What to Watch This Weekend: Game of Thrones (Duh) and the Season/Series Premieres of Orphan Black, The Messengers, and Lost Girl
What to watch on Friday, April 17...
NEXT: Saturday, April 18 | Sunday, April 19
SEASON 2 PREMIERE, 8pm & 9pm, Syfy
Bitten
With Elena and the Pack hunting for Malcolm Danvers, Jeremy is assigned a Malcolm-centric mission of his own from the Council of International Alphas in "Bad Blood." Then in "Scare Tactics," Clay looks into a potential sign of witchcraft.
SERIES PREMIERE, 8pm, The CW
Cedric's Barber Battle
Cedric the Entertainer hosts this reality competition series, which gathers the cream of America's coif-chopping crop. The opener pits contestants from California, Florida, and Texas against one another in a series of styling challenges.
8pm, NBC
Grimm
A Native American myth comes to life with deadly consequences in "Mishipeshu." As Nick and Hank investigate, Juliette lands in her own trouble with the police.
SEASON 4 FINALE, 8pm, ABC
Last Man Standing
Mike and Ed take Ryan and his father on a hunting trip in "Daddy Dearest," where the elder man confesses a fib he's been telling. Back home, Vanessa struggles to drum up interest in Kristin and Ryan's nuptials.
SEASON 1 FINALE, 8:30pm, ABC
Cristela
The rookie season ends with Cristela, Maddie, and Josh receiving the results of their bar exams, which spells bad news for one of them. Meanwhile in "Movin' on Up," Daniela has some other life-changing news for her sister.
8:30pm, Disney
Girl Meets World
A saleswoman bamboozles Riley and Maya into charging a pricey purchase on Topanga's credit card in "Girl Meets Demolition." On the bright side, think of all the money-back points they just racked up for the family!
8:30pm, The CW
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Cedric the Entertainer celebrates the debut of his new series with a guest-star stint on the neighboring program. Guest-comic Gary Anthony Williams brought along his best clippers just in case Cedric is scouting for talent as well.
SERIES PREMIERE, 9pm, The CW
The Messengers
Five strangers are killed by mysterious space debris only to soon revive with superpowers in The CW's only offering of the night that does not include Cedric the Entertainer (so far as I can tell). "Awakening" kicks off the newly gifted individuals' quest to avert an impending apocalypse.
DOCUMENTARY PREMIERE, 9pm, Showtime
Knock Knock, It's Tig Notaro
A chronicle of the comedian's recent nationwide tour performing stand-up sets in some unorthodox venues: her fans' homes, backyards, barns, and other intimate surroundings.
SEASON 5 PREMIERE, 10pm, Syfy
Lost Girl
The final season kicks off with Bo on the highway to you-know-where in "Like Hell, Part 1," which puts her on a mission to rescue a friend from the fiery depths. Above ground, Tamsin confronts an old enemy.
LATE-NITE:
– Alec Baldwin and John Mayer on Late Show with David Letterman, 11:35pm, CBS
WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING TONIGHT?
And now, let's all vote to crown the What to Watch Tonight Episode Title of the Week!
NEXT: Saturday, April 18 | Sunday, April 19
What to watch on Saturday, April 18...
PREVIOUSLY: Friday, April 17 | NEXT: Sunday, April 19
11:30am, Discovery Family
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
Apple Bloom may have surpassed the other Crusaders vis-à-vis cutie mark anxiety in "Bloom and Gloom," which puts her through the paces of a living nightmare. Y'know—for kids!
SEASON 1 FINALE, 8pm, Hallmark
Good Witch
The two-hour "True Colors" closes the first season with Cassie in jeopardy of losing her store, possibly thanks to Ryan. Elsewhere, Sam seeks Cassie's counsel after his ex-wife contests their custody agreement, and Tara returns to town with big news.
SEASON 3 PREMIERE, 9pm, BBC America
Orphan Black
Sarah searches high and low for Helena, who is stashed away in a secret compound because of course she is, in "The Weight of This Combination." Elsewhere, Cosima's physical health waxes while Alison and Donnie's financial health wanes, and the Castor threat re-emerges. (The premiere, in proper Clone Club fashion, will also be simulcast on BBC America's sister networks.)
9pm, Starz
Outlander
Claire and Geillis are tried for witchcraft in "The Devil's Mark," and it's probably a bad sign that the judge is a distant ancestor of Gladys Kravitz. Along the way, Claire discovers a secret from her co-defendant's past.
SERIES PREMIERE, 10pm, BBC America
Tatau
This eight-episode series centers on two young Londonites who stumble upon a murder mystery with ties to Maori myth while vacationing in the Cook Islands. The opener finds the pair encountering a dead body that subsequently vanishes.
WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING TONIGHT?
And now, let's all vote to crown the What to Watch Tonight Episode Title of the Week!
PREVIOUSLY: Friday, April 17 | NEXT: Sunday, April 19
What to watch on Sunday, April 19...
PREVIOUSLY: Friday, April 17 | Saturday, April 18
8pm, CBS
50th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards
Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan host the gold anniversary gala from Arlington, Texas. Slated performers include Garth Brooks, Reba, and Kenny Chesney, as well as Miranda Lambert, whose eight nominations lead the field.
8pm, Fox
The Simpsons
After Bart lies about being involved in a bulldozer crash, Marge gives him not a moment's peace until he comes clean. Elsewhere in "Peeping Mom," the new Flanders family pooch causes Homer to blow off Santa's Little Helper.
8pm, ABC
Once Upon a Time
"Sympathy for the De Vil" flashes back to Cruella's girlhood days in 1920s England, where the roots of her Dalmatian hate are revealed. In present-day Storybrooke, Regina gains the upper hand on Gold, but she and Emma soon receive troubling news about Henry.
8pm, PBS
Call the Midwife
Sister Winifred tends to a young prostitute who's dealing with both pregnancy and syphilis, while Sister Monica Joan questions her role with the team. Meanwhile, Barbara deals with a man who is dead-set on having a son, and Tom's new assignment sparks tension with Trixie.
9pm, HBO
Game of Thrones
Arya strikes out on her newest adventure in Braavos in "The House of Black and White." Back in the Seven Kingdoms, Stannis makes Jon an attractive offer, Brienne and Podrick's buddy-road-comedy proceeds, and Cersei fears for Myrcella's safety in Dorne, where Ellaria Sand plots to avenge Oberyn.
9pm, NBC
A.D.: The Bible Continues
Some of the more fanatical followers scheme to assassinate Pilate in "The Spirit Arrives." One of them keeps insisting that when they strike the blow they should say, "This Pilate... has been canceled," even though nobody will get that joke for almost 2,000 years. In less anachronistic plans, the invigorated disciples begin to preach the Gospel while Caiaphas arrests Peter and John.
9pm, Showtime
Nurse Jackie
Determined to return to All Saints, Jackie must first connive a way to scrape up cash for her lawyer's retainer. Elsewhere in "Deal," word of Jackie's possible return leaves Zoey uneasy.
9pm, Fox
Family Guy
After obedience school dulls Brian's edges in "Once Bitten," Peter misses the pooch's old, less-polished personality. In other Griffin goings-on, Chris is hurt when he learns a new school chum has only been using him to get closer to Meg.
9:30pm, Fox
The Last Man on Earth
Well perhaps the title "Moved to Tampa" explains why TLMOE's ever-paltrier loglines have shaved off the "in Tucson" part; this week's simply offers, "Phil Miller continues to live." By the end of the season, the only episode description I'll be able to provide will be the letter "P."
10pm, AMC
Mad Men
As Roger sticks Don with a project in "The Forecast," Joan departs on a business trip. In other agency affairs, an account emergency pits Peggy against Pete in the most one-sided rooting interest conceivable on contemporary television.
10pm, WGN
Salem
While striving to Keep Salem for Weird Sisters, Mary receives the unexpected aid of an old enemy in "From Within."
10pm, PBS
Wolf Hall
Cromwell plays matchmaker in "Anna Regina," and if those two crazy kids Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn can't make it, then what hope is there for the rest of us? But all isn't romance and head-keeping at court, as Cromwell's enemies are keeping a close eye on his machinations.
10pm, ABC
Revenge
In "Burn," Victoria takes defensive measures in the wake of her attack, while Emily reconsiders her long-term goals.
10pm, NBC
American Odyssey
Odelle must prove her value to her captors in "Drop King," beyond perhaps "if you bump off the star of the show you're all out of jobs." Back in New York, Harrison begrudgingly asks his journalist father for help, while Peter's new discoveries about Societel land him in hot water.
10pm, HBO
SIlicon Valley
Pied Piper scrambles to stay afloat after Hooli's latest broadside in "Runaway Devaluation." Meanwhile, Dinesh tries to gum up his cousin's fundraising efforts and Monica tries to maintain a professional distance.
10:30pm, HBO
Veep
A state dinner for the Israeli prime minister brings out Gary's inner party planner in "East Wing." Elsewhere, Amy learns of a staff realignment, Mike refreshes his look, and Teddy does Jonah a solid.
WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING TONIGHT?
And now, let's all vote to crown the What to Watch Tonight Episode Title of the Week!
PREVIOUSLY: Friday, April 17 | Saturday, April 18
