Worth Watching: ‘Modern Family,’ ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Finale, Interactive ‘You vs. Wild’ on Netflix, Hulu’s ‘The Act’

Matt Roush April 10, 2019, 7:00 am

A selective critical checklist of notable Wednesday TV:

Modern Family (9/8c, ABC): The long-running family holds a very special wedding — or does it? When Haley (Sarah Hyland) goes into false labor, she and Dylan (Reid Ewing) impulsively decide to elope — until Claire (Julie Bowen) and Phil (Ty Burrell) catch wind of it, and what the expectant couple expected and hoped would be a simple ceremony becomes more and more farcically complicated. Among the hiccups: the desperation of uncles Mitch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cam (Eric Stonestreet) to get to a Sophie’s Choice musical, and grandpa Jay’s (Ed O’Neill) desire to woo an Instagram celebrity to endorse his new life of whimsical dog beds. What could possibly go wrong? Hold the rice, because you might be wiping away a sentimental tear or two before it’s over.

'Modern Family' Final Season — 6 Things We'd Love to See Happen

Schitt’s Creek (10/9c, Pop): Though having aired only half as long (five seasons), the irreverent cult comedy is also bringing its penultimate season to a close — with a very special episode built around opening night of the community theater’s musical production of Cabaret, directed by Moira (Catherine O’Hara) and starring motel owner Stevie (Emily Hampshire) as Sally Bowles. But when the leading lady goes missing, can the show go on?

'The Good Place,' 'Schitt's Creek' & More Feel Good TV (PHOTOS)

You vs. Wild (streaming on Netflix): In a departure from the usual armchair nature series, a new series starring survivalist Bear Grylls calls upon the viewer to make decisions at each exotic fork in the road — or forest, or desert, or mountain. Whatever the viewer decides in this interactive format, that’s where Bear will go, determining the success of his journey. And the only gear you’ll need is a remote.

'Hostile Planet' Host Bear Grylls on Nat Geo's 'Brutal' New Docuseries

The Act (streaming on Hulu): In a pivotal episode of the gripping true-crime docudrama, daughter Gypsy (the terrific Joey King) has finally had enough after two years of her online-only relationship with the mysterious Nick (Calum Worthy), whose real life is possibly just as sad as hers. They contrive to meet in person, with Nick heading south from Wisconsin to meet his girlfriend and her overprotective and suspicious mother, Dee Dee (Patricia Arquette), at an otherwise empty matinee of a Cinderella movie. (Gypsy, naturally, is dressed as a princess for the occasion.) To say this faked “random” encounter doesn’t go well is an understatement. Where it’s leading is nowhere good.

Patricia Arquette Breaks Down Her Chilling Next 'Act' — Plus, 3 More of Her Must-See Roles

Inside Wednesday TV: Haven’t we (not) heard this one before? Netflix premieres a horror movie, The Silence, set in a world under attack by monsters who hunt by sound and starring Sabrina‘s Kiernan Shipka as a girl who lost her hearing as a teenager and who seeks refuge with her family. Any resemblance to John Krasinski‘s A Quiet Place must be merely coincidental, right?… After last week’s blindside, CBS’s Survivor (8/7c) is promising an even wilder tribal council, with castaways strategizing up to the moment of the vote… Viceland’s six-part docu-series Dark Side of the Ring (9/8c) exposes some of the more sordid stories, several of them fatal, from the raucous history of professional wrestling… Will (Scott Foley) has a new girlfriend on ABC’s Whiskey Cavalier (10/9c), an MI6 agent named Emma (Ophelia Lovibond of Elementary), and will three be a crowd when she accompanies him and Frankie (Lauren Cohan) on a mission to Spain?

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GoldScooter
Apr 10, 2019
Whoa hold on a second. Emily Hampshire is on Schitt's Creek and there's going to be a musical episode and she's Sally Bowles?

I just discovered 12 Monkeys and she sang in 2 episodes and it was godly
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  CyanCoathanger
  Apr 10, 2019
  Yes, why does SyFy do that? Besides Happy!, they've had other shows they only aired once an episode. Then, they repeat other shows over and over again. I don't get it.
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  CyanCoathanger
  Apr 10, 2019
  I don't even remember who won Worst Cooks...that's how little I cared about the contestants in the final! A new Celebrity Worst Cooks starts soon.
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  CyanCoathanger
  Apr 10, 2019
  Oh! How did I miss that? I didn't even have that much to watch on Sunday. I don't think Matt ever includes Worst Cooks. Going by the names, I only recognize about half of them.
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  CyanCoathanger
  Apr 10, 2019
  I only know Tonya, Morgan, Alec, and Jimmie just from the names.
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  CyanCoathanger
  Apr 10, 2019
  I've never seen Jerry Maguire.
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  CyanCoathanger
  Apr 10, 2019
  Don't remember.
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RedCupcake
Apr 10, 2019
DITCH THE VIDEO VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE!! Nobody wants to see that (I don't think). Most people would rather read it. 😠

Also, I assume the photo at the top of this article is from Schitt's Creek? It's sad that people have to GUESS.....

I think SEAL Team is the only new show for me tonight. Hope I can stay awake for it, since I had to get up super-early this morning.
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  GreenElephant
  Apr 10, 2019
  Gee, if you didn't even acknowledge there was a video version of this article, I wouldn't have even noticed it or even just watched it right now...and yes, that top pic is from "Schitt's Creek" as I recognized Catherine O'Hara in it on the left-hand corner...
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  RedCupcake
  Apr 10, 2019
  Having a video *available* is one thing, but this video starts and runs automatically... doesn't give the reader the option to "play video" or ignore it.
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  GreenElephant
  Apr 10, 2019
  On my computer, the video is actually silent so I only have to option to turn the volume on if I want to hear it...
  
