TV picks for April 18-20:  "The Writers' Room," "Orphan Black," "700 Sundays," "Devious Maids"

April 17, 2014 at 6:50PM
(L to R) Judy Reyes and Susan Lucci star in season two of Lifetime’s hit series Devious Maids, premiering Sunday, April 20, at 10pm ET/PT on Lifetime. Photo by Bob Mahoney Copyright 2014
Judy Reyes and Susan Lucci in “Devious Maids.” (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The write stuff

Shonda Rhimes and Kerry Washington dish on the greatest "OMG" moments in "Scandal" history for the Season 2 premiere of "The Writers' Room." Future episodes include host Jim Rash sitting down with the teams behind "House of Cards," "The Good Wife" and "Sons of Anarchy." 8 p.m. Friday, Sundance

Clone wars

"Orphan Black," which returns for a second season, proves you don't need a big budget and big names to create blockbuster television. If you haven't been turned on to star Tatiana Maslany, who plays at least four different characters, you're missing one of the most daring magic acts on television. Someone give this young woman an Emmy nomination — or four. 8 p.m. Saturday, BBC America

Broadway baby

If you didn't get a chance to see Billy Crystal's "700 Sundays" during his trial run in Minneapolis, check out the next best thing: a TV version taped in New York City during a limited Broadway run. A lot of the charm is lost by not seeing him stroll down memory lane in person. On the other hand, through TV you can repeat the best stuff, most notably his pantomime of his family's home movies. 8 p.m. Saturday, HBO

Maid of honor

"Devious Maids," the fastest-growing scripted series in Lifetime's history, returns for another season of twists, turns and dark humor that creator Marc Cherry used to great effect on "Desperate Housewives." Co-producer Eva Longoria directs; now if only her "Housewives" character Gabrielle would stop by to complain about the dust on the coffee table. 9 p.m. Sunday, Lifetime

Neal Justin


Orphan Black, Season 2, Episode 1, Sarah (Tatiana Maslany) credit: Steve Wilkie for BBC AMERICA
Tatiana Maslany returns in “Orphan Black.” Steve Wilkie • BBC America (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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