Things in college are heating up.
Before Reneé Rapp toured sold-out shows or performed songs from her new album on “Saturday Night Live,” she played Leighton Murray, a mean-girl-turned-softy in “The Sex Lives of College Girls.” The show is returning this week for its third season, but Rapp will be absent from most of it — she renegotiated her contract from a series regular to a guest star. It will continue to follow the roommates Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet), Bela (Amrit Kaur) and Whitney (Alyah Chanelle Scott), who left things on rocky footing at the end of the last season. Available to stream at 9 p.m. on Thursday on Max.
The 1999 film “Cruel Intentions,” about a stepsibling duo who set their sights on the same girl as a power play, is now getting a modern television reboot. In this show, it is the Vice President’s daughter the stepsiblings are after, and instead of a prep school, it takes place at a college where a hazing scandal moves the plot along. Fitting for “Gossip Girl” rewatch season (a.k.a. fall), this show gives the same high-society cutthroat vibes. Streaming on Thursday on Prime Video.
A blast of Bravo.
There’s a whiff of designer purchases, mansions and good old fashion screaming in the air — and that can only mean one thing: “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” is back on our small screens. Kyle Richards, Dorit Kemsley and the other housewives navigate their friendships with each other but also deal with marital issues and work drama. Tuesday at 8 p.m. on Bravo.
Bravo’s longest-running franchise, “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” is wrapping up its three-part reunion this week. And the women have not been holding back — calling for certain castmates to be fired, accusing each other of “throwing venom” and generally squabbling. Thursday at 9 p.m. on Bravo.
Though “Housewives” is Bravo’s bread and butter, I also love the network’s stand-alone shows (I am looking at you “Summer House” and “Below Deck.”) This one, “Married to Medicine,” follows women in Atlanta who are either doctors themselves or married to doctors. This season is back with a few new faces, as Dr. Jacqueline Walters takes on the role of mediator. Sunday at 9 p.m. on Bravo.
Duking it out at the Colosseum or at the precinct.
Before you watch Paul Mescal shirtless in the sequel to “Gladiator,” the 2000 movie that took home the Oscar for best picture, you might want to catch this special to fully appreciate the scale and process of the movie. “The Making of Gladiator II” answers such pressing questions as: How did the actors train for the combat scenes? How did the production recreate ancient Rome? What makeup did they use to make Mescal look slightly dirty at all times? Monday at 10:30 p.m. on CBS and available to stream the next day on Paramount+.
“High Potential,” the new series starring Kaitlin Olson, is taking a break after following some pretty wild cases. In a real zero-to-hero situation, Olson’s character Morgan works as a cleaner at a police precinct until she solves a crime by rearranging some evidence, at which point she is brought in as a consult. Olson told The New York Times in an interview, though, that she would not make a great detective: “I would get bored,” she said. “I’ll do a puzzle for a while, and then I’m like, ‘You know what? You guys go ahead.’” If you’ve been loving this show, and are sad it’s over, don’t despair — there will be new episodes airing in January. Tuesday at 10 p.m. on ABC.
For the love of country music.
Though it’s not particularly a good week to be Zach Bryan (see Brianna Chickenfry drama here), we can still raise a glass and celebrate what country music has to offer. Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning are back to host the CMA Awards, this time joined by Lainey Wilson. In terms of nominations: Morgan Wallen is up for the most awards with seven, and Chris Stapleton and Cody Johnson each have five. Post Malone and Stapleton are set to open the show, and Kelsea Ballerini, Thomas Rhett, Noah Kahan and Teddy Swims will also perform. But noticeably absent? Beyoncé, whose album “Cowboy Carter” was snubbed. Wednesday at 8 p.m. on ABC.
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