What’s On: Bob Hope on ‘American Masters,’ a new season of ‘Black Mirror,’ ‘SMILF’ finale, Mariah Carey and other New Year’s Eve TV highlights (Dave Chappelle!)

Matt Roush
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Bob Hope with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour in 'Road to Bali,' 1952
Courtesy of Bob Hope Legacy
Bob Hope with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour in "Road to Bali," 1952.

American Masters: This Is Bob Hope (Friday, 9/8c, PBS, check local listings at pbs.org): The memories linger on, for which we’re thankful, and the great American Masters series aims to reclaim Bob Hope’s comedic legacy for a new generation, reminding us of his many decades as Hollywood’s favorite jokester (including at 14 Oscar ceremonies) and his renown beyond movie and TV stardom for entertaining troops during wartime around the world. Billy Crystal narrates from Hope’s writings, and among those singing his praises: Conan O’Brien, Chevy Chase, Tom Selleck and Brooke Shields (who traveled on some of his USO tours). The two-hour profile doesn’t ignore his darker side, though the focus is on the entertainer who gave millions hope through laughter.

Black Mirror (Friday, Netflix): Six binge-worthy new episodes in the latest season of Charlie Brooker’s brilliant sci-fi anthology of cautionary fables in a high-tech future. The highlight: “USS Callister,” a sinister Star Trek parody like no other, with Jesse Plemons going full Shatner as the smug captain of a vintage ’60s-era spaceship, and Cristin Milioti as a new recruit who’d go to any lengths to get off the ship. Also memorable: “Metalhead,” Black Mirror‘s first black-and-white episode, a relentless robot chase thriller that at times recalls early Terminator and even the classic 1970s Trilogy of Terror.

SMILF (Sunday, 10/9c, Showtime): With a wry shout-out to Woody Allen (“the heart wants what it wants”), the fearless Frankie Shaw writes and directs the first-season finale of her raw, raunchy comedy, confronting the childhood trauma of Bridgette’s (Shaw) sexual abuse by her long-absent father. These memories are rekindled when she is matched with her dad on her inaugural tour of Tinder. As she spirals at work and at home, dealing with a bad haircut and an ex (Miguel Gomez) who may be leaving rehab too soon, Frankie seeks solace from her bipolar mom Tutu (Rosie O’Donnell in a remarkable supporting performance), who’s distracted by packing for a cruise only she seems excited about. Frankie’s journey isn’t always an easy one, but SMILF is well worth the effort.

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2018 (Sunday, 8/7c, ABC): The festivities begin in prime time, but the main event will happen closer to the ball drop at midnight/ET. And while there are many options for viewing if that’s how you tend to bring in 2018, ABC shoots to the top of the must-see pack with the announcement that Mariah Carey will appear to atone for last year’s debacle, “which we can all agree … didn’t go exactly as planned,” she and the show deadpanned in a statement. She joins a Times Square roster including Nick Jonas, Sugarland and Camila Cabello, with Seacrest hosting alongside Jenny McCarthy. Among other ABC highlights: Britney Spears performs from Las Vegas; the Los Angeles party, hosted by Ciara, features Kelly Clarkson, Florida Georgia Line, Shawn Mendes, Charlie Puth, Hailee Steinfeld; and Lucy Hale presides in New Orleans, with Imagine Dragons among the headliners.

Elsewhere: Anderson Cooper pals around on CNN with Bravo’s Andy Cohen, replacing the fired Kathy Griffin. … Fox’s New Year’s Eve With Steve Harvey: Live From Times Square (8/7c) includes performances from Celine Dion, Maroon 5, Zac Brown Band, Backstreet Boys, Andra Day, Flo Rida, and Neil Diamond leading what’s being billed as “the world’s largest sing-along.” … On a somewhat more refined plane, PBS’s Live From Lincoln Center presents New York Philharmonic New Year’s Eve: Bernstein on Broadway (9/8c, check local listings at pbs.org), hosted by Audra McDonald. The orchestra, conducted by Bramwell Tovey, performs highlights from classic scores including On the Town, West Side Story, Wonderful Town and Candice, with Broadway luminaries Annaleigh Ashford, Aaron Tveit, Laura Osnes and Christopher Jackson give voice to Bernstein’s luminous standards.

Last Laugh: In a late-year gift, Netflix announced that its highly anticipated New Year’s Eve comedy special with Dave Chappelle would not be a solo act. Now there are two Dave Chappelle comedy specials set for streaming on Sunday: the politically charged Dave Chappelle: Equanimity, filmed in September at the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C.; now joined by the recent Dave Chappelle: The Bird Revelation, recorded last month at L.A.’s Comedy Store.

Marathons: Too many to count, but among the most significant any given year is Syfy’s inevitable visit to The Twilight Zone (starts Sunday, 4 am/3c), with 48 hours of classic episodes introduced by Rod Serling. … FXX opens a Simpsons marathon with The Simpsons Movie (Sunday, 6 pm/5c), followed by 10 hours of the animated hit’s best. … AMC marks the 10th anniversary of its breakout hit Breaking Bad with a marathon of the first two seasons starting Sunday at 2 pm/1c. All seasons will air consecutively on Saturdays and Sundays through January. … Film buffs may prefer to celebrate with Nick and Nora Charles in TCM’s marathon of six movies in The Thin Man series (starting with the first, and best, from 1934, Sunday at 8/7c). William Powell and Myrna Loy define urbane wit as they solve murders between martinis. Can’t think of a better way to toast having survived 2017.

