Weekend TV: 'Homeland' is back, hour-long 'Simpsons'

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Netflix, Friday

Netflix offers this eight-part series, based on the books by Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) and produced by Handler and Barry Sonnenfeld. Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Warburton and Joan Cusack star.

Ask our TV critic anything, get your answers on Facebook Live

The Simpsons
Fox, Sunday, 8 ET/PT

After 28 seasons, you’d think The Simpsons would have run out of “firsts,” but not yet. Sunday, this long-running classic offers its first one-hour episode, built around the music business. When Mr. Burns gets conned into bankruptcy by an Empire-like music mogul, he turns for help to Homer, Bart, Jazzy James (guest voice Keegan-Michael Key) and the mogul's ex-wife, Praline (guest voice Taraji P. Henson — cause, you know, Cookie). Snoop Dogg, RZA and Common make guest appearances as well, in an episode that also finds Marge opening a boutique, Lisa being courted by a rich kid and Smithers starting a perilous journey.

Homeland
Showtime, Sunday, 9 ET/PT

As fans who’ve watched one of Homeland’s early previews already know, this series kicks off its sixth season with Carrie (Emmy winner Claire Danes) living in New York, which is where the season will be set. While working at a foundation designed to protect American Muslims from discrimination, she gets involved with the presidential transition — providing the background for a season that will take place entirely between election day and the inauguration.