from hiatus

terview last year. “So it got a really good reception all around town, especially at Fox where — to their credit — you wouldn’t expect a show like this to be on network television.”

The show has been generally well received by audiences and critics alike; viewership for the last three episodes to air surpassed that of the season 2 premiere of 3.14 million. Though the show hasn’t secured any award wins yet, it snagged four Emmy nods and three Critics’ Choice nominations.

With the emergence of new characters being more of a season 1 focus, the first half of the current season has followed the group as it tries — and often fails — to achieve some semblance of a working society. This includes some uncivilized and rather archaic methods of punishment, the struggle for food and an overzealous attempt to subdue a bull. There’s hope, though, as the gang’s cow gives birth, proving not only that life can carry on in this post-virus world, but also that there are other living things out there that they haven’t yet discovered.

Meanwhile, space-bound Mike has started to lose hope as his companion worms die off one by one, but just as he’s about to commit suicide by jettisoning himself into space, he spots a newborn worm, giving him the hope he needs to go on living.

Phil to henceforth go by his unfortunate middle name, Tandy. Inflicted with a severe case of appendicitis, new Phil is not long for this world unless the offending organ can be suc-

What is a pretty basic surgery in our modern world is anything but basic with the absence of a doctor, but the surgery must be attempted. A reluctant Gail (Mary Steenburgen,

Meanwhile, Mike, determined to return to Earth, is hurtling down towards the planet in a dubious landing capsule, which begins to tumble as it re-enters the atmosphere. Exciting Forte, who also created the series, is keeping pretty mum about what we can expect for the rest of the season, but according to the released synopsis for the March 6 episode, Mike DOES, against all odds, survive his descent to Earth (surprise!). He’s still alone, however, in a world seemingly devoid of human life, which presumably puts him in a situation similar to Tandy’s in the series opener. Additionally, it’s been announced that 9-year-old “Room” (2015) star Jacob Tremblay will make an appearance as a young Phil “Tandy” Miller, presumably in a flashback sequence. This peek into Tandy’s past may give us an idea as to why he is the way he is — selfish, obnoxious and all together pretty unpleasant, albeit redeemable.

Don’t miss the newest episode of “The Last Man on Earth” when the post-apocalyptic comedy returns from hiatus Sunday, March 6, on Fox.

ACROSS

1 “__ Your Enthusiasm”

5 Some weights, for short 8 Mineral springs

16 “Dallas” star Ms. Tilton

18 Portrayer of Dr. Miranda Bailey on “Grey’s Anatomy”: 2 wds.

20 Dennis Quaid/Meg Ryan movie

21 Ravel’s “Ma mere _’__” (Mother Goose)

33 Prefix with ‘dynamic’

37 Pro

38 Early-’60s sitcom starring Stanley Holloway as an American family’s British butler: 3 wds.

44 King Saul, Samuel and David are characters on ABC’s epic new drama “Of Kings and __”

45 Change the manuscript

46 __ __ were (Seemingly)

47 Cousin on “The Addams Family”

48 Part in a play

49 Barbra Streisand movie, “Funny __” (1975)

50 ‘70s records

51 The Universe’s original substance, in Cosmology

Down

1 Magazine’s readership [abbr.]

2 Beehive State

3 “Touched by an Angel” star Ms. Downey

4 Brenda’s twin brother on “Beverly Hills, 90210”

5 Sportswear fabric

6 __ Men: “Who Let the Dogs Out” group

7 Chilly weather wrap

8 Ms. Kellerman of “M*A*S*H” (1970)

9 Gives the winner an Emmy, for instance actress Ms. Derek, and namesakes

10 __ time (Never): 2 wds.

29 Awestruck

30 Chief of __ (Profession of the character at 18 Across)

34 “__ Nest”

35 “Yahoo!”

36 Barbara of “Gone with the Wind” (1939)

37 Boxer’s clenched weapons

38 October birthstone

39 __ Major (Bear constellation)

40 URL’s