What’s On: ‘This Is Us,’ ‘Long Road Home,’ Amy Sedaris Celebrates the Holidays

Matt Roush
13 Comments
At Home with Amy Sedaris
ROBERT TRACHTENBERG/TruTV

A critical checklist of notable Tuesday TV:

This Is Us (9/8c, NBC): The last few episodes have been even more wrenching than usual for the “Big Three” Pearson kids, and the tear-jerking tradition continues for “Number Three”—that would be Randall (Sterling K. Brown), so nicknamed for when he started walking—as the “Number” trilogy wraps the family drama’s fall run. (The show returns Jan. 2.) The poignant pain of foster parenting is never more acute than when the child’s temporary stay is interrupted by the surprise return of the biological parent. When that possibility presents itself to Randall and wife Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson), regarding their emotionally fragile ward Deja (Lyric Ross), emotions run high. The situation is further complicated by Randall’s memories of his late fathers: biological dad William (Ron Cephas Jones), from whom he was separated for most of his life; and adoptive dad Jack (Milo Ventimiglia), who takes young Randall on a college tour on one of the most fateful days in the Pearson family scrapbook.

The Long Road Home (10/9c, National Geographic Channel): The focus of this week’s powerful episode is on Iraqi interpreter Jassim (the excellent Darius Homayoun). His conflicted loyalties are explored in depth, both before the U.S. occupation and during the current siege, when he must continue to prove himself to the distrustful soldiers while trying to keep peace within the household in which they’ve taken refuge.

At Home With Amy Sedaris (10:30/9:30c, truTV): It’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays on Amy’s wacky send-up of craft and cooking shows. But when a cursed nutcracker spoils her elaborate entertaining plans, she turns to some otherworldly visitors (Darrell Hammond and David Costabile) for help. In the “Crafting Corner” segment, Jane Krakowski drops in as the celebrity guest.

Inside Tuesday TV: Want to really get in the Christmas spirit? Gather all ye misfits round the TV for CBS’s annual showing of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (8/7c). … On a much more irreverent note, Comedy Central’s Drunk History Christmas Special (10/9c) enlists the likes of Rob Corddry, Colin Hanks and Ken Marino to boozily re-enact seasonal events including George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware and Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. … Have lingerie, will travel. And so it goes as CBS’s annual broadcast of The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show takes its act to Shanghai, China for the first time.

 

Amy Sedaris



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  1. C

    CyanFish

    "The Long Road Home" seems to be another version of "Blackhawk Down," (the exfiltration sequence), but with more interaction from the families at home, wondering what the heck is going on. Interesting so far.

  2. C

    CyanCoathanger

    The superhero crossover was hard for me to watch last night. So many characters running/flying/flashing all over the place that I couldn't keep track of who was doing what. I'm sure tonight will bring more of the same.

    1. C

      CyanCandy

      I don't watch any of those hero shows, after reading your views on them, I'm glad I don't. I watch "The Gifted" but if they start using costumes and fight crime I'm out immediately.

      Did you watch "The Walking Dead" this week? I thought it was very boring and flawed. Rick going disarmed and alone to the traitorous Saviors helpers was unbelievable dumb, he deserved being captured.

      1. C

        CyanCoathanger

        It wasn't any more dumb than them all standing there looking at Negan and his top guys a couple weeks ago and not shooting them there and then. I don't understand the show anymore. It's like they ran out of smart things for the characters to do, so they're having them all act stupid.

    2. G

      GoldSubmarine

      Agreed, but surprised Flash and LoT weren't mentioned. The finale of the crossover is LoT. And ABC is in reruns (I think) I guess it will be CW again for me.

    3. R

      RedCupcake

      I thought it was pretty good. I got a little bored with all the lovey-dovey, relationship stuff, but the rest was entertaining enough. (But then, I like action.) I'm a little confused about the plot behind this invasion, though. **SPOILER ALERT -- SPOILERS AHEAD** The Earth-X people invaded this particular Earth just to get Kara's heart? Why would that other guy, Flash-dude, care about that? There must be something more. And I want to know who their Fuhrer is. He was mentioned often enough that it should be important. Maybe that Damien guy? Or Supergirl's friend Jon Jones?

      Lookiing forward to tonight's conclusion. And I can't believe it's not even mentioned in this so-called list of "what's on."

      1. G

        GoldSubmarine

        I was kinda surprised that these CW shows weren't mentioned. I guess Matt figures yesterday's mention covers it for tonight.

        ABC is in reruns, correct?

      2. C

        CyanCoathanger

        I never liked the whole Barry and Iris romance to begin with. I don't like her character very much. I'd rather keep it just about superheros fighting bad guys.

        1. R

          RedCupcake

          The Flash is the one of these four shows that I don't watch. Supergirl I definitely watch, and Arrow and Legends I watch most of the time. So I'm least familiar with Flash characters. (I thought Flash and Supergirl didn't exist on the same Earth, is that correct? I think something like that was mentioned when Barry Allen was on Supergirl the first time.)

          But I'm with you--- less romance stuff and more fighting bad guys!

          1. C

            CyanCoathanger

            I'm the wrong person to ask about all the different earths. I seldom know what they're talking about.

            1. R

              RedCupcake

              I think there was a reference to the "Flash on other Earth" thing. Plus,now we know who the Fuhrer is. Although I didn't get that vibe at all from Monday's show.

            2. G

              GoldSubmarine

              Same here. The 52 or 53 earths are confusing. Lots of black holes in that concept. Like they mentioned there were 53 Supergirls.

              I just like watching the action. Would be better if there wasn't so much romance, but I can deal with it.

          2. G

            GoldSubmarine

            Same here, more action and less kissing.

            Thankfully there was plenty of action within the 4 shows. Just too much romance. Yuck. If I want love scenes, I would watch romantic dramas.