TV Heartbeat! Finales, serial killers and Patrick Stewart is back on TV!

Aside from Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!, TV is rather literary this week, though you may not know it!

Wayward Pines wraps up its limited run this week. The pot boiler ends with respectable ratings, but there hasn’t been a peep of Fox continuing the series for another season yet. Also, the one season covered all three books in the series so, like Game of Thrones, there isn’t a road map for what comes next.

Another limited series based on a book ending this week: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. Well-reviewed, this series is ending with the one season. The author of the original novel, Susanna Clarke, started work on the sequel, but has yet to publish it — despite starting it 10years ago. It may be some time before we see a second season.

Meanwhile, you can see more written characters on TV this week with the appearance of Francis Dolarhyde aka The Tooth Fairy on Hannibal. In the movies he was played by Ralph Fiennes, but this time the man with the Red Dragon tattoo will be played by Richard Armitage.

I’ve been a fan of Richard’s since the BBC mini-series North and South based on the book by Elizabeth Gaskell. (No Patrick Swayze. No American Civil War). This one is definitely worth checking out if you missed it.

While she’s not literary yet, but many predict she’s got a memoir coming very soon. Caitlyn Jenner’s reality show, I Am Cait debuts this week.

Tonight: Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! (Syfy), Last Comic Standing season premiere (NBC)
Thursday: Wayward Pines finale (Fox)
Saturday: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell finale (BBC America)
Sunday: I Am Cait debut (E!), Battlebots season finale (ABC)
Tuesday: Face Off season premiere (Syfy)

Health check

Tut, Tut, Tut – the Mini-series brought in big ratings for Spike who was hoping for big ratings and a big audience for its spendy Egyptian saga. With the network’s highest ratings in 7 years, look for Spike ton continue to venture farther afield with ambitious projects.

Speaking of intrigue, espionage will continue in colonial America with a third season for AMC’s Turn: Washington Spies.

Meanwhile, HBO is ordering its new comedies, Ballers and The Brink, back for a second season. Good news for everyone this week!

Crystal Ball

If you can’t wait until the fall, ABC is sneaking a peak at the new Muppets series. Here’s a 10 minute preview of the series which is using a reality-style approach to follow the Muppets around in their, er, everyday life. The humor seems closer to the original Muppet Show than the recent movies so perhaps there’s hope for long-time Muppet fans.

Starz continues its streak of interesting new shows with the debut of Blunt Talk in a few weeks. The new comedy produced by Seth MacFarlane stars Patrick Stewart as a cantankerous talk show host. Starz has so much faith in the show that it’s already been renewed for a second season.

Here’s the first look at Blunt Talk which debuts August 22nd:

If anyone doubts whether Captain Picard/Professor X can do comedy, look to his Twitter feed for proof that the man is hilarious. Look at a recent exchange with Taylor Swift as evidence!

So @IanMcKellen recited Bad Blood and I did Blank Space on @NPRAskMeAnother. May we join the squad, @taylorswift13? https://t.co/liKBfSzIaU

— Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) July 16, 2015

Thanks for reciting my lyrics, @IanMcKellen and @SirPatStew! You’ve made my day. You two are ULTIMATE Squad Goals: pic.twitter.com/pJZY6T5Lq8 — Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 16, 2015

OMG I DIE!!! (no really, I might. I’m old.) https://t.co/q4u7FIcMYr

— Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) July 17, 2015

I hope this means I can finally wear leather pants in public… pic.twitter.com/m0XP7CcWgT — Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) July 17, 2015

Stay tuned!

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