‘Scandal’ Signs Off, a ‘Mom’ Meltdown, ISIS Documentaries on Sundance Now
A selective critical checklist of notable Thursday TV:
Scandal (9/8c, ABC): The “TGIT” crazy train will never be the same after the departure of Shonda Rhimes’ notoriously bonkers yet often irresistible political melodrama, anchored by the glamorous Kerry Washington as D.C. fixer Olivia Pope. In preparation for the final bow, the show has lived up to its name by finally exposing the secret spy agency B613 in a last-ditch gambit to stop evil Cyrus (Jeff Perry) from taking over the White House with smug sidekick Jake (Scott Foley). Rhimes wrote the series finale, slyly titled “Over a Cliff,” and that’s where Olivia, the Presidents Grant (Mellie and Fitz), and the loyal Gladiators find themselves with their sordid secrets spilling out for all to see. There’s a lot to accomplish in this hour, and the party continues in an after-show on Jimmy Kimmel Live (11:35/10:35c), where Rhimes and the cast will reminisce and be treated to a performance by Chaka Khan.
Mom (9/8c, CBS): Usually the calmest presence in the recovery group, Marjorie (Mimi Kennedy) has a meltdown in public that leads Christy (Anna Faris) to think about getting a new sponsor. I’ve adored Kennedy at least as far back as Homefront in the early 1990s, so am hoping for the best. But given that Christy turns to the equally wonderful Yvette Nicole Brown (bouncing back from the cancellation of ABC’s The Mayor) for support, maybe the group can just expand.
Take 5: The Shadow of ISIS (streaming on Sundance Now): Expanding the Take 5 franchise from themed collections of short films, The Shadow of ISIS curates the U.S. premieres of five original documentaries that go deep into the world of ISIS and the terrorist group’s impact on those they’ve recruited, those who live among them and those who fight them. Titles include Recruiting for Jihad (2017), Terror Studios (2016), War Child (2017), Europe’s Border Crisis: The Long Road Home (2015) and Girls, Guns & ISIS (2016).
Inside Thursday TV: A high time is had on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy (8/7c) when Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) shares cookies baked by a satisfied patient, not aware of their secret ingredient. … It was only a matter of time before the title character (Iain Armitage) of CBS’s Young Sheldon (8:30/7:30c) would realize the local high school isn’t challenging him. Which is why he begins auditing a college class taught by guest star Wallace Shawn. … For those preferring their TV scandals of an international bent, Walter Presents imports the 10-part Dutch romantic drama The Adulterer (streaming Thursday), in which a female photographer’s extramarital affair with a lawyer is complicated when her lover faces her prosecutor husband in court on a murder trial.
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I understand it's difficult to come up with original plotlines for long running shows like Grey's Anatomy. However, I still cringed when I read tonight's preview about the "special" cookies. Talk about overdone (no pun intended) I remember an early ER episode about acid laced chocolates. That 70's Show and Taxi also did similar episodes. Of course you can't forget arguably the best one which was Barney Miller and it's hash brownies. Normally, I'm fairly forgiving when it comes to reusing storylines. Mainly, it's in the execution and I am sure the actors are more than capable of playing under the influence. Still, I do cringe 🙂
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I don't like watching actors playing drunk or high.
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Yea...but...but...if YOU'RE drunk or high while watching the show...the actors playing drunk or high probably come across as being completely normal/sober...
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I don't believe I've ever watched TV drunk or high, but even if I did, they wouldn't come across as normal.
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Don...I was, actually, trying to make a joke...(evidently, as SO OFTEN happens...UNSUCCESSFULLY)...
[When I ask my GF why she didn't laugh at a joke of mine...she tells me..."It's because I was afraid I'd miss the NEXT one" !!??!!]
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I just watched the pot laced cookies episode on That 70's show last weekend! Hilarious! I think it was season 2. Such a funny show. So silly for a drama like Grey's to delve into that.
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As Pee-wee Herman always says: That was so funny I forgot to laugh.
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Wonder why the SAME 3 movies have been listed under MOVIES ON TV on the Worth Watching main page for the last 3-4 days???
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I noticed that too. Meanwhile sometimes when I log onto this site a huge TV GUIDE magazine ad is plastered all over my PC screen. I can't close it! So I x out of the entire site and start again. Sometimes occurs again sometimes doesn't.
I have been subscribing to the TV GUIDE since the 80's when I was a teen and my grandmother since the 50s. So non-stop for around 65 years. Don't need these ads to remind me!
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I don't know why you seem to be the only one who can't get rid of that ad by just clicking on the X.
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I have no idea. This is the only site that this occurs .
I easily click off ads on other sites.
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Fred...I've NEVER seen the "huge TV GUIDE magazine ad"...and have NEVER had to "log in"...
PERHAPS...it's because I use THIS link from my Favorite's Bar: https://www.tvinsider.com/news/ ...or...
