Every time a new season of “Better Things” (10 p.m., FX, TV-MA) comes along, I’m reminded that I don’t watch it. The series, created by star Pamela Adlon and Louis C.K., has received consistently rave reviews. Adlon was nominated for an Emmy for her performance, and the show was bestowed with a Peabody award in 2017.
The show is loosely based on Adlon’s (“King of the Hill”) own life and career as an actress and voice artist.
A mother of teens and tweens, Sam seems to rival them in the self-absorption department. The first five minutes of the season opener consist of Sam staring in the mirror.
Take away self-involvement and inside jokes, and I’m not sure there’d be much left to “Better Things” besides musical montages.
There are at least six crammed into a 28-minute show. They used to wait until well into the third act of a 42-minute “Homicide” or “West Wing” to break out that narrative crutch.
So, at the risk of seeming unsympathetic, toxically male or unwoke, I don’t watch “Better Things” because I don’t like it. It’s gimmicky, slow, narcissistic and boring. If it sticks around for a fourth season, I’ll have to remind myself all over again.
TONIGHT’S SEASON FINALES
— The final eight compete on “The Titan Games” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
— Questions about Jon’s death linger on “A Million Little Things” (9 p.m. ABC, TV-14).
— Annalise’s team sets out to define the narrative on “How to Get Away With Murder” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— Bruce and Alfred go subterranean on “Gotham” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
— Catherine’s post-op party goes awry on “Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m. ABC, TV-14).
— Isaac’s homecoming on the first of a two-part episode of “The Orville” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
CULT CHOICE
James Dean, Sal Mineo and Natalie Wood star the 1955 drama “Rebel Without a Cause” (6 p.m., TCM), directed by Nicholas Ray.
SERIES NOTES
The competition continues on “The World’s Best” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … Macy invokes a dark force on “Charmed” (8 p.m., CW, r, TV-14) … Video evidence on “The Big Bang Theory” (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG) … Conflicting evidence on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14) … A missing urn on “Legacies” (9 p.m., CW, TV-PG) … Reverse psychology on “Fam” (9:30 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … The real McCoy on “Will & Grace” (9:30 p.m., NBC, TV-14) … Terror takes a cruise on “S.W.A.T.” (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) … A traitor offers evidence on “The Enemy Within” (10 p.m., NBC, r, TV-14).
LATE NIGHT
Gary Clark Jr. is booked on “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” (11 p.m., Comedy Central) … Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle appear on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS, TV-14).
Matthew McConaughey and Better Oblivion Community Center are booked on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (11:35 p.m., CBS, r) … Jimmy Fallon welcomes John Mulaney, Kevin Nealon and 2 Chainz featuring Marsha Ambrosius on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Ellen Pompeo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Half Alive appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:35 p.m., ABC).
Amy Sedaris, J.K. Simmons and Jon Epcar visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) … Kevin Hart, Stephen James and Phosphorescent appear on “The Late Late Show With James Corden” (12:35 a.m., CBS, r).
