Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Wednesday, June 17. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
Steven Universe (Cartoon Network, 6 p.m): Let the week of Steven Universe continue! Please. Never let it end. In Wednesday’s episode, “Keeping It Together,” Steven and the Gems “revisit the Kindergarten and find a dark secret.” You remember the Kindergarten right? Not as fun as it sounds. Also, knowing Steven Universe, this secret will probably lead to the characters (and the audience) crying over what is supposedly a “kids’ show.” Reviewer Eric Thurm is already crying, but just between us, his tears are actually the secret power behind his writing skills. He cries a lot.
Regular coverage
Orange Is The New Black (Netflix)
Sense8 (Netflix)
WWE NXT (WWE Network, 8 p.m.)
Elsewhere in TV Club
You know what this summer is sorely missing? COMPLICATIONS. We’re not talking about a hard knock life though, we’re talking about the newest USA series that might just prove the cable network may be having an identity crisis. Characters, are they still welcome? And if they are, do they have to be gritty? Noel Murray’s pre-air review of Complications tries to answer those questions, but to anyone who hasn’t seen the show yet, it’s still hard to say. That’s probably because each promo for the show sells it with a different tone: It’s “Say, you liked Burn Notice, right? You’ll love Complications!” versus “Things just got complicated for medical Batman and Robin.” versus “GANG VIOLENCE!” Why’d you have to go and make things so complicated, USA?
In less complicated (COMPLICATED) talk, Genevieve Valentine wrote a pre-air review of The Astronaut Wives Club, a 1960s period piece in a post-Mad Men (and Pan Am and The Playboy Club) world. If you’ve missed Yvonne Strahovski on your television on a weekly basis (and can only re-read the reviews for the final season of Dexter so many times), your prayers have been answered. Keeping it in the period drama family, Genevieve also reviewed Sundance TV’s Deustchland 83 (which airs tonight at 10 p.m.), an hour-long, German-language spy drama. No Yvonne Strahovski there, but you never know where German-language spy dramas might go.
Outside the TV Review sphere, Erik Adams has 11 Questions for national treasure Carla Gugino. Certain What’s On Tonight contributors would blow their 10 other questions to ask her exclusively about her time filming the 1993 flick Son In Law, so probably it’s for the best Erik was tasked with this responsibility.
What else is on?
Melissa & Joey (ABC Family, 8 p.m.): “Joe finds himself tied up in [an] awkward situation with a bondage author,” because if Melissa & Joey is ending, it’s taking on a scorched Earth policy. You’ve got to respect that. Also, Fiona Gubelmann (as the aforementioned “bondage author”) and Greer Grammer are guest stars in this episode, if that will sway you into watching it. We’ll pretend we didn’t have you at “bondage author.”
The Briefcase (CBS, 8 p.m.): In “Matas/Melansons,” the two families “face a difficult decision when they see similarities within each other’s families.” If the similarities are a realization that that is the entire premise of the series, then it’s understandable.
MasterChef (Fox, 8 p.m): In “What Happens In Vegas Steaks In Vegas,” the competitors spend the entire hour applauding the wordplay of the episode title. We assume. If they don’t, that’s the biggest missed opportunity in the history of television.
Unsung (TV One, 8 p.m.): This actually sounds pretty interesting, as this episode of Unsung—a “music biography series [which] sheds much-do light” on talented yet forgotten black musicians—focuses on hip hop artist and producer DJ Quik. He played himself in an episode of Method & Red. He deserves this.
Baby Daddy (ABC Family, 8:30 p.m.): Baby Daddy apparently has the opposite problem of Melissa & Joey—it doesn’t go into upsetting detail when it comes to its episode descriptions. “Riley brings her work home on an all-new episode of Baby Daddy.” “Ben’s latest romantic escapade lands him in trouble on an all-new episode of Baby Daddy.” Those are just characters living out slightly mature Little Golden Books.
Duck Dynasty’s Duck Commander: Making The Musical (A&E, 9 p.m.): Besides “A&E” and “9 p.m,” none of this makes sense.
Bullseye (Fox, 9 p.m): The “Jet Ski Jamboree” is either the title of the latest episode of Bullseye or a brand new Disney Channel Original Movie.
Swab Stories (VH1, 9 p.m.): This is the season finale of the VH1 reality series that you probably didn’t know existed, Swab Stories. If you guessed from the title that it’s a show about DNA testing via an RV on the streets of New York, you might be a reality show wizard. If you didn’t, don’t beat yourself up: A season of this show has happened, and this is our first time hearing about it.
Celebrity Wife Swap (ABC, 10 p.m): In a world where Don’t Trust The B—— In Apartment 23 is still alive and well, Chloe is having a viewing party of this episode of Celebrity Wife Swap: Her hero, Charo, is getting her celebrity wife swapping on this week. She’ll be swapping with Jill Whelan, and if this episode of Celebrity Wife Swap doesn’t make at least half a dozen terrible Love Boat jokes, then it’s even more disappointing that there will be no Apartment 23 antics.
Ripper Street (BBC America, 10 p.m): The third season finale of Ripper Street, “The Peace Of Edmund Reid,” finds “the murder of an American journalist in Whitechapel who was investigating Swift and his trail of corruption.” Whoops. Maybe it’s time to call it a day, everyone who keeps getting killed in Ripper Street.
Watch What Happens: Live (Bravo, 11 p.m.): Lauren Graham (and Eric Dane) stops by to get drunk with Andy Cohen. Sold!
Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out (MTV2, 11 p.m): Wild ‘N Out is still on the air.
Best In Show (HBO Comedy East, 8 p.m.): Do it for Busy Bee.
Charlie’s Angels (Action Max East, 8 p.m.): Do it for Sam Rockwell’s dance moves.
Sports, sports, all type of sports
MLB Baseball: Rays at Nationals (ESPN2, 7 p.m.)
FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015: Costa Rica vs. Brazil (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.)
MLB Baseball: Marlins at Yankees (Fox Sports Network, 7 p.m.)
College World Series: Game 9 in Omaha (ESPN, 8 p.m.)
Ring Of Honor (Destination America, 8 p.m.)
Lucha Underground (El Rey, 8 p.m.)
Impact Wrestling (Destination America, 9 p.m.)
In case you missed it
Finding Carter: How has this season gone so far off the rails?