What's On Tonight (Sunday): Hugh Laurie gets politically incorrect

Roadkill

Happy anniversary, everyone! This is What's On Tonight #3000! It's been more than nine years since the first What's On Tonight and three years since we departed The AV Club (and the ghost still exists), but we are still going strong! Thank you to all you wonder people! I'm also talking to the lurkers out there. The What's On Tonight listings haven't changed too much from the early days because the place is driven by you, the commentariat, with your stories and opinions on pop culture, life, current events, and of course, gifs. It's been nice growing up and spreading our wings these past couple years with  several veteran features like Thoughts On (2012), Jeopardy! Recaps (2013), Cancellation League (2014), and Politics Corner (2015) being spun-off as their own entity. Remember, if you have an idea, say something. And as always, keep commenting away...

With more than 270 electoral votes, here's what's on television for tonight, Sunday, November 8!

The Top Pick is PBS' latest across-the-pond import Roadkill, a four-part miniseries starring Hugh Laurie as Peter Laurence, a Conservative party member who is working his way up the ladder, but skeletons might soon burst from his closet. Roadkill is the 1955th program to be a Top Pick, and this is PBS' 131st time as the network of the Top Pick. Last week's premiere wasn't great, but there's intrigue. A political reporter is fired after Laurence wins a libel case despite the reporter knowing she's on the right track, a female prisoner has some dirt on Laurence's past, and he has affairs that are about to be known. Iain De Caestecker also stars as an aid. Sorry, no Jemma Simmons. (I woulda picked that Bernie Mac movie as Top Pick, but it's not on available through any streaming subscription. For the record, this is my 234th time writing WOT.)

Elsewhere, a femme fatale tempts Homer, the Grim Reaper visits Gretta, the lesser NCISes are back in action, a mining colony must be protected from pirates, John Brown goes after Harper's Ferry, Epix looks back at Harlem in the '60s, and wannabe astronauts run out of water in Arizona.

STREAMING & EARLY PRIMETIME

2020 MTV EMA (MTV, 7 p.m.): SPECIAL. European music + awards.

60 Minutes (CBS, 7:30 p.m.): The presidential election vote count and the legal challenges the Trump campaign has raised... wait, there was an election?! The team examines the government's mission to produce and deliver enough vaccine doses to inoculate all Americans against the coronavirus. Plus a profile of filmmaker Ken Burns.

The Real Murders of Orange County (Oxygen, 7 p.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. Like the housewives but with more blood.

A Ring for Christmas 🎥 (UPtv, 7 p.m.): Spoiled white girl wants to get married by Christmas because that's how she can access trust fund money.

FOR THE RECORD: America's Funniest Home Videos (ABC, 7 p.m.); The Circus (Showtime, 7:30 p.m., season finale); Snapped (Oxygen, 6 p.m.)

The first comment of the Pop Culture Disqus Channel; Cali didn't bother with TV listings yet

🕗 EASTERN / 🕖 CENTRAL

Bless the Harts (Fox, 8:30 p.m.): Jenny is faced with rowdy clientele when she becomes the night manager at The Last Supper. Betty and Brenda use a Pound Pinchers meeting to practice their comedy routine.

Christmas with the Darlings 🎥 (Hallmark Channel, 8 p.m.): White people + orphans. Hallmark!

Dwight in Shining Armor (BYUtv, 8:30 p.m.): Dwight and Gretta accidentally summon the Grim Reaper, who can't return to his realm without taking a soul with him.

Malory Towers (BYUtv, 8 p.m.): When a beautiful dress arrives at Malory Towers, the girls are buzzing to realise there is a debutante in their midst.

NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS, 8:30 p.m.): SEASON PREMIERE. When a Russian bomber goes missing while flying over U.S. soil, Callen and Sam must track it down in the desert and secure its weapons and intel before the Russians on board destroy the plane. This sounds like a 24 season premiere.

Our Cartoon President (Showtime, 8:30 p.m.): SEASON FINALE. It's Election Day and everyone is gearing up to find out who will be the next Our Cartoon President, Cartoon Donald Trump or Cartoon Joe Biden... Either way, everything is about to change forever. PLEASE LET THIS SHOW BE OVER!

