Sporting a production team including Maya Rudolph (“SNL”) and Natasha Lyonne (“Poker Face”), the new adult cartoon comedy “The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy” streams on Prime Video.
Set in a hospital far off in time and space, surgeons Dr. Sleech (Stephanie Hsu, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”) and Dr. Klak (Keke Palmer, “Nope”) treat an assortment of aliens and creatures with features often more similar to lizards and insects than humans. Most of their cases offer mind-bending philosophical questions. Should they try to kill a brain-eating parasite that feeds on anxiety-causing enzymes? Is death preferable to neurosis?
A satire of medicine, it shows how technology and corporate sponsorships can get in the way of bedside manner. Klak and Sleech are quick-witted professionals battling their own demons (promiscuity and a skin rash, among other ailments) while trying to keep to the Hippocratic Oath.
Call me old-fashioned, but “Second Best” appears to be trying to appeal to a male audience with a series that is essentially about female relationships. And professional relationships at that. Sold as an “adult” cartoon, it puts the accent on sex and violence and a lot of gross-out situations. Eating, cooking and marketing live bugs as fast food is a recurring joke. It’s often more clever than funny. Its rapid pace and onslaught of topical gags leave little room for emotional resonance.
— Prime Video also streams the standup special “Jenny Slate: Seasoned Professional,” featuring the musings of the performer known for her roles on “SNL,” “Bob’s Burgers” and “Parks and Recreation.”
— Kelly Rowland stars in the thriller “Mea Culpa,” streaming today on Netflix. She’s Mea Harper, a top attorney who takes the case of a celebrated painter Zyair Malloy (Trevante Rhodes) accused of killing his girlfriend. Trusting her gut and not the inclinations of the police, she gets in too deep with an artist skilled at seduction.
Rowland, a member of the pop group Destiny’s Child, has also been a judge on “The X-Factor” both in this country and the U.K. “Mea Culpa” is directed, produced and written by prolific film and TV creator Tyler Perry, who has a longstanding arrangement with Netflix.
— Directed by Sofia Coppola, the 2023 biopic “Priscilla” begins streaming on Max. Based on “Elvis and Me,” Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir, the film stars Cailee Spaeny in the title role and Jacob Elordi as Elvis Presley. Nominated for a Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, the movie received generally positive reviews.
— The thriller “History of Evil” streams on Shudder. Set in a futuristic police state run by religious fanatics, it follows a family at the head of the resistance who take refuge in an old house only to become consumed by its ominous past.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— Denzel Washington, Tom Sizemore, Jennifer Beals and Don Cheadle star in the 1995 noir thriller “Devil in a Blue Dress” (7 p.m., Bounce, TV-14), based on the novel by Walter Mosley.
— “Great Performances” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings) presents a tribute to country singer George Jones featuring performances by Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Jelly Roll, Tanya Tucker, Wynonna, Sam Moore, Travis Tritt, Jamey Johnson and Uncle Kracker.
— A serial killer looks very familiar on “Blue Bloods” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
CULT CHOICE
An arrogant newspaper columnist (Clifton Webb) taunts a detective (Dana Andrews) obsessed with the painting of a murdered woman (Gene Tierney) in the 1944 film noir thriller “Laura” (8 p.m., TCM, TV-PG), directed by Otto Preminger. The film’s theme by David Raskin (with lyrics by Johnny Mercer) became one of the most performed songs of the jazz era, recorded by more than 400 artists, from Charlie Parker to Frank Sinatra.
SERIES NOTES
Powell goes missing in Mexico City along with a small weapon of mass destruction on “S.W.A.T.” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-14) … “Password” (8 p.m., NBC, r, TV-PG) … “WWE Friday Night SmackDown” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-PG) … Bespoke treats for fussy fidos on “Shark Tank” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
Lost in a cave on “Fire Country” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14) … “Dateline” (9 p.m., NBC) … “20/20” (9 p.m., ABC).
LATE NIGHT
Martin Scorsese and Future Islands visit “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (11:35 p.m., CBS, r) … Jimmy Fallon welcomes Ken Jeong, Dwyane Wade and Pete Lee on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC, r) … Selena Gomez and Chromeo appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (11:35 p.m., ABC).
Dakota Johnson, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Dan Peters visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC, r) … Taylor Tomlinson hosts Dusty Slay, London Hughes and Sarah Tiana on “After Midnight” (12:35 a.m., CBS, r).
