Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Tuesday, November 24. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
Scream Queens (Fox, 9 p.m.): We haven’t paid a ton of attention to Scream Queens, mostly because we’ve already looked on agog at one psychotic Ryan Murphy horror series and a comedy horror show this year prominently featuring the word “Scream” in its title. But the thought of this show making a Thanksgiving episode, even if it’s just to satisfy Fox’s programming demands, is something we find oddly amusing, even endearing, so let’s go ahead and celebrate the Scream Queens Thanksgiving episode. At least one of the episode’s Thanksgiving dinners will feature the Kappa House survivors lobbing murderous accusations at one another, so this Thanksgiving episode ought to feel real familiar to a good chunk of the audience. LaToya Ferguson is ready for all the killer carving-related puns, if nothing else.
Also noted
Jessica Jones (Netflix): The binge watchers among you have already had the chance to read Caroline Siede’s reviews of the entire season, but those looking for a more leisurely pace of review are in luck, as Oliver Sava kicks off his twice-weekly reviews later today. Now if only we could get reviews for those of us who are totally going to get round to it eventually, but we’re just so busy right now, you know?
The Grinder (Fox, 8:30 p.m.): Those of you deeply concerned with the complex mythology of The Grinder (or, more broadly, the Grinderverse, since we all know spin-offs are just a matter of time) are going to want to watch tonight’s episode very closely, as Dean’s meddling in Thanksgiving-related affairs reveals a major family secret and some flashbacks show just why Dean left his once hit TV show. Molly Eichel is prepared for this episode to change how she approaches The Grinder fan fiction forever.
Regular coverage
The Mindy Project (Hulu)
Grandfathered (Fox, 8:30 p.m.)
Manhattan (WGN, 9 p.m.)
Drunk History (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.)
What else is on?
Pretty Little Liars: 5 Years Forward (ABC Family, 8 p.m.): The show doesn’t return for good until January — by which time ABC Family will have renamed itself Freeform, and why not? — but this hourlong special promises a behind-the-scenes look at the imminent five-year time jump, as the show will resume with the titular liars have graduated from college. Which, considering the typical age of the show’s stars is between 25 and 30, moves the gap between real and fictional ages from old-school Beverly Hills 90210 levels of ridiculousness to the edge of plausibility, at least by TV standards.
Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown (The CW, 8 p.m.): This is apparently what The CW has chosen to air instead of The Flash. It’s somehow going to take an entire hour to count down the 12 best — seriously, only 12! — holiday commercials of all time. Fine, fine, the special is also mixing in some fun international commercials. But still, 12 commercials in an hour? That kind of programming lethargy is an insult to all The Flash stands for. (The Flash stands for running really fast.)
The Pilgrims: American Experience (PBS, 8 p.m.): Get in the Thanksgiving spirit with this documentary looking at the Pilgrims, who totally weren’t the worst of America’s early European settlers, as these things go. (Looking at you, you witch-hunting theocrats in Massachusetts Bay!) Anyway, this special uses historical documents and recreations to show just how close the Plymouth colony came to failing, as the Pilgrims struggled with starvation, disease, and harsh wintry conditions.
King Of The Hill (adult swim, 8:30 p.m.): Speaking of the Pilgrims…
This might be the very best King Of The Hill episode in which Hank is still kind of a total asshole, before he started to mellow out midway through season four.
Secrets Of The Dead (PBS, 10 p.m.): And, if you’re interested in learning about early English colonists but don’t care for the Thanksgiving connection, check out this documentary on the Jamestown colonists. This one has starvation, cannibalism, and an exploration of the perspective of a dead 14-year-old colonist. Fun times all around, basically!
Jumanji/Zathura (AMC, 8 p.m./10:30 p.m.): We’re a Polar Express short of the full trilogy of Chris Van Allsburg adaptations. Which, if we’re being honest, has always felt a little superfluous, for as good as the underlying stories are, surely what makes those books so special are the illustrations, which are already perfect on the page. That said, Jumanji is a ton of fun and/or one of the most terrifying experiences a young moviegoer can have, so it’s not as though we’re not recommending these.
The Rocketeer (Flix, 10 p.m.): Before Hot Fuzz emerged as the clinching proof that Timothy Dalton was far more than a dour (though great!) James Bond, there was his turn as the swashbuckling, Errol Flynn-like baddie in The Rocketeer. More movies could use Timothy Dalton as a larger-than-life villain, is what we’re saying.
NBA Basketball: Lakers at Warriors (TNT, 10:30 p.m.): The defending champion Golden State Warriors have a chance to make history tonight, as they can set the record for best start to a season by winning their 16th consecutive game against the hapless Lakers. With the Warriors operating at such a ridiculously high level, surpassing the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls by posting a 73-9 record is not out of the question, although consider this: The Warriors could go on to break the 1971-72 Lakers’ record for most consecutive victories by starting 34-0, and they would still need to win at last year’s 67-victory pace to finish 73-9. For those who find that math confusing (or, you know, just kind of poorly explained), suffice it to say this: It’s really, really hard for even the greatest of teams to squeeze out a 69th or 70th win across an 82-game schedule, let alone a 72nd or 73rd.
In case you missed it AKA wrestling and Muppets, together at last
Fargo: In honor of Sheamus, the new WWE Heavyweight Champion, let’s all remember that time his cousin showed up on Raw.
Honestly, there’s a very real possibility the Muppets only came on the show to point out how much the supposedly human wrestlers looked like bits of felt. Sorry, make that lovable bits of felt.
This still feels like a more respectful continuation of Jim Henson’s vision than whatever the hell The Muppets is doing.