Pandora (The CW, 8 p.m.): Xander, Ralen, and Jett help defend a mining colony that is under constant siege from pirates. Jax is recruited by Osborn for a secret mission.

The Simpsons (Fox, 8 p.m.): When Marge and the kids take a seaside vacation, Homer is unwittingly tempted by a British femme fatale.

The Spanish Princess (Starz, 9 p.m.): When the plague hits London, the court flees to Hampton Court; Maggie and Thomas More remain in the empty (and romantic) palace.

The Trouble with Maggie Cole (PBS, 8 p.m.): While seeking amends with her neighbors, Maggie has a confrontation with Roxanna. Gambling debts plague Alex, and pressure threatens Peter's job and family.

A Very Charming Christmas Town 🎥 (Lifetime, 8 p.m.): "Travel and lifestyle blogger Aubrey Lang leaves the big city behind and visits the small town of Slovang for a Christmas vlog piece after it's voted 'Most Christmassy Town in the USA.'" I just threw up a little in my mouth.

QUICK HITS:
Sunday Night Football 🏈 (NBC, 8:20 p.m.): Holinesses vs. pirates

FOR THE RECORD: 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way (TLC); Air Disasters (Smithsonian Channel, season finale); Alaska: The Last Frontier (Discovery Channel); Drew Peterson: Killer-in-Law (Reelz, special); Holiday Wars (Food Network); Inside North Korea (National Geographic, special); Judgment with Ashleigh Banfield (Court TV); Renovation, Inc. (HGTV); Supermarket Sweep 💲 (ABC); Top Gear (BBC America); The Top Ten Revealed/Rock Legends (AXS TV)

That one time LaFergs stopped by to say hi on the Disqus channel.

🕘 EASTERN / 🕗 CENTRAL

Bob's Burgers (Fox, 9 p.m.): Tina is put in charge of the Wagstaff School time capsule project, but she makes an enemy when she rejects Tammy's submission. Bob teases Linda over her inability to whistle.

Britannia (Epix, 9 p.m.): Deserters Philo and Brutus are enjoying their freedom and deepening their knowledge of psychedelics.

Family Guy (Fox, 9:30 p.m.): When Joe asks Peter to be the godfather to his daughter, Peter commits to his mistaken interpretation of the role so much that he becomes a real gangster.

Fear the Walking Dead (AMC, 9 p.m.): Dwight and Sherry team up with a mysterious faction of people to take down Ginny. When Morgan unexpectedly offers to help, a power struggle ensues.

The Good Lord Bird (Showtime, 9 p.m.): The plan to take control of Harper's Ferry is finally put into action. However, a crucial mistake threatens the success of the entire operation. With shots firing, Onion is sent out to get reinforcements.

LEGO Marvel Avengers: Climate Conundrum (Disney XD, 9 p.m.): I think this aired in smaller parts online. Here it is as a half-hour special.

NCIS: New Orleans (CBS, 9:30 p.m.): SEASON PREMIERE. As New Orleans grapples with the effects of COVID-19, Pride sends Tammy and Carter to investigate a suspicious death aboard an offshore humanitarian ship. Wade is overwhelmed by the high volume in the morgue due to COVID-19.

Rebuilding Paradise 🎥 (National Geographic, 9 p.m.): Residents of Paradise, Calif., come together to heal their community after a devastating wildfire. This could be a great follow-up to that masterpiece Frontline episode on the wildfire.

⭐ Roadkill (PBS, 9 p.m.): "Peter contends with a prison riot, an angry daughter, and contacts from a stranger."

Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult (Starz, 9 p.m.): SEASON FINALE. Catherine begins the fight of her life to expose the cult and rescue her daughter.

The Undoing (HBO, 9 p.m.): Jonathan tells Grace his side of the story. She now finds herself being followed by someone close to Elena. This episode is titled "Do No Harm," so obviously I expect an Dr. Facehands cameo.

