Seeing Double in ‘Counterpart,’ Superhero Crossover on The CW, a Granddaughter’s Tribute to President Bush
A critical checklist of notable weekend TV:
Counterpart (Sunday, 9/8c, Starz): Seeing double is part of the fun of this sci-fi/spy thriller, starring Oscar winner J.K. Simmons as two versions of the same character: milquetoast Howard “Alpha” and his doppelganger from an alternate universe, steely agent Howard “Prime.” The second season picks up with the Howards being stuck in each other’s worlds when the passage between universes shuts down. The plot can be befuddling, but Simmons is brilliant in letting you know which Howard is which, even when they’re hiding in each others’ skins.
The Flash (Sunday, 8/7c, The CW): The annual superhero crossover event returns (continuing on Arrow Monday and Supergirl Tuesday), opening with quite the dilemma: Barry Allen/Flash (Grant Gustin) wakes up in Oliver Queen/Arrow’s (Stephen Amell) body — and vice versa. To clear things up, they head to Earth-38 to consult with Supergirl (Melissa Benoist), where they meet her cousin, Clark Kent/Superman (Tyler Hoechlin) and his reporter sidekick, Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch).
Remembering George H.W. Bush: A Love Letter to Gampy (Saturday, 8/7c, NBC): There likely won’t be a tribute to the late President Bush more personal than this special, hosted by his granddaughter, NBC News personality Jenna Bush Hager. She provides reminiscences and stories from family members and friends including Bush’s son, President George W. Bush and wife Laura Bush, the late Barbara Bush and former President Bill Clinton. The special also features his well-documented letters to family with rarely seen photos and videos, and Jenna’s own on-camera interviews with her grandfather at home and in Kennebunkport, Maine.
Ho-Ho-Holiday Movies: The deluge continues.
New from Hallmark: Homegrown Christmas (Saturday, 8/7c), starring the ubiquitous Lori Loughlin as a businesswoman who comes home to reconnect with her estranged sister and former beau (Victor Webster); and Welcome to Christmas (Sunday, 8/7c), starring Eric Mabius as the sheriff of Christmas, Colorado, wooing a developer (Jennifer Finnigan) to build her resort near the struggling but charmingly named town.
New from Hallmark Movies & Mysteries: Memories of Christmas (Saturday, 9/8c), which describes Christina Milian’s dilemma as she inherits her late mother’s house and has to be convinced by an electrician (Mark Taylor) to keep the spirit, and Christmas display, alive; and Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas (Sunday, 9/8c), starring Megan Park as another daughter mourning her mother’s death, who falls for a country singer (Josh Henderson) who’s grieving his father’s passing. Misery loves company, especially at Christmas time!
From Lifetime: Santa’s Boots (Saturday, 8/7c), a reverse Cinderella story starring Smash’s Megan Hilty as a woman trying to rescue her family’s struggling department store with the help of a hunky young Santa (Noah Mills), who goes missing, leaving only a boot behind as a clue; and A Christmas in Tennessee (Sunday, 8/7c), telling the time-honored story of a baker (Rachel Boston) who clashes with a developer (Andrew Walker) to preserve the charms of their mountain town, White Pines, TN.
Inside Weekend TV: Ovation’s period drama Versailles (Saturday, 10/9c) concludes with a 90-minute series finale in which King Louis XIV (George Blagden) faces his destiny… Jason Momoa (late of Game of Thrones, soon to be Aquaman on the big screen) hosts NBC’s Saturday Night Live (Saturday, 11:30/10:30c) for the first time. Mumford & Sons make their third appearance as musical guest… Unexpected visitors bring turmoil to Starz’ Outlander (Sunday, 8/7c) when Lord John Grey (David Berry) pays a visit to Fraser’s Ridge with a surprise companion, and Claire (Golden Globe nominee Caitriona Balfe) must overcome her reservations when Lord John contracts measles… While Debra (Connie Britton) is busy learning just how dirty John (Eric Bana) is on Bravo’s Dirty John (Sunday, 10/9c), flashbacks reveal his stormy past with his first family.
