TV Corner Notes: Secrets, Shake-Ups, and Slow-Burn Payoffs

 

Some weeks on TV feel like everything is building… and this was one of them. Secrets surfaced, lineups shifted, and a few shows reminded us that the longer something stays buried, the messier it gets when it finally comes out.

This week’s TV Corner Notes is a mix of shake-ups and slow burns. CBS made a bold scheduling move that has comedy fans raising eyebrows, while my watchlist took me from a surprisingly layered Belfast mystery to one of the darkest hours yet in Imperfect Women. It’s the kind of week where nothing fully explodes, but you can feel the pressure building everywhere.

CBS Fall Lineup Reaction 

CBS just dropped its 2026–2027 fall lineup, and the biggest surprise? Comedy is basically on a diet.

We’re looking at just two half-hour comedies during the week—Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage and the new Entertly Yours (from the team behind Ghosts). That’s… light. Like, historically light for a network that used to treat comedy blocks as appointment TV.

And yes, Ghosts fans, you’re not imagining things. The show is being held for midseason. Not ideal, but it’s not all bad: CBS is still rolling out a full 22-episode season, plus keeping the Halloween and Christmas episodes intact. So the chaos (and the holiday traditions) survive, just on a delayed schedule.

The strategy here seems pretty clear. CBS is trying to give Entertly Yours the best possible launchpad by pairing it with Georgie & Mandy, instead of risking two new comedies on a night like Monday. It’s a cautious move, maybe even a smart one—but it does leave the overall comedy presence feeling a bit… thin.

On the drama side, the NCIS universe keeps expanding (because of course it does), this time with a New York–set spinoff bringing back LL Cool J. At this point, he’s basically collecting NCIS series like trophies—Los Angeles, Hawaii, and now NYC. Meanwhile, NCIS: Sydney shifts to midseason, while NCIS: Origins holds the fall slot, which honestly makes sense for a prequel-style rollout.

I’ll be honest, I’m still not fully over Hawaii getting canceled, so jumping into another spinoff feels like a “we’ll see” situation. And yes, catching up on Sydney is officially on my summer list.

Overall, I don’t hate the lineup. It’s just… different. CBS stepping back from a full comedy night, especially on Mondays, feels like the end of an era. But if you go back far enough, this network has reinvented its scheduling before (hello, Saturday night comedy dominance in the ’70s and ’80s), so maybe this is just another shift.

Still, fewer comedies on CBS? That’s going to take some getting used to.

What I Watched This Week

This week’s watchlist was a mix of slow-burn payoffs and “wait… what just happened?” moments. From finally catching up on a series that completely surprised me to another chapter of Imperfect Women turning the tension up even higher, this was one of those weeks where every episode felt like it was quietly setting the stage for something bigger.

How to Get to Heaven From Belfast Season 1

Okay, it took me about a month to get through this one, but honestly? I’m kind of glad it did. How to Get to Heaven from Belfast isn’t a show you rush—it’s one you settle into, and then suddenly realize it’s taken you somewhere completely unexpected.

What starts as a darkly funny trip to a wake turns into something much bigger and a lot stranger. Saoirse, Robyn, and Dara head to Donegal to say goodbye to their friend Greta… except the body in the coffin isn’t hers. From there, the show slowly unravels this layered mystery involving a fake death, a shadowy group called “The Society,” and a past that’s way more disturbing than anyone wants to admit.

The deeper it goes, the darker it gets. What initially feels like classic Derry Girls-style humor (no surprise, coming from Lisa McGee) starts to blend into something closer to a conspiracy thriller, with cult trauma, buried secrets, and a friendship that’s been holding on to a lie for years. And somehow, it all works.

By the time we get to the finale, everything converges at the ruins of “Heaven’s Veil,” and it feels like it’s building toward total chaos. But the show actually pulls back in a really interesting way—less about a big explosive ending, more about shifting the game. Greta gets a real chance to disappear, the Society starts to crack from the inside, and then we’re left with that final moment… the pink bag.

And yeah, that cliffhanger lands.

What really makes this show stick, though, is the chemistry between the three leads. No matter how wild the plot gets, it always comes back to them. The humor feels natural, the emotional beats hit when they need to, and when things turn dark, it feels earned rather than over-the-top.

It’s not perfect; some of the conspiracy elements get a little tangled, but the way it balances tone is impressive. One minute it’s sharp and funny, the next it’s genuinely unsettling. That’s a tough line to walk, and this show mostly nails it.

Overall, I’d give Season 1 a 9.5/10. It’s easily one of the most surprising watches I’ve had in a while.

Now I’m curious, have you seen it yet? And more importantly… what do you think was in that bag?

Imperfect Women: Mary

This week's episode shifts to Mary, and suddenly, the idyllic world of Hennessy turns into a terrifying scene of domestic horror. Suspicion about her husband, Howard, being Nancy’s secret lover, "David," is confirmed when Mary finds Nancy’s missing claddagh ring hidden in their home—a clear clue tying Howard to the murder. As Mary unravels the truth about Howard, learning from his first wife that he’s a serial abuser who once pushed her down stairs, the episode takes a dark turn into psychological warfare. Howard tries to shut down Mary’s questions by weaponizing her past with pill addiction and gaslighting her with unsettling calm. Things reach a horrifying peak when Mary’s young daughter, Artemis, overdoses on a stash of Adderall Mary had hidden in a mint tin. The episode ends in the sterile, suffocating hospital halls, where Howard’s grieving father's act drops to reveal a dangerous sociopath, leaving Mary torn between her child’s life and the threat from her husband.

