What to watch this weekend September 29, 2023: TV awards contenders
If someone has to say it, I will: There are not enough genuine romantic comedies on television. That’s why the charming British import “Starstruck,” about a 20-something woman who works in a movie theater embarking on a relationship with a famous actor, is a breath of much-needed fresh air.
Created by New Zealand comedian Rose Matafeo and written by Matafeo, Nic Sampson and Alice Snedden, the series is exceptionally funny and surprisingly heartfelt, balancing elements of screwball comedy with nuanced observations about love, friendship and growing up. The six-episode third season, which is now streaming on Max, picks up two years after Season 2 and finds Jessie (Matafeo) and Tom (Nikesh Patel) have gone their separate ways only to regularly be thrust back into each other’s lives by their now-overlapping friend circles. The result is a season that underscores healthy relationships and maturity without ever losing the sense of humor that has come to define the show. That’s what makes “Starstruck” the awards contender to watch this weekend.
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However, if you’re looking for something of another variety, other contenders to watch include:
“Gen V”: Class is in session! This spin-off of Amazon’s Emmy-nominated drama series “The Boys” introduces viewers to the students of Godolkin University, a college where supes train to be the next generation of heroes (or villains, depending on their actions). Expect some familiar faces to make appearances from time to time. The first three episodes are now streaming on Amazon Prime.
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”: With the Writers Guild of America having reached a deal with the AMPTP, the seven-time winner of the Emmy for Best Variety Talk Series is set to return from hiatus this weekend. Given the overall state of, you know, everything, it’ll be interesting to see what John Oliver and the show’s award-winning writing staff have to say in the first new outing since May. The episode will air Sunday at 11/10c on HBO.
“Bob’s Burgers”: Over on Fox, the Emmy-winning animated comedy about a family who owns a nondescript burger joint returns for its 14th season this weekend. In “Fight at the Not Okay Chore-ral,” Bob (H. Jon Benjamin) and Linda (John Roberts) find themselves at odds with Tina (Dan Mintz), Gene (Eugene Mirman) and Louise (Kristen Schaal) after asking them to do their chores, leading to a Western-inspired showdown. The episode airs Sunday at 9/8c on Fox.
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