Television Premieres and Notables: November 18-24

Esquire finally launches a ton of new shows this week. Too many to list here, and none that tell me what its identity is yet. Check it out online or on your DVR scheduler. if there's anything that I think sounds cool, I'll list it.

But what is cool this week is BBC America is giving us lots of Doctor Who goodness for its 50th Anniversary. Episode of the series, reruns of the The Doctors Revisited, and some original programming later in the week.


Tusday,11/19

Futurescape With James Woods; Science. 10 pm CST. Series Premiere.
James Woods hosts this show that looks at future technology.


Wednesday, 11/20

The League (FXX; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Well, I missed this season because Charter Communications kept FXX in the sports tier, and I don't watch enough sports to make it worth paying for.
So: big middle finger salute to the dipshits at my cable company.
Sunday
F-you Charter.


Friday, 11/22

Nikita; CW. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
I'm too lazy to look it up, but I've heard rumors this is the last season. That's too bad as this show has really hit a groove the last few seasons and was completely unpredictable from episode to episode.
I mean: in this very episode, we deal with the fact that Nikita was framed for assassinating the president. That's kind of a big deal.

An Adventure in Time; BBC America. 8 pm CST. Special.
An original movie about the creation of Doctor Who.


Saturday, 11/23

Saturday is The Day of The Doctor. The long-awaited fiftieth anniversary special airs at 2:50 pm CST on BBC America in the US and on Who mother stations all over the globe-- and it's even going to be shown in select (meaning nowhere near me) movie theatres.

So: as the show has done for past milestone anniversaries, multiple Doctors join forces to handle whatever threat has developed. This is the NuWho era, so current (but soon to be leaving) Doctor Matt Smith and the dynamic Clara (Jenna Coleman) find themselves alongside Tenth Doctor (and fan favorite) David Tennant and first NuWho companion Rose (Billie Piper).

As we saw at the end of last season, there was a regeneration we previously didn't know about; one where the character didn't live up to/rejected/we don't know the name of The Doctor, so he was never spoken of again. Rumor has it, this Doctor landed between the Eighth and Ninth (the break between "Classic" and "New" eras) and played a pivotal role in the Time War that saw the destruction of the Daleks and the Time Lords.

Okay, all that sounds crazy and confusing. Here's what you need to know: the Doctor who cannot be named as such is played by John Hurt. What more do you need?

Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston supposedly was asked to participate and declined. No word on any "Classic" Doctor Who appearances or references, but this show likes to surprise (and they did a nice tribute to the past in the last season's "Name of The Doctor" episode).

Bill Cosby: Far From Finished; Comedy Central. 7 pm CST. Special.
The Cos performs in his first televised concert in thirty years.
I'm not sure if this will be even a fraction as great as his legendary "Himself" concert, but I'm willing to give it a shot.

Atlantis; BBC America. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A young man looks for his father, and finds himself in a mysterious land.


Sunday, 11/24

Boardwalk Empire (HBO; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.

Getting On; HBO. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Laurie Metcalf, Alex Bornstein, and Niecy Nash star as nurses in a geriatric wing of a hospital.
I'm guessing it's a comedy...

Ja'mie: Private School Girl; HBO. 9:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Chris Lilley brings his Summer Heights High standout character to her own show.
Fantastic!