Top TV Picks of the Week: Sons of Anarchy, Futurama, Burn Notice, and More
Plan on setting your DVR and/or not leaving your house at all this week except for food runs (we suggest both), as there’s unmissable television throughout. From 9/11 ten-year commemorative coverage to highly anticipated series finales (Rescue Me, Entourage) and season premieres (Sons of Anarchy, Inside the NFL) we’ll be glued to our sets. Well, more so than usual.
Plan on setting your DVR and/or not leaving your house at all this week except for food runs (we suggest both), as there’s unmissable television throughout. From 9/11 ten-year commemorative coverage to highly anticipated series finales (Rescue Me, Entourage) and season premieres (Sons of Anarchy, Inside the NFL) we’ll be glued to our sets. Well, more so than usual.
Tuesday, Sept. 6
10:00 p.m. Sons of Anarchy (FX)
In the 90-minute 4th season premiere, Clay (the ubiquitous Ron Perlman), Jax (Charlie Hunnam), and the rest of their SAMCRO crew ride back into the town of Charming after their 14-month stint in prison. Turns out, when you’re in jail for over a year a lot of shit happens while you’re gone (I mean, they missed Zookeeper for cryin’ out loud!) and when you return to a place called Charming, it’s usually anything but. In the “SOA” gang’s case it means a new sheriff in town and a U.S. Assistant Attorney keeping tabs on them for their ties to a Russian gunrunner. Still, it’s not all bleak for the biker boys as Clay’s wife Tara (Maggie Siff) welcomes him back with open arms (and a baby), while Opie (Ryan Hurst) and Lyla (Winter Ave Zoli) announce they’re getting married. On second thought, maybe things were better in the clink.
Wednesday, Sept. 7
9:00 p.m. Inside the NFL (Showtime)
For us, talking about football knows no bounds. We could wax poetic about pigskins for hours or dedicate soliloquies about the game…and once we find out what a soliloquy is, we’ll do just that. So, it’s of no surprise to us that the weekly football chat fest “Inside the NFL” is returning for its 35th season. With lockout fears far behind, hosts Phil Simms, James Brown, Cris Collinsworth and Warren Sapp will look to the future and discuss everything that’s ahead for this season of football. Now shut up, wouldja, we’re trying to watch.
10:00 p.m. Rescue Me (FX)
After seven underrated seasons, Denis Leary‘s FX drama, which at its core was a love letter to the fearless firefighters of New York City, comes to an end. In the series finale, Tommy (Leary) and his Ladder 62 mates struggle after dealing with a massive blaze. Meanwhile, a batch of probies over at the Fire Academy learn all the ins and outs of the business, like sliding down the pole, making it Maxim’s second favorite industry to do that. In all seriousness, it’s a fitting week, on this the anniversary of 9/11, to send the series off. We’ll remember the show fondly.
Thursday, Sept. 8
9:00 p.m. Burn Notice(USA)
Don’t worry, Harris, Aziz Ansari‘s oft-ridiculed cousin: You’re not the only one who watches Burn Notice. (You’re still on your own with “Las Vegas” though, kid.) C’mon, it’s a show that stars both Gabrielle Anwar and Bruce Campbell, of course we’re tuning in. Unfortunately, we’ll have to do without that sexy/awesome combo for a while as the fifth season comes to an end tonight. In the season finale, Michael (Jeffrey Donovan) tries to clear his name in a murder case and an old face resurfaces to ask for his help with a job. Sadly, in this case of resurrected cast members, its Tim Matheson and not Moon Bloodgood. Ya burnt, Matheson!
10:00 p.m. Futurama (Comedy Central)
Matt Groening’s light-years-ahead-of-its-time, Emmy-winning cult animated series heads into brand new territory in this, its sixth season finale (don’t ask us how a show this good that’s been around since 1999 has only six seasons. Math is the worst.) Not only will we get a double Katey Sagal fix (in addition to voicing Turanga she, of course, plays another bad-ass broad, Gemma on Sons of Anarchy) but the series will head into exciting new territory as it tries its hands/claws at three different animation styles: Black and white, Japanese anime, and video game. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we know, “Simpsons did it,” but Futurama still rules.
Sunday, September 11
8:00 p.m. 9/11: 10 Years Later (CBS)
It’s hard to believe that a decade has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning in which terrorists took the lives of thousands of innocent Americans. However, it’s not a hard decision to tune in for the 9/11 commemorative coverage (though it is undoubtedly tough to watch at times) that’s airing all week. The bevy of programming chronicling that tragic and historic day will conclude with this CBS special, hosted by New York City icon Robert DeNiro. The two-hour show will feature harrowing footage from the Naudet brothers on the morning of September 11, 2001, as well as interviews with those who survived (including firefighters who risked their lives in order to save others), and an update on the building of the 9/11 memorial.
10:30 p.m. Entourage (HBO)
After taking in hours of depressing 9/11 footage, you’re going to need to lighten the mood. Cue: Entourage, a show which has been lightening the mood with its easygoing vibe, eye candy (cars, girls , and some seriously enviable real estate), and reliably non-evolving story lines for eight seasons, as it all comes to an end tonight for Vinny Chase (Adrian Grenier) and co. In the series finale, Eric (Kevin Connolly) tries to work things out (again?) with Sloane (played by Emmanuelle Chriqrui, so you really can’t blame the guy) and Ari (oh, Jeremy Piven, how we’ll miss your fucking great profanity-laced screaming fits) and his wife (Perry Reeves) reach a crossroads in their marriage. Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) and Drama (Kevin Dillon) will be there, too, presumably still looking for work. Sorry fellas, but after tonight, you’ll be out of work for a while. Well, at least until the inevitable movie comes out!