This episode truly showcases Elisabeth Moss’s remarkable talent, delivering a performance that’s both inspiring and heartfelt. Moss beautifully portrays the frantic, heartbreaking realization of a woman watching her world fall apart, bringing a raw vulnerability that invites viewers to feel every moment of her fear. Standing strong alongside her is Corey Stoll, who plays an utterly evil character with chilling precision. His ability to shift from a caring, supportive husband to a cold, manipulative figure is truly unsettling; his performance transforms the home into a tense, almost horror-film atmosphere, where the monster feels very real. Although the "accidental overdose" cliffhanger might seem a bit heavy-handed, the incredible acting elevates the story powerfully. “Mary" offers a gripping, thought-provoking hour of television that reminds us that the most dangerous secrets aren't always the ones we hide, but the ones we carry inside.

Overall, I give this episode an 8/10.

Catch Up

And because the watchlist never really ends, I also squeezed in a few catch-ups this week—some long-overdue, others just trying to stay current before the next wave hits. You know how it goes: one episode turns into three, and suddenly you’re back in the chaos.

After The Flood Season 1

Hacks Season 5, Episode 2

Margo's Got Money Trouble Series Premiere (three episodes) 

What to Watch This Week

If this week proved anything, it’s that TV is leaning into big swings, finales, premieres, and a few wild concepts that could either break out or completely crash. Whether you’re in the mood for comfort watches, buzzy debuts, or something a little chaotic, there’s a lot hitting screens over the next few days.

Monday, April 20

CoComelon Lane Season 7 (Netflix)

4x20: Quick Hits (Hulu, four-episode binge): The anthology is comprised of four, 20-minute films, all in celebration of what is arguably the world's most beloved plant, including the tale of how "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle made it to the big screen.

Kevin (Prime Video, eight-episode binge). After his human owners break up, a cat named Kevin (voiced by Jason Schwartzman) decides to break up with them too and moves into a local pet rescue. Additional voices include Aubrey Plaza, Whoopi Goldberg, John Waters, and Amy Sedaris. 

8/7c Sullivan's Crossing Season 4 (The CW)

9/8c Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out Season 2 (Lifetime)

9/8c Funny AF with Kevin Hart (Netflix, four-episode premiere): Hart is on a mission to crown the next big name in stand-up, with help from guest judges Keegan-Michael Key, Tom Segura, Kumail Nanjiani, Chelsea Handler, and Nikki Glaser. 

Cheech & Chong's Last Movie (Paramount+)

Tuesday, April 21

Unchosen (Netflix, six-episode binge): When a young mother (Molly Windsor) from a sheltered cult crosses paths with a mysterious stranger, she embarks on a risky affair that awakens desires and dark secrets; Asa Butterfield co-stars. 

8/7c Farmer Wants a Wife Season 4 (Fox)

9/8c Running Wild with Bear Grylls Season 9 (Fox)

Untold: The Shooting at Hawthorne Hill (Netflix documentary): A dispute between a dressage trainer and his student spirals into bloodshed and a surprising insanity defense. 

Wednesday, April 22

Criminal Record Season 2 (Apple TV)

Hulk Hogan: Real American (Netflix, four-episode binge): Uncover the man behind the legend in this unfiltered docuseries featuring his very last interview. 

Invincible Season 4 finale (Prime Video)

8/7c Abbott Elementary Season 5 finale (ABC, two episodes)

9/8c The Greatest Average American Season 1 finale (ABC)

10/9c Shark Tank Season 17 finale (ABC)

Lainey Wilson: Keeping Country Cool (Netflix documentary): The singer-songwriter redefines what it means to be a country star in a documentary charting her journey from dreamer to Grammy winner. 

Orangutan (Disney+): Josh Gad narrates this immersive feature introducing Indah, an inquistive adolescent orangutan learning how to navigate life as she prepares to leave her family and venture out on her own for the first time. 

Thursday, April 23

After the Flood Season 2 (BritBox)

Running Point Season 2 (Netflix, 10-episode binge)

Stranger Things: Tales from 85 (Netflix, 10-episode binge): Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max have settled back into a normal life of D&D, snowball fights, and quiet days, but beneath the ice, something terrifying has awakened. 

This City is Ours Season 1 finale (AMC+)

8/7c NFL Draft- Round 1 (ABC, ESPN, NFL Network)

9/8c Animal Control Season 4 finale (Fox)

9/8c Half Man (HBO): The limited series follows estranged brothers (Jamie Bell and Richard Gadd) whose volatile reunion ignites a decades-spanning exploration of their shared past. 

9/8c Matlock Season 2 finale (CBS, two episodes)

9:30/8:30c Going Dutch Season 2 finale (Fox)

Friday, April 24

8/7c Happy's Place Season 2 finale (NBC, two episodes)

8/7c NFL Draft Rounds 2-3 (ABC, NFL Network, ESPN2) 

Nikki Glaser: Good Girls (Hulu comedy special)

Apex (Netflix movie): A grieving woman (Charlize Theron) pushing her limits on a solo adventure in the Australian wild is ensnared in a twisted game with a cunning killer (Taron Egerton) who thinks she's prey.

Marty Supreme (HBO Max)

Saturday, April 25

8/7c NFL Draft Rounds 4-7 (ABC, NFL Network, ESPN)

Good Boy (Hulu)

That’s it for this week’s TV Corner Notes. Between shifting network strategies, slow-burn mysteries getting darker, and a few standout performances carrying the weight, it feels like we’re heading into a stretch where everything is about to pay off.

As always, I want to hear from you, what stood out this week? And what’s at the top of your watchlist next?

Until next week,

Adam