CW puts a stake in heart of ‘Vampire Diaries’
An era ends for the CW with the series finale of “The Vampire Diaries” (9 p.m., TV-14). The “Twilight”-inspired melodrama was the network’s most popular series when it debuted in 2009. At the time, the network was dabbling pretty heavily in “Supernatural” and occult themes, even airing the Faustian comedy “Reaper” in 2007.
“Vampire” inspired the spinoff “The Originals” in 2013, but both have been eclipsed by “Arrow” and other comic book fare, including “The Flash,” “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” and “Supergirl.” An hourlong “Vampire” retrospective (8 p.m.) precedes the finale.
SALUTE TO OSBORNE
This week we lost Robert Osborne, the genial, erudite TCM host who introduced movies seven days a week and seemingly 24 hours a day for more than 20 years.
Unlike most television personalities, Osborne appeared comfortable in his own skin and aware that he had landed the dream job of sharing his passion for classic films.
Over-brimming with knowledge, he never came on as a know-it-all. As an interviewer, he actually listened. And he was a movie buff of a certain age who was eager and comfortable to share the spotlight with guests and other hosts many years his junior.
I will miss his Hollywood insights. But I will mostly miss his graceful presence. I’m sure many feel the same way.
TCM has announced a salute to Osborne, airing 48 hours of his interviews with Hollywood legends over the weekend of March 18-19.
MORE ‘LOVE’
Co-created by Judd Apatow, the romantic comedy “Love” (TV-MA) returns for a second season, streaming on Netflix.
Co-creator Paul Rust stars as Gus, a nebbishy on-set tutor to spoiled Hollywood stars. Gillian Jacobs is Mickey, his intermittent love interest, a complicated woman beset with various addictions.
Rust’s bespectacled Gus is deeply rooted in a thousand scenes from Woody Allen movies. While it is unfair to compare Apatow to Allen, it’s entirely appropriate. At their most self-involved and annoying, Allen’s neurotic characters were rooted in a cultural and political context. Allen’s early, funny films flirted with topicality, and his more mature works invoked pseudo-academic concerns to offer some background to the romantic shenanigans.
Here, Gus and Mickey do their awkward dance in a near total vacuum. What do these characters care about? Do they read? Watch movies? Binge on TV shows? Have families? The closest that the first episode of this season comes to a meaningful, non-narcissistic conversation is a critique of the decor of Gus’ sad apartment. And even then, the fleeting references are drawn entirely from reality television.
Too much topicality in a sitcom can seem contrived and quickly dated. But the complete absence of any references to anything but the first-person-singular is equally artificial. Watching “Love” is like being a third wheel on the most boring date of all time.
BAD BEYOND BELIEF
Also streaming is the second and final season of the Amazon Prime series “Hand of God,” starring Ron Perlman and Dana Delany. In my review of the first season, I found this show so pretentious that it became “unintentionally hilarious.” Vox called it “mind-bogglingly bad.” Help yourself.
TONIGHT’S HIGHLIGHTS
› A Hawaiian earthquake strands survivors on “MacGyver” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG), leading to a crossover episode with “Hawaii Five-0” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
› Clues reside in a local nursing home on “Grimm” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
› A hostage situation traps Rosewood and Villa on “Rosewood” (8 p.m., Fox, repeat, TV-PG).
› A monster stalks our nation’s capital on “Sleepy Hollow” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› An EMT driver is slow to come to his dying wife’s aid on “Blue Bloods” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
› Vanessa resents Mike’s meddling on “Last Man Standing” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
› An old mentor (Jonathan Banks) needs care on “Dr. Ken” (8:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
› A new twist on house hunting on “Shark Tank” (9 p.m., ABC, repeat, TV-PG).
› Two hours of “Dateline” (9 p.m., NBC).
› “20/20” (10 p.m., ABC). Contact Kevin McDonough at kevin.tvguy@gmail.com.