If you’re feeling sad or lonely
Assortment of Valentine’s Day offerings will get you in the mood
As Valentine’s Day descends once again with its filmy promises of forever love, you’re likely to feel either meh or bow-chicka-wow-wow. Luckily, there’s a TV show for that.
Regular series are airing Valentine’s Day episodes, one-off specials are aiming to get you in the mood and there’s even something for those who prefer a quirky, somewhat bloody take on Cupid.
THIS IS US
Even the best-laid Valentine’s Day plans can go awry — in fact, some of the best TV episodes bank on it. It all can give way to happy coincidence, a series of unfortunate yet hilarious events, or the realization that true love can’t be bought. Goosebump-inducing, isn’t it?
In the case of This is Us, Rebecca (Mandy Moore) and Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) are the ones who are left scrambling on the day of love. Also in the instalment titled Jack Pearson’s Son, Kevin (Justin Hartley) stresses about his play’s première, Randall (Sterling K. Brown) struggles with work and his ailing dad, and Toby (Chris Sullivan) and Kate (Chrissy Metz) discover each other’s secrets. (NBC, CTV)
MICHAEL BOLTON’S BIG, SEXY VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL
This one’s for those of you in that bow-chicka-wow-wow kind of mood. The raspy-voiced crooner hosts this variety special designed for cuddling and canoodling and all of that good stuff. Bolton pokes fun at himself in comedy sketches and performs some of his best-known songs, including 1989’s How Am I Supposed to Live Without You? While Bolton has long shed his ’90s-era manmane, keep an eye out for guest stars such as Andy Samberg as a vengeful Kenny G and Will Forte as Bolton’s failed twin brother. Eric Andre, Fred Armisen, Chris Parnell, Maya Rudolph, Michael Sheen and Sarah Silverman also pop by. (Netflix)
NEW GIRL
And then there are the misses who don’t need the kisses.
Jess Day (Zooey Deschanel) has had her share of romances in New Girl (thank you for your service, Berkley, Spencer, Paul, Russell, Ryan, Sam, Nick and Robby), but on this Valentine’s Day she finds herself single.
Jess is determined to convince everyone she’s happy flying solo in the new episode Operation: Bobcat.
Elsewhere, Schmidt (Max Greenfield) vies for a promotion and Winston’s (Lamorne Morris) plans to propose to Aly (Nasim Pedrad) get a push. (Fox, City)
GIRLFRIEND’S DAY
Bob Odenkirk, he of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, stars as greeting-card writer Ray Wentworth in this offbeat Netflix original film.
Ray is in desperate need of inspiration and soon finds himself whisked down a sinister path as the world goes crazy over a supposedly magical greeting card, and murder unfolds. Amber Tamblyn co-stars as one of Ray’s biggest fans.
“I want guys and girls to sit down and watch the movie and they both like it equally,” Odenkirk recently told Den of Geek.
“It’s got a little bit of nastiness and darkness mixed in with a sweetness. I also want it to be people’s favourite film behind Spinal Tap.” (Netflix)
THE VALENTINE’S DAY COLLECTION
CraveTV offers a grab bag of deliciousness with its Valentine’s Day collection of fan-favourite TV episodes.
The Big Bang Theory gets representation with the instalment The Large Hadron Collision, in which Leonard (Johnny Galecki) plans to take Penny (Kaley Cuoco) to Switzerland.
The South Park episodes Cartman Finds Love and Tom’s Rhinoplasty are also available, along with ones from 30 Rock, Frasier, Cheers, Smallville and Awkward. (CraveTV)