Metro’s weekend TV breakdown.
‘Hello Ladies’
COMEDY. Stephen Merchant’s (aka Ricky Gervais’ main man) new show is equal parts funny and downright uncomfortable. It can be hard to watch Merchant’s character Stuart — a seven-foot-tall geek with playboy aspirations — navigate the L.A. dating scene. We actually find ourselves turning away from the screen during some scenes (a recent misunderstanding over “appropriate” gay jokes, for example.) However, Stuart is also an unapologetic dick, which saves his character from being too tragic. Plus, Merchant is smart as hell and knows exactly what he’s doing when mining for both cringes and laughs. Tonight, Stuart attends a wedding.
Sunday, 10:30 p.m., HBO
‘Revenge’
DRAMA. Ah, “Revenge.” The guilty pleasure that just keeps on giving. And, honestly, we’re not even that guilty about it. “Revenge” is the soapiest show on TV right now that isn’t a soap but, here’s the thing, it’s awesome. Victoria Grayson is a bad bitch and we love to hate her (hate to love her?) Tonight, Nolan plots a personal revenge plan and old ice prince Conrad hires a PR girl to try and save the Grayson name (and probably sleeps with her).
Sunday, 9 p.m., ABC
‘Thicker Than Water: The Tankards’
REALITY. Remember when Bravo was a weird fringe channel that played, like, obscure old movies and PBS-like arts programs about jazz? Yeah, neither do most people under the age of 25. Because now, Bravo is an unstoppable reality TV sweatshop, grinding out practically interchangeable reality shows, on the cheap, with frightening efficiency. Someone call the Department of Labor! This new one is some kind of rags-to-riches story about a former basketball player/gospel singer/motivational speaker and his family.
Series Premiere, 9 p.m., BRAVO
