With the start of Daylight Saving and the season’s final snowpocalypse behind us (fingers crossed), it’s finally starting to feel like spring. Here’s what to watch in the coming warmer weeks.
Weird Loners (Series Premiere, 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, Fox) – The latest comedy to follow the misadventures of relationship-challenged adults navigating life in New York City.
Mad Men (Final Season Premiere, 10 p.m. Sunday, April 5, AMC) – Technically the seventh season debuted last April, but this second half feels like a separate, final piece of the Don Draper saga. Changes abound for SC&P and all the characters we’ve grown to love. It’s literally and figuratively the end of an era as sideburns and bellbottoms usher us into the ’70s.
The Comedians (Series Premiere, 10 p.m. Thursday, April 9, FX) – Billy Crystal and Josh Gad star as fictional versions of themselves — a veteran (Crystal) and up-and-coming (Gad) comic reluctantly paired for a late night sketch comedy show.
Louie (Season Premiere, 10:30 p.m. Thursday, April 9, FX) – Comedian Louie C.K. returns to star, write, direct and make us cringe in this slightly shorter (eight episodes) fifth season.
Game of Thrones (Season Premiere, 9 p.m. Sunday, April 12, HBO) – Sand Snakes! Needle! Dorne! Another wedding! Another funeral!
Silicon Valley (Season Premiere, 10 p.m. Sunday, April 12, HBO) – Because handjob math is hilarious.
Veep (Season Premiere, 10:30 p.m. Sunday, April 12, HBO) – So we’re not changing it to Prez?
Orphan Black (Season Premiere, 10 p.m. Saturday, April 18, BBC America) – Two words: boy clones.
Inside Amy Schumer (Season Premiere, Tuesday, April 21, Comedy Central) – Between hosting the MTV Movie Awards April 12 and starring in a new movie (Trainwreck) this summer, it’s time to start paying attention to Amy Schumer.
WEDNESDAY MARCH 11
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (10 p.m., FXX) – When Frank announces his retirement, Dennis, Dee, Mac and Charlie each plan their takeover of the bar.
Broad City (10:30 p.m., Comedy Central) – Abbi goes to great lengths to return a lost coat to its owner.
THURSDAY MARCH 12
Portlandia (Season Finale, 10 p.m., IFC) – When arsonists burn down a local taxidermy shop, Portland police begin to question anyone who seems strange — which is basically everyone in Portland. Seth Meyers, Paul Reubens and Olivia Wilde guest-star.
FRIDAY MARCH 13
Vice (11 p.m., HBO) – Thomas Morton reports from the Ferguson, Mo. riots, then learns about the militarized training of police at Urban Shield, an extreme 48-hour law enforcement training exercise; Suroosh Alvi follows the footsteps of thousands of Central American immigrants by traveling from El Salvador through Mexico to the U.S.
SUNDAY MARCH 15
The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst (Series Finale, 8 p.m., HBO) – A forensic document examiner is brought in to compare Durst’s handwriting to the “Beverley Hills” police letter. Later, the filmmakers have a hard time getting Durst for a second interview. Will any legal consequences arise from the series? On March 9, The New York Times reported that the Los Angeles district attorney has reopened an investigation into Susan Berman’s 2000 murder.
Girls (9 p.m., HBO) – Hannah copes with her dad’s bombshell (Elijah told you, girl!); Jessa, Adam, Mimi-Rose and Ace hang out; Shosh and Ray organize a campaign party, which is the perfect setting for a certain engagement announcement.
The Walking Dead (9 p.m., AMC) – Members of the group adjust to their new jobs and question the apparent safety of Alexandria. Inside, Rick sizes up Dr. Pete. Talking Dead lineup includes Josh McDermitt (Eugene), Tyler James Williams (Noah) and Steven Yeun (Glenn).
MONDAY MARCH 16
RuPaul’s Drag Race (9 p.m., Logo) – The queens divide into teams to perform scenes from “ShakesQueer”; Mel B. and Kat Dennings guest-judge.
Better Call Saul (10 p.m., AMC) – Slippin’ Jimmy gets the chance to do the right thing, then calls in a favor.
TUESDAY MARCH 17
The Mindy Project (9:30 p.m., Fox) – When Mindy’s pregnancy body throws her self-confidence, she calls in reinforcements from Tamra’s personal stylist cousin, Sheena (Orange Is the New Black’s Laverne Cox).
CONTACT JAC KERN: jkern@citybeat.com or @jackern
This article appears in Mar 11-17, 2015.