QUICK HITS:

Rock & Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar (AXS TV): The Woodshed

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire 💲 (ABC): Joel McHale

FOR THE RECORD: Building Alaska (DIY Network); Carnival Eats (Cooking Channel); Dying to Be Famous: The Ryan Singleton Mystery (Bounce, 9 p.m.); Kids Baking Championship (Food Network, special); Killer in Question (Investigation Discovery); North Woods Law (Animal Planet); Paranormal Caught on Camera (Travel Channel); The Real Housewives of Potomac (Bravo); Space Disasters (Smithsonian Channel); Steven Avery: Confessions of a Killer (Reelz, special)

A note from Whistler when Pop Culture hit 1,000 followers circa 2018

🕙 EASTERN / 🕘 CENTRAL

By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem (Epix, 10 p.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. A look at the dramatic true story of Harlem and its music during the 1960s.

Card Sharks 💲 (ABC, 10 p.m.): Aces beat kings, Dueces beat threes. If you don't like your cards, just say, "I'll freeze!" on Card Sharks!

The Christmas Bow 🎥 (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 10 p.m.): Hashtag white people love.

Cobra (PBS, 10 p.m.): SEASON FINALE. Fraser and his team reach the endgame as the crisis reaches a boiling point. The prime minister and Anna fight for their political lives. I bailed after two episodes. The show lacked spark.

Fargo (FX, 10 p.m.): Loy plays with fire. Josto wears his heart on his sleeve. Oraetta makes a surprising discovery. Deafy closes in on Zelmare and Swanee.

The Walking Dead: World Beyond (AMC, 10:12 p.m.): When an unexpected newcomer reveals information that could help them reach their destination, the group cuts a deal. While some are intrigued by the new arrival, others are suspicious. That makes the drama happen!

FOR THE RECORD: Akashinga: The Brave Ones (National Geographic, 10:30 p.m., special); Bravo's Chat Room (Bravo, 10:30 p.m.); I Love a Mama's Boy (TLC); Real Life Nightmare (HLN, season premiere); Yum and Yummer (Cooking Channel, season premiere)

Final tally from the day before Pop Culture died

🕚 EASTERN / 🕙 CENTRAL

Moonbase 8 (Showtime, 11 p.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. Stationed at NASA's Moon Base Simulator in Arizona, dedicated astronauts John C. Reilly, Fred Armisen, and Tim Heidecker attempt to qualify for their first lunar mission, but their faced with a water shortage.✔️

That White People Shit (Fuse, 11:30 p.m.): "That DIY Ish"

FOR THE RECORD: 90 Day Pillow Talk: The Other Way (TLC)

This is from the day before WOT's big reformat that gutted most listings. We rightfully didn't like it, but I liked this note from Les. Plus, we successfully fought to keep the posting to midnight (instead of morning).

💤💤😴💤💤

Dream Corps LLC (Adult Swim, 12:30 a.m.): Patient 27 is treated for his crippling fear of heights; T.E.R.R.Y. becomes enlightened. Later, medical phenomenon Virgil Bottoms bullies his way into an appointment at Dream Corp LLC.

The Eric Andre Show (Adult Swim, midnight): Eric welcomes Mercedes Javid, and Brenda Song and punishes Grimes. Later, Blannibal has had enough of the show and quits too. Eric gets into a dangerous situation with an organized crime associate. Eric and co-host Lakeith Stanfield welcome Tiffany Pollard and Naya Rivera with musical guest Big Freedia.

Mission: Impossible 📺 (MeTV, 3 a.m.): Nicholas Groat, a grandmaster chess player, organizes a team that plans to steal gold intended for the underground in an Eastern bloc country. However, the gold gets intercepted by the country's authorities, so it's up to the IMF to recover the loot.

LATE-NIGHT TALK & SATIRE

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO, 11 p.m.)

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Note: All times are Eastern.
Key Sources: The Futon Critic; IMDb; TV Passport; Zap2it
⭐: Top Pick
💲: Game show
🎥: Movie
📺: Throwback
✔️: Video/gif/photo included

🏈⛳: Sportsballs

Happy watching, everyone!