Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Thursday, August 21. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
The Simpsons Marathon (FXX, 10 a.m.): It begins: The much-hyped, much-promoed, massive, chronological event is finally here. Starting this morning The Simpsons will play on FXX, all of it, in order. That’s more than 500 episodes, so we sure do hope you either a) have a week to devote to this or b) don’t really care. Certain members of What’s On Tonight have never seen The Simpsons, so all of this commotion about the show is going over our heads. We are taking the week-long opportunity to watch Futurama again, though. Anyway, the rest of What’s On Tonight will be helping by calling out cool, favorite episodes of The Simpsons that are broadcasting that day. We, meanwhile, are relatively certain The Simpsons exists, but are waiting for incontrovertible proof—like climate-change deniers, mere facts aren’t enough to persuade us.
Also noted
Steven Universe (Cartoon Network, 6:30p.m.): And this animated show returns from a short hiatus to occupy our screens once again. In “Coach Steven” our hero is determined to become super-strong. Good luck, our hero!
Defiance (Syfy, 8 p.m.): Defiance is merrily doing its thing on Thursday nights for a few weeks yet, but tonight, Syfy is bestowing two episodes, back to back. Rowan Kaiser will be on the scene to follow the harrowing tale of a mine collapse and a “shocking murder” that “rocks Defiance.” We have always assumed that the primary narrative thrust of this show is a bunch of people running to the roofs of their houses and yelling to the sky, “DEFIANCCEEEEE!!” Please do not disabuse us of this notion.
Rectify (Sundance, 9 p.m.): Well, we feel dumb: We kept saying we’d shout this out for the finale, and then we didn’t in an earlier version of this What’s On Tonight. The finale of this rather brilliant show is tonight, and if Erik Adams can be trusted, the second season is fantastic (even if last week’s episode was a bit melodramatic).
Rookie Blue (ABC, 10 p.m.): Two-hour fifth-season finale of this cop drama that still exists. A bomb explodes in a downtown parking garage, which cannot be good. We won’t be covering this, but we have a special place in our heart for this plucky little show that could.
Regular coverage
Married (FX, 10 p.m.):
You’re The Worst (FX, 10:30 p.m.)
Other things that are not The Simpsons
The Quest (ABC, 8 p.m.)
Welcome To Sweden (NBC, 9 p.m.)
Working The Engels (NBC, 9:30 p.m.)
The Honorable Woman (SundanceTV, 10 p.m.)
Garfunkel And Oates (IFC, 10 p.m.)
Satisfaction (USA, 10 p.m.)
Elsewhere in TV Club
Erik Adams took a look at Netflix’s new adult-animation series, BoJack Horseman. He found it a bit lackluster, even though it stars the vocal talents of some of his favorite comedians: Will Arnett, Aaron Paul, Alison Brie, Amy Sedaris, and Paul F. Tompkins. But on the other hand, it was an opportunity to write the words “BoJack Horseman,” so overall, we’re counting it as a win.