exercise, no doubt rolling their eyes the whole time. “Yeah, we prevented the Apocalypse—like, the actual one. But, sure, let’s do that trust fall thing, that looks super dangerous.” Meanwhile, Ichabod is left alone to worry over some ancient artifacts and Zack Handlen wonders why in the hell you split up Ichabod and Abbie for an entire episode, Sleepy Hollow.
Grimm (NBC, 9 p.m., Friday): In the 100th episode of this enduringly entertaining monster series, Nick and Monroe are still looking for treasure in Germany. While, back in Portland, reviewer Les Chappell waves his arms frantically and screams, “Hey, if you’re done playing Indiana Jones over there, the streets of Portland, Oregon are literally crawling with monsters! Like, literally. They crawl.” Captain Renard, Hank, and Wu are doing their best against a deadly (probably monstrous) assassin, but Les, sighing wearily as he boots up his laptop, knows it’s going to be up to him to save his hometown. Again.
Childrens Hospital (Adult Swim, 11 p.m., Friday): When the hospital mysteriously runs out of tongue depressors, Owen uncovers a conspiracy that goes all the way to somewhere very, very weird. LaToya Ferguson knows that Owen’s tongue is already pretty depressed. She’s worries about him.
Party Over Here (Fox, 11 p.m., Saturday): Former SNL-ers Andy Samberg and his Lonely Island comedy life partners Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone are executive producers (alongside Paul Scheer) of this half-hour sketch comedy series starring Nicole Byer, Jessica McKenna and Alison Rich. Former boss Lorne Michaels: “Sooo, Adam—your show is over by 11:30, right? Riiiight.” Emily L. Stephens has the reviewing duties on this one, so she’s gonna miss SNL, Lorne, while she writes that. Didn’t think about that lost viewer, did you?
Saturday Night Live (NBC, 11:30 p.m., Saturday): Singer and former Nickelodeon person Ariana Grande gets tapped as both host and musical guest. Dennis Perkins is reserving judgement on this decision, but he’s reserving it in a very, very large holding area. With electric, Jurassic Park fences and laser beams and everything.
Elsewhere in TV Club
This week’s AVQ&A sees your favorite AV Clubbers picking the adaptations that made them change their minds about a particular work of art, for better or for worse. No word if the Bratz movie really soured anyone on their doll collection.
Then, our Watch This week about great escapes features perhaps the most unlikely person in TV history to be at the center of such a thing—Bob Newhart. Erik Adams says it’s also an improbably great… escape.
Then, America’s favorite copper-top, Maria Thayer does a Fan Up interview, talking about her favorite true crime series and documentaries, from Serial to The Thin Blue Line.
And don’t forget that all the AV Club cool kids are at SXSW (check out their cool-kid coverage here), and they’ll be reporting on all the hip, exciting stuff the rest of us are missing and are in no way resentful about!
What else is on
Bosch (Amazon Prime, 3:01 a.m., Friday): All ten episodes of the second season of this gritty LA cop series based on the books by Michael Connelly drop in the small hours. Always-interesting character actor Titus Welliver continues to make the most of his rare lead, while The Wire alums Lance Reddick and Jamie Hector provide more than capable backup.
Adam DeVine’s House Party (Comedy Central, 12:30 a.m., Friday): Going out on a limb here, alcohol might be involved as Workaholics’ Adam DeVine continues his sketch and standup series. Also predicted: He’s not getting that security deposit back.
The Amazing Race (CBS, 8 p.m., Friday): The “social media star” contestants tramp all over Chamonix, France, giving stereotypically rude Frenchmen plenty of ammo to make fun of stereotypically vapid Americans.
Caught On Camera With Nick Cannon (NBC, 8 p.m., Friday): “High-adrenaline videos” are this week’s theme, so look for lots of daring, adventurous risk-takers taking one right in the nuts for your pleasure.
Last Man Standing (ABC, 8:30 p.m., Friday): Tim Allen’s Mike has a conflict involving a shed. But let’s watch Will Ferrell’s shed conflict instead.
Dr. Ken (ABC, 8:30 p.m., Friday): It’s a very special Dr. Ken, as Ken’s favorite comedian has cancer, but Ken’s determined to help him make his last show. Comedy!
Second Chance (Fox, 9 p.m., Friday): “Pritchard and Duval team up to chase a serial killer.” Pritchard, as usual, sprints ahead, bragging, “Don’t worry, buddy, I got this—I’m artificially young and strong, you know!”
Shark Tank (ABC, 9 p.m., Friday): “Products include a motion-activated toilet light.” No thank you.
