Seven Days of Television: October 27 to November 2
A select viewing guide to the next seven days of television
MONDAY, OCT. 27 Canada’s Worst Driver (Discovery, 10 p.m.) The terrible drivers are still out there on Canadian streets from coast to coast. Back tonight for a 10th season, this unscripted series shines a much-needed spotlight on bad drivers who have been nominated for the ignominious honour by their own friends and family (most of whom are fearful of sitting in the same vehicle with them). In the opener, host Andrew Younghusband introduces the eight individuals willing to put their shabby motoring skills to the test. The one to watch is Ian from Kingston, Ont., who has been involved in six accidents and written off two cars in a single year. Ian admits he’s not exactly comfortable behind the wheel but can’t figure out why he keeps getting into fender-benders. The kicker: Ian drives a cab for a living.
TUESDAY, OCT. 28 Frontline: The Rise of ISIS (PBS, 10 p.m.) How did ISIS become a household word? This time last year, almost nobody had ever heard of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the jihadi group recently labelled a “network of death” by U.S. President Barack Obama. In proper PBS fashion, Frontline presents the first in-depth investigation of ISIS and rewinds the group’s rapid ascent from ragtag radical group to become the planet’s pre-eminent terrorist target. Veteran reporter Martin Smith interviews several Iraqi politicians and U.S. military experts, including former U.S. secretary of defense Leon Panetta. As for the danger ISIS presents to the public, consider the view of counterterrorism expert Ali Soufan: “This is one of the first terrorist groups saying, ‘We’re not going to hit and run and we’re never going to participate in politics as you know it. We actually want to kill everyone who disagrees with us,’” It’s a chilling report.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29 Modern Family (ABC, CITY-TV, 9 p.m.) Anybody who regularly watches Modern Family already knows that Halloween is the most wonderful time of the year for the Pritchett family. In this year’s outing, Claire (Julie Bowen) generously allows her better half Phil (Ty Burrell) choose the theme for their annual Hallows Eve soirée, which she immediately regrets when he decides to convert their house to “AwesomeLand.” In other news, Gloria (Sofia Vergara) bickers furiously with Jay (Ed O’Neill) over their costume choices while Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) tries to wrap up an important legal matter but simply can’t get past the fact that the court stenographer is dressed like a spider.
THURSDAY, OCT. 30 Elementary (CBS, Global, 10 p.m.) Sherlock Holmes is back in the Big Apple. In the third-season premiere of this cheeky but charming crime drama, Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller) has been unceremoniously dismissed by London’s MI6 crime-fighting unit and, with his new apprentice Kitty (Ophelia Lovibond) in tow, he comes bounding back to New York, where he immediately demands to return to his old sleuthing duties with the NYPD. The sticky part: Holmes has to first obtain permission from the NYPD’s new lead investigator, Watson (Lucy Liu), who is still steamed at his abrupt departure several months before. Gina Gershon guest stars as a female crime boss.
FRIDAY, OCT. 31 Shark Tank (ABC, CTV Two, 9 p.m.) Looking for something really scary to watch this Halloween? May we suggest an hour spent with Kevin O’Leary, formerly of CBC’s Dragons’ Den and now the main attraction on this popular Friday-night series. As before, the format involves wide-eyed entrepreneurs delivering heartfelt business pitches to a panel of rich people, including O’Leary, Mark Cuban, Daymond John, Lori Greiner and Robert Herjavec. And much like Dragons’ Den, the reason to watch stems almost entirely from O’Leary’s singeing putdowns of people who seem to truly believe in their great big idea. Tonight, the Sharks field pitches from a man selling a line of beard oils and mustache waxes and two New Yorkers trying to hawk a karaoke machine that supposedly makes any user sound like their favourite singer. Watch and learn why O’Leary earned the nickname “Mr. Wonderful.”
SATURDAY, NOV. 1 Bronx Obama (CBC News Network, 10 p.m.) It’s not easy looking like one of the most famous men on the planet. From filmmaker Ryan Murdock, this offbeat documentary profiles Louis Ortiz, an unemployed Puerto Rican widower from the Bronx who happens to be a dead-ringer for U.S. President Barack Obama. Over a three-year period, the film follows Ortiz as he cashes in on his likeness – with a flurry of roles on HBO programs and in TV commercials and movies – and then pays a personal price as his overnight success estranges him from his daughter. The film’s most compelling moments take place late into Obama’s first term when the president’s popularity begins to sink and Ortiz has to make a decision: Does he stick with his new doppelganger duties or try to reconnect with his daughter?
SUNDAY, NOV. 2 Olive Kitteridge (HBO Canada, 9 p.m.) Given the right role and a good script, there’s no actress alive the equal of Frances McDormand. Based on the Pulitzer-winning novel by Elizabeth Strout, this two-night TV event hands McDormand the role of a lifetime: The fearsome Olive is a tart-tongued math teacher in small-town Maine who does not suffer fools gladly. Olive verbally thrashes anybody who gets in her path and quite often that includes her long-suffering pharmacist husband Henry (Richard Jenkins). Taking place over a 25-year period, the story documents the town’s torrid affairs, terrible secrets and crushing tragedies – all as seen through the unflinching perspective of Ms. Kitteridge. They should just give McDormand the Emmy now.