1) “Empire” and “Star” return, 8 and 9 p.m. Wednesday, Fox. “Empire” has had lots of attention lately, none of it enviable; stories focus on Jussie Smollett, who faces criminal charges and was written out of the season’s final two episodes. You’ll see his character (Jamal) here, struggling with his love life. But Jamal is just one part of a rich blend of great music and brash soap opera. Now the family has a shot at reclaiming its record label. Then, at 9 p.m., Star – who has just had her baby – jeopardizes her career.
2) “For the People,” 10 p.m. Thursday, ABC. Last week’s season-opener was terrific, but this is even better. One story (a murder case) has surprisingly funny moments, with Kate Littlejohn – accustomed to winning – being ignored. The other packs fierce emotions: A prosecution witness is suddenly taken by immigration officials … leaving his son in limbo. We’ll forgive the fact that conversations sound like perfectly crafted speeches; for Anna Deavere Smith (as the courts clerk) and others, it’s a brilliant hour.
3) Luke Perry memories, all week. Perry died last Monday, a week after a massive stroke. He was 52, not far from his teen-idol days on “Beverly Hills, 90210.” Now there are still chances to see him. The Pop cable channel is rerunning the “90210” series from the start, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; that begins today, with Perry showing up in the second episode, at noon. And CW continues “Riverdale” at 8 p.m. Wednesdays; you’ll see Perry as Archie’s father – often the only decent adult in this troubled town.
4) “The Bachelor” finale, 8-10 p.m. today and Tuesday, ABC. The formula lingered for 22 bachelors: Each would have overnighters with the final three women, then chose one. Not this time, with Colton Underwood, who has said he’s a virgin. After his night with Taysia Adams, she said they “didn’t have the physical intimacy that I wanted.” Then Cassie Randolph said she’s not in love; she drove off and he fled. That leaves Hannah Godwin and a lot of questions, so ABC has two follow-up hours Tuesdays.
5) “The Passage” finale, 8 and 9 p.m. today, Fox. From the start, this 10-parter has been dark and messy, yet well-crafted. Somehow, the finish is even darker than usual. The “virals” — somewhere between vampires and zombies — are close to escaping. If they get out, the entire nation could be endangered. There’s an antidote, but the doctor who has it is trapped. Other options, including a bomb, loom. These final hours jump between fierce action and angst-ridden pauses, all leaning toward doom.
6) “MasterChef Junior” season-opener, 8-10 p.m. Tuesday, Fox. These aren’t your average kids. Matthew, who’s 8, has been cooking for five years. Ivy says she has “a more sophisticated palette” than most; Sadie says she has “a very refined palette” and adds that “my friends call me a fierce feminist.” The girls include a dirt-bike rider and an Irish dancer; a boy has great fashion sense. In the fun opener, the 24 kids (ages 8-13) make banana splits, remake school lunches and create ambitious lobster cuisine.
7) “Project Runway” season-opener, 8-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Bravo. It’s been a wild “Runway” ride — five seasons on Bravo, 11 on Lifetime, then boom: Tthe owners (Weinstein Company) went bankrupt, the stars (Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn) left to start an Amazon show. Now, 15 months after the last new episode, the new owners are back at Bravo, with a youthful look. Karlie Kloss, 26, hosts; Christian Siriano, 33, is the mentor. The 16 contestants are from 11 states, plus Samoa, Syria and Colombia.
8) “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” return, 9 p.m. Friday, CW. After a month-long break, this much-praised series starts its final five episodes. So far, we’ve mainly seen Rebecca (Rachel Bloom) do musical numbers in her imagination; now she actually tries out for community theater. Meanwhile, her friend Paula has recovered from her heart attack and has job offers from law firms. That follows the 8 p.m. return of the not-praised “Dynasty” after five weeks; Fallon flies to Paris, in search of her brother.
9) “Billions” season-opener, 9 p.m. Sunday, Showtime. This was a battle of titans – Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis), the rough-hewn hedge-fund billionaire and Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti), the U.S. attorney determined to convict him. Now, however, both have been hobbled. Rhoades was fired, after investigating his boss; there are clever scenes tonight, as he maneuvers without a power base. And Axe is battling with his former CEO – who reluctantly suspends a refusal to bow to any gender identity.
10) Basketball and more. Fans can catch the finals of a dozen conference tournaments Saturday and six more Sunday. That concludes on CBS, with the Big Ten game at 3:30 p.m. and NCAA tourney news at 6. Also Sunday, PBS stations wrap up their pledge drives and Turner Classic Movies has St. Patrick’s Day films. That peaks at 8 p.m. with “The Quiet Man”; John Wayne plays a boxer, returning to the Irish village of his birth. It was nominated for the best-picture Oscar and John Ford won for best director.