 

American Masters This Is Bob Hope ...Black MirrorMariah Carey



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  1. C

    CyanCoathanger

    Saturday, there\'s a new episode of Ten Days in the Valley plus a new Graham Norton on BBC America.

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    1. C

      CyanCandy

      Some time ago you asked if anyone watched \"Mr. Robot\", I finally watched the season, and I\'m so glad I did! This season is better than the first. Watching in batches is much better than watching one per week. I love the one where Angela was inside the building when it was attacked, one of the best episodes of any show this year, was it one continuous take?

      Also the poignant episode with the kid and Elliot, beautiful.

      This is now my favorite cable series. Thankfully it has been renewed for a fourth season. What did you think?

    2. C

      CyanCoathanger

      I\'ve been a huge fan of the show from the very beginning. I realize it\'s not for everyone, but I\'m always hoping to convince people to give it a chance. I seem to remember the director saying the episode you mentioned was not one continuous take but was shot in a fluid style to make it appear that way.

      The episode that really amazed me was the one where Elliot and Mr. Robot fought for control, and Rami beat himself up. I\'ll never figure out how they did those scenes of him throwing himself into walls.

    3. C

      CyanCandy

      The great thing about being here is that recommendations from fans can pay off. I was not going to watch this season,

      I liked the 1st and 2nd seasons enough, with so many shows I was overwhelmed. Thanks to you I gave this season a try.

      I loved it!

      Thanks as well( is it Thanksgiving?) to Fred for recommending \"The Exorcist\".

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  2. R

    RedCupcake

    The Bob Hope thing sounds pretty good. Not sure if I\'ll watch it live, but I\'m sure one of my PBS stations will have it over the weekend. (Also unfamiliar with Hope\'s \"darker side\"... I know Bing Crosby had a darker side with his family, but hadn\'t heard anything about Hope.)

    And YAY for TCM and their Thin Man marathon. THose movies are such a hoot... anyone who hasn\'t watched them should give them a try. William Powell and Myrna Loy are terrific together.

    Other than the Bob Hope special, I\'ll probably stick with CBS tonight, even with the fact that the scripted shows will be reruns. I think they\'ll air a 48 Hours special about Waco, which will be interesting as well.

    1. C

      CyanCoathanger

      They made a big deal about Crosby spanking his children which pretty much everyone of his generation did.

    2. R

      RedCupcake

      From most accounts (including the book written by one of Crosby\'s sons), it was more than \"spanking.\" It was more like beating, with a metal-studded belt. Apparently it was not a happy household for numerous reasons.

    3. C

      CyanCoathanger

      And I believe some of his other kids said those accounts were exaggerated.

    4. O

      OrangeMagnet

      Hope\'s dark side was multiple affairs.

      Again, not that unusual for his generation.

    5. C

      CyanCoathanger

      Which was not surprising at all. After all, he spent most of his life away from home. The surprising thing is that his wife said she was ok with it so long as he agreed to let her bring the children up Catholic.

    6. O

      OrangeMagnet

      Hope did many USO tours, true.

      But he was mostly in LA, making movies. I don\'t think any were shot on location. One of his daughters talked in this show about him doing a little tap dance most mornings before they went to school.

  3. G

    GoldSubmarine

    Well, with no ABC Once Upon a Time and Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E..L.D tonight, I may check out PBS\'s American Masters Bob Hope special. While I\'m too young to remember when he was very funny, I have seen clips of his old routines and they were quite good. Not at all interested in his \"dark\" side, I just want to laugh or at least smile. And I hope it doesn\'t focus too much on the stars singing his praises. I just want to see him! That was the big problem with the Carol Burnett special. I didn\'t laugh once when the out of place Jim Carrey, Stephen Cobert, Bill Hader, Jay Leno, Amy Poehler, Martin Short and the countless others were featured. Its like each were trying to make some sort of connection to her no matter how distant. So sad that the hilarious Tim Conway (who I thought was dead) was too sick to be there and of course the late great Harvey Korman, It was great to see the almost ageless Vicki Lawrence, Bernadette Peters (still sexy as ever ) the mature yet handsome Lyle Waggoner and the very funny Steve Martin. Now each of these talents have a true connection to the great Carol Burnett.

    ABC\'s Dick Clark/Ryan Seacrest Special for me on New Years. If there is a bad performance I\'ll switch to FOX\'s Steve Harvey New Years special (he might be even busier than Ryan Seacrest).

    1. C

      CyanCoathanger

      I\'m curious as to what Hope\'s dark side is. Is he being accused of sexual harassment now?

    2. G

      GoldSubmarine

      Back in the years Hope was active , if he pinched or poked at women it was considered flattery.

      My grandmother confirmed it.