Week In Sloth: “American Comedy Awards,” Rosemary’s Baby And “#Bikerlive”

\ May 08, 2014

3 min read

Thursday 8

“American Comedy Awards” (KOB-4 8pm) NBC revives the long-dead ACAs (1987-2001). This year Bill Cosby receives the Johnny Carson Award for Comedic Excellence. Sounds … cutting edge.

“Maron” (IFC 8pm) Former Albuquerque dweller Marc Maron starts off the second season of his eponymous sitcom by screwing up a (fictional) guest slot on (real) chat show “Talking Dead.”

Friday 9

Friday Night Spotlight: Australia (AMC 6pm) Every Friday in May, the spotlight is on Australian cinema. Tonight it’s a three-pack of Peter Weir films and a bonus Nicolas Roeg film: 1975’s Picnic at Hanging Rock, 1977’s The Last Wave, 1974’s The Cars That Eat People and 1971’s Walkabout. All four are excellent/weird cult films worth absorbing. The obscure gem is Weir’s Cars, a horror/exploitation parody about an isolated Aussie town that survives by wrecking and scavenging tourist vehicles.

Saturday 10

The Good Sister (Lifetime 6pm) A troubled husband (Ben Bass, “Rookie Blue”) has a passionate affair with his wife’s long-lost twin sister (Sonya Walger, “Parenthood”). Somehow I doubt the “Honey, I thought it was you!” defense is gonna work.

Sunday 11

Rosemary’s Baby (KOB-4 8pm) NBC relaunches the devilish Ira Levin novel/Roman Polanski movie as a TV mini-series starring Zoe Saldana (Avatar, Star Trek), Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films) and Carole Bouquet (the crossbow-toting Bond babe from For Your Eyes Only).

Monday 12

“#BikerLive” (Discovery 8pm) #Seriously? Between “#RichKids of Beverly Hills” and this, there are now two shows on TV with hashtags in the titles. … Phony Twitter lingo aside, this is just another motorcycle-building competition.

Tuesday 13

“Coming Back with Wes Moore” (KNME-5 8pm) Author, businessman and US Army vet Wes Moore examines why some veterans easily reintegrate into society while others struggle.

“Riot” (KASA-2 8pm) This American remake of an Australian comedy game show asks comedians (Steve Carell, Cheryl Hines, Jason Alexander, etc.) to perform improv skits while enduring various physical and mental obstacles—like spinning sets or blacked-out studios. Think “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” married to “Fear Factor” or “Killer Karaoke” or “Total Blackout” or “Super Sloppy Double Dare” or whatever.