Sophomore Year on ‘grown-ish,’ ‘Masked Singer,’ ‘Mythbusters Jr.’
A selective critical checklist of notable Wednesday TV:
grown-ish (9/8c, Freeform): As the enjoyable collegiate black-ish spinoff advances to a sophomore year at Cal U, opening with back-to-back episodes, Zoey (Yara Shahidi) sees it as a “sequel,” an opportunity to improve on the ups and downs of her first year away from home. Moving off-campus seems a good idea, until she and her roomies — Ana (Francia Raisa) and Nomi (Emily Arlook) — discover the condition their new apartment is in. And then it’s time to do possible repair work on her relationship with too-cool-for-school Luca (Luka Sabbat), who’s back from a summer in Paris. How, one wonders, will they ever find time to study?
The Masked Singer (9/8c, Fox): In a camp spectacle seemingly better suited to the summer “silly season,” the question isn’t so much “who’s behind the mask” as it is “whose career is in such tatters they need this kind of exposure?” Nick Cannon is the overcompensating host, with a witless panel including Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy, Robin Thicke and Nicole Scherzinger. Their task: to guess who’s cloaking themselves in elaborate Mardi Gras-worthy costumes, within which they strut and sing pop anthems while the panel tries to figure out clues to their identity. (Trust me, when someone guesses Lady Gaga, they’re wrong. She’s better than this.) In the opening round, a Hippo squares off against a Peacock, a furry Monster goes up against a Unicorn, and a Deer faces a Lion —the latter the best costumed by far. One of the three losers will be unmasked at the end of each episode. (Fox blurred the identity in the advance screener, but I’d be lying if I said I cared.)
Mythbusters Jr. (9/8c, Science Channel): Adam Savage is back to explode (sometimes literally) myths and urban legends, but this time he’s joined by six whiz kids (ages 12-15) with mad STEAM — science, technology, engineering, arts and math — skills. In the series premiere, they take on that handiest and hardiest of all materials, duct tape, to see if they can use it to make a functioning parachute and a usable car tire.
Project Runway All Stars (9/8c, Lifetime): The fashion franchise will soon return to its roots on Bravo, but for now, Lifetime offers one last all-star season with an international twist. Seven former Project Runway winners from the U.S. will be joined by seven veterans from other countries’ editions (from Australia, Brazil, the Netherlands, the U.K. and Canada), all competing for global bragging rights. Host Alyssa Milano returns with judges Isaac Mizrahi and Georgina Chapman, with Marie Claire editor-in-chief Anne Fulenwider as mentor.
Inside Wednesday TV: The government may be in shutdown mode, but C-SPAN carries on with a new 90-minute documentary, The Senate: Conflict and Compromise (8/7c), which looks at the history, traditions and role of the legislative body… Go out of this world with PBS’s Nova: Pluto and Beyond (9/8c, check local listings at pbs.org), as a NASA team analyzes new transmissions from the New Horizons spacecraft, which famously beamed images from Pluto in 2015. On New Year’s Day, the probe is scheduled to fly by an object known as Ultima Thule, 4 billion miles from Earth, and who knows what wonders will be uncovered… MTV’s docuseries True Life (10/9c) returns with a new franchise titled “True Life/Now,” a four-part study of real people caught up in today’s immersive social and media phenomena. First subject: “Obsessed With Being a Kardashian.” Can’t pretend to understand that one.
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G
Masked Singer does feel better suited for summer. But I might take a look tonight just out of sheer curiosity.
TCM is airing On the Waterfront and Streetcar Named Desire. I actually watched both in a high school . I had teachers (various grades and classes) that loved allowing us to watch various classic movies in class and we would then discuss it and sometimes write a critique or a report about them. If I recall correctly Marlon Brando impressed me like no other.
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C
We never had any real movies in school...only educational films and documentaries. I remember one about smoking and lung cancer which caused a couple of girls to faint and several kids to throw up! I, of course, thought it was funny.
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G
I had quite a few teachers that were huge classic movie fans so , I benefitted. One particular literature teacher in 11th great allowed the class to vote on a movie available on VHS . We voted for Trading Places with Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd.
I even had a teacher (forgot the subject she taught) in my senior year that loved Dallas and Dynasty. So she would allow the class to watch episodes she recorded sometimes!
My freshman history teacher used to record 20/20 and 60 Minutes and allow us to watch almost every week. Back in the 80s 20/20 was pretty much current events and important news segments.
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C
Yes, I remember watching 20/20 years ago. I used to watch 60 Minutes every week back then, but I've hardly watched it in years.
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G
Same
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R
I still like keeping up with 60 Minutes, at least to see what stories they're going to tell. It's still a very good show, doing good investigative work, even though I'm often not interested in the subject.
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G
I also occasionally watch it when I have nothing better to do or when it seems interesting.
But back in the day it was a weekly routine for me.
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G
20/20 , Dateline and 48 Hours used to be legitimate NEWS magazines as well. But all have declined in quality over the decades. Is ABC's Nightline still relevant? Haven't watched that in years, but it was very respected when I was younger.
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C
It depends on what they're reporting on. I seldom watch it.
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G
I'm judging from mostly the promos. To me, 60 Minutes is the only legitimate one, and possibly Nightline, but again, haven't watched in years.
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R
I postponed We'll Meet Again from last night so I could watch Doctor Who, but I'm going to watch it tonight. The NOVA show sounds good but I might have to watch it some other time, as SEAL Team is new tonight. Also, yesterday I forgot to mention watching the Leah Remini Scientology show last night. I had to skip the first part to watch the last half-hour of Doctor Who, but I caught up on it.
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C
I'll take a look at Ramsay's 24 Hours and The Masked Singer just to see what they're like, but I doubt I'll watch either of them when my other shows return. No matter what, I have to watch Vikings!
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R
LOVE Vikings!
Don...I think we've discussed before...the Likeable/Beneficent Gordon Ramsay appears in 24 Hours to Hell and Back...NOT the Mean-Spirited/A$$hole Gordan Ramsay who appears in Hell's Kitchen...
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C
That seems to depend on his mood though. I've seen him act pretty nasty towards some of the restaurant owners on his shows. Are you planning to watch the show this year?
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R
Oh Yea...
It's one of the FEW shows that NEVER get backed-up on the ol' DVR...
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