SpieS like uS

In this issue
Featured
Stories
“Custom Built”
“Saturday
Night Live:
SNL 40th
Anniversary
Special”
“The Odd
Couple”
“Two and a
Half Men”
Athlete
profiled
·
The story
Spies like us
Jack Laskey stars
in “X Company,”
premiering
Wednesday on CBC
Television.
DeMar
DeRozan
JAY
Bobbin's
movies to
watch
And so much
more!
Connect to these
shows within
this magazine!
Courtesy of Gracenote February 15 - 21, 2015
STORY
S Editor's choice
“X Company”
premieres
Wednesday on CBC
Television.
Story on next page
Page 2 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote February 15 - 21, 2015
STORY
S
Secrets and senses
on a mission in ‘X
Company’
By Michael Korb
As shocking as it might be to believe, there was once
a time when if you wanted to be a world-class spy,
you needed to book a flight to Ontario.
Jack Laskey
When World War II began, North America had no
one able to carry out covert operations. So the British
opened Camp X on the shores of Lake Ontario
between Whitby and Oshawa as a training school for
international spies.
Shot on location in Budapest and Hungary, the
series stars Canadian actors Evelyne Brochu
(“Orphan Black”), Dustin Milligan (“90210”), Connor
Price (“Being Human”), Lara Jean Chorostecki
(“Hannibal”) and Hugh Dillon (“Flashpoint”) along with
Now a new drama about the camp and its recruits, “X British actors Warren Brown (“Luther”) and Laskey
Company,” is premiering Wednesday, Feb. 18, on CBC (“Endeavour”).
Television.
But it’s Laskey that draws you in because of his terrific
It follows five young recruits – Canadian, American
duck out of water portrait of Alfred. It’s clear he’s
and British – who learn the spy trade at the facility
embraced the character to the point of obsession.
and then put their skills to use overseas fighting the
“I decided that the best way into his experience of
Nazis. Though the show doesn’t base any characters life was to focus on my own sensory perception and
on specific individuals known to be at Camp X, the
to spend time trying to get my senses to almost chat
character of Alfred, played by Jack Laskey, was
to each other,” says Laskey. “So I spent a lot of time
inspired by a man named Solomon Shereshevsky
listening to music and thinking about what tastes,
– a Russian with an exceptional cross wiring of the
smells, colors and shapes songs might evoke. It’s an
senses known as synesthesia.
interesting experience that I would recommend to
anyone.”
“There is a book about Solomon that (show creators)
Mark (Ellis) and Steph (Morgenstern) read over 15
He admits that at times he found the journey hilarious.
years ago called ‘The Mind of a Mnemonist’ in which
the neuropsychologist A.R. Luria details the effects
“I remember one evening cackling with laughter while
that this synesthesia had on Solomon. He had fiveeating a delicious burger after a long day of filming – I
fold synesthesia – any experience in any one of
found myself noticing a tingle in my left hand, thinking
his senses would result in a reaction in every other
of the color green and convincing myself that the beef
sense. As a result ... he was found to have a limitless tasted like a Nick Drake song,” says Laskey.
memory. Every second of his existence is etched in
his brain forever. What an extraordinary character to
But no matter how it’s sliced, “X Company” will delight
plunge into the heart of a war.”
the senses.
And Laskey’s portrayal is the perfect character to
explore just what it took to create the world’s first
super spies.
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S
STORY
Paul Lafrance is the master
carpenter featured in “Custom Built,”
premiering Tuesday on HGTV Canada.
Story on next page
Page 4 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote February 15 - 21, 2015
STORY
S
By Michael Korb
We’ve come to know and love Paul Lafrance’s
creative talents and edgy demeanor from such shows
as “Decked Out,” “Disaster Decks” and “Canada’s
Handyman Challenge.” But the rock star carpenter
brings his skills indoors with the premiere of “Custom
Built,” Tuesday, Feb. 17, on HGTV Canada.
It feels like a departure for the U.K.-born builder
“That’s a common misconception,” says Lafrance.
“I’ve actually been doing unique interior renovations
as long as I’ve been doing outdoor living spaces.
My shows have kind of pegged me as ‘the deck guy,’
which is to be expected, but I’m just as passionate
about introducing new ways of looking at the inside
of the home as the outside. When it’s -20 degrees
outside, let’s just say my passion for interiors kicks up
a notch.”