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  GoldSubmarine
  Apr 10, 2019
  Agree, very annoying.
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  GoldSubmarine
  Apr 10, 2019
  I never watch the videos. I like to read.
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  RedQuill
  Apr 10, 2019
  Yea...but...at least it's MUTED…
  
  Some TV sites automatically load videos with the sound ON...
  
  Now...that's annoying...
  
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  CyanCoathanger
  Apr 10, 2019
  I've never understood why they have to have text and video that say the same thing.
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  GoldSubmarine
  Apr 10, 2019
  Like when they quote a tweet. They type every single word and then show the entire tweet again below. As if to prove what was typed is true. Waste of time and space.
  
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  CyanCandy
  Apr 10, 2019
  Maybe they do it for illiterate people. Aren't they nice? ;^)
  
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  CyanCoathanger
  Apr 10, 2019
  Yep.
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  CyanCoathanger
  Apr 10, 2019
  I also don't understand why what people say on Twitter is worthy of a news article. If I wanted to know what people were saying on Twitter, I'd look on Twitter, and I don't look at Twitter because I really don't care what a bunch of idiots think about something!
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CyanCoathanger
Apr 10, 2019
ABC comedies are all new this week, so are Whiskey Cavalier, Gone, Happy!, and In the Shadows! Easy after last night!

Fred: Did you remember that Comcast is having free access to shows from premium channels this week?
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  GoldSubmarine
  Apr 10, 2019
  I'll also be watching ABC all night live. Whiskey looks especially fun tonight.
  
  Yes, I do recall you mentioning abut Comcast's free access . But I don't really have the time to watch anything more and I don't want to get hooked. Just paid my April Comcast bill yesterday. $205. Usually $210 but they gave me some sort of credit, don't know why and didn't ask.
  
  My friend works for NBC/Universal and gets huge discounts from them. He's only paying $40 for cable and internet. Includes Digital Premier and Sports Entertainment package, HD technology fee,DVR and 3 boxes.
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  RedQuill
  Apr 10, 2019
  I pay Verizon $252/month for...more channels than I can watch (or even count)...HBO/Starz/Showtime/Cinemax/EPIX...5-Channel 100 Hr. HD DVR...2 boxes...High-Speed Internet...Unlimited Home Phone...
  
  Since I'm either unemployed or retired...I have the TVs on 8AM-1AM...(although daytime is mostly Tom & Jerry on VOD for the Grand Kids...or Food Network as background)…
  
  $252 may seem like a lot...but TV and my laptop are my MAIN sources of entertainment…(I don't own a cell phone, haven't been to a movie theater in 30+ years and "vacations" [other than to visit friends/family] just seem like too much WORK)...
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  GoldSubmarine
  Apr 10, 2019
  I don't get HBO in my package. Not sure about others, I don't watch them anyway. No time.
  
  Do you at least have a land line in that package? I have triple pay: Cable, High Speed Internet and Phone.
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  RedQuill
  Apr 10, 2019
  Yep...Cable, Internet and Home Phone...
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  RedCupcake
  Apr 10, 2019
  Does Comcast tell subscribers about the free trials? I remember when I had Time Warner Cable (or whatever it was called at the time), I don't think they ever publicized their "free weekends" for different channels. I'd stumble across them from time to time, but never knew ahead of time when they were occurring. 😠
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  GoldSubmarine
  Apr 10, 2019
  Well then for ALL l that content, high speed internet and phone, your monthly payment is reasonable. My mom also has a similar package like you , paying around the same. But she has Comcast.
  
  She watches just about EVERYTHING on broadcast and lots of cable shows too. She's retired now and has tons of free time. However she refuses to subscribe to any streaming service. She said she has no interest in paying more for entertainment and is more than satisfied with what traditional TV (and cable) has to offer. She does use her grandson's passcode for Netflix, but barely watches anything on there. Her words: "Overrated shows and movies on that thing".
  
  She also uses her other grandson's passcode for Amazon Prime, but also hardly ever watches anything there either.
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  RedCupcake
  Apr 10, 2019
  Did you watch The Code last night? Was it good? Cheesy? Too much focus on the "hot" characters and their love lives?
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  GoldSubmarine
  Apr 10, 2019
  No , I didn't watch The Code. The promos looked awful and didn't want to waste an hour. Yes I know for some reason, I took a chance on Enemy Within. So glad I did, it is now my favorite new show this season (along with The Passage).
  
  Meanwhile the ratings for The Code were awful. It lost a huge chunk of the strong lead in NCIS. And didn't come close to what FBI was averaging. I think this is DOA and one and done. Don't bother getting hooked.
  
  Other posters have said The Code makes Magnum look like a hit. OUCH!
  
  I like Magnum but considering the ratings, it was lucky to be renewed.
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  RedCupcake
  Apr 10, 2019
  Watching a rerun of JAG right now.... that show was a stickler for details like correct military protocol, dress, and behavior. No cheesecake there at all. To me it's the bar that other military shows must reach--especially shows about military lawyers.
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  CyanCoathanger
  Apr 10, 2019
  Sometimes. It used to be on the previous month's bill. This time, I saw a scrolling message at the bottom of the screen a couple of times, and it's at the top of the On Demand menu.
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  CyanCoathanger
  Apr 11, 2019
  Ann-Margret!!!
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  CyanCoathanger
  Apr 11, 2019
  Yeah, but the show is so wacky that it doesn't matter if they go off course for a few minutes. I thought the dance number was hilarious!
  
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