TV Junkie: Sunday Was A Big Night for Dramas; 'The Big C' Season Finale Tonight; Got 'Backwash'?

"The Big C" will have its season finale tonight at 10:30pm on Showtime

"The Big C" will have its season finale tonight at 10:30pm on Showtime
This weekend's TV had some great moments: Friday's season finale of "Real Time With Bill Maher" still has clips bouncing all over twitter, most of which were of zingers from Michael Moore. Did anybody watch Scarlett Johansson on SNL? We didn't. Sunday was the big night where significant (and intense) plot advancements occurred in "Dexter", "Boardwalk Empire", and "The Walking Dead".The "Bored To Death" season finale was great if not bittersweet, as we will have to wait until next Fall to see new episodes. We'll definitely be watching reruns of the series between now and then because this was a season worth rewatching. Read the final edition (of the season) of series creator Jonathan Ames' blog at HBO.

Tonight we have the season finales of "Weeds" and "The Big C". How do you think "Weeds" has held up this season? At this point we're just confused with the show - we love Kevin Nealon's scenes but are just kind of at a loss while watching the rest of the show. On the other hand, "The Big C" was never really positioned as a comedy so the funny bits have been a bonus - however, we're wondering how the season will end after the very dark turn taken last week. Be sure to check out ourinterviews with "The Big C" cast.

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The web series "Backwash" premiered on www.Crackle.com today - created by Joshua Malina ("Sports Night", "The West Wing") and starring Manlina, Peter Sellers lookalike Michael Panes, and Michael Ian Black. Presented in a "Masterpiece Theatre" format with changing guest hosts for each episode, ranging from Jon Hamm to Allison Janney, "Backwash" has a retro feel to it with vaudeville style jokes, even some bits of animation and musical numbers. This is a totally bizarre show revolving around Val (Malina) and Jonesy (Panes) who inadvertently steal $100k armed with a large sausage in a sock. They team up with effete childhood "friend" Fleming (Black) and head to Reno.

Seven minute chunks of strangeness await you in each "Backwash", based on a book ostensibly, ridiculously, and supposedly written by William Makepeace Thackeray, author of Vanity Fair and The Luck of Barry Lyndon. We've seen the first seven episodes and what was most surprising were the host performances, most of which were funny. Sometimes the actual segment featuring the antics of Val and Jonesy seemed like an afterthought. It seems a lot of strings were pulled, a lot of favors called, and not a few dollars were spent on this show. We like Josh Malina a lot and would love to see him back as a regular on TV - perhaps in a 1/2 hour comedy, but we're not altogether sure that this was the way to do it. He could have gone even further with "Backwash" or played it more subtly. What we get is something in-between. In defense of the people who might really like it, a 7 minute investment on your own time is a best-case scenario when checking out something new, and that's what is great about web series, so have at it.

A bonus we took from this experience was after seeing Ken Marino open a segment we pulled out and watched our screeners for "Party Down", what a great show that was, and how sorely it is missed - what was Starz thinking?
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If you missed our friend Greg Proops record his podcast in West Hollywood recently, be sure to subscribe to him via iTunes. Also note that Proops is on Chelsea Handler's panel tonight - we will be watching.
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The TV Junkie Plan: "Vanguard", "Chuck", "The Event", "The Big C", "Chelsea Lately" (Greg Proops in the panel), "Conan" (LL Cool J, B.J. Novak, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings), Fallon (Daniel Radcliffe, Quincy Jones, Grinderman performs)

6:00pm Vanguard: Life and Death on the Border Current - Documentary exploring the violence along the US-Mexico border.

8:00pm Chuck NBC - Chuck tries to prove himself by going on a hazardous mission; Casey and Morgan try to cover when the "Buy Morons" investigate Greta's (Summer Glau) identity.

8:00pm How I Met Your Mother CBS - When Barney finds a copy of the kids' show featuring Robin's alter ego, the friends learn more about her past as a performer than they expected.

9:00pm The Event NBC - President Martinez interrogates Michael about his involvement in the assassination attempt; Vicky is sent on a new secret mission.

9:00-10pm In Treatment HBO - Sunil finds his son and Julia's relationship is similar to his affair / Frances experiences self-loathing after reliving painful family memories.

9:00pm Lie to Me Fox - Lightman faces off with the leader of a self-help empire to free a wealthy woman who may be under the control of the cultlike leader

9:55pm Hawaii Five-0 CBS - The team must protect a ruthless dictator from an assassination.

10:00pm Weeds Showtime - Season Finale. Nancy faces difficult choices; Andy attempts to calm Shane and Warren; Silas considers staying behind.

10:00pm Castle ABC - When a prominent astrophysicist is found dead in her car, Castle is led to theorize her death was the result of an alien abduction.

10:30pm The Big C Showtime - Season Finale.

11:00pm Conan TBS - LL Cool J; actor B.J. Novak; Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings.

11:35pm Late Show With David Letterman CBS - Actress Emma Watson; actor Scott Caan; Rascal Flatts performs.

11:35pm The Tonight Show With Jay Leno NBC - Actor Russell Crowe; actress Anna Torv; Annie Lennox performs.

12:00am Lopez Tonight TBS - Boxer Manny Pacquiao; Sheryl Crow performs.

12:05am Jimmy Kimmel Live ABC - Comic Kathy Griffin; actress Miranda Cosgrove; Jason Aldean performs.

12:35am Late Night With Jimmy Fallon NBC - Actor Daniel Radcliffe; music producer Quincy Jones; Grinderman performs.

Promo Box for Crackle's "Backwash":