You can’t blame him for that. And each week,
Lafrance takes an interior space that is sitting
unfinished and uninspired and turns it into a
stunningly unique room tailored to that particular
homeowner. From hanging a vintage canoe from
a ceiling or taking a bathroom over-the-top with
Roman columns, Lafrance and his team are making
homeowners rethink tradition.
“As much as I love the challenge of small spaces
(and believe me, renovating a 10x10 room with my
team and our camera crew can be quite challenging
indeed),” says Lafrance, “you will be seeing a wide
variety of renovations from small to large this season,
tackling every room in the home. Each one with a
cool customized element that people likely haven’t
seen before.”
He’s talking everything from magnetized glass lockers
featuring a massive world map to a vintage upright
piano being turned into one of the coolest bars
you’ve ever seen.
And as always, Lafrance is surrounded by his team:
Kate Campbell, Joey Fletcher and David Kenney.
“We laugh our butts off together every single day,”
says Lafrance, “but make no mistake, these three
have scary talent and I depend on them heavily to
take what’s in my head, and make it happen.”
Much of the show takes place in Lafrance’s
workshop, giving viewers a glimpse of just what goes
into creating such inspired pieces.
“I don’t want people to watch this show and think that
what they are seeing is out of reach,” say Lafrance.
“I want them to realize that the same things can be
done in their own homes in a way that creates a
powerful positive emotional response when coming
home after another day enduring the breakneck
speed of our culture.
“I really want people to see the possibilities of what
can truly be done within the same four walls of any
given room in a house, and how personally impacting
those possibilities can be.”
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February 15 - 21, 2015 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote Page 5
S
STORY
‘SNL’
throws 40th
anniversary bash
Former cast regular Seth Meyers returns for the “Saturday Night Live: SNL 40th
Anniversary Special” Sunday on NBC.
Story on next page
Page 6 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote February 15 - 21, 2015
STORY
S
40 years old and counting:
‘Saturday Night
Live’ marks a
milestone
By Jay Bobbin
Seth Meyers is ready for a big party that the whole
country also can attend.
Actually, “Saturday Night Live” has been celebrating
its 40th anniversary since the late-night staple’s
season began last September on NBC. The network
will televise the official bash as a live, three-hour
special Sunday, Feb. 15 – with many cast members
from the past four decades expected to return, and
classic sketches spanning performers from John
Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner,
Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Dana Carvey and Phil
Hartman to Chris Rock, David Spade, Mike Myers,
Adam Sandler, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Will Ferrell and
current “Tonight Show” star Jimmy Fallon.
Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, Paul
Simon and Kanye West are slated to provide music.
Also on hand will be such past “SNL” guest hosts as
Alec Baldwin, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Robert
De Niro, Jim Carrey, Melissa McCarthy and Betty
White.
The host of the weeknight “Late Night With Seth
Meyers” spent 13 seasons in the “SNL” ensemble
of players, nine of them also as the show’s head
writer, and eight as an anchor of the “Weekend
Update” segment. He reflects, “I keep saying to Lorne
(Michaels, executive producer of both shows), ‘I worry
that when it’s the one-year anniversary of ”Late Night“
(which comes up Feb. 24), it’s not going to get half the
press.”’
“SNL” long has been one of television’s most
scrutinized shows each week – for the relevance and
effectiveness of its humor – and Meyers reflects, “I
think one of the reasons the show has maintained its
vitality all these years is that Lorne puts great faith in
SethMeyers
his writers. He doesn’t want head writers who rewrite
things to make themselves the voice of the show, he
wants head writers who celebrate how every writer is
different. I think that’s why you can put on a 90-minute
sketch show and you know there are things that came
from different minds. No one mind could come up with
all of that.”
Meyers looks back fondly on his “SNL” tenure in large
part for its “incredible influx of talent, Andy (Samberg)
and Jason (Sudeikis) and Bill (Hader) and Kristin
(Wiig). At that time, people like Kenan (Thompson)
and Fred (Armisen, now Meyers’ bandleader on his
weeknight show) and Will (Forte) hadn’t been around
that long, either.
“It was such an exciting time to be on the show,
because we had a really small cast and really small
writing staff,” adds Meyers. “Because of that, we got to
make all our mistakes on the show and on the air, and
I think you learn so much more from those mistakes
than from not getting to produce your work.”
