Forget stuffy cooking shows with stale chef interviews; VICELAND’s dining shows take viewers to foodie hot spots around the globe, with hosts that actually eat — a lot.
Bong Appétit (10:30 p.m. Wednesdays) might be an example of basing an entire series off a catchy title, but it’s an interesting concept that only VICE would explore: Host Abdullah Saeed employs top chefs and cannabis experts to create dinner parties where pot plays a key role. Cannabis is infused in the dishes, incorporated in cocktails and smoked between courses. This week, we’re invited to a marijuana-laced murder mystery party.
Now in its second season, Fuck, That’s Delicious (10 p.m. Thursdays) follows rapper Action Bronson and his ragtag crew eating their way from tour stop to tour stop. Action worked as a gourmet chef in New York before pursuing music, so the giant bearded tattooed guy actually knows what he’s talking about as he describes dishes and restaurants. And who doesn’t want to live vicariously through a famous rapper who gets to travel with his best buds while smoking, eating and drinking (and repeating) his fill? The gang heads to Chicago for this week’s installment, checking out everything from a Polish festival to Michelin-starred restaurants.
Is there any dish more quintessentially “Millennial” than pizza? From Chicago deep-dish to classic New York style, there’s enough delicious material to fill an entire show, and that’s just what the simply titled The Pizza Show (10:30 p.m. Thursdays) does. VICELAND’s newest munchie offering is hosted by Frank Pinello of Best Pizza in Williamsburg, N.Y. In this week’s episode, Frank explores some of the new frontiers of the pizza business, from tech-forward delivery in Silicon Valley to Seoul, South Korea’s largest pizza chain.
Picks of the Week
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (10 p.m. Wednesday, FXX) – When Charlie worries that his mom is being held hostage by Mac’s mom, the gang installs cameras in the odd couple’s house.
Baskets (Season Premiere, 10 p.m. Thursday, FX) – Aspiring clown Chip Baskets and his family (including his mom, played by Louie Anderson in an Emmy-winning role) return for a second season. Chip finds work in an elementary school and crashes a child’s birthday party to perform.
Frontier (Series Premiere, Friday, Netflix) – Jason Momoa, aka Khal Drogo on Game of Thrones, stars in this Canadian drama chronicling the 1700s fur trade in North America.
Real Time with Bill Maher (Season Premiere, 10 p.m. Friday, HBO) – Maher’s 15th season premieres, appropriately, on Inauguration Day.
Saturday Night Live (11:30 p.m. Saturday, NBC) – Aziz Ansari hosts for the first time! Does that mean Master of None is returning soon? (Season 2 is due later this year.) Big Sean performs as musical guest.
Beware the Slenderman (10 p.m. Monday, HBO) – This new HBO doc follows the creepy 2014 stabbing of a Wisconsin girl by her 12-year-old friends and explores the internet-born phantom Slenderman.
This Is Us (9 p.m. Tuesday, NBC) – Rebecca and Jack attempt to throw three separate birthday parties for the kids; Randall struggles to carve out time for William; Kevin makes moves in his romantic life; Kate’s surgery takes a turn.
CONTACT JAC KERN: @jackern
