The Night Manager
Tuesday, 10 p.m., AMC
Former British soldier Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) is working in Cairo’s Nefertiti Hotel when he is asked by a guest to copy some documents and mail them. What he’s holding is a list of weapons, among other things. So begins Pine’s journey into the inner circle of businessman Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie). Pine is there at the behest of intelligence officer Angela Burr (Olivia Colman), who recruits him to infiltrate Roper’s vast empire and take him down. In his quest, though, Pine must first become a criminal himself. Executive producer Stephen Garrett spoke to The Post about the series, based on a John Le Carré novel and first broadcast in England.
Why did you cast Tom Hiddleston as Jonathan Pine?
There’s something quintessentially British about Le Carré’s protagonists and there’s something quintessentially British about Tom. In Le Carré’s books, you’ve got central characters who don’t tell you what they’re thinking. Tom can, because he has such an expressive face. By doing nothing he says so much.
Was Hugh Laurie your first choice to play Roper?
Yes. Hugh is a huge Le Carré fan and tried to option the original novel in 1993. He wanted to play Pine. He recently said there’s an element of wry amusement that someone who is so virile is now playing Pine.
Why is philanthropy an important part of Roper’s cover?
Deliberate misdirection. He appears to be a public-spirited businessman, but he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. There are quite scary businessmen in the world. Like an iceberg, 10 percent of what they do is aboveboard.
Why tell this story in just six episodes?
It was supposed to be a Sydney Pollack movie. We decided the story was too complex to be condensed into two hours. It works beautifully as a six-hour movie. At 10 hours, you would have said, “Oh, really? Too long?”
AND HERE’S WHAT ELSE TO WATCH THIS WEEK:
NCIS
Tuesday, 8 p.m., CBS
Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and Senior FBI Agent T.C. Fornell (Joe Spano) unite after two British prisoners — one is a former spy — escape and arrive stateside via a shipping container. Also, McGee (Sean Murray) is busy apartment hunting and determined to find out how DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) purchased his lavish place.
The Americans
Wednesday, 10 p.m., FX
In facing a truth she had avoided, Martha (Alison Wright) realizes her life may never be the same. Plus, a chilling new development in William’s work forces Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Philip (Matthew Rhys) to face the realities of what a biological war would mean in the United States. Co-starring Holly Taylor.
Girls
Sunday, 10:30 p.m., HBO
Season finale. Elijah (Andrew Rannells) and Loreen (Becky Ann Baker) help Hannah (Lena Dunham) participate in the Moth Story Slam. Shoshanna’s (Zosia Mamet) idea for an “anti-hipster” Ray’s (Alex Karpovsky) coffee shop takes off. After one experience with child care, Jessa (Jemima Kirke) and Adam (Adam Driver) have an epic fight.
Scandal
Thursday, 9 p.m., ABC
As Olivia (Kerry Washington) deals with the aftermath of her recent behavior, she finally finds out what exactly Jake (Scott Foley) and Rowan (Joe Morton) are plotting. But with their plans already in motion, she is forced to make a gut-wrenching attempt to try and stop them. Meanwhile, in flashbacks, we learn more about Jake’s past and how he first got involved with B6-13.
The Good Wife
Sunday, 9 p.m, CBS
Alicia (Julianna Margulies) and Lucca (Cush Jumbo) travel to Toronto to represent NSA Agent Jeff Delinger (Zach Woods), who was detained by customs officers while attempting to re-enter the US. Meanwhile, Diane (Christine Baranski) frets when her husband, Kurt McVeigh (Gary Cole), sells his business to a rival, Holly Westfall (Megan Hilty), and Peter (Chris Noth) contemplates an uncertain future now that he faces possible arrest.
Empire
Wednesday, 9 p.m., Fox
Lucious (Terrence Howard) releases his new music video while manipulating those around him in order to regain his CEO position at Empire. Meanwhile, Andre (Trai Byers) learns more about his grandmother’s mental illness. Anika (Grace Gealey) reveals a big secret to the family and Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray) leads the big shareholder meeting.
Inside Amy Schumer
Thursday, 10 p.m., Comedy Central
Season premiere. What a year Amy Schumer has had. She collected one award after another, had her own HBO special, wrote and starred in “Trainwreck,” which became a hit. The vivacious comedienne returns for a new season of sketch comedy on “Inside Amy Schumer.”