“You’re the puppet!” is something said in the last presidential debates four years ago — you know, the civilized one. Anyway, if you can take it, our political lows are covered in a new satirical puppet special “Let’s Be Real” (Fox, 9 p.m.). While the rubbery puppets look like things from “Spitting Image,” the best thing going for it is the man behind the characters — Robert Smigel, creator of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and SNL’s “TV Funhouse.”
Another new comedy crafted for the times is “Connecting…” (NBC, 8:30 p.m.) which has a group of friends trying to communicate during the pandemic through video chats. Otmara Marrero, Keith Powell, Jill Knox, Shakina Nayfack, Ely Henry, Parvesh Cheena and Preacher Lawson star. It’s from the executive producer of that laugh riot series “Blindspot.”
Better maybe to relax with the new half hour series “A World of Calm” (HBO Max, streaming), with beautiful visuals and occasional narration from people like Idris Elba and Nicole Kidman.
The British comedy “Code 404” (Peacock, streaming) is about a detective killed in action who is brought back to life using Artificial Intelligence. It stars Stephen Graham (“This is England”) and Daniel Mays.
In the imported Brazilian series “Good Morning, Verônica” (Netflix, streaming) a police station clerk in São Paulo who witnesses a suicide about the same time another woman calls her for help.