USA TODAY’s Robert Bianco previews September 4th’s TV lineup from the Critic’s Corner, with a new episode of ‘Hot in Cleveland’ featuring Mary Tyler Moore and ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ moves to a new network.
Hot in Cleveland | TV Land, 10 ET/PT
Usually, this pleasant but unmemorable sitcom struggles to be worthy of its cast. Tonight, that task gets even harder (to the point where it may be impossible) as Hot hosts a reunion of the female stars of one of TV’s greatest, The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Valerie Harper, Cloris Leachman, Georgia Engel, Hot star Betty White and Mary Tyler Moore herself. The illustrious quintet joins Hot regulars Valerie Bertinellii, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick along with male guest stars Jesse Tyler Ferguson and George Hamilton. That’s a lot of star wattage for one half-hour and one often underachieving series; by the time Hot gets to the night’s second episode, its season finale, viewers may be too exhausted to follow.
CRITIC’S CORNER CHAT: Read the latest transcript, tweet early questions to @BiancoRobert using hashtag #AskBianco[1]
Futurama | Comedy Central, 10 ET/PT
It’s the end of the space road, again, for Matt Groening’s Futurama, as this animated series wraps up its storied revival run. Larry Bird, Dan Castellaneta, George Takei, Adam West and Burt Ward are among those who lend their voices to the show’s final two episodes – unless, of course, they don’t actually turn out to be the final two episodes. If there’s one thing the past has taught us with Futurama, it’s never count this show out for good.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia/The League/Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell | FXX, 10 ET/PT
No, that extra “X” is not a typo. FX is launching a youth-aimed spinoff network FXX, and it’s using these three former FX series as a lure to draw that young audience over. And if that young audience can actually find FXX, the trick may even work.
