Super Bowl LIII is the monstrous and unavoidable elephant in the TV room this weekend. Many people you know are going to watch it even if you aren’t, and with so much thematically similar counter-programming, the big game will be hard to escape. Even so, there are still plenty of options for what to watch this weekend should football not be your bag. So from the Super Bowl itself to a new limited series on Netflix, here’s what to watch on TV this weekend.
What to watch on TV this weekend
Russian Doll, Feb. 1 on Netflix
Co-created by Natasha Lyonne, Amy Poehler and Leslye Headland, Russian Doll stars the former as a young woman named Nadia who’s having difficulty coming to terms with her life. A party meant to celebrate it, however, quickly becomes as surreal as it is comedically dangerous when she begins to experience it over and over again. Russian Doll adeptly mixes the comedy and drama genres, so audiences won’t want to miss it.
Velvet Buzzsaw, Feb. 1 on Netflix
While not a TV-specific offering, director Dan Gilroy’s new film Velvet Buzzsaw will be available to stream on Netflix following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this week. Boasting an all-star cast that includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Toni Collette, Zawe Ashton and John Malkovich, the self-described “satirical thriller” follows the discovery of a recently deceased artist’s treasure trove of art. It turns out to be haunted, thereby unleashing plenty of horrors on the art world.
What to watch on TV this weekend
Kitten Bowl VI, Feb. 3 at 2 p.m. ET on Hallmark
Though Hallmark’s Puppy Bowl came first, the Hallmark Channel has been broadcasting its own Super Bowl alternative for the past few years. Dubbed the Kitten Bowl, this year’s version will premiere at 2 p.m. ET, an hour before the Puppy Bowl. Much like its Animal Planet counterpart, Hallmark’s TV event is fueled by adoption candidates from animal shelters across the country and encourages viewers to donate or adopt pets.
Puppy Bowl XV, Feb. 3 at 3 p.m. ET on Animal Planet
Animal Planet’s annual alternative to the Super Bowl telecast returns in the form of Puppy Bowl XV. Although it’s actually airing at 3 p.m. ET, which is four full hours before the Super Bowl 2019 telecast, dog fanatics are encouraged to tune in before and after it’s broadcast. Per usual, the “playing field” will consist of “players” recruited from various animal shelters. Young kangaroos will serve as the sideline cheerleaders and kittens will occupy the stands.
What to watch on TV this weekend
Super Bowl LIII, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. ET on CBS
Obviously, the biggest TV ticket in town this weekend is the 2019 Super Bowl matchup between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams in Atlanta. Fans of either team will want to tune in for the game itself and its inevitably contested outcome. However, those hoping for a few fun (and expensive) commercials boasting big surprises from TV and film studios alike may want to watch as well.
The World’s Best, Feb. 3 at 10 p.m. ET on CBS
Not to be outdone by The Voice, America’s Got Talent and other reality competition shows at other networks, CBS is using the Super Bowl to launch The World’s Best on Sunday. Hosted by The Late Late Show’s James Corden, The World’s Best is billed as a “one-of-a-kind global talent competition series” that will pit numerous acts from across the globe against one another for the approval of judges Drew Barrymore, RuPaul Charles and Faith Hill and a global panel of industry experts.