While he’s looking forward to the big reunion that the
“SNL” 40th anniversary event will be, Meyers notes,
“I would think at this point, there are very few (former
cast members) left that I haven’t crossed paths with
to some degree. Lorne kind of figured out how he
wanted the show to work from about the sixth week,
and he’s kept it pretty consistent – so even though
you weren’t on it at the same time, in a weird way, you
share memories with people.”
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February 15 - 21, 2015 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote Page 7
S
STORY
‘The Odd Couple’
REVISITED
Don’t miss CBS’ new version of “The Odd Couple,”
Story on next page
premiering Thursday.
MatthewPerry
Page 8 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote February 15 - 21, 2015
ThomasLennon
STORY
S
Matthew
gets
a
new
friend
in
a
Perry new ‘Odd Couple’
By Jay Bobbin
impression in the pilot, but I think the funniest joke in
the pilot was from the original source material, that
was in the play.”
Felix and Oscar are together again.
Anyone who knows that combination of names
must be familiar with the stage, screen, and/or
earlier television versions of “The Odd Couple,” Neil
Simon’s comedy about hugely dissimilar college
roommates who end up sharing quarters again
years later. The premise gets a fresh workout when
Matthew Perry (“Friends”) and Thomas Lennon
(“Reno 911!”) assume the roles in CBS’ new
variation premiering Thursday, Feb. 19.
Lennon admits he “thought long and hard” about
whether the revival “was even attemptable, because
Tony Randall is a major hero of mine, and I was
worried that I might be doing an impression of Tony
Randall or something. But then, when I remembered
that he was really the third Felix Unger and I might be
something like about the fifth, I felt like maybe there
was something new to bring to it.”
Garry Marshall, who executive-produced ABC’s
1970s “Odd Couple” show, is an executive
consultant on the new take. “When I was doing it,” he
recalls, “the network was so afraid that the audience
would think there was two gay characters. Every
week, they said, ‘Put more girls in. Put more girls
in.’ So on purpose, (with) Jack Klugman and Tony
Randall, I used to shoot little moments where they
hugged and kissed and sent it to the network just
to make them crazy. Now they deal with it. They talk
about it. It’s a much, much more modern show.”
Though his Chandler Bing of “Friends” might make
Perry seem ideal as the prissy Felix Unger, he’s
the slovenly Oscar Madison instead. “In real life, I’m
much more of an Oscar,” he maintains. “I mean, it’s
big shoes to fill, but we’re doing our own thing and
playing it differently. I do a slight Walter Matthau
Lindsay Sloane (“Horrible Bosses”) and recurring cast
member Leslie Bibb play contemporary versions of
the Pigeon sisters, Felix and Oscar’s new romantic
interests. Wendell Pierce (“The Wire”) and Yvette
Nicole Brown (“Community”) also are featured in the
show, on which Perry has an executive-producer credit
as well.
“It’s really weird how this whole thing started,” Perry
reflects. “I had a cast in mind, a network in mind, and
then found out that it was actually being developed at
CBS. I thought it would be a good idea, and I thought
it would be a good time to do ‘The Odd Couple’ again.
I wanted it to be on CBS because they are able to
launch shows better than any other network, and it all
just sort of magically came true.”
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February 15 - 21, 2015 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote Page 9
S
STORY
An ending times
‘Two and a Half’
Ashton Kutcher (left) and Jon Cryer star in the series
finale of “Two and a Half Men” Thursday on CBS.
Story on next page
Page 10 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote February 15 - 21, 2015
STORY
‘Two and a
Half Men’
S
bids
farewell
By Jay Bobbin
The end is here for those “men, men, men, men,
manly men.”
The success of “Two and a Half Men” speaks for
itself, given the CBS sitcom’s 12 seasons and its
sustained popularity after a major retooling in 2011,
when Ashton Kutcher’s Walden replaced founding
cast member Charlie Sheen’s Charlie. And along the
way, Jon Cryer earned two Emmys for the show as
Alan ... so a lot of television history will be bound up
in the hour-long series wrap-up Thursday, Feb. 19,
also featuring Conchata Ferrell’s last stand as sassy
housekeeper Berta.
“I think we’re going to have a finale that you’ll be
very, very pleased with,” says executive producer
and co-creator Chuck Lorre, who’s been doing his
best to keep the details of it under wraps. He adds “it
would be inappropriate here to not acknowledge the
extraordinary success we had with Charlie and how
grateful I am – and we all are – to his contribution,
and there’s nothing but good feelings for the eightand-a-half years we worked together.
