’20/20′ Previews ‘Roseanne’ Revival, Men’s Figure Skating at Winter Olympics, a Second Chance on ‘Top Chef’

Matt Roush
13 Comments
Figure Skating - Winter Olympics Day 0
Harry How/Getty Images
Nathan Chen of the United States competes at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Chen was also a standout at the 2018 World Figure Skating Championships in March.

A selective checklist of notable Thursday TV:

Roseanne: The Return—A Special Edition of 20/20 (10/9c, ABC): This is one of those times when I’m not just a TV critic, but I play one on TV. Unless I end up on the cutting-room floor, look for some critical perspective to enhance the newsmagazine’s advance look at the revival of the classic sitcom, returning to ABC after two decades with the original Connor family intact. The special features interviews with Roseanne Barr and her co-stars John Goodman (who as Dan was miraculously resurrected for the revival), multiple Emmy (and now Tony) winner Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, Michael Fishman and both Beckys: Lecy Goranson and Sarah Chalke, who’ll be playing a different role in the new version. As someone who once faced the wrath of Roseanne during one of her more outrageous periods (associated with a former husband with the initials T.A.), I’m curious to see how this look back will deal with the behind-the-scenes chaos that led at least one producer to look back at the experience as “Beirut.” No question, though, that the show and its star were ground-breaking, and it’s a very different and volatile world they’re returning to this spring.

'Roseanne: The Return': Lecy Goranson on Being Starstruck by Laurie Metcalf (VIDEO)
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'Roseanne: The Return': Lecy Goranson on Being Starstruck by Laurie Metcalf (VIDEO)

Winter Olympics (8/7c, NBC): The marquee event in prime time will be Men’s Figure Skating, with all eyes on 18-year-old Nathan Chen, looking to redeem himself from a shaky performance in last weekend’s team competition. He’ still a front-runner for gold. Also on tap: the final runs of Men’s Skeleton, and a second chance for USA’s Lindsey Jacobellis to try for gold in Women’s Snowboard Cross.

Top Chef (10/9c, Bravo): In a different sort of comeback, the winner of Last Chance Kitchen re-enters the competition as the finalists head to Telluride for the first leg of the finals. In a Quickfire challenge, their dish must include a beverage associated with the Wild West: sarsaparilla. In the elimination challenge, they must contend with the high altitude by incorporating a baking element in their dish.

9 Athletes That Have Set the Internet on Fire During the 2018 Winter Olympics
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9 Athletes That Have Set the Internet on Fire During the 2018 Winter Olympics

Inside Thursday TV: Seeking a good cry with This Is Us on hiatus for the Olympics? Hulu is now offering the entire six-reason run of NBC’s tear-jerking Parenthood for streaming. … For musical angst, there’s CMT’s Nashville (9/8c), one week away from its midseason finale, during which Alannah (Rainee Lyleson) upstages the boys in the band—that would be Gunnar, Avery and Will—and Maddie (Lennon Stella) heads off with Jonah (Nic Luken) to Miami, though she finds herself once again bonding with Twig (Dylan Arnold). … For laughs, IFC’s Portlandia (10/9c) continues its final season with vignettes including Doug and Claire trying an open relationship, and Fred stepping on a snail.

Nashville (2012)Parenthood (2010)PortlandiaRoseanneTop ChefWinter Olympics



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  1. R

    RedCupcake

    Interestingly, the CW is airing repeats of their shows, so no Supernatural for me. But if NBC is REALLY going to show figure skating, I'll probably watch that. Although I'm sure they'll hold that off until close to 11pm, to string viewers along. :-p

    1. C

      CyanCoathanger

      I think they were later than usual last night because there were so many delays on the ski slopes. I believe the skating is supposed to start around 9:45 normally.

      1. R

        RedCupcake

        Yeah, they always save the 'best' stuff--the stuff people want to see--until the very end.

        1. C

          CyanCoathanger

          Of course.

  2. C

    CyanCoathanger

    Let's see...Matt had a feud with Roseanne over something he said about Tom??? What did you do, Matt...say you could tell he was a big drug addict??? Too bad they didn't have Twitter back then. Can you imagine the tweets?

    I'm going to watch that show just for the hell of it.

    My DVR is full again! 6 episodes of The Magicians and 2 episodes of Channel Zero have really filled it up in the past month and a half!

    1. G

      GoldSubmarine

      I'll watch that 20/20 Rosanne special tonight , curious about the revival. Nashville too if it's on Nick or TV Land.

      Last night's Versace-American Crime had only a couple of short scenes with Versace ( two more than the last couple of episodes), but the best parts were when the Versace story wasn't on the screen. So far my favorite episodes were 3, 4 and 5 in that order. Least favorite 1 and 2 (the ones that featured Versace).

      1. C

        CyanCoathanger

        There's a new episode of Nashville on CMT, but it's not on the schedule for Nick or TV Land tonight.

        1. G

          GoldSubmarine

          That's why my Comcast DVR has Mom set to record on TV LAND !

          That's the slot usually dedicated for Nashville.

          I thought DVRs were more advanced than that.

          1. C

            CyanCoathanger

            It's on TV Land at 2:00 am Friday morning.

            1. G

              GoldSubmarine

              Thanks, lets see if it records. I have all my favorite shows set to record whenever they air whatever channel or time. Usually works out fine, but sometimes gets messed up like tonight where Mom is set to record. Does your DVR distinguish when your shows are airing or only slots like VCRs?

              1. C

                CyanCoathanger

                Since my DVR didn't come from Comcast, I have to use one of their boxes as a tuner for it. Therefore, I can only set it manually to record things. I have to tune the Comcast box to the channel I want to record then set the DVR to the time and duration I want.

                Since I'm almost always home during prime time, it works just fine for me. I can watch one program while I record another which is all I want to do 99% of the time.

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            1. G

              GoldSubmarine

              Thanks for the advice! I My neighbor subscribes to every channel under the sun with Comcast , Direct TV, Amazon, Hulu, Netflix. His bill is enormous. He told me I can watch whatever I want in one of his multiple rooms that have TVs. My mom also subscribes to everything with Comcast (no Direct TV or streaming services for her) and pays around $225 or so. But its not as convenient to watch at her house which is a few miles away.

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      1. C

        CyanCoathanger

        I'd like to beat Bobby Flay.....with a big stick! He's too smug for me.