‘SNL’ Returns, Paul McCartney on ’60 Minutes,’ ‘God Friended Me,’ ‘Simpsons’ Turns 30
A critical checklist of notable weekend TV:
Saturday Night Live (Saturday, 11:30/10:30c, 8:30/PT, NBC): If a special Emmy went to the show with the best timing, it would go to the venerable late-night sketch fest, launching its 44th season in the wake of an epic week of newsy spectacle (the incendiary Supreme Court hearings, the presidential news conference). Adam Driver makes his second appearance as host, with Kanye West returning for the seventh time as musical guest. But all eyes will be on the satirists, looking for humor in outrageous events that almost defy parody.
60 Minutes (Sunday, 7:30/6:30c, 7/PT, CBS): Hard to believe Paul McCartney has never submitted to the 60 Minutes treatment over the newsmagazine’s legendary 50-year history. But as Season 51 opens, the former Beatle opens up to correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi in a wide-ranging interview that was conducted over two days at McCartney’s recording studio in the south of England. He opens up about his partnership and professional rivalry with John Lennon, of whom he says he only ever complimented Paul on one of his songs. This interview may not be as memorable as McCartney’s nostalgic “Carpool Karaoke” tour of Liverpool with James Corden from June, but fans won’t want to miss it.
God Friended Me (Sunday, 8:30/7:30c, CBS): The Mayor’s Brandon Micheal Hall stars in this whimsical Poked By a Diety feel-good fable for our social-media times. He’s Miles, a proud podcasting atheist whose non-belief system is shaken when he begins getting messages from a mysteriously persistent “God” account on Facebook, urging him to follow — as in, intervene in — other people’s lives. If cosmic coincidences make you cringe, this may not be the show for you. But as Miles tries to divine the source of his new puppet master, with the help of an online journalist (Violett Beane) “God” has also led him to, this reluctant change agent may begin to appreciate that sometimes there is a grand design to life. Scandal’s Joe Morton plays Miles’ preacher father, who just wants to see his son keep hope alive. CBS, on the other hand, is hoping the show will approach the success of its long-running 1990s hit Touched By an Angel.
The Simpsons (Sunday, 8/7c): A celebratory clip-reel couch gag marks the start of the animated sitcom’s landmark 30th season, with Wonder Woman Gal Gadot, Bones’ Emily Deschanel and Glee’s Jonathan Groff among the guest voices. Bart (Nancy Cartwright) is up to his usual devilish tricks, but when a stunt lands him in the hospital and he claims to have gone to heaven and met Jesus, the family is offered a movie deal by Christian producers. How could that go wrong?
Poldark (Sunday, 9/8c, PBS, check local listings at pbs.org): So much romantic tumult in late-1700s Cornwall as Masterpiece’s crowd-pleasing costume drama returns for a jam-packed fourth season. Swarthy hero Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner) has his hands full, as nemesis George Warleggen (Jack Farthing) lords his ill-gained political power over the less fortunate locals, with schemes that could prove fatal to Demelza’s (Eleanor Tomlinson) vulnerable brothers, pious Sam (Tom York) and earnest Drake (Harry Richardson). With Ross so preoccupied, Demelza frets over the attentions of literally lovesick Lt. Hugh Armitage (Josh Whitehouse). Can the Poldarks’ marriage be preserved?
Inside Weekend TV: Fox’s Bob’s Burgers (Sunday, 8:30/7:30c) hits its 150th episode with a musical outing for Tina (Dan Mintz), who sneaks into the Boyz 4 Now auditions to pursue a crush. The Book of Mormon and Hamilton alums Andrew Rannells, Josh Gad, Rory O’Malley and Daveed Diggs are guest voices… CNN’s Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown (Sunday, 9/8c) continues its final season with the host traveling to Asturias, Spain with fellow chef and humanitarian Jose Andres… CBS’s NCIS: Los Angeles (Sunday, 9/8c) opens its 10th season with Callen (Chris O’Donnell), Sam (LL Cool J) and Kensi (Daniela Rush) in grave danger in Mexico. Gerald McRaney guests as retired Navy Admiral Hollace Kilbride, who helps Mosley (Nia Long) coordinate the rescue effort… HBO’s Insecure (10:30/9:30c) wraps its third season with Issa (Issa Rae) approaching her 30th birthday, wishing there would be fewer obstacles to her block-party project.