“But how to wrap the show up, it’s tricky,” adds Lorre,
“it’s a sticky wicket. In a way, the show morphed into
something else entirely for the last four years, and it’s
something we love, and we want to honor both. So,
how to honor both has been the challenge of this
finale. And the other challenge is how to get people
watching it without telling them what it is. ”
Cryer maintains he has no clue to “Two and a Half
Men’s” staying power. “I actually have spent some time
with the writers this year,” he reports, “and it’s been
really fun. I will try to figure out how Chuck is going to
react to whatever they’re presenting, and I’m almost
never right, so I don’t know exactly what it is. Early
on, they discovered it was funny for me to be naked,
and that has carried us all quite a ways, apparently.”
Kutcher reasons, however, that Lorre’s shows work
because they involve “families that are just like
yours. And I think that Chuck works with people that
understand that that works, and that’s extraordinarily
relatable. Even if it’s two straight guys acting like
gay guys so they can adopt a kid (the final-season
premise of ‘Two and a Half Men’), that’s a family. It’s
all built around really broken, messed-up families ...
and if you have one, you know what one’s like, and
you can really relate to it and it’s fun to laugh at.
Because, ultimately, you sit at home and you laugh
at yourself.”
Destined to continue being seen in widely
syndicated repeats, “Two and a Half Men” began a
CBS comedy empire for Chuck Lorre Productions
that now also encompasses “The Big Bang Theory,”
“Mike & Molly” and “Mom.” Lorre acknowledges
that “it all started with ‘Two and a Half Men,’ and I
just wanted to state for the record that this doesn’t
happen – none of this happens – had that show not
been such a phenomenal success.”
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February 15 - 21, 2015 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote Page 11
S
SPORTS
Story on next page
Page 12 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote February 15 - 21, 2015
SPORTS
S
By George Dickie
Presumably rested, relaxed and healed, the Toronto Raptors
come off a nine-day All-Star Game-forced sabbatical to find
themselves on the road against two of the NBA’s tougher
teams in games airing on Sportsnet One.
Friday, Feb. 20, DeMar DeRozan and the Dinos drop in on
the team with the best record in the Eastern Conference, Jeff
Teague and the Atlanta Hawks, a team whose long January
winning streak propelled it to the top of the Southeast
Division standings. To date, the Raptors have won two of
three from the Hawks this season but lost the most recent
contest, a 110-89 blowout at Air Canada Centre on Jan. 16.
The Raps then head west to Houston on Saturday, Feb. 21,
to pay a visit to the team with the fourth-best record in the
Western Conference in Dwight Howard and the Rockets in
these teams’ first meeting of the season.
Speaking of the NBA All-Star Game, the 2015 edition takes
place at New York’s Madison Square Garden Sunday, Feb.
15, on TSN, bringing together the game’s top stars – as
determined by a fan vote – in an East vs. West format and a
contest that is always a high-scoring affair.
At this writing, top vote-getters included old standbys such
as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo
Anthony along with newbies John Wall of the Washington
Wizards, Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans and
Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Overall, the East leads the West in All-Star play 37 games
to 26, including last year’s 163-155 victory in New Orleans.
The NHL’s Stadium Series has been pared down from last
year’s four games to this year’s one, and it comes Saturday
when the San Jose Sharks host the Los Angeles Kings
at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., home of the San
Francisco 49ers. It airs in the nightcap of CBC Television’s
Hockey Night in Canada doubleheader.
The Battle of California, as locals and hockey aficionados
know it, began in 1991, when the Sharks were spun off from
the Minnesota North Stars and gained intensity in ‘95 when
the Sharks eliminated the Wayne Gretzky-led Kings from the
playoffs. Their rivalry is renewed this week in the relatively
temperate climate of Northern California.
DeMarDeRozan
February 15 - 21, 2015 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote Page 13
M
MOVIES
JAY BOBBIN's Theatrical movie review
review
‘Paddington’
bears down
on the big
screen
When a movie takes an iconic character such as
Paddington Bear and uses modern technology to
make him “real,” you can only hope the picture gets it
right.
The really good news about “Paddington” is how
much it does, indeed, get right. The result is fun
entertainment for all ages, to the degree that
additional screen adventures for the bear would be
most welcome.
