New Fox Toons, ‘Home Town’ on HGTV, BritBox Provides ‘Protection’

The Simpsons

SUNDAY: You’ve heard of “bottle episodes,” those self-contained episodes designed to use as few characters and set changes as possible. The Simpsons takes the phrase more literally, in a “Bottle Episode” where Marge teams up with Smithers as unlikely Robin Hoods when they embark on a wine-forging adventure. Wine critic Robert Parker guests as himself. Followed by the Season 1 finale of Universal Basic Guys (8:30/7:30c), and a new episode of Bob’s Burgers (9/8c), where Tina doles out advice as the school newspaper’s new columnist.

Home Town

SUNDAY: Ben and Erin Napier return for an eighth season of bringing aid to Mississippi homeowners—or in the opener, prospective home owners whose plans have fallen through several times. Their wish list includes space for a specialty garden to support their new food business, and time is of the essence.

Protection

SUNDAY: Siobhan Finneran, who first caught many viewers’ attention as Downton Abbey’s dour lady’s maid O’Brien and continued to impress in British series including Happy Valley, stars in the lead role of a six-episode British crime drama (available for binge-watching) as witness protection officer Liz Nyles. Her latest assignment involves keeping safe a key witness who plans to testify against a powerful crime boss. When the safe house is attacked, Liz learns that not only was the witness shot, but so was her secret lover and colleague, DS Paul Brandice (Barry Ward), who wasn’t even attached to the case. So why was he there?

Frozen

SUNDAY: Let it go and let it snow in the blockbuster 2013 animated hit, starring Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell as royal sisters Elsa and Anna. The 2019 Frozen 2 sequel follows at 9/8c, a perfect combo with some hot chocolate.

INSIDE WEEKEND TV:

• Two for One: Nicole Holofcener (Saturday, 8/7c, TCM): This week’s double feature, curated by the celebrated director of You Hurt My Feelings director, includes discussions with host Ben Mankiewicz of 1978’s Oscar-winning Coming Home and 1973’s The Last Detail.
• Unbreakable (Saturday, 8/7c, Fuse): The uplifting docuseries returns, featuring differently abled people with big dreams, including prospective parents Cody and Jess and wannabe hairdresser Jaimee.
• Earth Abides (Sunday, 9/8c, MGM+): The post-apocalyptic drama ends its first season with Ish (Alexander Ludwig) realizing the hope for humanity’s future may lie beyond his books.