‘Will & Grace’ Takes the Cake, ‘Murder’ Finale, ‘Atlanta,’ March Madness

Matt Roush
16 Comments
Vanessa Bayer as Amy and Debra Messing as Grace Adler on 'Will & Grace'
Chris Haston/NBC
Vanessa Bayer as Amy, Debra Messing as Grace Adler on 'Will & Grace'

A selective critical checklist of notable Thursday TV:

Will & Grace (9/8c, NBC): It’s been a good week for Emmy-nominated Saturday Night Live veteran Vanessa Bayer. She reprised her hilarious Weekend Update character of unintelligible meteorologist Dawn Lazarus last weekend, and proves she’s ready for prime time in a funny Will & Grace guest turn that finds steel beneath her usual perky personal. She plays a cheerful baker who, in an inspired twist on an ongoing cultural controversy, refuses to make a cake for the officious Karen (Megan Mullally) with a “MAGA” decoration for her presidential dinner guest. “We’re serving White Russians,” Karen cracks, “But you don’t need to know the guest list.” Ultraliberal Grace (Debra Messing) may not be able to stomach the message, but she sticks her nose in to make a stand for free (even if offensive) speech. Cheyenne Jackson also guests as Will’s (Eric McCormack) former and now current boyfriend, of whom Jack (Sean Hayes) disapproves—but why?

WATCH: Sterling K. Brown Hilariously Re-Creates 'SNL' Opening Title With Toys
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WATCH: Sterling K. Brown Hilariously Re-Creates 'SNL' Opening Title With Toys

TGIT (10/9c, ABC): The Shonda Rhimes crazy-train lineup that put the “TGIT” franchise on the map is in its final throes. How to Get Away With Murder (10/9c) wraps its fourth season of ludicrous melodrama with Annalise (Viola Davis) and her crew dealing with another shocking arrest. As Scandal (9/8) lurches further into its last remaining hours, Cyrus (Jeff Perry) is riding high after last week’s airborne adventure, but Olivia (Kerry Washington) isn’t buying it, and shares her theories with the estranged Gladiators. Ellen Pompeo directs an episode of Grey’s Anatomy (8/7c) that further explores April’s (Sarah Drew) crisis of faith—just in time, as her days on the show are numbered. But Drew has already bounced back, just cast as the Cagney half of CBS’s rebooted Cagney & Lacey pilot.

Atlanta (10/9c, FX): In the strongest but also most surreal episode yet of the new season, Earn (Donald Glover) gets schooled in stunting as he declares “No more Mr. Nice Earn” and plans to take girlfriend Van (Zazie Beetz) out on the town. Problem: No one’s willing to take his $100 bill, with one indignity after another reminding him how far he has yet to go to be accepted in the city’s faster lanes.

Inside Thursday TV: The first round of NCAA Basketball action is a bonanza for college hoops fans. Expect at least a few Cinderella upsets as games play through the day and into prime time on CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. … The fourth season of Scandinavian crime drama The Bridge (aka Bron/Broen) premieres on Hulu, involving the politically motivated murder of Copenhagen’s director general of immigration. … Also new to Hulu: the complete first season of AMC’s Western drama The Son, which has been renewed for a second year (no air date yet). … HGTV’s hit Flip Or Flop Vegas (9/8c) is back for a second season, with Bristol and Aubrey Marunde gambling viewers will follow them on a new series of home makeovers.

AtlantaFlip or FlopGrey's AnatomyHow to Get Away With MurderSaturday Night LiveScandal (2012)Will & Grace (2017)



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  1. C

    CyanFish

    Well ... sugar. Nothing new airing tonight that I'm interested in. As it's raining here (N. CA), I think I'll re-read Ed McBain's first 87th Precinct novel, "Cop Hater." Fortunately, there's another 50+ after that one to re-read.

  2. R

    RedQuill

    Gotham is one of those shows that...when it "shows up" on my DVR...I (almost) immediately watch...

    A.P. Bio I've found to be pretty humorous...Champions I'm still not sure about (but it remains a Season Pass for my DVR)...

    1. C

      CyanCoathanger

      I pretty much like A.P. Bio. I'm a fan of the lead from watching It's Always Sunny.

      We've only had one episode of Champions and need at least another one or two to reach a decision on it. It seems to be ridden with cliches so far.

      2

  3. R

    RedCupcake

    I knew SWAT wouldn't be on, because of the college hoops tournament, but I thought I'd at least get to enjoy Supernatural. WRONG. That's not on tonight, either. 😠 I guess Arrow will be the only new programming for me tonight.

    1. C

      CyanCoathanger

      Sorry to tell you, but Arrow is a repeat.

      1. R

        RedCupcake

        Haha, that figures. Oh well, I have other stuff that needs my attention this evening. 😀

    2. C

      CyanFish

      But, we do have the Supernatural animated episode to look forward to on March 29th. ScoobyNatural!

  4. C

    CyanCoathanger

    NBC comedies and Gotham for me.

    1. G

      GoldSubmarine

      Did you watch FX's American Crime Story last night? As usual almost the entire show dealt with Andrew Cunanan's history which was far more compelling than the relatively very short part with Versace as a young boy.

      And regarding Designated Survivor. Who knew the president had a long lost troubled brother? As if , the president doesn't have enough stress to deal with!

      1. C

        CyanCoathanger

        Yes, but at least the brothers were getting along by the end. I wonder if the brother is going to become a regular character.

        1. C

          CyanCoathanger

          Oh! And the son finally appeared again!

          1. G

            GoldSubmarine

            That will probably be his last appearance for this season. Possibly one more. There really isn't much room on this show for his kids. Especially now that he has his brother (if he returns) amid this huge cast. Ratings ticked up a bit last night from a series low last week. Hope it stabilizes or builds from here.

          2. G

            GoldSubmarine

            Did you watch American Crime Story :Versace last night?

            Any thoughts? Just one more week left.

            1. C

              CyanCoathanger

              Yes. My only thoughts are that so many of the seemingly outlandish claims he's made about his life are actually true like him having the master bedroom, wearing the best clothes, going to the best school, etc. About the only big lie he's told is that his father owns pineapple plantations in the Philippines.

              1. G

                GoldSubmarine

                Yup, lots of stuff he claimed were true. He certainly lived a rather posh lifestyle even after his father fled thanks to those wealthy older men. My main issue with this show is that it seems Ryan Murphy struggled to contrast Versace's life with Cunanan and that part of it doesn't work with me. Its as if he researched both lives and felt that Cuanan's experiences were far more intriguing so he shoe horned some bits of Versace's life into the show. But most scenes dealing with Versace seem very forced and heavy handed to me. Almost like different showrunners were involved with that part of the story. Thankfully for me Versace's rather dull life doesn't take up much time on this program.

                Otherwise its all good for me, Daniel Criss deserves nominations and perhaps a win for his portrayal. The supporting cast is fantastic for the most part as well.

                1. C

                  CyanCoathanger

                  Maybe there wasn't all that much about Versace in the book this is based on, or maybe the Versace family complained too much about things they originally wanted to include.