We need more silly humor in our lives. And few performers put the accent on the ridiculous better than New Zealand comedy duo Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, who return for the concert special “Flight of the Conchords: Live in London” (10 p.m. Saturday, HBO, TV-MA), their first appearance on the network since their brilliant eponymous HBO comedy left the air in 2009.
Masters of musical mimicry, they embark on absurd ballads, evoking Cat Stevens or Harry Chapin in a father-son song that quickly derails into a confessional train wreck of pathetic self-delusion. Other numbers, old and new, evoke the disco pop of the Bee Gees and contemporary hip-hop.
Their musical efforts are punctuated by seemingly sedated deadpan chatter filled with many references to the obscurity and insignificance of New Zealand. “Live” may make viewers pine for the old “Conchords” show, where a thinly constructed sitcom plot provided excuses for their silly songs. Nominated for 10 Emmys, the series introduced many to Kristen Schaal (“Last Man on Earth”), who later became known as the voice of Louise Belcher on “Bob’s Burgers.”
The highly conceptual lyrics of “Flight of the Conchords” stand in contrast to the thin gruel of humor emanating from “Saturday Night Live” (11:30 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
Now in its 44th season, it relies entirely too much on importing celebrities to offer belabored impersonations of the president, his appointees or figures from his administration.
— Last week, “SNL” got a lot of attention by inviting Matt Damon to “do” Judge Brett Kavanaugh. But do these improvisational riffs rise to the level of satire? Or are they merely part of a highly partisan echo chamber, reacting to a president who already dominates too much of the conversation? And at the end of the day, is “SNL” a comedy show or a celebrity showcase? You get the sense that of all of these Trump-centric cameos eclipse the efforts of the ensemble.
One could admire Damon and “SNL” for attempting a Kavanaugh sketch only two days after his testimony. But a far more original riff on current events arrived on social media well before Damon’s appearance. Josh and Benny Safdie, the directors behind the film “Good Time,” created a mashup of Kavanaugh’s testimony and Samuel Jackson’s “hamburger scene” from the 1994 classic “Pulp Fiction.” The collision of these two seemingly disparate items is much more inventive (not to mention funnier) than mere celebrity impersonation and imitation — and a clear sign that “SNL” needs to step up its game.
Awkwafina hosts “SNL” this week, featuring musical guest Travis Scott.
— The proliferation of viewer choices has made it all but impossible for broadcasters to achieve a monster hit that appeals to a massive audience. As a result, cult series with large and passionate followings have become more desirable. Two such shows return on Sunday. “The Walking Dead” (9 p.m., AMC, TV-MA), now entering its ninth zombie-shuffling season, may be too violent for some, but it’s still among the most-watched and anticipated series going.
— A touchstone of British popular culture for five decades with an enthusiastic audience in 38 countries, including the United States, “Doctor Who” (8 p.m., BBC America, TV-PG) welcomes its first female time-traveling Doctor. Jodie Whittaker (“Broadchurch,” “Black Mirror”) is the latest to climb out of the TARDIS.
Before the prime-time airing of “Who,” it will be simulcast around the globe to coincide with its British television premiere. BBC America joins the event (1:45 p.m.) on Sunday afternoon.
— ABC has doubled, even tripled, down on precocious kids. The Friday night series “Child Support” depends on juvenile “experts” who help adults win prizes on a game show. The freshman comedy “Single Parents” features hapless adults who have managed to raise highly articulate little darlings.
— Sunday, ABC launches “Dancing With the Stars: Junior” (8 p.m., TV-PG) for those who like watching semi-famous kids younger than 12 donning formal wear and learning to cha-cha. Former child stars and “Dancing” contestants Jordan Fisher and Frankie Muniz are your hosts.
— Kelly Clarkson, Justin Timberlake, Carrie Underwood, Imagine Dragons and more perform on “iHeartRadio Music Festival Night 1” (8 p.m. Sunday, CW, TV-PG). Ryan Seacrest hosts.
— For those paying attention, this marks the CW’s expansion to a six-night-a-week schedule. Look for “Supergirl” and the “new” incarnation of “Charmed” to air on Sundays, starting next weekend.
SATURDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
— College football action includes Washington at UCLA (7:30 p.m., Fox) and Notre Dame at Virginia Tech (8 p.m., ABC).
— The Boston Red Sox host Game 2 of the American League Division Series (8 p.m., TBS).
— A professional hostage negotiator has to save her own kidnapped daughter in the 2018 shocker “A Mother’s Worst Fear” (8 p.m., Lifetime, TV-14).
— A toddler is no match for an angry kitty on “My Cat From Hell” (8 p.m., Animal Planet, TV-PG).
— The opulent, if explicit, period costume drama “Versailles” (10 p.m., Ovation, TV-MA) returns for its third and final season.
SUNDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
— Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (7 p.m., CBS): a profile of best-selling young adult author John Green.
— Leslie’s girlfriend seems a little late on “The Durrells in Corfu” on “Masterpiece” (8 p.m., PBS, TV-14, check local listings).
— The Houston Texans host the Dallas Cowboys in “Sunday Night Football” (8:20 p.m., NBC).
— Awaiting a blessed event on “Poldark” on “Masterpiece” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings).
— Frankie gets an offer he might have to refuse on “The Deuce” (9 p.m., HBO, TV-MA).
— Elizabeth consults with three former secretaries of state — Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton and Colin Powell (as themselves) — on the season five premiere of “Madam Secretary” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
— Josh Gates hosts “Expedition Unknown: Search for the Afterlife” (10 p.m., Discovery).
— Straws and sticky stuff stand out on the 10th season premiere of “Shark Tank” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
CULT CHOICE
Christian Bale stars as Dieter Dengler, a German-born U.S. Navy pilot shot down during the Vietnam War who walked away from his POW camp in the 2006 drama “Rescue Dawn” (6:45 p.m. Saturday, TMC). This true story was also chronicled in the 1997 documentary “Little Dieter Needs to Fly,” directed by Werner Herzog.
SATURDAY SERIES
There goes “The Neighborhood” (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG) … Two helpings of “Dateline” (8 p.m. and 9 p.m., NBC) … A famous guest changes everything on “Happy Together” (8:30 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG) … A podcaster gets a cosmic poke on “God Friended Me” (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG) … “48 Hours” (10 p.m., CBS) … A vintage helping of “Saturday Night Live” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
SUNDAY SERIES
“Football Night in America” (7 p.m., NBC) … Miles hits the podcast jackpot on “God Friended Me” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … Marge and Homer appear on reality TV on “The Simpsons” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-PG) … Chickens and eggs on “Bob’s Burgers” (8:30 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
Jewel thieves use high-tech gear on “NCIS: Los Angeles” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14) … Marriage on the rocks on “Family Guy” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14) … Time to turn the page on “Rel” (9:30 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
