Welcome to Simpsons World
If you have FX (or your parents have FX, or your friend’s second cousin’s stepparents have FX), the bulk of your TV consumption has likely been via the network’s new site, home to every single episode of The Simpsons ever made. It’s well-designed and has plenty of extras, with more in the works, but to get started, check out Vulture’s guide to 100 vital episodes. That may sound like a lot, but it’s less than a fifth of the sitcom’s two-dozen-plus seasons.
AHS Does LDR
Honestly, every musical number from American Horror Story: Freak Show will probably earn a spot on this list. Especially important, however, is the union of Ryan Murphy’s camp extravaganza with Lana Del Rey’s Americana kitsch, complete with Jim Morrison references. Jessica Lange belts out “Gods and Monsters” to a two-faced ghost played by American Beauty‘s Wes Bentley, who cruises in with a cloud of green mist. As understated as any AHS Halloween special should be.
Dr. Thackery’s Nightmare Cure
The Knick, Steven Soderbergh’s visually arresting turn-of-the-century medical drama, wound down its first season this week. Viewers of a certain long-running Fox procedural found Clive Owen’s irascible genius with a cocaine addiction somewhat familiar, but the final shot of the episode revealed that John Thackery’s “cure” might be worse than his disease: heroin. Hell of a start to Season 2, no?
Manhattan Winds Down
The scientists of WGN’s critical darling are still a long way off from making the atomic bomb, but this Sunday’s finale still had its fair share of shockers. Most notably: Resident Antihero Dr. Frank Winter willingly self-sacrifices to save his young mentee, telling leaked secrets to his wife while he knows US counterintelligence is listening in. It’s very noble, and along with the rest of the show, it’s available for binge-watching on Hulu in case you don’t get WGN!
Mellie Finally Takes a Shower
Smelly Mellie no longer! As you were, Scandal.