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Your TV GPS, Globe TV critic Matthew Gilbert’s look at the week ahead in television, appears every Monday morning on BostonGlobe.com. Today’s column covers May 6-12.
On Wednesday, the Globe is starting a bracket competition for the best of the “Saturday Night Live” performers over the years, since the NBC series began in 1975. (Here is the link.) I like the idea of going back over the history of the hugely influential — and, of course, often complained-about — show as it heads into its 50th year on TV, thinking about the major players and also thinking about how American comedy has and hasn’t changed across a half-century.
The bracket could only hold 64 contenders, so we had to cut out some of the comics who’d been on the show way back when and some who are currently on. Some of those who didn’t make the cut were only on the show for a year, maybe two, and never really got to spread their wings. Some are still too new to judge.
And some of that group went on to become famous, even though they did not stand out on “SNL.” Their names are well-known now — there’s even an Oscar winner among them — but they passed through Lorne Michaels’s show without a lot of notice, either because they were there briefly or because they never quite mastered the complex behind-the-scenes art of getting sketches on the air.
For the record, they include Martin Short, Gilbert Gottfried, Christopher Guest, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Joan Cusack, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Michael Hall, Randy Quaid, Damon Wayans, Ben Stiller, Sarah Silverman, Jay Mohr, Chris Elliott, Michael McKean, Janeane Garofolo, Rob Riggle, Casey Wilson, Jenny Slate, and Tim Robinson.
WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK
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1. “Bodkin” is a dark comedy about three podcasters investigating a crime — think “Only Murders in the Building,” but with disappearances instead of murders, and without the building (they’re in a small Irish town, Bodkin). The case grows stranger the more they look into it, of course, and they fail to stir up much help from the tightly knit, quirky local community. (Trailer here.) The cast is primarily Irish (so you may need subtitles!), but Will Forte — “SNL” alum — is in the mix as one of the podcasters, whose name is Gilbert. The seven-episode series premieres Thursday on Netflix.
2. Apple TV+ has been delivering big-time for sci-fi lovers, with the likes of “Foundation,” “Invasion,” “See,” and “Silo.” The latest is “Dark Matter,” which has been adapted from Blake Crouch’s 2016 novel by the author himself. It’s about a Chicago physicist (Joel Edgerton) who gets kidnapped and taken into an alternate version of his life, the road not taken. Can he find his way back to his own timeline and reunite with his wife and son? (Trailer.) Jennifer Connelly, Alice Braga, and Jimmi Simpson also star in the eight-episode series, which premieres Wednesday.
3. The first season of “Interview With the Vampire,” a series adaptation of Anne Rice’s 1976 novel, was excellent. It fully captured that breed of despair known as “the dark gift,” the acting was superb, and the production design was spectacular. So fingers crossed on season two of the show, which premieres Sunday at 9 p.m. on AMC, and on AMC+. Jacob Anderson returns as the tortured Louis, Sam Reid makes appearances as Lestat, Eric Bogosian is back as the journalist, and, in a Darrin-Derwood move, Delainey Hayles replaces Bailey Bass as forever-young Claudia. (Trailer here.)
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4. This year, Kevin Hart is the 25th comic to win the “Mark Twain Prize for American Humor,” and the March ceremony will be available Saturday on Netflix. Among those paying tribute to the emotional Hart: Dave Chappelle, who was the 2019 recipient of the Mark Twain Prize; Chris Rock; J.B. Smoove; Jimmy Fallon; Jerry Seinfeld, the current king of overpromotion; Tiffany Haddish; Chelsea Handler; and Nick Cannon.
CHANNEL SURFING
“Let It Be” Peter Jackson’s restoration of Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s original 1970 film about The Beatles. Disney+, Wednesday
“Doctor Who” Ncuti Gatwa from “Sex Education” takes over as the Fifteenth Doctor. Disney+, Friday
“Black Twitter” A three-part docuseries about the once-vital social media outlet. Hulu, Thursday
“Nikki Glaser: Someday You’ll Die” A stand-up special. HBO, Saturday, 10 p.m.
RECENTLY REVIEWED
“Baby Reindeer” A powerful tale of stalking. Netflix
“The Tattooist of Auschwitz” Two prisoners fall in love. Peacock
“A Man in Full” Jeff Daniels as a billionaire on the brink. Netflix
“Elsbeth” A spinoff from “The Good Wife” starring Carrie Preston. CBS, Paramount+
“Franklin” Michael Douglas stars as Ben Franklin in France. Apple TV+
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“Mary & George” A period piece starring Julianne Moore. Starz
“Ripley” Andrew Scott stars as a notorious con artist. Netflix
“We Were the Lucky Ones” A miniseries about a Jewish family in World War II Poland. Hulu
“3 Body Problem” Sci-fi from the “Game of Thrones” creators. Netflix
“Alice & Jack” A PBS “Masterpiece” series that tracks the ups and downs of a difficult relationship. GBH 2
“Palm Royale” Kristen Wiig as a wannabe socialite in 1969. Apple TV+
“Nolly” Helena Bonham Carter stars in the PBS “Masterpiece” three-parter. GBH 2
Matthew Gilbert can be reached at matthew.gilbert@globe.com. Follow him @MatthewGilbert.