1) “Genius: Aretha,” 9 and 10 p.m., today through Wednesday, National Geographic. A strong story blends with powerhouse music, in this beautifully crafted, four-night, eight-hour mini-series. Sunday’s opening episodes (rerunning at 6:56 and 8:03 p.m. today), flashed between Aretha Franklin as a young girl, singing on the gospel circuit, and as a struggling jazz and pop singer. In both cases, type-A men (her dad and her husband) loomed. Cynthia Erivo (shown here) is stoic in acting, but magnificent when singing.
2) “Superstore” series finale, 8-9 p.m. Thursday, NBC. A likable (if inconsistent) show wraps its sixth and final season. At a big-box store, the workers – a ragged but amiable bunch – learn the chain is closing most locations; at corporate headquarters, Amy tries to help her former colleagues. They plan to make this a “perfect store” – not easy, when random body parts are discovered. Then the final half-hour really clicks. Mixing humor and heart, it manages to usher most of the characters into their new lives.
3) Basketball, today and beyond. Today, CBS sets aside everything else – soaps, talk shows, prime time; instead, it focuses on the NCAA tournament. That starts at noon ET, with more games at 3:30, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Cable also joins in today, via TBS (5 and 7:30 p.m. ET) and TNT (6 and 8:30). That will trim the tourney to the sweet 16, for the weekend: On Saturday, CBSwill have games at 12:30 p.m. ET and 5 p.m.; TBS is at 7:15 and 9:15. On Sunday, CBS is at 2 and 4:30 p.m.; TBS is at 7 and 9:45.
4) “American Masters,” 8 p.m. Tuesday and 9 p.m. Friday, PBS (check local listings). Here are Women’s History Month portraits of two fascinating (but opposite) lives. Flannery O’Conner died of lupus at 39, already famous for her two Southern Gothic novels and 37 short stories. Twyla Tharp turns 80 on July 1 and has danced for 78 years. Her innovative choreography has ranged from Baryshnikov to the Beach Boys. Nothing – age or quarantine – slows her; we see her molding a short, video piece.
5) More on PBS. After a long pledge break, PBS is back; alongside “Masters,” other strong choices (check listings): “Independent Lens” (10 p.m. today) views biases in facial-recognition systems … “Frontline” (10 p.m. Tuesday) has a moving portrait of New Orleans’ funerals during the pandemic … “Great Performances” (8 p.m. Friday) has Renee Fleming and a pianist do a classical concert, adding two familiar songs at the end … And the AARP’s “Movies for Grownups” awards are at 8 p.m. Sunday.
6) “American Idol,” 8-10 p.m. today, ABC. Now that “Bachelor” has finished its season, this can become a Sunday-Monday show. Tonight (colliding with “The Voice” on NBC), “Idol” continues its “Hollywood Week,” with the singers trying duets. That episode will rerun at 8 p.m. Saturday, with the next hurdle on Sunday — the first time that the singers work with a band. That will continue next Monday, as the judges – Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie – trim the field to the top 24.
7) “Breeders” season-opener, 10 and 10:30 p.m. today, FX. Few shows have entwined comedy and drama as well as this one. But as the second season begins, the drama side takes over. Martin Freeman (star of the “Hobbit” movies and the first “Fargo” mini-series) and Daisy Haggard (whose “Back to Life” series drew raves) play overwhelmed parents. Last year, they connived to get their kids into a prestigious school. Now, as their son nears his 13th birthday, they face some moving moments.
8) “SEAL Team,” 9 p.m. Wednesday, CBS. After a week off (for a music special), this show returns with its central character in big trouble: Jason (David Boreanaz) has been accused of a horrific crime. His colleagues are barred from contacting him, leaving him on his own. At 10 p.m., you could stick to CBS for a new episode of “S.W.A.T.” (also returning from a one-week break) or switch to Syfy: in a terrific “Resident Alien” episode, Asta is adjusting to learning that “Harry” is an outer-space alien.
9) “NAACP Image Awards,” 8-10 p.m. Saturday, everywhere. After being confined to a lone cable network for about a decade, this spreads out – CBS, BET, MTV, VH1, CMT and more. Maxwell will perform, Eddie Murphy will get a lifetime award and nominations abound. Viola Davis is up for best actress in a movie (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”) and a TV drama (“How to Get Away With Murder”); she’s also up for entertainer of the year, alongside Regina King, Tyler Perry, D-Nice and Trevor Noah.
10) “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” return, 9 p.m. Sunday, NBC. This clever show spent six weeks alongside “This Is Us” on Tuesdays … then six more on the shelf. Now it’s back, in a tougher slot. Jane Levy received a Golden Globe nomination as Zoey, a likable soul who hears people’s thoughts via pop songs. “Playlist” also had a Television Critics Association nomination as best new show and an Emmy win for choreography. Meanwhile, CBS’ Sunday dramas have their first new episodes in three weeks.