Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Thursday, June 4. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
Hannibal (NBC, 10 p.m.): The delightfully titled season three opener “Antipasto” follows a cultured foodie as he travels through Europe with a glamorous woman at his side. Of course, Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) is eating his way across Italy in a rather more unconventional manner than most, and his former psychotherapist Bedelia Du Maurier (Gillian Anderson) isn’t just demure arm candy. In his pre-air review, Erik Adams writes, “While the show finds new ways of quickening pulses, it continues to revel in visual decadence. Season three drops its players into locations of Renaissance and Byzantine origin, crumbling relics and gilded cathedrals after Dr. Lecter’s own heart.” Molly Eichel will be examining those lavish locations and the characters who inhabit them in more detail each week.
Also noted
Adventure Time (Cartoon Network, 6 p.m.): There’s seldom any rhyme or reason to Cartoon Network’s scheduling of Adventure Time. The channel is airing new episodes every day this week and Finn’s dad makes his return in tonight’s entry. Oliver Sava has a feeling this is not going to end well.
Aquarius (NBC, 9 p.m.): Young cops Brian Shafe and Charmain Tully go undercover in Charlie Manson’s family home. According to TV Guide, the mission “comes with serious consequences.” But since both Shafe and Tully are played by series regulars, Gwen Ihnat has a feeling they’ll be okay for now.
Comedy Bang! Bang! (IFC, 10:30 p.m.): Comedy Bang! Bang! settles into its new timeslot as Judd Apatow stops by to investigate what happened to Reggie Watts. LaToya Ferguson can’t wait to find out!
Regular Coverage
Wayward Pines (Fox, 9 p.m.)
TV Club Classic
Futurama (10 a.m.): Not all pop culture references hold up over time, and Zack Handlen examines whether the Food Network jokes in “30% Iron Chef” feel fresh or dated 13 years later. Then in a slightly more timeless plot, everyone’s favorite one-eyed alien learns the real truth about her heritage in “Leela’s Homeworld.”
Elsewhere in TV Club
In addition to Erik Adam’s aforementioned Hannibal review, The A.V. Club proudly presents our final round of TV Club Awards. This time around comedy and animation get their day in the sun, as we celebrate everything from the drunken alter egos of Broad City to the cool dads of Brooklyn Nine-Nine to the social commentary of The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore.
What else is on?
Jimmy Kimmel Live: Game Night (ABC, 8 p.m.): 50 Cent stops by to help Jimmy Kimmel kick off the first game of the NBA Finals.
Somebody’s Gotta Do It (CNN, 9 p.m.): Mike Rowe returns to highlight more unusual jobs and hobbbies in the second season premiere of this docuseries. L.A. low riders, Mississippi cigar box guitars, and Georgia bobbleheads are profiled.
Maron (IFC, 10 p.m.): Maron tackles race this week as Marc invites comedian Bruce Bruce onto his podcast to make up for his lack of black guests. But when a laptop goes missing, Marc suspects his guest or his entourage may have taken it. Coincidentally, this also sounds like the set up for a message-heavy episode of Full House.
Beat Bobby Flay (Food Network, 10 p.m.): A New England bad boy faces off against a Navy vet to decide which one gets to battle (and potentially beat) Bobby Flay.
Bridesmaids (USA, 8 p.m.): Years from now kids who grew up watching Bridesmaids on TV will regale their friends with stories of the first time they saw the uncensored version on their Google Glasses.
Jaws Marathon (AMC, 7 p.m.): Sure anyone can lounge around watching Jaws at 7 p.m. and Jaws 2 at 10 p.m., but only super fans will stay up until 4:45 a.m. to finish Jaws 3 and Jaws: The Revenge.
2015 NBA Finals (ABC, 9 p.m.): Basketball finally makes the leap from TNT obscurity to mainstream acclaim as Game 1 of the NBA Finals pits the Cavaliers against the Warriors.
In case you missed it
Lost (Classic): Fun fact: The Charlie-centric episode “Greatest Hits” made your What’s On Tonight correspondent weep like a small child when she first watched it. Myles McNutt and Noel Murray weigh in on whether they were similarly brought to tears.
