1) “The Voice” opener, 8-10 p.m. today, NBC. This is a stretch when NBC hopes to surge. That started over the weekend, with Nick Jonas hosting “Saturday Night Live” and Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosting the Golden Globes. Now this ratings-leader starts its 20th edition, with Jonas taking his second try as coach. Blake Shelton has done every edition, with seven winners. Also returning are Kelly Clarkson (three winners in six editions) and John Legend (one in four). They’re shown here; more NBC debuts follow.
2) “Oprah With Meghan and Harry,” 8-9:30 p.m. Sunday, CBS (with “The Equalizer” at 9:30). This. interview comes exactly one year after Meghan Markle’s last official duty in the royal family. Since then, she and Prince Harry have moved to the U.S. and become financially independent. Now she and Oprah Winfrey have a conversation; then they’re joined by Harry. Their son Archie turns 2 on May 6; their third anniversary will be May 19. This Valentine’s Day, they announced that Markle is pregnant.
3) “Debris” debut, 10 p.m. today, NBC. An alien spacecraft has exploded, scattering debris over the hemisphere. Those chunks, alas, can toy with physics and emotions and more. Now a team tries to gather the debris, while keeping it a secret; bad guys want to find pieces first and harness their power. “Debris” faces distrust from viewers, because sci-fi shows are often canceled with everything in limbo. The difference here is that each piece can bring a self-contained story. The opener stirs strong emotions.
4) “The Flash” season-opener, 8 p.m. Tuesday, CW. It’s a fine week for sci-fi: NBC has “Debris” … TNT has “Snowpiercer” at 9 p.m. today (Melanie is finally located) … Syfy has “Resident Alien” on Wednesday and the “Wynonna Earp” season-opener Friday … and CW precedes it second “Superman & Lois” episode with a “Flash” that uses about a season’s worth of special effects. As it starts, Barry has lost his speed, his wife (trapped in the mirrorverse) and more. Another huge loss is coming now.
5) “Resident Alien,” 10 p.m. Wednesday, Syfy. This sly series keeps adding fresh complications. It seemed simple at first: An alien came here to kill all Earthlings, but lost a device he needs. He killed Harry (a reclusive doctor) and assumed his human form. Last week, Harry’s wife arrived; now we meet the town’s new doctor, plus a general who’s played by Linda Hamilton of “Terminator” fame. We learn why she’s obsessed with the spaceship, in an hour that has laughs, but also ends with a drama twist.
6) “New Amsterdam” season-opener, 10 p.m. Tuesday, NBC. A year ago, this medical drama – filmed in New York, where COVID was at its peak — shut down. It aired episodes on March 17 and April 14, then ended early. Now it’s back, with a terrific opening montage that sweeps through the pandemic. As that ends, one of the doctors remains in COViD crisis and emotions are raw. And then a plane crashes, leaving doctors clashing with federal officials. It’s a strong hour, much better than the one next week.
7) “Go-Big Show,” 9 p.m. Thursday, TBS, rerunning at 11:30. So far, plenty of acts have gone big. The show has had a yodeler and a yo-yo-er; it’s had people who fight bulls and mess with alligators, plus a guy who stuck the heads of live rattlesnakes in his mouth. It’s had a “redneck archer,” a “foot archer” and a one-armed archer. So far, two acts have qualified for next week’s finals, with its $100,000 prize – a “Mongolian strongman” and a lasso master. Now six more compete for the third and final spot.
8) “MacGyver,” 8 p.m. Friday, CBS. Murdoc – an assassin, mercenary and scary guy – has been a key villain in both editions of this show. In this one, however, he’s been showing up more often. In the original series (1985-92), he did seven episodes in seven seasons; this one (midway in its fifth year) now has its 11th Murdoc episode. He’s been imprisoned three times; he’s tried to kill Mac many times. Now he links with Andrews (Joe Pantoliano) to hack devices, stealing secrets from Mac and his friends.
9) Critics’ Choice awards, 7-10 p.m. Sunday, CW. This is a big deal … but mostly if you watch a lot of streaming. Four of the 10 best-picture nominees are from Netflix – “Mank,” “Da 5 Bloods,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” – and two (“Sound of Metal” and “One Night in Miami”) are from Amazon. The others are “Nomadland,” “Minari,” “News of the World” and “Promising Young Woman.” Taye Diggs hosts and the late Chadwick Boseman has two nominations.
10) “Good Girls” season-opener, 10 p.m. Sunday, NBC. The strong NBC week ends with one more opener. This show began with three suburban moms, desperate for cash. They robbed a local store … and got much more money and trouble than they’d expected. The store had stached money for a crime gang – which keeps causing trouble. In this so-so opener, the women are into counterfeiting and (via a hot-tub store) money-laundering. Also, Beth has accidentally put her fingerprints on a murder weapon.