PERHAPS...it's because I have "uBlock Origin" installed on my Edge Browser...
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It must be your blocker because I come in on the same address and get the ad occasionally.
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I tend to lean towards WITTY shows...so tonight will DVR:
Gotham...humorous...but presented in a sarcastically ominous manner...
A.P.Bio...just plain out and out humorous...
Imposters...humorous...but presented in a QUITE interesting/intriguing manner...
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Don't lean too far...you might fall over. Do you have Life Alert?
Gotham has been one of my favorite shows since it first started. I love Penguin.
I'm liking AP Bio but mainly because I always liked him in It's Always Sunny..... Did you watch that?
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Life Alert...not yet...(but getting closer every day)...
Penguin...I think Robin Lord Taylor is giving an EXCELLENT acting performance...as is Anthony Carrigan (Victor Zsasz)...(who's also doing a GREAT, though more humorous, job on Barry)...
I never really watched It's Always Sunny...if I had...I suspect I would have "jumped on" The Mick MUCH sooner than I did...
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My favorite parts of The Mick are the little boy and the maid. They really crack me up.
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Supernatural and then SWAT.
BTW, on last night's Designated Survivor, I have to admit that Kirkman's daughter creeps me out. First of all (and this is *not* the creepy part), she looks like she's aged four years in the last season and a half, since the show began. Secondly, she just looks... creepy. To me she has the face of a 17-year-old, but on the body of a ten-year-old. Yeah, creepy.
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DESIGNATED SURVIVOR -SPOILER ALERT:
If the President utters " You did what you thought was right, so I will accept it" again regarding the snake Andrea, I will go CRAZY! He did it with the newly appointed Vice President and many others throughout the two seasons .
Seth really made an impact In this episode with his impromptu defense of Kirkman.
And Seth called Emily out regarding her recent bad decisions.
As expected, the less Michael J Fox the better. We are stuck with his awful character for the rest of the season. So unlikeable. As an actor I loved him on Spin City and all of those great movies of the 80's and 90s.
What a horrible disease, I thought they would address it during the show. I couldn't understand every line he delivered. Watching him awkwardly move around was uneasy for me.
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Since I stupidly missed most of the episode, I just read a pretty in-depth recap. I cringe at the reappearance of Dr. Frost (Raver), and the context in which she was discussed. Ugh. And yes, it looks like she is going to be a big candidate for the Big Bad Leaker. But what about the technology guy, Chuck? Could be him, too.
For the record, I still think this show hurts itself by trying to be both political drama and action thriller. The two don't mesh well together, and sometimes it seems they really have to reach to find ways to connect the two. (And I find the current plot, the leaker, to be pretty weak. It started out much more interesting/exciting when it dealt with the space station.)
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I never thought about Chuck until he told one of the characters in the inner circle that he is capable of so much more . Sounded jealous, that others had more control. He could turn out to be some wacko looking to make an impact and get recognized.
Andrea is a prime suspect though.
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At least they didn't have ice cream this week. What possible motive could she have to be leaking inside information?
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Get recognized by losing his job and possibly going to jail?
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Psychos don't take that into consideration. You just never know with this show!
If not him likely Andrea, but I think she would have to be involved with someone in the inner circle.
Wonder who they will pair Hannah up with next? He will likely be killed too, lol.
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Give Hannah's partner credit for stepping in front of her and saving her life. Tells me he really did care for her. Do we know for sure he's dead this time?
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Oh, and who shot at them and why?
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That very silent emotional scene with the doctor and Hannah pretty much confirmed with me he is dead, But again you just never know with this show....
And yeah, he cared for her. I don't think this is the first time he saved her life either.
Did you ever watch Quantico? It s returning next week.
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I watched the first season of Quantico, but it got too confusing for me to deal with so I stopped watching after that.
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Truth is whenever that little girl is in a scene, my mind drifts so I never paid much attention to her face or what she has to say. The son at least is older more relevant to me, but he's hardly on the show. Best part of DS are the scenes that have zero to do with his family and everything to do with his " inner circle " (love using that term).
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Have you ever watched Modern Family? The little girl on that show looked like she aged at least 5 years from one season to the next. And yes...it's the same girl playing her.
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So far, I like the scenes with his brother.
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That's another mystery/ conspiracy we have to deal with.......
This show takes up more of my mind space than just about anything else. Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L..D also , but that's sci-fi so I quickly dismiss certain aspects.
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I used to watch Modern Family, and yeah, the actress who played Lily really did sprout up between seasons a while back. (haven't seen it lately) But IIRC, that was mainly height, and she still looked basically like the same girl. In the case of Kirkman's daughter, (to me, at least) her face really looked like that of an older girl, but in all other ways (including height), she looked pretty much her age.
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TGIT!
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Tonight it's all the NBC comedies, Big Bang and Sheldon, Gotham, and Imposters.
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