So many shows are back, but only one has “Chardee MacDennis 2: Electric Boogaloo”
Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Wednesday, January 6. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia (FXX, 10 p.m.): 11 seasons, It’s Always Sunny? You barely look a day over five. And that’s saying a lot, since you’re starting your new season with a sequel to a season seven episode. Luckily, that episode just so happens to be one of the best of the series. In fact, it was an episode that was praised at the time (and still is) for having “the whole ensemble in such fine form, and obviously all so firmly in their element.” Now that we’re here in season 11, we’re being greeted by the return of the glorious (and chaotic, of course) game known as Chardee MacDennis. What brings such pleasure back to us? “The gang agrees to a truce while demonstrating Chardee MacDennis for an interested board game executive, but the nature of the game quickly sends things off the rails.” Of course it does, Sunny. Of course it does. By the way, your friendly neighborhood What’s On Tonight contributor has seen the first five episodes of this season, and her critical opinion has boiled them down to two words: “fucking phenomenal.” Her colleague Dennis Perkins will probably have a few more words than that in his reviews of this season, but we’re sure he’ll fall under the same category.
Top pick No. 2: Cruise Control
The Challenge: Battle Of The Bloodlines (MTV, 10 p.m.): Who are the “Blood Brothers” of this week’s Battle Of The Bloodlines?!? Who, TJ Lavin?!?
Also noted
The Middle / The Goldbergs (ABC, 8 / 8:30 p.m.): Oh boy. Sue wants to join a sorority. We suppose it’s the most logical next step on this season of The Middle, considering how much Sue wants to be a part of things, but we also know it’s deserving of an “oh boy.” Meanwhile, “Frankie begins to feel like she’s not needed as much in her son’s life when Brick goes shopping for a pair of pants by himself for the first time.” Good. Get your independence on, Brick. And based on the title of this week’s episode of The Goldbergs—“The Tasty Boys”—we assumed it would also be about cliques, but there’s actually no mention of Big Tasty himself, Barry, in the episode synopsis. So we’re going to assume “The Tasty Boys” is The Goldbergs’ send-up to The Birthday Boys (with the help of some time travel). Don’t correct us if we’re wrong, Will Harris.
2 Broke Girls (CBS, 8 p.m.): 2 Broke Girls begins its 2016 with a new day, new time, “And The Not Regular Down There.” What does that mean? Hell if even one the broke girls knows: “Max is both puzzled and curious when the new guy she is dating expresses hesitations about intimacy because he is ‘not regular down there.’” See? No one knows. Welcome to 2016, 2 Broke Girls style. It’s a ball of confusion.
American Idol (Fox, 8 p.m.): It’s here. The 15th and final season of American Idol. Let’s all gather up the power and strength to get hyped about that, because all of our moms are counting on us. “Did you see that Kanye auditioned? That was interesting.” “Yes, mom. Months ago.” Supposedly “the fun begins” in Denver and Atlanta tonight, so get ready to say goodbye to American Idol like you never got to say goodbye to Brian Dunkleman. (Applicable reference!)
Mike & Molly (CBS, 8:30 p.m.): We know you’re pop culture savvy if you’re reading this (or at least you’re good at pretending to be), so you already know this marks the beginning of the end for Mike & Molly; season six is the last season of the show, and this is the season premiere. But do you know what this last Mike & Molly season premiere, “Cops On The Rocks,” is about? We didn’t think so. Here we go: “Mike and Carl go to couples counseling to try and reconcile their partnership. Also, Molly decides to do a promotional radio interview on her own after Peggy decides not to participate.” Cops in couples counseling? That gives a certain What’s On Tonight contributor a reason to mention USA’s one-season show Common Law for the second time already in 2016. Ah, television.
People’s Choice Awards 2016 (CBS, 9 p.m.): Forget all that other stuff. This is your awards show. You’re the people.
American Crime (ABC, 10 p.m.): Remember when Regina King won an Emmy for the first season of American Crime? God, that was great. Fastforward to tonight, and we’re ready for the second season of American Crime (not to be confused with the upcoming American Crime Story, in which Ryan Murphy is inventing the genre of anthology crime drama that American Crime just so happens to fall under). King is back, as well as Felicity Huffman, Timothy Hutton, Elvis Nolasco, Richard Cabral, and Lili Taylor—only this time, they’re playing different characters in a new storyline. This season tells the story of high school boy Taylor Blaine: “After the shocking photos of Taylor are posted, circumstances become more complicated when he accuses two players on an elite private high school’s championship basketball team—Kevin LaCroix and Eric Tanner—of drugging, assaulting and then posting the pictures of him online.” Sounds like the perfect amount of both Americans and crime, and we’re sure Joshua Alston’s pre-air review of the season would agree; Pilot Viruet will deliver her own verdict after the premiere airs.