Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Friday, November 1, and Saturday, November 2. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
Grimm (NBC, 9 p.m., Friday): We still need to get caught up on all of the intricate ins and outs of this fantastical procedural, so that we might better understand an apparently complicated mythology, but we enjoy it every time we check in on it, and we’re glad it’s still around, because without it, where else would we get our weekly dose of actors in weird makeup? It’s hard out there for a genre show right now, but David Greenwalt and company have been making this show more and more entertaining with every season, and Kevin McFarland hopes they can overcome a weak season premiere with a great second episode.
REGULAR COVERAGE
The Legend Of Korra (Nickelodeon, 8 p.m., Friday): Emily Guendelsberger is off on vacation, so Oliver Sava will be checking out this episode and hoping it can live up to the amazing episode that aired two weeks ago and seemed to pick the second season up out of its mild slump. Our fingers are crossed too.
Comedy Bang! Bang! (IFC, 10 p.m., Friday): In this week’s episode, Jessica Alba tries her hand at hosting a game show, and, hey, if she wants to step in for Vanna White on Wheel Of Fortune, we’d be perfectly fine with that. David Sims, however, is still waiting for her to star in his Dark Angel spec script.
Dracula (NBC, 10 p.m., Friday): This vampire drama continues its run with more adventures in the dark and deadly world of corporate boardrooms. If there’s one thing we turn to our vampire tales for, its skullduggery among the business set, and Les Chappell hopes this week features a leveraged buyout.
Borgen (LinkTV, 1 a.m., Saturday): This week’s episode is called “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery,” but, like, nobody on this show is married anymore, so who are we talking about? Oh, it’s probably Torben, huh? Well, Todd VanDerWerff has never met Torben’s wife, so he can commit all the adultery he wants.
Saturday Night Live (NBC, 11:30 p.m., Saturday): Scandal’s Kerry Washington hosts this week’s episode, which means there will probably be a bunch of jokes about white hats, with which she will play along. David Sims wants to know when she’ll star in the 100 Centre Street spec script he stayed up writing.
TV CLUB CLASSIC
The X-Files (1 p.m., Saturday): Todd VanDerWerff took last week off, when he normally would have covered that week’s set of episodes, but now, he’s going to pay the price, because one of this week’s episodes is “Badlaa,” which is about that guy who lives inside people’s butts. Well, that’s karma for you.
WHAT ELSE IS ON
MasterChef Junior (Fox, 8 p.m., Friday): Did you read Todd VanDerWerff’s TV review of this show? Then you know it’s time for the two-part season finale of the competition to begin. Honestly, we’ll be pulling for Dara, because she’s got that awesome bow in her hair, like she’s Minnie Mouse or something similar.
Why We (Heart) Vampires (NBC, 8 p.m., Friday): NBC’s intense desperation continues with this collection of footage from various vampire-related properties, presumably underscored with some cheeky narration. Hey, NBC: You get that Halloween is over, right? And vampires are so 2009?
Time Of Death (Showtime, 9 p.m. Friday): Showtime begins airing its six-episode documentary miniseries about preparing for one’s imminent demise on All Saint’s Day, which seems as good a time as any to launch something so somber. Sonia Saraiya reviewed the program here and loved it a lot.
Barnwood Builders (DIY, 10 p.m., Friday): In tonight’s episode of a show we’ve never heard of, something called “the Lincoln cabin” is taken down so that a dog trot may be built. What does this mean? We’re not sure, but we hope that Lincoln doesn’t miss his cabin and the dogs like their trot.
The Thundermans (Nickelodeon, 9 p.m., Saturday): We mostly like this new kids show for its title. What’s a Thundermans supposed to be? We’re aware it’s probably a plural, but we’d much rather call one Thundermans a Thundermans, if you know what we mean. Anyway, see if this brings the thunder.
Big History (H2, 10 p.m., Saturday): In the midst of the many, many offers he got in the immediate wake of Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston also committed to narrating this new history documentary series on a channel you probably forgot existed. It’s the “second” History Channel, and, yes, it’s still around.
Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy (TBS, 8 p.m., Friday): Every single one of you who didn’t name this the best movie of the last decade is lying. What’s worse is that you know you’re lying. We’ll be doing Anchorman Weeks until you all realize the error of your ways and come to the glorious light.
It Happened One Night (TCM, 8 p.m., Friday): This Frank Capra-directed romantic comedy, with Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in the leads, is one of the most delightful movies ever made. If you’re looking for a pick-me-up or a post-Halloween hangover banisher, then this is the movie for you tonight.
Blackfish (CNN, 7 p.m., Saturday): The 24-hour news network, of all places, is airing the first TV showings of this documentary about the treatment of whales in captivity at places like Sea World and other marine amusement parks. Be warned, though: It’s a tough watch. It repeats immediately after.
NBA Basketball: Heat at Nets (ESPN, 8 p.m., Friday): The defending champions travel up to Brooklyn to let the Nets think they might win for three quarters or so, before coming back to definitively state that, no, even as good as the Nets can be, they’re still the Miami Heat. And that’s why we all hate them so.
Horse Racing: Breeders’ Cup Classic (NBC, 8 p.m., Saturday): Live, from sunny California, it’s a big horse race that you probably forgot was happening this weekend, because you don’t really pay attention to horse racing! Anyway, one of the horses is named Game On Dude, so we will be cheering for that one.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Parenthood (Thursday): Kristina Braverman went to a mayoral debate, and it was either the greatest or worst thing to ever have happened to this show. Meanwhile, Todd VanDerWerff is just relieved that the dog is still alive. He worried that dog would never show up again. Now to continue his vigil for Haddie!