Today on TV: The Best Series and Movies – How to Use the Ultimate Guide
As dusk falls and the couch calls, the same question pops up every evening: what’s actually on today on TV? I know the feeling all too well. You flip through 100 channels, miss the start of that crime thriller, and end up watching a documentary about breeding carp. That’s exactly why I’m here to help you today – with what is probably the unbeatable today on TV guide that I’ve tested for you. Forget the boring fine-print programme previews. Here’s the insider overview, including my personal review of the evening’s highlights.
Here are the real highlights tonight
I’ve scanned the schedule for you – from the big public broadcasters down to the smaller private channels. Those who know me know I’m brutally honest. So here’s my today on TV review, short and sharp: the action lineup is pretty weak today, but the smaller channels have some real gems. My clear pick for 8:15 PM: the Austrian premiere of the Icelandic thriller "The Last Signal" on the second public broadcaster channel. I saw this film a few months ago at a festival – calm, icy, brilliantly acted. No Hollywood blasts, just gripping, intelligent cinema that guarantees goosebumps.
Meanwhile, one of the big private channels is airing the third part of "The Hunger Games". It’s watchable if you like your popcorn with extra sauce. But honestly? The film adaptation feels way too trimmed for a young audience. So if you’re after a clever crime drama or a smart documentary, better switch to the culture and information channels. At 9:45 PM, there’s a wonderful documentary about Vienna’s secret gardens – a real treat for anyone wanting to discover their own city anew.
How to use the today on TV guide the right way – without losing your mind
The biggest buzzkill of a TV evening is often the remote control and menu navigation. That’s why I’ll show you how to use today on TV in the simplest way possible. No more flipping through newspapers or clicking through those messy EPGs on your set-top box.
- App, not paper: Download the free "TV Today" app (available for iOS and Android). At a glance, you’ll see what’s today on TV on your favourite channels – sorted by genre, not by time.
- Bypass the filter trap: Most guides are useless because they only show the big channels. My trick: set the filter to "All channels" and then sort by "Rating". That’s how you find the hidden treasures starting at 8 PM.
- Set reminders: Tap the bell icon once – and you’ll get a nudge on your phone ten minutes before the show starts. No more "Oh, I missed the first fifteen minutes."
This sounds basic, but I bet half of you don’t use this feature. Yet it’s the key difference between an average TV evening and an unforgettable one.
My honest review: which programmes are really worth it?
I don’t want to write a promotional brochure. So here’s the unvarnished truth: the big private channels are mostly airing repeats today. One channel is showing the 300th episode of a quiz show again. You can let it play if you like the host. But it’s hardly new. Another is bringing back an old sitcom from the 90s. As a child of that era, that gives me a nostalgia kick, but for a Saturday night it’s too thin.
The rescue, as so often, comes from the public broadcasters. One channel is showing the British series "The Responder" with Martin Freeman at 10 PM. It’s dark, real, and nothing like the typical London cop slapstick. I binge-watched the first season in one go – highly recommended. And on a local private channel at 8:15 PM, there’s the documentary "Mountain Talks" about the last alpine dairy farmers in the Salzkammergut. That’s regional storytelling as it should be: respectful, beautiful, and without finger-wagging.
For those staying up later: from 11 PM, one of the public broadcaster channels gets seriously wild with "Preacher" – a series so insane you have to see it to believe it. But be warned, not for the faint-hearted.
How to get the best out of your TV guide – the secret tips
After more than 20 years in front of the screen, I’m now going to share my personal winning formula on how to use today on TV like a pro. It’s not just about what’s on, but how you watch it.
First: make a small list of three shows you absolutely want to see tonight. Everything else is just noise. Second: use your receiver’s recording function like a Swiss army knife. Is the crime drama on the public channel and the documentary on the culture channel both on at 8:15 PM? Record one, watch the other live. Third: talk about it! I have a WhatsApp group with three friends where we post our "today on TV" finds at 7:50 PM. That’s how I often discover things I would never have clicked on otherwise.
And most importantly: the best guide is useless if you never dare to channel-hop. You often find the pearls only after the third switch. So: grab the remote, overcome that inner laziness, and get started. Tonight, there’s no more reason to say "There’s never anything good on." Because now you know what’s really on today on TV.