6 things you have to watch on TV this weekend
Ruth Wilson stars in a new thriller, Jacob Elordi hosts SNL, and more
TV Lists Ferdinand Kingsley
Welcome to the weekend edition of What’s On. Here are the big things happening on TV from Friday, January 19 to Sunday, January 21. All times are Eastern. [Note: The weekly edition of What’s On publishes on Sundays.]
1. Ruth Wilson leads The Woman In The Wall
Paramount+, Friday, 3:01 a.m.: Six-part Irish thriller The Woman In The Wall makes its way to the U.S. thanks to Paramount+ and Showtime. Ruth Wilson plays Lorna Brady, a woman with PTSD who wakes up one night to find a dead body in her house, leading to a clash with Detective Colman Akande (Daryl McCormack). Here’s a bit from The A.V. Club’s review:
Ruth Wilson (The Affair, His Dark Materials) is a bloody-minded marvel. She embodies a woman imploding while awake and exploding while asleep. Lorna has a haunted, haggard look through most of the series; her body is falling apart from stress and lack of sleep. No actorly vanity here.
2. Saturday Night Live returns
NBC, 11:30 p.m.: Saturday Night Live kicks off its 2024 run with arguably one of the buzziest stars going. Priscilla and Saltburn’s Jacob Elordi hosts the show’s season-49 return, with Renée Rapp (a.k.a. Mean Girls’ Regina George) gracing the studio as musical guest.
3. Hazbin Hotel takes you to a colorful version of Hell
Prime Video, Friday, 12:01 a.m.: Created by Vivienne “VivziePop” Medrano, Hazbin Hotel launched as a YouTube pilot in 2019 and was met with rave reviews and viewership. No wonder A24 and Prime Video teamed up to present it as a full-fledged musical animated series. The show follows Charlie Morningstar (Erika Henningsen), the Princess of Hell determined to save demons from a doomed eternity. The voice cast includes Stephanie Beatriz, Kimiko Glenn, Jeremy Jordan, Amir Talai, and Keith David. Check out The A.V. Club’s review of the show.
4. Nasim Pedrad is back as Chad
The Roku Channel, Friday, 3:01 a.m.: Chad launched as a TBS original in 2021, but the cable network sadly canceled the series despite its second season being entirely filmed. But thankfully, Roku came to the rescue to air the new eps. The show follows the titular 12-year-old boy (played by series creator Nasim Pedrad) who is obsessed with becoming popular in school, even if it means shedding his Persian roots. Everything about it is cringe, but Chad can be surprisingly tender if you have the patience for it.
5. Goodbye for now, Reacher
Prime Video, Friday, 12:01 a.m.: The action-packed second season of Reacher is about to come to an end. In the latest batch of episodes, Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) seeks revenge after members of his former military unit are killed. The second round’s cast also includes Serinda Swan, Shaun Sipos, Ferdinand Kingsley, and Robert Patrick.
6. Eric André offers up a new comedy special
Adult Swim, Friday, 12:01 a.m.: In a new special that’s part of The Eric André Show, the comedian and artist drops a half-hour episode titled Eric Andre: Live Near Broadway. Taped in, yes, New York City last year, he’s joined onstage by familiar faces and special guests like Billy Porter.