Conversation16 Comments
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G
Laughed at both Stephen Colbert's (especially when he mimed "boofing") and Seth Meyers' takes on the Ford-Kavanaugh hearings. Am now waiting for "SNL"s take on it. May review tomorrow...
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Nothing is new for me tonight. Sunday I'll watch The Last Ship and NCIS-LA. And maybe The Simpsons. I really could not care less about Paul McCartney, so I won't be watching 60 Minutes.
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G
Since I don't have a DVR, the only way I'll be able watch Paul McCartney's "60 Minutes" interview is online since I'm working at that time so I'll probably do that and "Murphy Brown" soon...
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60 Minutes would get bigger ratings if they would interview Christine Ford and/or Brett Kavanaugh.
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or...BOTH...
(OOPS!...didn't see the "and")...
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C
Animal Planet shows tonight. Tomorrow, it's The Simpsons, Family Guy, the season finale of Fear the Walking Dead, Talking Dead, Last Ship, and a whole bunch of great shows on PBS. One of our PBS stations has the new season of The Durrells on Corfu, Poldark, and they're rerunning My Mother and Other Strangers.
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C
Thanks, for mentioning "The Durrells", I didn't know, it's back.
Don't you watch "Bob's Burger" ? It's my favorite animated show on Fox.
Yes, a very full Sunday for me too.
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C
I didn't know Durrells was back either until I saw it in the listings. Our PBS stations are so busy advertising Poldark that they've practically ignored everything else.
I just don't care that much for Bob's. Since I don't have much free space on my DVR, I usually just record Simpsons and Family Guy.
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For whatever reasons...I've never watched ANY episodes of Poldark...but Matt had a somewhat intriguing Review of it...
Would it be worthwhile to just jump in with the 1st episode of the 4th season on Sunday...or is it, really, "too late" to "catch up"???
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I don't recommend jumping into the show even at the beginning of a season. It's historical fiction that depends a lot on the history aspects...not only what was actually going on at the time but what the characters were doing during those times.
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Oh, I forgot to mention "You" again. I watch that later, so I forget about it when listing my prime time favorites.
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C
I'm actually watching less than I was at the height of the summer season. Only Tuesday was really busy last week. Sundays are probably going to be the worst for the fall.
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G
Same here. So far I really don't have many new shows this season to watch.
And most of my favorites were canceled or didn't start their new season yet. I still have some summer leftovers - WGN's Carter, CW's The Outpost and Burden of Truth and USA's late summer The Purge.
I sampled NBC's Manifest- will definitely come back for more. Not so sure I will continue CBS's FBI and Magnum.
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I've already ruled out FBI and Magnum. I watched Magnum once which was enough, and I didn't even bother watching FBI.
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The FBI pilot didn't wow me like other FBI shows (Quantico for one).
And you were right about Manifest. It should have been a 2-hour debut.
It did seem a bit rushed and I had to watch it twice to understand all of the details and family/doctor connections. Some scenes reminded me of favorites of mine like The Crossing (sorely underrated ) and Lost. But Manifest doesn't have as many characters, yet....
If I remember correctly LOST and Once Upon Time (same showrunners) started with huge big budget 2-hour movie like premieres.
However so far, Manifest doesn't seem as complex as the other shows mentioned. That said glad to have another sci-fi/fantasy show!
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I think I saw the original once or twice in reruns, and I didn't care for it either. I don't think it would matter who the star is. It just doesn't appeal to me. When it comes to detective shows, I seem to prefer the ones with quirky detectives like Monk, Elementary, or Hercule Poirot.
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