
Parade’s End (HBO, 9 p.m.) — Screeners for the 5-part miniseries have been sitting on my shelf for two weeks. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall, it’s one of those series I want to have watched, but I don’t want to put in the effort. Reviews have been positive, and most say it tracks the same themes as Downton Abbey, but that it is smarter and less accessible.
Justified (FX, 10 p.m.) — Meanwhile, there is nothing inaccessible about the fastest hour on television. Seriously, how many people get to the end of an episode and wonder why there aren’t another 20 minutes remaining? Tonight’s episode is Drew Thompson heavy.
Cougar Town (TBS, 10 p.m.) — The show hasn’t been the same since Bill Lawrence left; the comedy is meaner, and the tone is off. But, I hear from other critics that tonight’s episode is a great bounce back.
New Girl (Fox, 9 p.m.) — I read a post last week complaining that the kiss between Nick and Jess has tarnished the series. To that I say: Bullsh*t. It’s still the best network sitcom on television not called Parks and Recreation, and ironically, it’s Schmidt that is the best player in the Nick and Jess relationship drama.
Celebrity Wife Swap (ABC, 8 p.m.) — As Danger observed last week, this is the show taking the place of Happy Endings and tonight features a swap of Kate Gosselin and Kendra Wilkinson. Sadly, it’ll do triple the ratings of Happy Endings.
Raising Hope (Fox, 8 p.m.) — Smokey Floyd (Jason Lee) returns tonight for Hope’s first birthday party. What I wouldn’t do to see a Smokey Floyd and Stillwater double bill.
LATE NIGHT LISTINGS: Dave has Joan Rivers; Colin Farell is on Leno; Morrissey cancelled on Jimmy Kimmel’s show tonight because the cast of Duck Dynasty is also on; Sharon Osbourne is on Ferguson; Fallon has Trump (ugh!); and Nicholas Hoult is on Conan.



New Girl has been fantastic this season, and I don’t think the kiss has hurt it at all.
Needs more Julius Pepperwood, though. He’s from Chicago.
i want more Winston.
Agreed on both counts. I think the way they addressed the kiss is totally in line with the series, and I’d like more Julius Peppercorn, though maybe they don’t want him to show up in episodes so close together.
Winston is starting to improve. I’ve been waiting for him to do that thing that makes him as memorable as the others and it hasn’t happened yet.
Winston running around in ladies’ sweatpants was pretty great, as was his weakness for girly drinks.
He’s no Nick, but he’s improved a lot.
We need more of Winston’s Asian girlfriend. Assuming she is still his girlfriend…
New Girl would be amazing if they replaced Zooey Deschanel.
It’s still the best network sitcom on television not called Parks and Recreation.
To that, I was about to say “bullshit” but then I noticed the part about “network” and realized that I can’t make much of an argument against your point.
False, Happy Endings is the 2nd best sitcom on network TV.
^This.
1) Parks & Rec
2) Happy Endings…followed closely by
3) New Girl
Are you sure Happy Endings is ON network TV?
I reacted to the line about “Celebrity Wife Swap” doing triple of ratings of “Happy Endings” the same way Krieger reacted to the realization that little kids get cancer.
I couldn’t get past the first episode of Parade’s End. Horrifically boring, you have no idea who anyone is and Cumberbatch is literally speaking with a mouth stuffed with cotton because he didn’t bother gaining enough weight in time for filming.
Nick has overtaken Schmidt’s spot as best character on New Girl, easily. Schmidt has become Barney Stinson on this season of HIMYM, when he should have stayed as Barney on seasons 1-4 of HIMYM.
It’s the TV show paradox though. Your main character can’t grow, because it may ruin the show, so all the characters around them need to grow and change.
Best episode of Raising Hope ever…
Indeed. The complete cast reunion of My Name is Earl was a thing of beauty. And they even worked Almost Famous in there!
Completely agree. I was absolutely giddy throughout it. The Almost Famous scene just about killed me.
Every show needs at least ONE “Catalina on a trampoline” episode.
Oh no. Oh no no no. Yipes.
Kristi Jacobson is Ted Levine in The Silence of the Lambs.