What to Watch This Week: March 28 to April 2

From captivating rock groupies to legendary opera greats, we round up the top 10 shows to watch this week

From captivating rock groupies to legendary opera greats, we round up the top 10 shows to watch this week

1. Calls – Apple TV+

Described as “a groundbreaking, immersive television experience,” Calls combines audio with minimal abstract visuals to create nine short-form horror stories. Directed by Fede Álvarez (Don’t Breathe), each episode follows a darkly dramatic mystery that unfolds through a series of seemingly average, unconnected phone conversations that quickly become surreal as the characters’ lives are thrown into growing disarray. Featuring Lily Collins, Rosario Dawson, Pedro Pascal, Aubrey Plaza, Nick Jonas and more, the real terror underlying the show is in someone’s interpretation of what they cannot see on the screen, and the unsettling places our imaginations can take us.

2. The Simpsons – Sunday, March 28, 7 p.m., City; 8 p.m., Fox

This week, viewers discover there’s a lot more to the spouse of Springfield’s top law-enforcement officer than we thought, learning all about Chief Wiggum’s wife Sarah—such as, for instance, the fact that she’s voiced by former Will & Grace star Megan Mullally (well, for this episode, anyway).

3. Running Wild With Bear Grylls – Monday, March 29, 6 p.m. & 8:30 p.m., National Geographic | Season Premiere

After the year that was 2020, there are more than a few of us who’ve given some thought to going off the grid and into the wild. But the truth of the matter is, precious few people are equipped to ditch the luxuries and securities of modern life. For pampered celebs, that’s especially true—which is where dashing survivalist Bear Grylls comes in.

When the Englishman returns for season six, he does so with an intriguing array of A-listers to babysit. They include actors Terry Crews, Keegan-Michael Key, Anthony Mackie, Danny Trejo and Rainn Wilson, and racecar driver Danica Patrick. Watch as they leave their comfort zones, conquer their fears, test their limits… and, of course, struggle to stomach some of nature’s less-than-appetizing “delicacies.” (Which is the main reason we all tune in to this thing, right?)

4. Pavarotti – Monday, March 30, 8 p.m., Crave1

Director Ron Howard hasn’t set aside fiction-based filmmaking for the long haul, but he’s certainly been going out of his way lately to add more documentaries to his extensive filmography. With Pavarotti, the Oscar winner delves into the life and career of Luciano Pavarotti, one of the most famed and acclaimed opera singers of all time, utilizing a great deal of never-before-seen footage and exclusive interviews with his family alongside some of the most iconic performances of the man’s career. “Pavarotti’s life was replete with the highs and lows of great drama,” Howard told Classic FM. “And, like any compelling character, he was also a man of considerable contradictions.”

5. The Last Cruise – Tuesday, March 30, 8 p.m. & 11 p.m., HBO Canada

In early 2020, the Diamond Princess cruise ship became the first and largest outbreak of COVID-19 outside China. This short doc includes never-before-seen footage from passengers and crew, revealing just how bad things got aboard the ship.

6. Pooch Perfect – Tuesday, March 30, 8 p.m., ABC | Series Premiere

At this point, it seems like they can make a reality show out of anything—so, hey, why not dog grooming? After all, who doesn’t need more cuddly canine goodness in their life? That’s the premise of this competition, hosted by Australian phenom Rebel Wilson. The Pitch Perfect star, who comes from a line of dog groomers herself, oversees 10 of the best pooch sprucer-uppers in America over eight instalments as they take on an array of fur-ocious tasks (which will fall under two categories, “Immunity Puppertunity” and “Ultimutt Challenge”).

The show is an Americanized remake of the same series Wilson hosted Down Under, only for this iteration she’s recruited some new faces to help judge. They include dog advocate and former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump, celebrity dog groomer Jorge Bendersky and veterinarian Dr. Callie Harris. Each week, another contestant is eliminated until the big finale, when the top three groomers face off for the cash prize.

7. Almost Famous – Thursday, April 1, 7 p.m., TCN

Inspired by the real life of writer-director Cameron Crowe, this uplifting dramedy kicks off in 1973, with William (Patrick Fugit), a 15-year-old wannabe journalist, securing an assignment to interview rising rock band Stillwater for Rolling Stone, which leads him to, quite unexpectedly, join them on tour. For her breakthrough performance as charismatic Penny, Kate Hudson received an Oscar nomination in 2000.

8. Manifest – Thursday, April 1, 7 p.m., City; 8 p.m., NBC | Season Premiere

The high-flying pulse-pounder that many critics have dubbed “the new Lost” returns for season three, as the survivors of Flight 828 continue unravelling the mystery of exactly where they vanished to for those five years.

We pick up with a three-month time jump, as Ben (Josh Dallas) and Saanvi (Parveen Kaur) try to find out more about the tailfin. According to Dallas, that particular component of the plane will play a big role in this third season. Yet, as we’ve come to expect from this mind-bender of a series, the latest piece to the puzzle will present more questions than answers.

“That tailfin will open up a whole new labyrinth of the mythology of Flight 828 and what happened to these passengers, so it will push us on a whole new journey into that world,” the actor told The Sydney Morning Herald.

9. Top Chef – Thursday, April 1, 7 p.m. & 10 p.m., Food | Season Premiere

Things are heating up in Portland, as some of the most talented chefs from across America compete in the show’s 18th season. Watch as they all file into the decked-out TC kitchen, and try to prove they can take the heat.

10. United States of Al – Thursday, April 1, 8:31 p.m., Global & CBS | Series Premiere

When it comes to military-centric sitcoms, one of the best to hit primetime television over the last several years was Enlisted, the Fox series which starred Geoff Stults, Chris Lowell and Parker Young as three brothers, all of whom ended up being assigned to the same stateside unit. Alas, it only survived for a single season before getting the ax, but now Young is getting a second shot at a premise not too far removed from that one. And this one has the advantage of being a Chuck Lorre production—which, not for nothing, usually seems to bode well for for the possibility of a second season. Young plays Riley, a Marine combat veteran who’s still readjusting to civilian life when Awalmir (Adhir Kalyan, Rules of Engagement), the interpreter who served with Riley’s unit in Afghanistan, arrives in Ohio with plans of starting a new life, living with Riley and his family. Al sees America through fresh eyes, such as when he asks his friend if he can take him to visit “that place that sells peanut butter and brings it to you on a forklift”—a.k.a. Costco.

Given Lorre’s track record, anticipate a genuine exploration of how Riley’s dealing with life after the military, as well as Awalmir’s struggles with culture shock and the inevitable racism from less-tolerant Americans—but with lots of laughs, too!