Conversation21 Comments
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B
What's befuddling is that "Counterpart" is back so soon, barely six months later. I guess they filmed the seasons back-to-back.
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C
Could be if they knew they were going to get 2 seasons from the beginning.
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R
I watched the first 5-6 episodes of Counterpart it's first season...and really enjoyed it...
But...it backed up on the ol' DVR...(evidently I had MORE interesting stuff to watch at the time)…so I eliminated the backed-up episodes and Season Pass...
However...WILL stick in a new Season Pass for it...and see how things go THIS time...
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G
Gonna watch "SNL" tonight, as usual...
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C
Is this the last one for this year?
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G
That will probably be next week.
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C
Yeah, I just saw an ad for next week's show with Matt Damon.
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R
BTW, any Blue BLoods watchers in the group? I have to say, I'm getting really tired of the eternal "Sid vs Garrett" thing that seems to occur every second or third week. Some cop issue arises, and Garrett presents the bird's eye view, playing devil's advocate about how the NYPD is perceived by outsiders, and of course Sid digs in and says "hey, cops are cops, and we get the job done." Yawn. Been there, seen that... like, just two weeks ago, and then a few weeks before that.
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R
As usual, Saturday is sort of a wasteland. Repeats of MASH (WGN) and Big Bang Theory (TBS), and of course Rudolph is on CBS. Of course TCM is showing Holiday Inn, so I know Fred will be interested in that. Sunday I'll watch the beginning of the superhero crossover. Even if I don't always know what's going on, those are always fun to watch.
ALso, Fred, in case you're interested, Jennifer Finnegan is in one of the holiday movies listed above. If you liked her in Salvation, you'll love her in a town called Christmas. 😉
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G
Thank you for mentioning, but I'll be watching CW's "Elseworlds" with Flash, Arrow and Supergirl tonight.
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R
After The Flash, you can still catch the 2nd hour of the movie. 😉
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G
Are you watching Flash tonight? Arrow and Supergirl are on it!
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R
Yeah, I plan to watch, as it comes on in Supergirl's slot. The Flash is the only show in the cross-over that I don't normally watch, so hopefully that won't keep me from enjoying it. (I don't think it will.)
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G
Like last season, this crossover is an entirely new bottled storyline so you don't need to watch The Flash. As a matter fact from what I read ( a huge article in the TV GUIDE)), all new settings -some set in Gotham will be incorporated in The Flash, Arrow and Supergirl for this crossover. Plus this new arc will be part of each show going into 2019!
That's a change from previous crossovers.
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R
By the way, did you finally catch up on the original, "unedited" version of Holiday Inn yesterday? I purposely watched the intro on TCM last night, and they mentioned the infamous "Abraham" song, along with a warning that it's part of the movie. What do you think of this movie as compared to the more commercialized (and schmaltzy) White Christmas?
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R
I don't routinely watch Flash/Arrow/Supergirl...but this crossover ("entirely new bottled storyline") sounds worth checking out...
I see tonight's Flash is listed as "Elseworlds--Part 1"...Monday's Arrow is listed as "Elseworlds--Part 2"...and Tuesday's Supergirl is listed as "Elseworlds--Part 3"...
Is THIS what yinz are talking about???
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R
Yes, the 3-part crossover unfolds over 3 nights, starting tonight. (Flash and Supergirl switch nights for the occasion.)
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G
Yes, I did watch Holiday Inn the uncut version. I enjoyed the entire movie, but the black face part was awful. They showed the beautiful actress applying black make up and then the actual skit. And after the skit the main characters are discussing what a success it was and wanting to do it again! This was an all around better movie than White Christmas though.
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R
Yeah, the blackface segment was painful to watch.
And didn't I tell you that Holiday Inn is better than White Christmas? :-p
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G
Holiday Inn, was vastly superior despite the blackface scenes. Like a 9 out of 10.
White Christmas not close, but still watchable.
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C
I'm not planning on watching anything on Saturday. If I'm home, I'll figure something out. Sunday, it's the start of the Elseworlds crossover, Doctor Who, Family Guy, and Return to Amish. I'll catch The Irwins and The Simpsons later.