— Small-town gossip looms giant within the U.Ok. import “The Hassle With Maggie Cole” (8 p.m. Sunday, PBS, TV-14, verify native listings). Daybreak French (“French & Saunders”) stars within the title position, because the dowdy proprietor of a present store who fancies herself the native historian of a stupendous little city with legends courting again to medieval Britain.
“Hassle” begins when a slick London-based radio interviewer arrives for some dreary historic anniversary. Uninterested in Maggie’s civic satisfaction and predictable patter, he plies her with gin and fawning consideration and will get her to gossip about her associates and neighbors.
The ensuing broadcast is cringe-inducing for all involved, notably as a result of a few of her careless observations include greater than a whiff of fact.
Nice to take a look at and blessed with a recreation solid together with Mark Heap, Julie Hesmondhalgh and up-and-comer Arthur McBain, “Maggie” is greater than troubled by problematic pacing and tone.
It is clearly aimed toward followers of British reveals set in equally bucolic settings. The pilot’s buildup to Maggie’s mortification appears belabored, and its central “tragedy” of social embarrassment would not fairly measure as much as the mass slaughter of “Midsomer Murders” or the close to fixed mutual contempt exhibited on “Doc Martin.” Like that story of a superb surgeon set in a postcard-perfect resort stuffed with village idiots, “Maggie” may go down higher in shorter dollops. It is a 30-minute present that lasts practically an hour.
SUNDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
— Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (7 p.m., CBS): interviews with Dr. Anthony Fauci and Russian opposition chief Alexei Navalny, who lately survived a poisoning he contends was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
— Matthew Broderick stars within the 1986 comedy “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (8 p.m., CBS), notable for its celebration of teenagers as smug consumerists.
— The Rams and 49ers meet in NFL motion (8:20 p.m., NBC).
— Journey plans elevate issues on “Flesh and Blood” on “Masterpiece” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-14, verify native listings).
— A brand new risk emerges on “Concern the Strolling Useless” (9 p.m., AMC, TV-MA).
— Arrivals and departures on the season finale of “Lovecraft Nation” (9 p.m., HBO, TV-MA).
— Brown and Onion journey to fulfill Frederick Douglass on “The Good Lord Chook” (9 p.m., Showtime, TV-MA).
— Josto makes his transfer on “Fargo” (10 p.m., FX, TV-MA).
— The cult faces expenses on the season finale of “The Vow” (10 p.m., HBO, TV-MA).
SUNDAY SERIES
“Soccer Night time in America” (7 p.m., NBC, TV-14) … Ghouls go wild on “Treehouse of Horror XXXI” on “The Simpsons” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14) … “Grocery store Sweep” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) … Osborn’s origins on “Pandora” (8 p.m., CW, TV-PG) … A go to to a useless mall on “Bless the Harts” (8:30 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
Methods and treats on “Bob’s Burgers” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14) … “Who Desires To Be a Millionaire” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) … Improvisations on “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” (9 p.m., CW, r, TV-14 and 9:30 p.m., r, TV-PG) … The unkindest cutaway of all on “Household Man” (9:30 p.m., Fox, TV-14) … “Card Sharks” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) … Bonnie has doubts about Adam’s sponsor on “Mother” (10:30 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).
kevin.tvguy@gmail.com
