1) “Suffs,” 9 p.m., PBS. For the next two Fridays, PBS gives us full-scale, Broadway-style musicals. Next week is the silly fun of “Top Hat,” but this one (shown here) is an involving look at the drive that brought women the vote in 1920. Shaina Taub won Tonys for her book and her music score; she also does a solid job as Alice Paul, an unrelenting American hero. Read more…
We know that actors can stretch far beyond themselves. They can… well, act.
But they don’t usually stretch this far.
Judith Light (shown here) one of the most involved and articulate people inshow business. In the six-part “The Terror: Devil in Silver” (debuting Thursday, May 7, on AMC+ and Shudder), she’s Dorry, her life crumbling inside a mental hospital.
“She’s fragile and she’s heartbreaking,” Light told the Television Critics Association.
And now even her simple world is wobbling. This hospital — the only place she’s known for 30 years — is full of death and dismay. Read more…
1) “Grey’s Anatomy” (shown here in a previous episode) season-finale, 10 p.m., ABC. The 22nd season ends with a crisis (the aftermath of last week’s bridge-collapse) and change. It’s the final episode for Owen (Kevin McKidd) and Teddy (Kim Raver); they’ve been there for 18 and 12 seasons. Nick (Scott Speedman), who’s been scarce in recent years, may be back as a victim. Read more…
1) “Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure,” 8 p.m., PBS. Two days before David Attenborough turns 100, PBS notes his most ambitious project. “Life on Earth” (shown here) debuted in 1979, after three years and 1.5 million miles of travel to 30 countries, filming 600 animals. In this amiable hour, Attenborough and others fondly recall the adventure Read more…
1) “NCIS: Origins” season-finale, 9 p.m., CBS. Next week, the other “NCIS” shows wrap their seasons. First, “Origins” (shown here in last week’s episode) gets the focus, amid much confusion. There was Gibbs’ surprise marriage to Diane Sterling. And there are rumors that the office will be closed and the team will be scattered. Read more…
David Attenborough’s first century has been quite splendid or rather tragic.
The good news: Attenborough — who turns 100 on Friday (May 8) — revolutionized the way we see nature on TV.
“People had never seen a pangolin on television,” he wrote. “They had never seen a sloth. We showed them the largest lizard … and, for the first time, birds-of-paradise dancing in the New Guinea forest.”
And the bad? During his century, he wrote, nature has struggled. “This is the true tragedy of our time: the spiraling decline of our planet’s biodiversity.”
Now come ample chances to survey both extremes: Read more…
1) “American Idol,” 8-10 p.m., ABC. We’re a week from the finale, with five singers left — Hannah Harper, Jordan McCullough, Keyla Richardson (shown here), Chris Tungseth and Braden Rumfelt. Pretending to be a 20th-year class reunion, the show includes people from the 2006 season (Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee finished 1-2) and from “Dancing With the Stars.” Read more…
So the new question might be: Do we still think he’s sexy?
That’s Rod Stewart (shown here), of course. Now “Forever Young: A Grammy Salute to Rod Stewart Live” will be 8-10 p.m. May 19 on CBS.”
Stewart was 33 when he asked the musical question: “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” It was one of his three singles to reach No. 1 in the U.S,; joining “Maggie May” and “Tonight’s the Night.”
Now, at 81, Sir Roderick Stewart has sold 120 million records and is still touring. He launched his “One More Time” tour in 2024 and then extended it. This special will include a Miami concert, plus backstage and archival footage. Read more…
1) “Call the Midwife,” 8 p.m., PBS. Setting up next week’s deeply moving finale, “Midwife” (shown here in a previous episode) juggles key stories. There’s Rosalind’s romance … Sister Monica Joan’s health troubles … and a girl we met a decade ago, when she was born with defects linked to thalidomide. Read more…
1) “Suffs,” 9 p.m. Friday, PBS. For the next four Fridays, PBS delivers Broadway-style specials. That starts with this musical (shown here) about women’s struggle to get the vote; Shaina Taub won Tonys for her words and music; she also stars as Alice Paul. Coming up: “Top Hat” silliness … a powerhouse Nicole Scherzinger concert … and a fascinating documentary. Read more…
Best-bets for May 8: women’s place, then and now 
Best-bets for May 7: Four seasons end 
Best-bets for May 6: Re-live a global adventure 
