Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Friday, March 11 & Saturday, March 12. All times are Eastern.
Top picks—Netflix-style
Flaked (Netflix, 3:01, a.m., Friday): In his new Netflix sort-of sitcom, Will Arnett is sad. But, since he’s also the womanizing layabout de facto cool guy of sunny Venice, California, he’s got plenty to console him in this series about how Arnett’s aging screw-up uses his very vocal presence in Alcoholics Anonymous and his beach bum charm to manipulate everyone around him as he pursues the pretty new waitress in town (Ruth Kearney). In his pre-air review, Dennis Perkins says the series will test your ability to empathize with Arnett’s self-serving but soulful antihero, but that Arnett makes the most out of the more somber colors he’s given himself to play. (He’s also a co-writer and producer, alongside his Arrested Development guru Mitch Hurwitz.) Kyle Fowle’s on hand, too, however, with his episodic reviews of the whole series, so who knows what will happen there. Could be that A.V. Clubber cage match you’ve all been waiting for. (Kyle’s first two reviews drop on Friday, with one-a-day after that.)
The Characters (Netflix, 3:01 a.m., Friday): The “Netflix writes a check and lets funny people do whatever the hell they want” model in miniature, this new comedy anthology series sees eight comics (Lauren Lapkus, Tim Robinson, Kate Berlant, Dr. Brown, Paul W. Downs, John Early, Natasha Rothwell, and Henry Zebrowski) given 30 minutes to do whatever the hell they want. Funny people given free rein? In her pre-air review, Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya says this worked out great pretty much all the way around. Let’s have a look, shall we?
Also noted
House Of Cards (Netflix, Friday): We’re gonna let the title of Scott Von Doviak’s review of the next House Of Cards say it all: “Chaos reigns as House Of Cards blows up its season.” So business as usual except more so, then. Got it, Scott.
Sleepy Hollow (Fox, 8 p.m., Friday): Abbie and Sophie have to go through some sort of FBI team-building exercise, no doubt rolling their eyes the whole time. “Yeah, we prevented the Apocalypse—like, the actual one. But, sure, let’s do that trust fall thing, that looks super dangerous.” Meanwhile, Ichabod is left alone to worry over some ancient artifacts and Zack Handlen wonders why in the hell you split up Ichabod and Abbie for an entire episode, Sleepy Hollow.
Grimm (NBC, 9 p.m., Friday): In the 100th episode of this enduringly entertaining monster series, Nick and Monroe are still looking for treasure in Germany. While, back in Portland, reviewer Les Chappell waves his arms frantically and screams, “Hey, if you’re done playing Indiana Jones over there, the streets of Portland, Oregon are literally crawling with monsters! Like, literally. They crawl.” Captain Renard, Hank, and Wu are doing their best against a deadly (probably monstrous) assassin, but Les, sighing wearily as he boots up his laptop, knows it’s going to be up to him to save his hometown. Again.
Childrens Hospital (Adult Swim, 11 p.m., Friday): When the hospital mysteriously runs out of tongue depressors, Owen uncovers a conspiracy that goes all the way to somewhere very, very weird. LaToya Ferguson knows that Owen’s tongue is already pretty depressed. She’s worries about him.
Party Over Here (Fox, 11 p.m., Saturday): Former SNL-ers Andy Samberg and his Lonely Island comedy life partners Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone are executive producers (alongside Paul Scheer) of this half-hour sketch comedy series starring Nicole Byer, Jessica McKenna and Alison Rich. Former boss Lorne Michaels: “Sooo, Adam—your show is over by 11:30, right? Riiiight.” Emily L. Stephens has the reviewing duties on this one, so she’s gonna miss SNL, Lorne, while she writes that. Didn’t think about that lost viewer, did you?