Castaways

“BH90210,” a sweet meta-reboot.

- Emily Nussbaum

Since the turn of the century, three paths have emerged for washed-up stars, displacing hoarier options like “Hollywood Squares.” First, there was the glitzy image rehab of reality TV: invite the cameras into your bedroom, try your hand at ballroom dancing, or tell your secrets to Dr. Phil. Alternatively— or often simultaneously—you could flack for a line of life-style products. But another option was available, too. On a scripted comedy such as “Entourage,” you could agree to “play yourself,” in both senses of the phrase. Satirizing your reputation let you look like a good sport—and, if it clicked, might remind people of why they liked you in the first place. Could Liza Minnelli really be so crazy if she was capable of pulling off such a daring, funny, literally unstable slapstick satire of her own unstable persona, on “Arrested Development”?