The TV Cave’s Daily TV Guide: What to Watch on May 4

Your ultimate watchlist for tonight’s can’t-miss TV, streaming drops, and live events. Clear your queue and cancel your plans, Monday is stacked. From buzzy premieres to finales that might break the internet (or at least your group chat), here’s everything worth watching today, all in one place.

🌅 EARLY STREAMING DROPS (3:00 AM ET)

The overnight crowd gets first dibs on two very different—but equally bingeable—releases.

• Lord of the Flies (Netflix) A fresh TV adaptation of the classic tale where a group of schoolboys stranded on an island spiral from order into chaos. Expect tension, power struggles, and a whole lot of moral collapse. Check out our review here.

  
  

• Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord (Disney+) The Season 1 finale brings the heat as Maul and his crew unite for a major offensive against the Empire. Big action, bigger stakes, and plenty of dark-side drama.

👗 RED CARPET ROYALTY (6:00 PM ET)

Fashion fans, this is your Super Bowl.

• Live From E!: Met Gala (E!) Your go-to for expert commentary, celebrity arrivals, and all the glam breakdowns.

  
  

• Met Gala Livestream (Vogue YouTube) Watch the biggest names in fashion and entertainment serve looks inspired by this year’s exhibition theme.

  
  

🔥 PRIMETIME POWER HOUR (8:00 PM ET)

This is where things get chaotic—in the best way.

• The 1% Club (FOX) Only on this show could you see contestants like a diaper-chicken enthusiast and a self-proclaimed “Booby King” competing for $100K.

  
  

• American Idol (ABC / Disney+) The “Class of 2006” reunion hits all the nostalgia notes, with live voting determining the Top 3.

  
  

• Below Deck Down Under (Bravo) Boatmances get messy, jealousy boils over, and one major boundary-crossing incident rocks the crew.

  
  

• The Neighborhood (CBS) (Penultimate Episode) Big life decisions and wedding chaos collide as the season heads toward its finale.

  
  

• Sullivan’s Crossing (The CW) Secrets, suspicions, and small-town drama continue to simmer.

😂 QUICK HIT COMEDY (8:30 PM ET)

• DMV (CBS) (Penultimate Episode) Car troubles, questionable financial advice, and oddly specific robbery protocols—just another day at the DMV.

🧠 COMPETITION & CRIME (9:00 PM ET)

• FBI (CBS) A murder investigation uncovers a crypto scam with dangerous implications.

  
  

• The Quiz With Balls (FOX) Bills vs. Vikings fans battle it out for pride—and probably some long-overdue bragging rights.

  
  

• The Ultimate Baking Championship (Food Network) (Season Finale) The final three go all out with show-stopping desserts for a $50K prize.

🍽️ REALITY & CULINARY DRAMA (9:30 PM ET)

• Top Chef (Bravo) The competition heats up in Greenville as chefs face a high-pressure dinner party challenge.

  
  

🚨 LATE-NIGHT HEAVY HITTERS (10:00 PM ET)

• CIA (CBS) A diplomat’s murder leads to a conspiracy involving a rare mineral with global consequences.

  
  

• The Rookie (ABC) (Season 8 Finale) A high-stakes manhunt, leadership challenges, and personal dilemmas collide in what promises to be a packed finale.

Pictured L to R: Lauretta as Paula and Gigi Zumbado as Ceci. Photo: Bertrand Calmeau/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

📅 FULL SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

Time (ET)	Show	Network/Platform	Notes
3:00 AM	Lord of the Flies	Netflix	Limited series premiere
3:00 AM	Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord	Disney+	Season 1 finale (2 episodes)
6:00 PM	Live From E!: Met Gala	E!	Red carpet coverage
6:00 PM	Met Gala Livestream	Vogue YouTube	Fashion event livestream
8:00 PM	The 1% Club	FOX	New episode
8:00 PM	American Idol	ABC / Disney+	Live voting, Top 3 revealed
8:00 PM	Below Deck Down Under	Bravo	New episode
8:00 PM	The Neighborhood	CBS	Penultimate episode
8:00 PM	Sullivan’s Crossing	The CW	New episode
8:30 PM	DMV	CBS	Penultimate episode
9:00 PM	FBI	CBS	New episode
9:00 PM	The Quiz With Balls	FOX	New episode
9:00 PM	The Ultimate Baking Championship	Food Network	Season finale
9:30 PM	Top Chef	Bravo	New episode
10:00 PM	CIA	CBS	New episode
10:00 PM	The Rookie	ABC	Season 8 finale

🎯 WHAT TO WATCH FIRST

If you’re overwhelmed (fair), here’s the move: start with the Met Gala for the spectacle, jump to American Idol for live chaos, and end your night with The Rookie finale for maximum adrenaline.

Check back tomorrow for another stacked lineup because TV never sleeps, and neither does your watchlist.