1) Academy of Country Music awards, 8-11 p.m. Sunday, CBS. In September, the long-delayed 2020 awards had a social-distance plan that worked: Performances (including Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton, shown here) were at three spot0s – Opry, Ryman and Bluebird – and most nominees were there live. Now, just seven months later, the 2021 awards repeat that plan. Hosts Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton perform; so do Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, Kane Brown and more.
2) “The Resident” return, 8 p.m. Tuesday, Fox. After a month-long break, Fox’s Tuesday dramas are back … and this one has a pivotal hour. We won’t spoil any surprises, but there’s a wedding, some apparent departures and a sharp disappointment. One story (involving Bell’s stepson) is heavy-handed, but another (involving Austin and Okafor) is beautifully crafted. Jessica (the nurse) has two scenes, one funny and one gorgeous. There’s much more, including a human relationship for the steely Dr. Cain.
3) “Prodigal Son” return, 9 p.m. Tuesday, Fox. An abundance of British Isles talent fills this hour. Oscar-winner Catherine Zeta-Jones and Emmy-nominee Michael Sheen are from Wales; she’s the new doctor in the prison where he (as Martin, a doctor/killer) is held. Alan Cumming, an Emmy-nominee from Scotland, arrives, suspecting (correctly) that Martin’s kin are linked to a murder. The clever hour is dominated by Cumming’s over-the-top style, but ends with a great scene with Sheen and Zeta-Jones.
4) “Tough as Nails” finale, 8 p.m. Wednesday, CBS. We’re down to the final four now. There’s Sarah Burkett, 41, a pipe welder; Scott Henry, 44, a construction superintendent; “Swifty” Sanders, 43, a steelworker; and “Zeus” Ontai, 29, a lineworker. Each has a shot at winning $200,000 and a truck. The others, however, stick around for the team competition; Ontai is on one team and the other finalists are on the other. On May 5, this reality slot goes to Tiffany Haddish’s “Kids Say the Darnedst Things.”
5) “All American” return, 8 p.m. today, CW. After resting for a month, the show returns with the coach (Taye Diggs) facing problems: His daughter, Olivia, and his star player, Spencer, are mad at each other; also, he holds kicking try-outs … and is surprised by the result. Meanwhile, there are tough choices for Asher (about football) and Coop (about school). That’s followed at 9 by the “Black Lightning” return: After a brutal stretch as a cybernetic assassin, Khalil is trying to do good … even if people distrust him.
6) “Big Sky” return, 9 and 10 p.m. Tuesday, ABC. This intense story has had a stop-and-go life. In the fifth episode, the teen sisters were freed and Rick (one of the captors) was wounded. After a month-long break, the next four episodes saw Rick killed by his wife, but Ronald (the other captor) escape. Now – after a two-month break – we have the season’s final seven episodes. With Cody slain, his ex-wife and ex-girlfriend run his detective agency. A case begins … while Ronald looms, seeking revenge.
7) “United States of Al,” 9 and 9:30 p.m. Wednesday and 8:30 p.m. Thursday, CBS. If you haven’t seen this gently pleasant comedy, here’s the perfect time: The first two episodes rerun Wednesday; the third is in its regular, Thursday spot. Riley, an ex-Marine, spent years getting Awalmir (Al), his friend and translator in Afghanistan, to the U.S. Now he’s here, with much to learn – or to change – about Americans. In the second episode, he tries to patch Riley’s marriage; in the third, he flubs a driving test.
8) “The Moodys,” 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Fox. Here’s the opposite of the gentle “Al” humor. A family grumbles and groans, often in very funny ways. Sean (Denis Leary) is already tired of having his three grown children home; now is the cruelest blow – demotion on a hockey team his brother coaches. One story (Sean Jr. in a business scheme) is lame, but others involving his siblings are great. That includes the aftermath of a kiss (Dan and his mom’s life coach) and a near-kiss (Bridget and her cousin).
9) “Beethoven in Beijing,” 9-10:30 p.m. Friday, PBS. In 1966, China’s cultural revolution crushed classical music. Violins were smashed, violinists were beaten, only six operas were approved. But in 1973, the Philadelphia Orchestra was invited. This excellent film is in a strong PBS week: “Frontline” (10 p.m. Tuesday) views far-right hate groups … “Nature” (9 p.m. Wednesday) has a gorgeous leopard film … “Atlantic Crossing” (9 p.m. Sunday) sees Princess Martha subtly bond with Franklin Roosevelt.
10) “Van Helsing” season-opener, 10 p.m. Friday, Syfy. This show’s first gender-flip was to make its Van Helsing (a descendant of the original vampire-hunter) female. Late last season, it made another flip: Dracula is played by Tricia Helfer – a fantasy-fan favorite, from “Battlestar Galactica” to “Lucifer.” She has killed the president and taken her human form, making the post-apocalyptic world even nastier. As this fifth and final season begins, flashbacks (filmed in Slovakia) trace her story.