Year: 2020

1) “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC) and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (NBC) season-openers, both 9 p.m. The two longest-running scripted shows current on TV collide; both are changing with the times. For “SVU,” starting its 22nd year – an investigation faces community distrust of police, And for “Grey’s”, starting its 17th season (the original cast is shown here), the COVID crisis grows. Things get worse when teens accidentally set a fire; that story starts on the “Station 19” season-opener at 8, then spreads into the two-hour “Grey’s” opener. Read more…

1) Country Music Association awards, 8-11 pm., ABC. Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and others open the show with a salute to the late Charlie Daniels. That starts a night filled with combinations: Hosts Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker perform together; he also links with Lady Antebellum; she joins Thomas Rhett and more. Gabby Barrett sings with Charlie Puth; also performing are Miranda Lanbert, Luke Combs, Eric Church, Maren Morris and more, plus a lifetime award for Charley Pride. Read more…

1) “NeXt,” 9 p.m., Fox. After being bumped by the elections last week, the Tuesday dramas boom back. “NeXt” is mid-crisis, as connected computers gain power. Shea, a cop, knows that her husband and son are targets. As they try to flee off the grid, she and LeBlanc head to Dartmouth, where this might be based. Late in the hour, LeBlanc (John Slattery) has a great monolog and some powerful moments with a friend (shown here) – confined to a computerized wheelchair – who may be involved. Read more…

1) “All Rise,” 9 p.m. today, CBS. This episode was a big deal in May — the first one about social-distance, shot via social-distancing. Actors used their own homes, with characters communicating Zoom-style, shown here. (The actors playing Kurt and Rosa are married and did a scene together.) Judge Lola (Simone Missick) presides at the first virtual trial. The case is too simple, but it was an OK try at something others soon did better. Dorian Missick, the star’s husband, adds flavor as a disc jockey. Read more…

1) “Rebuilding Paradise” (shown here), 9 and 11:47 p.m., National Geographic. Ron Howard was already a great director of scripted films, with an Oscar (“A Beautiful Mind”) and a nomination (“Frost/Nixon”). Lately, he’s also been doing documentaries. After the 2018 wildfire, he focused on the gorgeous town of Paradise, Ca. There, we meet likable people, including a man who tells of going “from town drunk to mayor.” After the blaze, he was one of the first to rebuild. Read more…