There are scores of TV shows out there, with dozens of new episodes each week, not to mention everything you can find on Hulu Plus, Netflix streaming, and HBO Go. How’s a viewer to keep up? To help you sort through all that television has to offer, Flavorwire is compiling the five best moments on TV each week. This round, we have rom-coms, rock ‘n’ roll, and the long-awaited return of stoner comedy’s dynamic duo.
Love Is Hard
The latest wandering, low-key romantic comedy stands out from the pack with the help of a big-name pedigree (Judd Apatow, lured back from the big screen by the siren song of Netflix) and a winning lead performance by Gillian Jacobs as Mickey, a self-destructive addict slowly easing her way into something like a relationship. Created with Lesley Arfin and her husband/Jacobs’ co-star Paul Rust, Love lands on Netflix today, making it a worthy weekend binge — particularly for those in You’re the Worst withdrawal.
Now on Vinyl
The ratings may be disappointing and its own inspiration kind of hates it, but at least there was lots of cocaine? That’s the main takeaway from Vinyl, which has all the spectacle, violence, and Noo Yawk-accented voiceovers of a good Scorsese movie but pretty much nothing else. A fully committed performance from Bobby Cannavale as record tycoon Richie Finestra and a very expensive soundtrack are still enough to get audiences through a loud, flashy, and long premiere, which aired on Valentine’s Day. And we have at least two seasons to go!
Kendrick Wins the Grammys
Despite losing Album of the Year to Taylor Swift, the rapper clearly had the best night at a ceremony that’s typically lightweight and disposable — and largely was (even Adele didn’t bring her A game!), except for Lamar’s medley of “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright.” The performance opens with a set built to look like a prison and only gains momentum from there. People seem to be talking about it far more than Swift’s predictable wins and eye-roller of a speech, and rightfully so.
Kyle Meets Kanye
While we’re still talking musical performances, Kanye stopped by SNL! Yes, he performed two tracks from his album live, as opposed to through the Madison Square Garden sound system, and announced that The Life of Pablo was officially available to stream on his website. But he also faced off against, and arguably lost to, resident SNL MC Kyle Mooney, who continues to make “deliberately bumbling Internet recluse” endearing where everyone else is just insufferable. Watch and learn.
Four and Three and Two and One, Round Three
Last and certainly not least: Broad City is back! And opens with a stunningly dense montage about a year in the bathroom lives of Abbi and Ilana. Pube straightening! Blow jobs! Pregnancy tests and shockingly casual hints at the abortion that probably follows! It’s a testament to both the creators’ efficiency and the depth of the world they’ve created that they can pack so many implied stories into just three minutes. It’s pussy weed season, people!