The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Wednesday, Amazon
When we first meet Miriam “Midge” Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan), she thinks she has it made. Her husband, Joel (Michael Zegen), has a good job. They live with their two children in a classic six on the Upper West Side, in the same building as her parents, Abe (Tony Shalhoub) and Rose (Marin Hinkle). The year is 1958. Miriam’s biggest headache is trying to persuade the local rabbi to join the family at Yom Kippur dinner. In “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” her comfortable life takes a sharp left turn when, in the process of helping Joel with his stand-up comedy act, she discovers she’s the funny one in the family and that her future lies not on Riverside Drive but in seedy Greenwich Village clubs.
Series creators Amy Sherman-Palladino (“Gilmore Girls”) and her husband Daniel Palladino spoke to The Post during a press day at New York’s Crosby Hotel about their new series, which has a two-season order — eight episodes this year, 10 in 2018 — and was filmed in New York, on location and at Steiner Studios in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Why tell a story about a housewife who becomes a stand-up comic?
Amy: Midge’s actions and her mind-set and her confidence in herself are very modern. It felt like a more visual way to tell a story of a woman coming into her voice.
How will Midge’s parents figure into the story?
Amy: Part of what made “Gilmore Girls” Gilmore were the family dynamics. We wanted to make sure we had enough places to go in Midge’s world. It’s more the story of a woman who throws everyone else’s life into upheaval. She ends up being the bull in the china shop.
In tracing Midge’s evolution, you also portray a bygone era vis-à-vis clubs like the Gaslight, where poets were on the same bill with comics. Why was that kind of detail important to you?
Amy: Poets were cool back then. They weren’t just sad and out of work.
Dan: Poets hung out with the musicians and the comics. It was all very, very connected. We’re keeping that in there.
Why did you decide to shoot the show here?
Amy: The show will not work if it becomes a series of people talking in rooms. We have the strong downtown scenes. And that sterile Midtown look. And the Upper West Side. We really caught the flavor of those places.
Your series are known for rapid-fire dialogue. Was it hard to find actors who could keep up?
Dan: We meet people who tell us, “My acting is between the lines.” You can’t act in between the lines with us.
And here’s what else to watch this week:
Christmas in Rockefeller Center
Wednesday, 8 p.m., NBC
The tree is a Norway spruce from State College, Pa. It will be strung with 50,000 LEDs. Before the lights are switched on, however, some very talented singers, including Jennifer Nettles, Leslie Odom Jr. and Gwen Stefani, will be singing holiday songs to ring in the season. “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” is hosted by Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker.
Kevin Can Wait
Monday, 8 p.m., CBS
Kevin (Kevin James) goes undercover as a janitor at a car dealership, but he accidentally sells a car to a customer and finds himself on track to win top salesman of the month. Also, Chale (Ryan Cartwright) reveals his phobia of puppets after learning that Kendra (Taylor Spreitler) used to be into ventriloquism.
The Good Doctor
Monday, 10 p.m., ABC
As part of St. Bonaventure’s international humanitarian program, the medical team treats a boy from the Congo who has severe congenital heart anomalies. Dr. Neil Melendez (Nicholas Gonzalez) has doubts about the safety of the procedure, while Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) works out the best course of action.
Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
Tuesday, 10 p.m., CBS
Controversy has surrounded this annual lingerie event because it is being filmed in Shanghai. Ukrainian model Dasha Khlystun will not be in attendance because she was denied a Chinese visa. Katy Perry was banned from performing because of a sunflower dress she wore in 2015 (the sunflower is a symbol of Taiwan’s anti-China movement). Yet, somehow, there will be a fashion show, with Alessandra Ambrosio and Lily Aldridge, among other models, parading around in underwear.
Bruno Mars: 24K Live at the Apollo
Wednesday, 10 p.m., CBS
Harlem’s Apollo Theater is the setting for Bruno Mars’ first TV special. Mars kicks off the event with a performance atop the Apollo’s marquee. Then he takes to the streets of New York with his band, the Hooligans, singing and entertaining the locals at exciting and intimate moments.
The Orville
Thursday, 9 p.m., Fox
Kelly (Adrianne Palicki) discovers that John LaMarr (J. Lee) is smarter than he lets on. So, she urges Ed (Seth MacFarlane) to promote him to a leadership position after the Orville is damaged by a mysterious spatial anomaly causing harrowing effects to living things.
Riverdale
Wednesday, 8 p.m., The CW
The town of Riverdale remains on edge after the Black Hood killer sends a letter challenging residents to remain sinless for 48 hours — or he’ll strike again. Meanwhile, Jughead (Cole Sprouse) and Archie’s (K.J. Apa) friendship is tested after Penny Peabody (Brit Morgan) calls in a favor. Betty (Lili Reinhart) and Veronica (Camila Mendes) investigate someone whom Betty thinks could be the Black Hood killer.