Computer-generated imagery gives life to Paddington,
who has the voice of Ben Whishaw (the new “Q” in
the James Bond movies), and whose idyllic life with
relatives in a Peruvian rainforest is wrecked by an
earthquake. In immediate need of a new home, he
heads for London, where his arrival at Paddington
Station gives him a new name – and a new home,
thanks to a family headed by Hugh Bonneville
(“Downton Abbey”) and Sally Hawkins.
Even if very young viewers have a moment or two of
trouble with the story’s elements of peril, “Paddington”
generally is a very good-natured affair with a spirit
that captures the feel of the Michael Bond books quite
nicely. That’s much to the credit of writer-director Paul
King, whose affection for the source material is happily
evident.
The look of Paddington is no minor aspect of the
film’s success, either. It can be tricky to translate the
classic look of a character to present-day animation
techniques, but the wizards who worked on the movie
have managed to strike just the right appearance,
giving a nod to the classic Paddington image while
also serving the needs of contemporary audiences.
Whishaw’s vocals also turn out to be perfect for
Paddington. Colin Firth originally had the part, but
given the age and relative life inexperience of the
bear, the younger sound of Whishaw proves the right
way to go.
For those who think everything will be sunny from
there, think again ... thanks primarily to Nicole Kidman, “Paddington” is a fun treat for family viewing this early
clearly having a grand time as a taxidermist who has
in the movie year – and should additional chapters be
her eye set on the rarity Paddington represents.
in the offing, audiences likely would bear them quite
well.
Page 14 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote February 15 - 21, 2015
MOVIES
JAY BOBBIN's movie review
movies to watch
M
“DUMB AND
DUMBER TO”
Two decades later, the not particularly bright
Lloyd and Harry – played again by Jim Carrey
and Jeff Daniels – reunite, as do the actors
with writer-directors Bobby and Peter Farrelly
– in this sequel that suggests the stars wore
the roles better 20 years earlier. The fellows set
out to locate the daughter Harry didn’t know he
had, since he needs a kidney from her ... but
that serious undercurrent doesn’t stop the duo
from generating their trademark mayhem. Laurie
Holden (“The Walking Dead”), Kathleen Turner
and Rob Riggle also are in the cast. ›› (PG-13:
AS, N, P) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand)
Top Pick
DVD
Jim Carrey
upcoming DVD releases
Coming Soon on DVD...
Jason Bateman
“HORRIBLE BOSSES 2” (Feb. 24): When the oppressed pals’
(Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis) idea for a new
innovation is stolen, they seek revenge. (R: AS, P)
“BIG HERO 6” (Feb. 24): An Oscar nominee for best animated
feature, this Disney treat works in the theme of modern
technology to a big degree; voices include Damon Wayans Jr. and
Maya Rudolph. (PG: AS, P)
“THE ITALIAN AMERICANS” (Feb. 24): The PBS miniseries
includes interviews with Tony Bennett and Congresswoman
Nancy Pelosi, among many others. (Not rated)
“SONS OF ANARCHY: SEASON SEVEN” (Feb. 24): The saga
concludes as Jax (Charlie Hunnam) realizes how close to home
the source of a personal tragedy is – and weighs his need for
vengeance. (Not rated: AS, N, P, V)
“WHIPLASH” (Feb. 24): The Oscar nominee for best picture
examines the relationship between a music student (Miles Teller)
and a relentlessly demanding professor (J.K. Simmons).
(R: AS, P)
“THE CAPTIVE” (March 3): Eight years after a young girl
vanished, new clues surface in director Atom Egoyan’s
melodrama; Ryan Reynolds, Scott Speedman and Rosario
Dawson star. (R: AS, P)
February 15 - 21, 2015 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote Page 15
S
FAVORITE SHOWS
Tom Bergeron hosts
“America’s Funniest
Home Videos”
Kat Dennings
stars in “2
Broke Girls”
SUNDAY
7 p.m. on ABC
America’s Funniest Home Videos
The series’ “25th Anniversary
Celebration” is a big event, but viewers
still can expect the trademark humor.
