If you’re in need of a hump day pick-me-up, Comedy Central and FXX have you covered, starting this week.
The Workaholics (Season Premiere, 10 p.m. Wednesday, Comedy Central) — Anders, Adam and Blake — are back at college in this fifth season premiere. After giving viewers a collegiate flashback to the group’s origins in Season Three (to hilarious effect), the guys return to North Rancho College, this time for a job fair to recruit future TelAmeriCorpers.
Broad City (Season Premiere, 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Comedy Central) follows, which makes sense, but don’t mistake this as “the girl version of Workaholics.” One of the best new shows of 2014, Broad City has legs of its own. As Season Two kicks off, the girls take on Bed Bath & Beyond, where Ilana discovers that while she doesn’t know Lincoln as well as she thought, Abbi knows the store and its employees a little too well.
Further up in the channel guide, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Season Premiere, 10 p.m. Wednesday, FXX) returns for a 10th season. Rob McElhenney (Mac) said it best when he Tweeted, “Anyone else feel like Sunny has been on the air for their entire adult life yet somehow off the air for last five years?” In the first new episode since 2013, Dennis, Charlie, Dee, Frank and Mac attempt to beat the beer drinking record of MLB Hall of Famer Wade Boggs — who supposedly could drink 70 beers on a cross-country flight.
Then we’ve got a new silly and surreal comedy series, Man Seeking Woman (Series Premiere, 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, FXX). Jay Baruchel stars as a reluctant romantic who continues to get his heart broken in a world where relationship hyperboles are taken literally — like when his ex-girlfriend seriously begins dating Adolph Hitler or when he gets set up on a blind date with a bridge-dwelling troll.
WEDNESDAY JAN. 14
Modern Family (9 p.m., ABC) – When the Dunphys’ neighbors rear their trashy heads again, Phil calls in reinforcements: Dad (Frank Willard) and his retired buddies. Elsewhere, Cameron introduces Lily to clown school. Enter Lizbo.
Blackish (9:30 p.m., ABC) – The Johnsons celebrate Martin Luther Skiing Day.
American Horror Story: Freak Show (10 p.m., FX) – Dandy reveals upsetting information about Chester to Bette and Dot — and if Dandy is concerned, it must be pretty bad. Maggie strives to show her loyalty to Jimmy while the other freaks maintain their own idea of justice.
THURSDAY JAN. 15
Portlandia (10 p.m., IFC) – This season takes a different approach to the quirky characters we’ve grown to love by focusing on a different pair of Fred-and-Carries in each episode. This week it’s Lance and Nina — the pressure is on when Lance’s mom brings her new boyfriend (Justin Long) to visit.
Parenthood (10 p.m., NBC) – Zeek and Camille stumble upon years’ worth of film and ask Max to develop the family photos; Adam makes a decision about The Luncheonette but Jasmine intervenes; and there’s still hope for Joelia!
SATURDAY JAN. 17
Whitney (Premiere, 8 p.m., Lifetime) – What would Ms. Houston say about her biopic airing on such a ridiculed network? Much like crack, Lifetime movies are generally both cheap and wack. But Angela Bassett goes for it anyway in her directorial debut, starring Yaya Dacosta.
Saturday Night Live (11:30 p.m., NBC) – Kevin Hart hosts; Sia performs. Nude bodysuits for everyone!
SUNDAY JAN. 18
Girls (9 p.m., HBO) – Hannah discovers life in Iowa is significantly less expensive than in New York and that her fellow workshop writers might not think she’s the/a voice of her/any generation.
TUESDAY JAN. 20
Parks & Recreation (8 p.m., NBC) – Leslie and Company work to turn the Newport land into a national park; Ron and Leslie try to see eye-to-eye. It shouldn’t be too hard — they both have a profound love of breakfast foods.
Justified (Season Premiere, 10 p.m., FX) – It appears this sixth and final season pits Raylan against Boyd in an ultimate showdown, which is a shame since it’s so entertaining to see them work together. This week, Raylan works on getting Ava and Dewey to help his case as Boyd organizes a risky heist.
CONTACT JAC KEARN: jkern@citybeat.com or @jackern
This article appears in Jan 7-14, 2015.
