Month: May 2019

1) “State of the Union” debut, 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT), Sundance. “This is a ridiculous conversation,” Louise (Rosamund Pike) says. It is, but it’s also quite wonderful. She and Tom (Chris O’Dowd) are in a pub, waiting for their first marital-therapy session. She’s a doctor; he wrote about music until that market vanished. They skirt around subjects, in a ridiculous/sublime way. This is a series of ten 10-minute shows, one per weekday, for two weeks. Cleverly written by Nick Hornby, it’s perfectly played. Read more…

1) “World of Dance” finale, 8-10 p.m., NBC. Last week, the show picked its four divisional winners. Now they compete for the million-dollar top prize, alongside one wildcard pick. In the first two seasons, that prize went to hip hoppers; this time, both of the team winners are hip hop – Vpeepz, from the Philippines, in junior (17 and younger), the Kings, from India, in upper. For small groups (1-4 people), both winners are contemporary – Ellie & Ava (shown here), junior; and Briar Nolet, upper. Read more…

1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. Adam Sandler was enmeshed in a wild “SNL” era, alongside Chris Farley, David Spade, Mike Myers, Dana Carvey and more. He left in 1995 – he and Farley were fired, he said later – and has made only brief appearances on the show since then. Here’s his first time as host. Shawn Mendes – born three years after Sandler left “SNL” — is the music guest. Read more…

1) Gershwin Prize, 9-10:30 p.m., PBS. Things starts vibrantly, with the original “On Your Feet” cast (shown here on Broadway). Dancers leap, singers soar … and then everything sputters. Six people talk before the fun resumes. Fortunately, this is worth waiting for — the music of Gloria and Emilio Estefan, sung by Patti LaBelle, Cyndi Lauper, Jose Feliciano, the Estefans, their talented daughter Emily and more. There’s also a sharp film from Lin-Manuel Miranda, overcoming the show’s so-so production. Read more…