Sure, Sunday tends to be overcrowded with high-end TV, including the just-returned “Mad Men,” the premiering-this-week “Veep,” “Game of Thrones,” “Vikings” and more, but what to watch the rest of the time? Every Monday, we bring you five noteworthy highlights from the other six days of the week.
“Independent Lens”: “The House I Live In”
Monday, Apr. 8 at 10pm on PBS
This acclaimed documentary from Eugene Jarecki (“Why We Fight”) about the U.S. war on drugs comes to PBS via “Independent Lens.” “The House I Live In,” which received a theatrical release this past fall fall, looks at the societal, racial and class implications of our continuing battle against recreation drug use and abuse, tying in Jarecki’s personal history. The film won the Grand Jury Prize for docs at Sundance last year, and features extended interview footage with David Simon, whose “The Wire” has in the narrative world served as a major chronicler of the drug trade and its effects on a city.
“Cougar Town”: Season Finale
Tuesday, Apr. 9 at 10:30pm on TBS
“Cougar Town” is on its second life at TBS, the critically liked but never all that well rated Courteney Cox comedy having hopped over from its original home at ABC. Cable seems to be suiting the series well, with TBS having renewed it for a fifth year in March. This week, the show wraps its current season with an hour-long finale that finds the Cul-de-sac Crew heading to Hollywood to help the ill Chick (Ken Jenkins) meet one his favorite stars, Tippi Hedren.
“Archer”: Season Finale
Thursday, Apr. 11 at 10pm on FX
Adam Reed’s animated spy comedy is one of the most consistently entertaining shows on TV right now, even in its fourth year. The latest “Archer” season concludes with the second half of a two-part arc involving a crossover of sorts with Reed and fellow executive producer Matt Thompson’s earlier series “Sealab 2021.” “Archer” has been renewed for a fifth season.
“Da Vince’s Demons”: Series Premiere
Friday, Apr. 12 at 9pm on Starz
“Batman Begins” writer David S. Goyer turns his hand to historical fantasy in creating Starz’s newest drama, a lavish BBC Worldwide co-production starring Tom Riley as a 25-year-old Leonardo Da Vinci. The series will blend facts about the Renaissance genius’ life with Florence intrigues involving the Medicis, mysterious secret societies and pre-steampunk style inventions. Lara Pulver (“Sherlock”), Laura Haddock, Alexander Siddig and Blake Ritson also star in the series, which will have an eight-episode season.
“Louis C.K.: Oh My God”
Saturday, Apr. 13 at 10pm on HBO
“Oh My God” isn’t just Louis C.K.’s latest stand-up special, it’s a chance to get a solid dose of C.K.’s comedy in a year in which we won’t be getting more of his terrific FX series “Louie,” currently on hiatus. Even if he needed a year off from “Louie” to recharge his batteries, C.K. has been on fire lately, and this hour-long show doesn’t look like it will disappoint, if the clever trailer is any indication. For those without HBO, C.K.’s announced that he’ll be offering the special, which was taped at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, on sale via his website for $5 in September.
Also worth a look: The CW’s “Sex and the City” prequel “Carrie Diaries” closes out its first (and possibly only) season on Monday, April 8 at 8pm with an episode set during junior prom; Steven Pressman’s Holocaust documentary “50 Children: The Rescue Mission of Mr. & Mrs. Kraus” premieres on HBO on Monday, April 8 at 9pm; in a meeting of public meltdowns, Lindsay Lohan guest stars as herself on “Anger Management,” serving as a love interest for Charlie Sheen’s character, on Thursday, April 11 at 9:30pm on FX; “Spartacus” comes to a bloody series conclusion on Starz on Friday, April 12 at 9pm.
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