TV network A&E must really like Cincinnati: There’s a show about Nick and Drew Lachey’s sports bar venture in the works; numerous local police have been featured on The First 48; and who could forget Rowhouse Showdown? CityBeat described the sketchy Price Hill-based home renovation show on A&E’s FYI channel as a “hot mess” in a cover story late last summer (“Stranger Than Fiction,” issue of Sept. 3, 2014).
Next on the list is Neighbors with Benefits (Series Premiere, 10 p.m. Sunday, A&E), a new reality series following a group of couples from Warren County’s Thorton Grove neighborhood that swing — as in having open sexual relationships (to varying degrees) and swapping partners (not dancing). The show really seems to push the “suburban soccer mom by day, swinger by night” angle, and claims up to 15 million Americans are swingers.
The show has already gained national attention, from nearby Maineville residents lamenting, “Not in my neighborhood!” to conservative organizations saying, “Not on our TV!” And, as with most shows of this nature, there’s been a fair amount of Internet grumbling about the show’s authenticity: Do these swingers really all live in the same neighborhood? Are all of the couples actually local swingers, or did the show bring in actors?
Did I say A&E likes us? Maybe “has it out for us” is more appropriate. Either way, if you take Neighbors with Benefits with a big shaker of salt — as you should with all reality shows — it’s sure to be an interesting ride.
WEDNESDAY MARCH 18
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Season Finale, 10 p.m., FXX) – Mac and Charlie join a fitness club that promotes a new lifestyle. It’s a cult.
Broad City (Season Finale, 10:30 p.m., Comedy Central) – Ilana’s 23rd birthday celebration is interrupted by runaway teen drama.
FRIDAY MARCH 20
Glee (Series Finale, 8 p.m., Fox) – It’s the end of the road for the New Directions and William McKinley High School alumni, who taught us all that if you follow your dreams of superstardom, you too can end up back at your high school coaching teen singers.
SUNDAY MARCH 22
Girls (Season Finale, 9 p.m., HBO) – Adam, Hannah and Jessa try to convince Caroline and Laird to ditch their home bathtub birth plan and go the more traditional route. Elsewhere, Ray gives Desi a piece of his mind.
The Walking Dead (9 p.m., AMC) – Alexandria copes with new losses and realizations. Deanna has seemed very level-headed so far, always giving Rick’s group the benefit of the doubt, but will that continue after Gabriel’s surprising confession and Aiden’s death? Meanwhile, Carl and Enid hiding in a tree, K-I-L-L-I-N-G (walkers). Chandler Riggs (Carl) and Executive Producer Gale Anne Hurd stop by Talking Dead at 10 p.m.
The Last Man on Earth (9 p.m., Fox) – This show is excellent and Will Forte is super entertaining, but — thanks to the coinciding show listed above — I cannot get used to the idea of everyone being just dead instead of undead.
Battle Creek (10 p.m., CBS) – Did Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan’s new network TV offering miss your radar? Josh Duhamel and Dean Winters star as Milt and Russ, respectively, a pair of mismatched cops working together in the eponymous Michigan city (just don’t mistake them for True Detectives’ Marty and Rust).
MONDAY MARCH 23
RuPaul’s Drag Race (9 p.m., Logo) – The queens must write, record and shoot a video for their own parodies of RuPaul songs. Jessica Alba and music producer Lucian Piane guest-judge.
The Late Late Show with James Corden (Series Premiere, 12:35 a.m., CBS) – The English actor takes over the late night desk with Reggie Watts (Comedy Bang! Bang!) as bandleader. As for former host Craig Ferguson? He’s probably off counting his reported multimillion-dollar payout for being skipped as David Letterman’s replacement.
TUESDAY MARCH 24
The Mindy Project (Season Finale, 9:30 p.m., Fox) – When Danny fails to show up for dinner with Mindy and her parents, she starts to worry about his commitment; Morgan misinterprets something Mindy says to mean Danny isn’t the baby’s father, so he (naturally) tracks down every guy she’s slept with to play Maury.
CONTACT JAC KERN: [email protected] or @jackern
