Year: 2019

1) “Big Family: The Story of Bluegrass Music,” 9-11 p.m., PBS. In two weeks, PBS will launch “Country Music,” a brilliant Ken Burns film sprawling over eight nights and 16 hours. Consider this a prequel. It’s not as tightly crafted as a Burns film, but it offers a deep and detailed look at a homemade sound that keeps adding layers. “It’s a huge, powerful sound,” says Darroll Anger, a music professor. It brings “explosive creativity,” says Chris Thile (shown here), a musician. And it’s done by genial, downhome folks. Read more…

1) “Reef Break,” 9 and 10 p.m., ABC. As summer slogs to its end, we need something like this – a double shot of scripted hours in a blue-sky setting. Poppy Montgomery (shown here) is Cat, a former thief who solves crimes on the island where she grew up. In the first hour, Petra — the surfer who has long hated her — has been kidnapped; Cat tries to free her. In the second, the island is celebrating her birthday. Soon, things go wrong: Cat is ill and, ABC says, is facing her most dangerous situation yet. Read more…

1) Jay Leno’s Garage” season-opener, 10 p.m., CNBC. Kevin Hart considers his 1976 Bronco a tough, off-road vehicle. “I bought one for my wife,” Leno says. “She takes it to book club.” Leno has lots of on-road cars like the one shown here, but now it’s time for off-roaders – from a $750,000 hurricane-hunter to armored cars with bullet-proof glass. One can jam drones, blast an electric shock into the door handle and hit a pursuing car with smoke or a blinding light. This hour is contrived and semi-scripted, but still quite entertaining. Read more…

1) “America’s Got Talent,” 8-10 p.m., NBC. The last couple weeks have sent 14 acts to the semi-finals, including dancers, acrobats, two comedians, a violinist and lots of singers. Now 12 more perform, with the last seven spots (plus a wild card) being filled Wednesday. Here are two magicians, an aerialist, a dog act and comedian Jackie Fabulous, plus lots of music – three singers (one of them opera), some beatboxers and the Detroit Youth Choir … also, a guitarist and Gonzo (shown here) the tambourine master. Read more…

1) MTV Music Video Awards, 8 p.m., MTV, BET, CMT, VH1, Nickelodeon, TV Land, Paramount, Comedy Central. In the old days, MTV avoided rap; not any more. Missy Elliott (shown here) gets the Video Vanguard award and does a medley; Big Sean, Lil Nas X, Lizzo and Bad Bunny perform … leading, MTV says, to a big rap finale. Also performing: Taylor Swift, the Jonas Brothers, Normani, J Balvin, Rosalio, H.E.R. and Shawn Mendes with Camila Cabello. MTV reruns this at 10:30 p.m. and 1 a.m. Read more…

1) “Halston,” 9 p.m. ET, CNN (barring breaking news). Somewhere near the top of the pop-culture world was the designer (show here with models) named Halston. He made Jackie Kennedy’s hats, Liz Minnelli’s gowns, the uniforms of Braniff stewardesses; handsome and articulate, he partied with Warhol, proclaimed on TV shows. Still, people knew little about him. Roy Halston Frowick was from Des Moines and Evansville, Ind. With rich detail, this describes his wild time at the top … and the finance schemes that toppled him. Read more…