Fargo, Angela Scanlon's Close Encounters, American Horror Story, Republic of Telly - plan your viewing early with our look ahead to this week on the telly. John Byrne is the man with the remote
Pick of the week - Fargo, Monday, Channel 4
The first season of this teak black comedy-drama was quite outstanding, so fingers crossed it doesn't do a True Detective as it enters its second run with a new cast and storyline.
This second run is set in 1979 and stars Kirsten Dunst as beautician Peggy Blumquist. She and her husband, butcher Ed (Jesse Plemons), cover up the hit-and-run and murder of the son of Floyd Gerhardt (Jean Smart), matriarch of the Gerhardt crime family in Fargo, North Dakota. You can almost hear their lives unravelling.
Star of the week - Angela Scanlon
Angela Scanlon's Close Encounters, Tuesday, RTÉ2
She'd have to put on a fair few kilos to be worth her weight in gold, because Angela Scanlon is a bit of a rarity on TV these days – a relentless self-publicist who's actually talented and justifies her own hype.
One of the new breed of Irish who balance dual careers in Dublin and London, the 31-year-old is naturally engaging, and makes everything she covers seem instantly interesting. Very few broadcasters actually have that talent.
In her new series, she spends time with a number of individuals who interest, annoy or intrigue her, starting with Sheamus, the first Irish-born pro-wrestling superstar. His real name is Stephen Farrelly, and he comes from Cabra in Dublin.
Starting this week - Republic of Telly, Monday, RTÉ2
Ireland’s longest running comedy show – now there's a thing – returns for a seventh season. Presented by Kevin McGahern, the mix of TV reviews and sketches will continue and there's a new face on the show.
Comedian Joanne McNally quit her previous job as a PR executive to tackle comedy full-time and joins RoT to co-present alongside McGahern. Oddly enough she has the same initials as the semi-departed Jennifer Maguire.
Modern Family, Monday, Sky 1
It's season seven of this monstrously popular US sitcom. In the opening episode, recent events force Haley and Andy to cope with their emotions, while Jay and Gloria are in for a shock when they start looking for pre-schools for Joe. They're moving to Ireland, right?
Plus, Cam attempts to remain supportive of Mitch's midlife career crisis, but when money begins to get tight, he hatches a plan.
Marvel's Agent of SHIELD, Sunday, RTÉ2
Back after a patchy-but-fun first two seasons, Coulson and the SHIELD team discover a new Inhuman, and then encounter another organisation searching for powered people.
The Fear, Monday, BBC Three
Unrelated to the RTÉ2 hidden camera show, this new entertainment series is an amateur horror film competition searching for the next big horror director.
NCIS: New Orleans, Sunday, RTÉ2
The latest in the lengthy franchise line of naval cop shows stars the great Scott Bakula - Quantum Leap, Star Trek: Enterprise and Men of a Certain Age - as Special Agent Dwayne Pride.
Criminal Minds, Monday, Sky Living
Season 11 arrives with Jennifer Love Hewitt gone and Glee's Jane Lynch reprising her role as Spencer Reid’s schizophrenic mother and Aisha Tylerin arriving as forensic psychologist Dr Tara Lewis.
The Goldbergs, Monday, RTÉ2
The shoutiest show in TV history arrives on Irish telly. It's a family sitcom set in the 1980s and stars Jeff Garlin from Curb Your Enthusiasm. Well worth investigating, but remember to keep the volume down.
The Big Bang Theory, Wednesday, RTÉ2 (Thursday, E4)
In the season 9 premiere of the geek-infested sitcom, Penny struggles with Leonard's confession that he kissed another girl while on the North Sea.
Drifters, Thursday, E4
The third run of the comedy about three twenty-something girls struggling to make their way in their hometown of Leeds.
Bring the Noise, Thursday, Sky 1
The Kaiser Chiefs’ Ricky Wilson hosts a new music and comedy show, with celebrity teams captained by Nicole Scherzinger and Tinie Tempah.
Sleepy Hollow, Thursday, Universal
It's the third run of this modern day adaptation of the Ichabod Crane tale with more spooky shenanigans on the horizon. The word daft doesn't even begin to explain this show.
