Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Sunday, May 15. All times are Eastern.
Top picks
The Family (ABC, 9 p.m.): It was ABC’s Red Wedding on Thursday, as shows new and old fell victim to a regime that elected to cut a bloody swath through its bubble shows and issued cancellations left and right: Galavant, Marvel’s Agent Carter, Nashville, The Muppets, Castle, and the hypothetical Marvel’s Most Wanted were all left to bleed out on the floor. (The Real O’Neals and The Catch escaped this fate, making them the Sandor Clegane and Arya Stark of this analogy.) Tonight, The Family takes its last shaky step before collapsing on the floor alongside its peers, as Governor-elect Claire Warren tries to find the truth of Adam/Ben and Nina races to find the pock-marked man. Gwen Ihnat, preemptively eulogizing the show when the news broke, didn’t have much hope that what is now The Family’s series finale will provide proper closure:
While The Family reveled in its suspenseful hairpin turns and no-holds-barred plot twists (one character beats himself up with a baseball bat to make it look like someone else did it, for example), a too-chaotic plot web and the worst fictional police force this side of the Keystone Cops made the show a frustrating watch overall. Tweets from the cast and crew have hinted that The Family’s first season is bound to end on a cliffhanger, so the cancellation means the show will offer frustration to its bitter end.
The Carmichael Show (NBC, 9 p.m.): The networks made the bulk of their renew/cancel decisions last week. However, The Carmichael Show remains on the bubble at the time of writing—a bubble that already popped last week at The A.V. Club as we’ve elected to drop the show from regular coverage. But just because we’re not covering it doesn’t mean that this isn’t a show we consider funny and important, and we’re hoping that NBC decides to extend it similar consideration and give it a third season. We’re sure they can still find a place for it next to their recently picked up comedies about superheroes and murder.
Bob’s Burgers (Fox, 8:30 p.m.): In an effort to wrap up this section with happier news, here’s your reminder that Bob’s Burgers was renewed for two more seasons all the way back in October, so there’s no need to fear for the Belchers until 2018. Tonight, Tina fulfills her dream to go to horse camp, but realizes that finally being close to real horses means she’ll have to let her imaginary horse Jericho go. Don’t worry, Tina—Alasdair Wilkins knows that to get Jericho back, all you have to do is send peanuts.
Premieres and finales
Once Upon A Time (ABC, 7 p.m.): It seems like no season of Once Upon A Time can end without a threat to all life and all reality in Storybrooke, and season five is no exception as a two-hour finale sees Henry decide to destroy all magic. Fucking Henry, man. Elsewhere, Regina mourns the loss of Robin Hood (in stark opposition to the audience) and Snow, David, Hook, and Zelena are trapped “in a deranged new world… with two very disturbed individuals.” What random pair of Disney characters could this be, Gwen Ihnat asks? We’ve spun the character generation wheel and we’re going to guess King Louie and Stitch.
The Last Man On Earth (Fox, 9:30 p.m.): After a rocky start, The Last Man On Earth truly found its stride in season two, expertly balancing the bleak reality of its setting with its ensemble comedy energy. There are so many plots to be addressed in the finale, with Gail’s UAV sighting that may or may not be wine-related, two pregnancies in the group, and the uncertain fate of Mike Miller as it appears he’s contracted the virus. Vikram Murthi wants to see all of it unfold, and hopes that by the end the terror of Will Forte’s half-shaved head will be purged from his nightmares.
Spring Baking Championship (Food Network, 9 p.m.): The $50,000 grand prize is awarded in tonight’s finale, where it all comes down to “cakes inspired by Mexico, Hawaii, and Italy.” The truly ambitious contestant will be the one who tries to roll all three together and find the perfect fusion of dulce de leche, pineapple upside-down cake, and tiramisu.