May sweeps marks the month when viewership numbers are collected and used to set advertising rates for the rest of the year. Networks employ shameless tactics to increase viewers via the form of epic finales, reunions, fatalities, resurrections, plot-twists, weddings, Red Weddings, and god-knows-what else might be coming this month. As viewers who watch television mostly for entertainment reasons, 'tis the time to tune in. This month: Television may be democracy at it's ugliest, but it makes for some damn fine entertainment. Get the devices ready and don't miss out.
Houdini & Doyle Master magician and paranormal debunker Harry Houdini and Sherlock Holmes author and avowed spiritualist Arthur Conan Doyle (who actually were friends at one point) solve supernatural crimes in this mystery adventure drama set in the bustling turn-of-the-20th-century town of London. Premieres Mon., May 2 at 9 p.m. on Fox.
NCIS: LA Season finale. Mon., May 2 at 10 p.m. on CBS.
Person of Interest The underrated J.J. Abrams' produced sci-fi drama about government surveillance, personal monitoring and state of future events that predicted Edward Snowden two years before Edward Snowden polishes off with a last and final season. Premieres Tues., May 3 at 10 p.m. on CBS.
Criminal Minds Season finale. Tues., May 3 at 9 p.m. on CBS.
Maron The comedian and podcaster extraordinaire's semi-autobiographical series picks up where last season left off. After falling off the wagon into a drug-addled pit of failure, Maron must now struggle to regain his friends, success, life and – most importantly — sobriety. Season four premieres Wed., May 4 at 9 p.m. on IFC.
Marseille The French-language series stars Gérard Depardieu as a long-established mayor whose plans to step down and pass on his throne backfires when he realizes his already-chosen successor might have an entirely different agenda planned for the city. Billed as the France's House of Cards, the series trailer does not disappoint. Premieres worldwide (in Netflix territories) Thurs., May 5 on Netflix.
Flowers A quirky black comedy set in an unidentifiable time in a hidden pocket of the English countryside tells about a dysfunctional family consisting of a depressed children's books illustrator, his nervous and timid wife, their two maladjusted 25-year-old twin children, a senile mother-in-law, and family lackey/ erotic Japanese manga illustrator, Shun (played by creator Will Sharpe) trying to keep it all together. Premieres Thurs., May 5 on Seeso.
Garfunkel and Oates: Trying to Be Special A comedy special about the making of a comedy special starring comedy-duo Garfunkel and Oates, a.k.a. Riki Lindhome (Gilmore Girls, Another Period) and Kate Micucci (Scrubs, Raising Hope). Premieres Thurs., May 5 on Vimeo.
Gigolos Season finale. Thurs., May 5 at 11 p.m. on Showtime.
Millenials: Growing up in the 21st Century A Boyhood-style attempt to show what it's like to be a millennial growing up in the 21st century as portrayed by 22 diverse children who are followed over the course of 15 years. Premieres Thurs., May 5 at 7 p.m. on Ovation.
Grace and Frankie Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin star as two sworn enemies who form an unlikely bond after their husbands reveal they are gay and leave them for each other. Season two premieres Thurs., May 5 on Netflix.
Blue Bloods Season finale. Fri., May 5 on CBS.
Dear Mama Celebrate this Mother's Day by watching Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, Alicia Keys and other celebrities more successful than you honor their proud mothers in this one-hour VH1 series hosted by Black-ish star Anthony Anderson. Airs Sun., May 8 at 9 p.m on VH1.
Madam Secretary Season finale. Sun., May 8 at 8 p.m. on CBS.
Little Big Shots Season finale. Sun., May 8 at 8 p.m. on NBC.
The Good Wife Series finale. Sun., May 8 at 9 p.m. on CBS.
Elementary Season finale. Sun., May 8 at 8 p.m. on CBS.
Ying Lo writes about television. She has a blog or you can find her flunking social media @yinglo. Let her tell you how best to binge watch every Monday.
This article appears in Apr 28 – May 4, 2016.