Worth Watching: ‘Gentleman Jack’ Finale, ‘Best Ever Trivia Show’ and ‘5th Grader’ Reboot
A selective critical checklist of notable Monday TV:
Gentleman Jack (10/9c, HBO): That remarkable 19th-century force of nature Anne Lister (Suranne Jones) is in perpetual motion as the period drama finishes its delightful first season (having thankfully been renewed for a second). She takes Danish high society by storm, charming them with her eccentric ways as she barrels through life on her own terms — although the Queen’s birthday ball demands she trade her signature black frocks for a white gown. Too soon, she’s called back to her Fairfax estate to handle a family crisis and then a financial one. Little does she realize her beloved Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle) is also making her own way back home, setting up what could be a gloriously romantic finale.
Best Ever Trivia Show (4 pm/3c, Game Show Network): Now that James Holzhauer is history on Jeopardy!, TV trivia buffs can reconnect with the even more legendary Ken Jennings, who’s part of a rotating panel of experts participating in this new game, hosted by Sherri Shepherd and airing Monday to Friday. The title is, as you’d expect, overselling it a bit. There aren’t enough questions for my taste: three per round (and multiple choice at that), with five in the final “Ultimate Trivia Challenge” round. The set-up pits three contestants against a different expert in each round, with double points awarded if the contestant correctly answers a question that the expert misses. The expert pool is drawn from veterans of Jeopardy!, Who Wants to Be A Millionare, other game shows and quiz championships — and if a contestant wins three games, he or she is eligible to enter the inner circle. How long before Holzhauer joins the club?
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (7/6c, Nickelodeon): Or you could match wits with elementary-school whiz kids in a reboot of the family-friendly game show, now hosted by John Cena. As in the original, but with a few tweaks, contestants lean on a rotating cast of 12 precocious fifth-graders to help them answer questions taken from elementary-school curricula in hopes of making it to the head of the class and winning up to $100,000.
Inside Monday TV: It doesn’t get much more exotic than Acorn TV’s latest import, Straight Forward, the first Danish/New Zealand co-production. It’s the story of a Danish con woman (Cecilie Stenspil) who flees Copenhagen after her father is murdered and her revenge payback goes awry. A master of disguise, she starts over in New Zealand, but when her family back home is in danger, how to protect them from so many miles away?… The NBA Finals continue (9/8c, ABC) for an all-important fifth game… Must we keep enabling reality-TV exhibitionists who are unable to stay out of the spotlight? In TLC’s Kate Plus Date (10/9c), single mother of eight Kate Gosselin re-enters the dating game, when matchmakers set her up on dates with 10 bachelors. How could this possibly not go well?
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R
I love Gentleman Jack but what's with those gawd-offal (my spelling) hairdos of the day, especially Anne Lister's?
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G
Go on youtube and type: How do you dress a 19th Century lesbian?
It's the official featurette from BBC, it explains everything
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R
For some reason, Gentleman Jack gives me such strong Doctor Who vibe. I can totally see Suranne Jones playing The Doctor, hell, I'd even start watching DW again, just for her. But alas, they already hired her to play human tardis back then thus ruining any chance for her to play Doc.
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G
I want Suranne to guest star on Killing Eve. Her and Amy Acker preferably in the same episode! Playing lovers, or sisters, or whatever. Or Suranne only, really. We won't be getting new Gentleman Jack episodes until 2021 and I can't imagine not having Suranne on my screen for so long.
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O
2021 seems so far away... ugh maybe BBC at least will release the official soundtrack to ease the pain from having to wait so long.
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R
Nothing new for me tonight. Last night I can't believe I almost missed Burden of Truth. In fact, I did miss the first part of it-- completely forgot it was on.
Is anyone watching The Weekly, the show that features stories from the New York Times? Each episode is only 30 minutes, and it's like a segment from 60 minutes. Good investigative journalism. One of the segments I saw was about a school in Louisiana that is known for viral "college acceptance" videos. Turns out they're based on lies and deception. Oops!
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G
Thanks for the Doris Day marathon reminder. I also missed Burden of Truth Sunday night (sometimes repeated on Monday) but I record it anyway.
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R
Hope you enjoyed Doris' movies. And Burden of Truth, when you watch it. Even if you didn't record it, it's available on the CW website, too. 🙂
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G
Yes as always Doris Day movies never cease to entertain me . I enjoyed Burden of Truth last night via DVR. Not sure if I mentioned it, but I read season 3 has been ordered.
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C
I guess I'll check out The Big Stage (odd that he didn't mention this show that debuts tonight) and try to watch some of the shows I recorded last night!
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