NEW SHOWS
Last Week Tonight – “Week of April 27, 2014” (A-) / series premiere
It’s a lot like The Daily Show, but so what. Oliver is an adroit host, and not even Jon Stewart would devote a good portion of the program to the election in India, even though it’s one of the most important political events of the year. And yes, it’s still hilarious.
The Following – “Forgive” (B-) / season finale
Finished stronger than the last few episodes would have led me to believe, but this is still an aggressively stupid show. I pray to God I never have to watch this again. Yet, as I watched Joe and Ryan enter that mansion, guns drawn, I caught a glimpse of a version of this show that would be awesome: with Ryan and Joe as mismatched partners trying to take down other cult leaders and serial killers. Now that would be something worth investing in.
CURRENT SHOWS
Broad City – “The Last Supper” (B+)
My first experience with Ilana and Abbi was actually the last episode of the first season, but I didn’t necessarily need a lot of the context from the nine previous episodes. It’s gross and doesn’t take itself to seriously, but still has a lot to say about female friendship. So yeah, in every way it’s better than Girls.
Parks and Recreation – “Anniversaries,” “The Wall,” “New Slogan,” “Galentine’s Day,” “Prom,” “Flu Season 2,” “One in 8,000,” “Moving Up” (average: B+)
Some of the more civics-heavy episodes were merely pretty good, but the latter four were top-notch. While everyone loves the two-part mega-sized time-jumping finale, my favorite had to be the joint prom, which was probably the funniest episode of the season.
OLD SHOWS
The Simpsons (Season 7) – “Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield” (A-)
A buried gem from Season 7. Marge joins the country club after finding a Chanel suit for $90, then proceeds to be as terrible a mother as her new friends. It’s sneakily devastating, but filled with great gags and an underrated cameo from Tom Kite.