This Week On Sling TV
There’s a lot to watch and only so much time, but we’re here to help. Here are a few shows this week you won’t want to miss:
After the three-headed disaster of THE PHANTOM MENACE, ATTACK OF THE CLONES, and REVENGE OF THE SITH, you could be forgiven for swearing off the Star Wars universe once and for all. But the critically acclaimed (and fanboy-approved) first season of Star Wars Rebels indicates that the franchise is in much better shape heading into JJ Abrams’ THE FORCE AWAKENS. A computer-animated series set in the gap between REVENGE OF THE SITH and A NEW HOPE, the series has featured original trilogy characters Lando Calrissian and Grand Moff Tarkin, and its light, swashbuckling tone suggests that we might just get a happy ending in the galaxy far, far away. The first season finale airs tonight. (9pm Monday, Disney XD)
A mashup of Project Runway, Chopped, Top Chef, and season 9 of American Idol, Ellen’s Design Challenge has had a very enjoyable first season, particularly for people who can’t stop mentally redecorating their living room. The field of furniture designers has narrowed to two, and a winner will be adorned with the championship tool belt in this week’s season 1 finale. (9pm Monday, HGTV)
Six short films examining odd occurrences in the world of athletes and the people who love them, including Ty Cobb’s dentures, a league for that weird toy football game with the vibrating metal field, and Michael Jordan’s stolen jersey make up It’s Not Crazy, It’s Sports, directed by acclaimed documentarian Erroll Morris. (1am Wednesday, ESPN2)
Josh Gates travels to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula to investigate the fall of the Mayan empire on a new episode of Expedition Unknown. His adventure includes exploring mysterious ruins and scuba diving into caverns littered with human remains, which is exactly what I did on my Yucatan honeymoon, minus the human remains. (6pm Thursday, Travel Channel)
NCAA basketball is heating up as we head into the tournament, and Saturday features a crazy string of matchups for top 25 teams: #8 Kansas takes on #16 Oklahoma at 4pm; #2 Virginia visits #17 Louisville at 6:30; and the game’s most heated rivalry gets yet another chapter as #4 Duke goes to #15 North Carolina. (ESPN)