The X-Files returns! American Dad, too, as does Portlandia. PBS’ American Masters pays tribute to Mike Nichols and The SAG Awards presents its Lifetime Achievement Award to Carol Burnett! There’s even a hockey sitcom (Benders) for everyone who loves to play, but sometimes do it badly. Happy viewing, TV lovers!
Sunday
Portlandia – 9pm on Superchannel – 6th Season Premiere
The X-Files – 10pm on Fox/CTV (Time approximate after football) – 10th Season Premiere
They’re back! In the first of six episodes that promise a combination of monster episodes and mythology episodes, the host of a web series approaches Mulder and Scully about a govewrnment conspiracy he thinks he has uncovered, and a possible alien abductee makes Mulder question he’s ever believed about the existence of aliens.
Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry – 10pm on E! – Series Premiere
Tyler Henry believes he has had “the gift” since the age of ten, and in the first of this docuseries, he helps actress Jaime Pressly connect with a Hollywood star who died tragically; NeNe Leakes confronts secrets from her past; Bella Thorne is connected with her beloved deceased family member; and John Salley gets confirmation from beyond about his daughter’s future.
Monday
The Magicians – 9 to 11pm on Showcase – Series Premiere (two episodes)
In what sounds like a grown-up version of Harry Potter, Quentin Coldwater is a grad student at a magic school who discovers that the magical world he has known since childhood holds many dangers. Based on a series of novels by Lev Grossman.
American Dad – 10pm on Much – 11th Season Premiere
Benders – 10:30pm on Much – Series Premiere
I guess you can call this a skatecom. Paul Rosenberg and his friends love to play hockey, and they are on a local men’s team called The Chubbys in this IFC comedy that lasted one season.
Tuesday
What Would You Do? – 10pm on ABC – 11th Season Premiere
Wednesday
X Company – 9pm on CBC – 2nd Season Premiere
This Canadian/Hungarian co-production takes place during the Second World War and follows five recruits who were trained as secret agents at a Canadian training facility near Lake Ontario. The Globe and Mail’s John Doyle says it is a “solid thriller” that is vastly entertaining.
Thursday
You, Me and the Apocalypse – 8pm on NBC – Series Premiere
This ten-episode science fiction comedy-drama follows a group of people who struggle with the end of the world as a comet heads straight for earth. The ensemble cast includes Jenna Fischer, Matthew Baynton, Megan Mullaly and–in a breakout role–Rob Lowe as a foul-mouthed, chain-smoking Vatican priest.
Friday
American Masters: Mike Nichols – 9pm on PBS (check your local listings to be sure)
A look at the life of director-writer-comedian (and husband of ABC’s Diane Sawyer), who is one of only two people to have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, a Tony and a Peabody Award. Directed by his long-time comedy partner, Elaine May.
Saturday
The 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards – 8 to 10pm on Global
The Guild awards actors in film and television, and this year, Carol Burnett is honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
