Spring is here. The pollen count is high. And networks' attempts to reclaim every available scrap of existing I.P. are in flower, too. The latest example: NBC will revive "Night Court," a workplace comedy GOAT. Melissa Rauch will star as Abby Stone, the ostensible daughter of Harry Anderson's Harry Stone. |
Does a love for Mel Tormé run in the family? Oh and John Larroquette is back, too. |
Margaret is on vacation, so I'll be filling in for her all week. See you Friday! |
 | | A scene from "The Crime of the Century."HBO |
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'The Crime of the Century' |
When to watch: Monday and Tuesday at 9 p.m., on HBO. |
Last year, Alex Gibney took on Russian election interference ("Agents of Chaos"), the psychology of serial killers ("Crazy, Not Insane") and the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic ("Totally Under Control"). Corruption, death and medicine collide in this new two-part documentary, reframing the opioid crisis as a necessary consequence of corporate malfeasance. Outraged, incisive and diffuse, the docu-series tracks, in zigzag fashion, how pharmaceutical companies pushed opioids as remedies for even minor complaints and had them declared safe. |
It's a big story, maybe too big, with thousands of villains and millions of victims. Even at nearly four hours, the documentary struggles to contain the whole of it. Mostly, Gibney focuses on just a few figures — survivors, bad actors, reporters, watch dogs — and tells the story through their tired eyes. He also includes some truly damning found footage, which shows Purdue sales reps at an annual conference, dirty dancing as the death toll soared. |
 | | Hannah Einbinder, left, and Jean Smart in a scene from "Hacks."Jake Giles Netter/HBO Max |
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When to watch: Thursday, on HBO Max. |
The stand-up comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) is a Vegas legend, her routine polished until it shines like a Swarovski chandelier. With her residency threatened, she grudgingly hires Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), an internet shamed 20-something. Created by the "Broad City" alums Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky, this half-hour show is caustic with a sweet center, like a gummy bear dipped in scouring powder. |
A love letter — or at least, a cat-emoji-laden DM — to difficult women, "Hacks" is character driven, for sure, especially when the characters are driving around in Deborah's Rolls. But the show is also interested in exploring the freedoms and constraints of comedy. It suggests that joke to joke might not be a great way to live, that every killer line exacts a cost. |
A career best for Smart, "Hacks" also finds roles for Downs as a hassled manager, Meg Stalter as his incapable assistant and Poppy Liu as a maximally unflustered blackjack dealer. See it if you like odd couples, buddy comedies in which the buddies may not like each other very much and Vegas, baby. |
 | | Mike Epps and Wanda Sykes in a scene from "The Upshaws."Lara Solanki/Netflix |
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- PBS recently celebrated 50 years on air. For another take on longevity, it airs "Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer," on Tuesday 8 p.m. (Check local listings.)
- "The Upshaws," a family comedy starring Mike Epps, Kim Fields and Wanda Sykes, puts out its welcome mat on Netflix, arriving Wednesday.
- Alive, for a second season: "The Hills: New Beginnings," premiering Wednesday at 9 p.m., on MTV.
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