‘Filthy Rich’ continues TV’s paradoxical view of wealthy
Does television celebrate the wealthy? Or encourage us to laugh at them? The Wall Street cheerleading network CNBC offers a third season of its voyeuristic series “The Filthy Rich Guide” (10 p.m., TV-PG), cataloging how the ultra-wealthy spend, or perhaps squander, vast sums.
How, for instance, are we to react to Mariah Carey’s love of flowers? At a time when the average household income is just over $50,000 a year, the pop star spends $100,000 a month to keep her vases full. Is she to be envied? Pitied? Or psychoanalyzed? Is she living a life of luxury? Or desperately trying to fill some existential void with monthly floral arrangements?
Apparently, Mariah is hardly alone. Nicolas Cage has been known to drop $300,000 on dinosaur bones. It has been said that tech titan Peter Thiel has been separated from oodles of dollars in search of a fountain of youth. Has he been rejuvenated? Or fleeced?
The season’s first episode of “Filthy” also visits with wedding planners who cater to those whose budgets know no limits.
TV’s attitudes toward the super-wealthy have always fluctuated between desire and derision. Classic sitcoms like “Gilligan’s Island” depicted “the millionaire and his wife” as pathetic fools. In the 1980s, viewers lapped up “The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” and followed the scheming Ewings and Carringtons on “Dallas” and “Dynasty,” but contrary attitudes continued. “The Simpsons,” one of the longest-running series of all time, features Mr. Burns, a cruel and powerful tycoon who, at the same time, is a pathetic physical specimen, nearly a century out of date and loved only by his sycophant, Smithers.
Contemporary series from “Billions” to “Empire” continue television’s fixation on the rich and powerful. But series like Pop’s “Schitt’s Creek” also trade in jokes about the sad cluelessness of former video-store tycoons without their wealth to insulate them from reality.
Perhaps the folks at CNBC are in on the joke(s). Why else keep “Filthy” in the title?
MUSICAL MACHINATIONS
The deliciously weird third season of “Fargo” (10 p.m., FX, TV-MA) continues to challenge its audience with little experiments. Tonight, the voice of Billy Bob Thornton (from season one) narrates a grade-school music education record, teaching students about Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” and the notion that a character can be expressed by a distinct musical instrument — a theme that continues throughout the hour, as oboes, strings and kettle drums introduce us to our heroes and villains.
CAUTIONARY ‘TALE’
Hulu begins streaming a new episode of “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
TONIGHT’S HIGHLIGHTS
› Scratch and sniff on the season finale of “Criminal Minds” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
› As family wars loom, Cookie takes charge on “Empire” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› Everybody needs a little space on “Modern Family” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
› A baby shower gets put on hold on the season finale of “black-ish” (9:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
› A news leak scuttles a summit meeting on “Designated Survivor” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
› “Plants Behaving Badly” (10 p.m., PBS, TV-PG) explores the seductive power of orchids.
› Some pay for freedom with their lives on the season finale of “Underground” (10 p.m., WGN, TV-MA).
› Highs and lows on “Survivor” (8 p.m., CBS).
› Sandstorm’s plan revealed on “Blindspot” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
› The discovery of a weapon scrambles strategies on “Shots Fired” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› Yearbook blues on “The Goldbergs” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
› Chase unleashes fresh threats on “Arrow” (8 p.m., CW, TV-14).
› Summer plans on “Speechless” (8:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
› A hypnotic guru stands accused on “Law & Order: SVU” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
› Clarke faces the music on “The 100” (9 p.m., CW, TV-14).
Contact Kevin McDonough at kevin.tvguy@gmail.com.