Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Thursday, February 27. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
Community (NBC, 8 p.m.): There’s so much new TV on tonight that we’re a little terrified of the onslaught—two season premieres, several post-Olympic returning series, and a notable “spring premiere,” because that’s a thing now. But we know there’s only one thing that most of you care about—and that’s a brand new episode of Community. Tonight, Jeff helps Duncan seduce Britta, which gives us uncomfortable feelings. But such is the nature of Community—uncomfortable seduction.
ALSO NOTED
Vikings (History Channel, 9 p.m.): The spectre of scripted television on the History Channel is back, bringing us the second season of this saga detailing the life of Viking explorer Ragnar Lothbrok. Dennis Perkins will be reviewing the season for us; meanwhile, over in TV Reviews, Genevieve Valentine has the full season write-up, in case you’re not averse to mild spoilers for a 1,000-year-old epic.
Portlandia (IFC, 10 p.m.): And Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen return tonight, too, to grace our screens with the awkward reality of Milennial, hipster living. Les Chappell will be covering it week-to-week, starting tonight; and John Teti looked at the first four episodes of the season and found it more charming than ever.
Scandal (ABC, 10 p.m.): And now that the Olympics are finally over, Scandal is coming back from its very long winter hiatus to show us what the hell happened after Kate Burton’s Vice President Sally Whatsername straight-up [REDACTED] her gay, philandering husband. Is the verb in that sentence “deported”? “Banged”? “divorced”? Only Sonia Saraiya and the millions of people who watched “A Door Marked Exit” know for certain.
REGULAR COVERAGE
Parks And Recreation (NBC, 8:30 p.m.)
Rake (Fox, 9 p.m.)
The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 8 p.m.)
Reign (The CW, 9 p.m.)
The Vampire Diaries (The CW, 8 p.m.)
Elementary (CBS, 10 p.m.)
Parenthood (NBC, 10 p.m.)
TV CLUB CLASSIC
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (11 a.m.): Zack Handlen’s Outer Space Fictional Space Station Support Group will meet at the usual time and place, even if we forget to write about it in What’s On Tonight.
ELSEWHERE ON TV CLUB
Continuing with the theme of “favorite episodes,” TV Roundtable tackles “Unfinished Business,” from season three of Battlestar Galactica. In hindsight, it’s a mess—but a kind of beautiful mess. Also, sexy space boxing!
WHAT ELSE IS ON?
Countdown To The Oscars (ABC, 8 p.m.): In lieu of airing Betrayal, ABC is airing some interviews about some film event that is happening on Sunday.
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 9 p.m.): This series is also returning for its 10th spring premiere, in an episode intriguingly titled “Take It Back.” Take what back? Medical school? This show? The past eight seasons? Sandra Oh?
Red Road (SundanceTV, 9 p.m.): Brandon Nowalk didn’t find the first few episodes of this Sundance original terribly compelling, but maybe you’ll think differently. Based solely on the promos that seem to air every five minutes on FX, we can confirm that Jason Momoa is in it. And his real-life partner, Lisa Bonet. Which is super-cute, actually.
Mob Wives (VH1, 10 p.m.): The fourth season finale, which is, naturally, a reunion episode that rehashes everything that happened to drum up as much drama as possible. Sherri Shepherd hosts.
Crash (Showtime Too, 8 p.m.): In preparation for the Academy Awards Sunday night, feel free to watch one of the worst Best Picture winners ever made. You know. It’s a free country.
Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II (Esquire, 8 p.m.): And in honor of Harold Ramis’ passing, this double feature of his work. We write up this film practically every time it’s on TV, so apologies for the repetit.ion. But tonight, it’s extra-special. Nothing will be strange in the neighborhood in quite the same way again.
NBA Basketball: Knicks at Heat (TNT, 8 p.m.): LeBron James will spend the entire game preparing to play against animated cartoon characters. Carmelo Anthony pretends to be cool that he was passed over for Space Jam 2 but alone, afterwards, in a private room in a club on Miami Beach, he will cry.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Survivor: The return of a certain drama about KGB spies overshadowed the 28th season premiere of Survivor. But don’t worry—Carrie Raisler didn’t forget.