In the middle of an ocean of true crime (including two programs with murder in the title) and feigned reality, two intriguing new scripted shows — from somewhat familiar sources — emerge alongside a tantalizing array of sweets.
BRAD’S PICK:
The Alienist [TNT, 9p]
Take a trip back to Victorian era New York City as crime reporter John Moore and psychologist Dr. Laszlo Kreizler try to catch a serial killer in this adaption of Caleb Carr’s bestselling novel.
JASON’S PICK:
Mosaic [HBO, 8p]
Steven Soderbergh’s interactive experiment with a winking title comes to HBO in a more traditional manner with a cast led by Sharon Stone and boast a bevy of character actors like Michael Cerveris, Beau Bridges, and Paul Reubens. There’s a danger of falling flat in a linear world, but early reviews are very promising.
KATHERINE’S PICK:
Kids Baking Championship [Food, 9p]
The kids work on ice cream and cake–but not ice cream cake, per se, though a Fudgy the Whale would be a lock with these judges.
ALSO ON TAP TONIGHT:
- TV One’s compelling new docu-series Two Sides, produced by Viola Davis, confronts the U.S. with the humanity behind names like Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, John Crawford, and Ezell Ford, names that whiz by at an alarming frequency while society does little to correct the catastrophe that is police brutality, and the racism that fuels it.
- Yesterday’s Women’s March reminds why now, more than ever, America needs the CW’s semi-hidden superhero gem, Supergirl.
- From a more complicated corner of the good vs. evil universe, suavely conflicted demon Lucifer returns from a short break as Lt. Pierce’s identity becomes known.
- If the kids championship concoctions aren’t enough, stay tuned to Food Network for the debut of Reality Cupcakes, as bakers strive to reproduce everything from NYC bagels to nachos.