Pop channel trades in 1990s nostalgia
Nostalgia is what we talk about when we don’t have much else to say. It doesn’t take terribly much imagination to indulge in “remember when?”
The impulse to look back and dwell in the old days — in this case, the 1990s — is the justification for new sitcoms “Hollywood Darlings” (8 p.m., Pop, TV-PG) and “Return of the Mac” (8:30 p.m., Pop, TV-PG).
“Hollywood Darlings” invites us to share a parallel universe where child stars of old sitcoms hang out together and complain about the limitations of middle-aged motherhood. Jodie Sweetin (“Full House,” “Fuller House”), Christine Lakin (“Step by Step”) and Beverley Mitchell (“7th Heaven”) pine for the days of having their own time and their own lives. Or at least the days before they had children.
Into this mommy club steps a parade of guest stars, including Soleil Moon Frye (“Punky Brewster”), Andrew Keegan (“10 Things I Hate About You”), Tamera Mowry (“Sister, Sister”), Lance Bass (N Sync), Andrea Barber (“Full House”), Nicholle Tom (“The Nanny”), Heather Tom (“The Young and the Restless”), Patrick Duffy (“Dallas,” “Step by Step”), Staci Keanan (“Step by Step”) and Wanya Morris (Boyz II Men).
“Return of the Mac” pictures former boy-band heartthrob Joey McIntyre as a beleaguered stay-at-home dad to three outof-control children under 8. Desperate to get back in the game, or at least out of the house, he and his hapless agent have a meeting with executives at the newly formed women’s network “The Comfy Channel,” hoping to pitch a detective series. Instead, the female executives — slavish Joey fans all — decide to hire him to host his own late-night talk show so that his now-over-40 female fans can “go to bed with him.”
Of the two, “Mac” leans more heavily toward Hollywood satire. It seems to be sending up the very network thinking that could concoct a show like “Mac.” It never reaches the wit or bite of the Showtime import “Episodes,” starring Matt LeBlanc as an exaggerated over-the-hill version of the man who played Joey on “Friends.” But at least it tries to assemble something approaching a story, instead of merely parading “where are they now?” cameos as “Darlings” does.
NORVILLE’S EXTRA GIG
Not all nostalgia is happy. “Exposed With Deborah Norville” (9 p.m., Reelz, TV-14) presents “Bill Cosby: Downfall of an Icon.”
TONIGHT’S HIGHLIGHTS
› Cory’s testimony may not suffice on “Shots Fired” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› Aisha Hinds portrays Harriet Tubman on “Underground” (8 p.m., WGN, TV-MA).
› Hakim comes of age on “Empire” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› Cam plays parenthood as a contact sport on “Modern Family” (9 p.m., ABC, repeat, TV-PG).
› The three-part documentary “The Great War” concludes on “American Experience” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-PG).
› The bomber is identified on the season finale of “Major Crimes” (9 p.m., TNT, TV-14).
› Basie takes on Bishop on “Greenleaf” (10 p.m., OWN, TV-14).
› Undercover in a carnival on “Hap and Leonard: Mucho Mojo” (10 p.m., Sundance, TV-MA).
› One of the tribes begins to come apart on “Survivor” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG).
› On two episodes of “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC, repeat, TV-14), retail and wholesale (8 p.m.), a son is blinded by loyalty (9 p.m.).
› Adam shares a kiss onstage on “The Goldbergs” (8 p.m., ABC, repeat, TV-PG).
› Flames abound on “Arrow” (8 p.m., CW, repeat, TV-14).
› Hat tricks and pucks on “Speechless” (8:30 p.m., ABC, repeat, TV-14).
› On two helpings of “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders” (CBS, TV-14), Singapore (9 p.m.) down Mexico way (10 p.m.).
› On two episodes of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” (CW, repeat, TV-14), Misty May-Treanor (9 p.m.), Lyndie Greenwood (9:30 p.m.).
› Class distinctions on “blackish” (9:30 p.m., ABC, repeat, TV-PG).
› Severide’s car is linked to a deadly incident on “Chicago P.D.” (10 p.m., NBC, repeat, TV-14).
› A search for a bipartisan approach on “Designated Survivor” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
Contact Kevin McDonough at kevin.tvguy@gmail.com.