Host Tom Bergeron — who’s nearing
the end of his run on the show, by his
own choice — revisits classic clips and
welcomes celebrity guests including
Anthony Anderson (“blackish”) and
Cristela Alonzo (“Cristela”) to help
mark the milestone. For any and all
congratulations, though, appealing
animals and cute kids remain
elements of the hour. New
7 p.m. on FOX
Mulaney
“Don’t let the bed bugs bite” is a
Wendi
McLendonCovey hosts
“Repeat After
Me”
sentiment that goes only so far in
the comedy’s season finale, “Life Is a
Series of Different Apartments.” John
(John Mulaney) and his pals have to
find another dwelling when theirs is
overrun by — you probably guessed
it — bed bugs, so they secretly seek
refuge at the home of the vacationing
Lou (Martin Short). They help
themselves to some goodies there,
only to be busted when Lou comes
back sooner than expected. Season
Finale New
MONDAY
8 p.m. on CBS
2 Broke Girls
This show’s familiar “girls” (Kat
Dennings, Beth Behrs) get into a
Page 16 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote February 15 - 21, 2015
John Mulaney
stars in
“Mulaney”
showdown with two others in the new
episode “And the Knock Off Knock
Out.” That other duo hijacks the T-shirt
design promoting Max and Caroline’s
cupcake business ... and if you think
the “broke” ones will take that lying
down, think again. Sammi Hanratty
(“Salem”) and Danielle Macdonald
guest star. Garrett Morris and Matthew
Moy also star. New
TUESDAY
8:30 p.m. on ABC
Repeat After Me
A segment of Ellen DeGeneres’
weekday talk show becomes its own
program with the premiere of this
series, a sort of “Candid Camera” in
which celebrities are instructed via
FAVORITE SHOWS
earpiece what to say to people they
encounter ... thus, the “repeat after
me” angle. Wendi McLendon-Covey
(“The Goldbergs”) is the host, and
the first celebrities put to the test
here are Ellen Pompeo (“Grey’s
Anatomy”), Taye Diggs (“Murder in
the First”) and Harry Connick Jr.
Series Premiere New
WEDNESDAY
8 p.m. on CTV
The Mentalist
The mystery series ends its sevenseason run with a two-hour finale
that combines two episodes, “Brown
Shag Carpet” and “White Orchids.”
Co-star Robin Tunney says the
curtain comes down in a way that
will satisfy longtime viewers, and
since she describes it as a “romantic
comedy,” you can be sure it will
involve sleuths Patrick Jane (Simon
Baker) and Teresa Lisbon (Tunney)
pivotally. Tim Kang and Rockmond
Dunbar also star. Series Finale New
9 p.m. on CIII
Chicago PD
Burgess and Roman (Marina
Squerciati, Brian Geraghty) get a
big, potentially dangerous lesson
in waiting for backup in the new
episode “What Do You Do.” They
investigate a possible incident at
a convenience store, only to find
themselves captured and left without
any means of summoning help. Back
at headquarters, their colleagues
get training in using Tasers. Jason
Beghe, Sophia Bush, Jesse Lee
Soffer and Elias Koteas also star.
New
THURSDAY
9 p.m. on CW
Reign
Guest star Amy Brenneman (“The
Leftovers”) reprises the role of
Mary’s (Adelaide Kane) mother, who
tries to warn Mary about a threat
to her reign, in the new episode
“Forbidden.” Mary then tries to
strike an accord with Conde (Sean
Teale) to protect her power base. Her
encounter with Francis (Toby Regbo)
ultimately steers him toward Lola (Anna
Popplewell). Megan Follows, Rose
Williams, Caitlin Stasey and Celina
Sinden also star. New
FRIDAY
8 p.m. on CITY
World’s Funniest Fails
Many people believe they have the
ability to entertain ... and some end
up doing so in ways they didn’t intend,
particularly in the world of videos that
go viral. Such segments are showcased
in the new episode “Gotta Sing! Gotta
Dance! Gotta Fail!,” as host Terry Crews
presents examples of wayward “talent.”
The one judged to miss the mark most
epically will be deemed the show’s Fail
S
of the Week. New
SATURDAY
8 p.m. on ABC
Countdown to the Oscars: An
Insider’s Guide
The night before the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
bestows its annual honors, this special
showcases many nominees. The
candidates for best picture cover a
wide range of stories, many of them
true ones such as “American Sniper”
and “The Theory of Everything.” Their
male stars, Bradley Cooper and Eddie
Redmayne, are among those profiled.
So are best actress contenders
including Julianne Moore (“Still Alice”)
and Rosamund Pike (“Gone Girl”). New
Debra
Messing
stars
in “The
Mysteries
of Laura”
Terry Crews
hosts “World’s
Funniest Fails”
Rose Williams
stars in “Reign”
February 15 - 21, 2015
Bradley Cooper in
“Countdown to
the Oscars: An
Insider’s Guide”
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