Month: February 2021

1) “New Amsterdam” season-opener, 10 p.m., NBC. Filming in New York, where the pandemic peaked early, this hospital drama abruptly ended its season. Now, almost a year later, it’s back. First, a terrific montage takes us through the crisis; then we’re in a post-pandemic time, with emotions still raw for Max (Ryan Eggold, shown here with Freema Agyeman) and one of the doctors near death. And then … well, a plane crashes. It’s a strong hour. Read more…

1) “Debris” debut, 10 p.m. , NBC. When an alien spacecraft exploded, it scattered debris over the hemisphere. Those chunks have an other-worldly power to manipulate physics (including a floating body, shown here) and feelings. Now officials, working in secret, try to find and suppress the debris; bad guys want to harness the energy. “Debris” faces an eternal problem: Networks often cancel sci-fi shows abruptly, leaving crises in limbo. Still, this one can tell a self-contained story with each piece found; the opener packs strong emotions. Read more…

1) Golden Globe awards, 8 p.m. ET, NBC, with red-carpet at 7; on the West Coast, 5 p.m. PT (red-carpet at 4), rerunning at 8. Two terrific hosts, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler (shown here) are back … but not together. They’re in New York and Los Angeles, respectively. Viewers might not recognize many of the nominated movies; even the TV shows – all from cable or streaming – are sometimes obscure. The dramas: “The Crown,” “The Mandalorian,” “Ozark,” “Ratched” and “Lovecraft Country”; comedies: “Emily in Paris,” “The Great,” “Ted Lasso,” “Schitt’s Creek” and “The Flight Attendant.” Read more…

1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. Nick Jonas (shown here) has his first turn as host (and second as music guest), launching a busy streak for NBC. Coming are the Golden Globes on Sunday and the season-openers of “The Voice” (with Jonas in one of the spinning chairs) on Monday and “New Amsterdam” on Tuesday, plus the debut of “Debris” – a well-made, science-fiction show – on Monday. Read more…

1) “The Manchurian Candidate” (1962), 8 p.m. ET, Turner Classic Movies. John Frankenheimer was a master of TV’s first golden age and beyond, getting 10 Emmy nominations for directing, with four wins. But he also made movies, peaking with this black-and-white masterpiece, which toys with characters’ memories. It drew Oscar nominations for its editing and for Angela Lansbury (shown here with Laurence Harvey); Frank Sinatra and Janet Leigh also starred. There was a 2004 remake, but this one is hard to top. Read more…