Ending this Week - Clean Break, Sunday, RTÉ One
It's the fourth and final part of Billy Roche's drama. The o'merta (see what I did there?) surrounding the Rane kidnapping is in danger as Frank begins to crack, unmasking the enemies who are out to destroy him. Meanwhile Jenny's curiosity leads her to discover vital evidence that could place her in mortal danger.
Aquarius, Tuesday, Sky Atlantic
This unfortunately dull drama starring the great David Duchovny reaches a semi-comatose conclusion with this double-header. You could call it the yawning of the age of Aquarius.
The Celts, Monday, BBC Two
In the final episode of the series it's discovered how the Roman Army turned its attention to Britain. How about a why?
Mock the Week, Monday, BBC Two
Dara O Briain presents the current affairs comedy show that deserves better than a midnight slot.
Jamie's Super Food, Monday, Channel 4
Jamie Oliver pulls together some of the key lessons he's learned from some of the healthiest people on the planet. Why didn't they show this at the start and viewers could've avoided all the other episodes?
Castle, Wednesday, Alibi
Season eight of this Nathan Fillion-starring procedural is promising a return to its roots. Uh-oh. Sounds like season nine won't be happening.
Who Do You Think You Are? Thursday, BBC Two
Veteran British actress Frances De La Tour is the final famous face to root around the family tree. It's quite a juicy tale, apparently.
Drama of the week - American Horror Story: Hotel, Tuesday, Fox UK
After a poor third season, this immaculate-looking, spooky anthology series got back to form in the fourth, although this time around it's lacking Jessica Lange, who was in career-defining form over the previous four tales. This latest tale focuses on Los Angeles police detective John Lowe (Wes Bentley), who investigates a series of brutal murders. An enigmatic tip leads him to the mysterious Hotel Cortez, run by the sex-crazed Countess, played by Lady Gaga.
Comedy of the week - The Muppets, Monday, Sky 1
The much-anticipated Muppets reboot has been hammered by reviewers in the USA, so don't expect much. It's a documentary-style series that explores the personal lives of Kermit and co, a premise that does little to inspire or excite.
In the opening episode, there's a chance to see Kermit’s new sweetheart Denise, and he talks about life with Miss Piggy before their break-up. She, meanwhile, is caught up with her own talk show, Up Late with Miss Piggy. But what about the Swedish chef?
Documentary of the week - A Different Class, Thursday, RTÉ One
This two-part observational documentary follows the principal, teachers, parents and pupils of Hansfield Educate Together Secondary School.
Based in the west Dublin suburb of Ongar, those involved were filmed over 18 months as they prepared for the opening of the new secondary school in August 2014. The documentary then follows the historic and eventful first year in the life of the school until the last day of term in May 2015.
On Demand - Hemlock Grove, from Friday, Netflix
The third and final season of Hemlock Grove will premiere with all ten episodes, with the premise – and promise - that the horror series comes to a riveting and deliciously disturbing conclusion.
As the town’s grim secrets continue to unravel at an alarming pace, Olivia (Famke Janssen), Roman (Bill Skarsgård), Peter (Landon Liboiron) and Shelley (Madeleine Martin) are introduced to mysterious new people and perilous obstacles.
As enemies both foreign and familial close in, Peter and Roman learn that in order to prevent the end of days, they will both need to sacrifice their humanity and release their true inner monsters.
Snappy. Violent. You know the drill.
Film of the Week - Whiplash, Friday, Sky Movies Premiere
There are some crackers on this week – The Lavender Hill Mob (Saturday, BBC Two), Drive (Saturday, BBC Two), Double Indemnity (Wednesday, Channel 4) for starters – but as Whiplash is making its TV debut it cannot be ignored.
The great JK Simmons and Miles Teller play master and apprentice in this ferociously intense drama.
Andrew Neiman (Teller) is an ambitious young jazz drummer who dreams of becoming one of the greats. He studies at Shaffer Conservatory, a prestigious New York music school where ruthless teacher Terence Fletcher (Simmons) rules with fists of fury and a torturous tongue.
John Byrne