Hawaii Five-O (CBS, 9 p.m., Friday): “Five-O hunts a Russian spy who stole a flash drive containing classified NSA information that puts one of their own at risk. Meanwhile, McGarrett learns why Catherine left him.” Geez, we’re sorry for you and everything, McGarrett, but lets focus up on that Russian spy thing. That sounds like item one on the list for today, buddy.
Stuck In The Middle (Disney, 9 p.m., Friday): Jenna Ortega stars as a middle child engineering prodigy in this series premiere from the mouse house.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: 50 Years And Circlin’ Back (PBS, 9 p.m., Friday): These country-rock fellows!
Blue Bloods (CBS, 10 p.m., Friday): “Jaime and Danny clash over how to deal with a brash rookie cop who is the son of Danny’s pal.” Well, that’s what you get when you allow people not sired by Tom Selleck’s Frank to join the force. Chaos.
Coffee: The Drink That Changed America (PBS, 10:30 p.m., Friday): Jittery, jittery America.
Vice (HBO, 11 p.m., Friday): “Return to Yemen & Church and States” promises this newsmagazine show’s always-provocative examinations of, in this case, jerks in Yemen, and jerks in America trying to strip newly-won rights from LGBT people.
Animals (HBO, 11:30 p.m., Friday): In the further animated adventures of New York’s least-loved critters, a pigeon deals with father issues, a skunk has dating trouble, and two turtles are in love with the same mechanical frog. (Don’t judge.) This week’s absurdly overqualified voices come from the likes of Ben Schwartz, Nicole Byer, Lauren Lapkus, Horatio Sanz, and Playing House pals Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair.
Werewolf Marathon! (El Rey, 10 a.m., Saturday): Starting at 10 in the morning (when it’s safe), it’s all lycanthropy, all the time! Featuring the likes of genre classics An American Werewolf In London and The Howling, and newer entries Dark Moon Rising and Blood Moon. Sadly, it’s not topped off with the MST3k version of Werewolf, because life’s not fair.
2016 Kids’ Choice Awards (Nickelodeon, 8 p.m., Saturday): Blake Shelton is hosting this year’s installment of the venerable li’l Golden Globes. Fun fact: The word “slime” appears 55 times in the current Wikipedia page for the event. So, probably gonna be some slime.
The Stepchild (Lifetime, 8 p.m., Saturday): It’s a Lifetime movie, so you can bet your Land’s End that this particular familial situation is not going to go well.
Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar & Grill (HBO, 9 p.m., Saturday): In this adaptation of the Broadway hit, the amazing Audra McDonald performs as Billie Holiday, relating the legendary singer’s tumultuous life story while singing songs like “God Bless the Child,” “What a Little Moonlight Can Do” and “Tain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do.” Oliver Sava has the review for you.
School Of Rock (Nickelodeon, 9:30 p.m., Saturday): In the premiere of this sitcom based on the endearingly funny Richard Linklater movie, Tony Cavalero subs in for Jack Black and teaches uptight kids about the value of rocking and so forth. In her review, Marah Eakin calls it “innocuous” if that’s your thing.
Black Sails (Starz, 9 p.m., Saturday): The preview for this episode of the pirate series contains lines like, “Captain Flint and I have unfinished business,” “You’re about to get the war you wanted,” and “All hell is going to break loose.” So, you know, just a heads up.
Beowulf (Esquire, 10 p.m., Saturday): “As Herot is preparing for Slean and Keta’s wedding, shocking secrets are revealed and the couple must decide if new loyalties are to be forged.” Might those shocking secrets involve… monsters? (They probably do.)
And now… sport
ACC Basketball Tournament: Semifinals (ESPN, starting at 7 p.m., Friday)
Big 12 Basketball Tournament: Semifinals (ESPN2, starting at 7 p.m., Friday)
Barclays Premier League Soccer: Arsenal vs. West Brom (NBC, 12:30 p.m., Saturday)
SEC Basketball Tournament: Semifinal (ESPN, starrting at 1 p.m., Saturday)
Big Ten Basketball Tournament (CBS, starting at 1 p.m., Saturday)
NASCAR XFINITY Series: From Phoenix (Fox, 2:30 p.m., Saturday)
PGA Tour Golf: Valspar Championship (NBC, 3 p.m., Saturday)
Big East Basketball Championship (Fox, 5:30 p.m., Saturday)
Big 12 Basketball Championship (ESPN, 6 p.m., Saturday)
Mountain West Basketball Championship (CBS, starting at 6 p.m., Saturday)
MAC Basketball Championship (ESPN2, 7:30 p.m., Saturday)
NBA Basketball: Thunder At Spurs (ABC, 8:30 p.m., Saturday)
ACC Basketball Championship (ESPN, 9 p.m., Saturday)
In case you missed it
Scandal: Gwen Ihnat would like to remind Scandal that there’s a huge difference between “fun, trashy evil” and “predictable, mopey evil.”