ABC (probably) isn’t afraid to be weird
Tonight marks the season finale of “Kevin (Probably) Saves the World” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14). I wouldn’t be surprised if this far-fetched fantasy was headed toward cancellation.
For those who haven’t been paying attention, this series kicked off when Kevin (Jason Ritter), a recent near-suicide, moved in with his sister and started hearing voices of the angelic variety. Tonight’s episode sees Kevin arranging the funeral of his uncle. And you wonder why so few people watched?
At the same time, even the relative failure of a show like “Kevin” demonstrates ABC’s willingness to go out on a limb. “Kevin” represents at least the third recent series from the alphabet network that had me wondering what they were smoking in the Magic Kingdom.
It comes on the heels of “Imaginary Mary,” the short-lived sitcom about an invisible childhood friend who arrives to give Jenna Elfman’s character midlife advice.
And who can forget “Downward Dog”? Alison Tolman was so great in the first season of “Fargo.” So why not cast her as the slightly depressed, overworked owner of a dog who turns to the audience and whines like a needy guy in a mumblecore comedy?
I sort of knew “Downward” was doomed from the start, but many of my fellow critics really loved it. I just figured that, on top of every other thing women are supposed to feel guilty about, a comedy with a largely female audience shouldn’t make women beat themselves up about leaving their dogs at home when they go to work. Just a thought.
So, following its trajectory of suicide, psychosis and a funeral, “Kevin” (probably) could have been a tad too dark and high concept. But it outlived “Mary,” “Dog,” the Rebel Wilson experiment “Super Fun Night,” “Selfie” and, for that matter, “Don’t Trust the B—— in Apartment 23.” That last one starred Krysten Ritter (“Jessica Jones”). She’s no relation to Jason Ritter. Except for the fact that they both starred on ABC shows that were (probably) too weird for their audience.
JOURNEYS END
A new bachelorette emerges as “The Bachelor” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-14) sweeps up its rose petals. If you based a drinking game on the deployment of the word “journey,” you might be hospitalized by the end of two hours.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
› A Moroccan-born comic gets a stand-up special, “Gad Elmaleh: American Dream,” streaming today on Netflix.
› The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Houston Rockets in NBA action (8 p.m., TNT).
› Bull sees a chance to set a wrongful conviction right on “Bull” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
› Randall and Beth play host on “This Is Us” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
› Anissa tries to adjust to her new status on “Black Lightning” (9 p.m., CW, TV-14).
› A congressman’s assistant vanishes on “NCIS: New Orleans” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
› An old suspect gets a second look on “Bellevue” (10 p.m., WGN, TV-14).
› Choi investigates a local stabbing attack on “Chicago Med” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
› Planted evidence on “NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
› “The Voice” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG).
› Death at a construction site on “Lethal Weapon” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› A nuclear blast rearranges Central City on “The Flash” (8 p.m., CW, TV-PG).
› Stuck in Vegas on “LA to Vegas” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› Ben’s dampened spirits on “The Mick” (9:30 p.m., Fox, TV-14).