Year: 2021

Best-bets for Nov. 11: Agony in war and in peace

1) “Station 19” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” 8 and 9 p.m., ABC. After a two-week break, these dramas are back, big-time: An explosion jolts Seattle, personally affecting people on both shows, especially Dr. Hunt (shown here; see next item). Meanwhile, other stories continue. On “Station 19,” Vic ponders her feelings about Theo and commitment; also, Andy take refuge in Dean’s home. On “Grey’s Anatomy,” Meredith and Amelia – working on their study in Minnesota – get help from a familiar face. Read more…

From “Jaws” and “Star Wars” to classical, he’s the master

John Williams has been writing music for 80 years now, so this must be easy for him.
Or not. “There’s rarely a moment (when) I have said, ‘Eureka, this is exactly right,’” he said.
Consider the five “Close Encounters” notes, which seemed just right for communicating with aliens: “I wrote about 300 examples,” Williams (shown here) told the Television Critics Association.
His Zoom call was to promote a big-deal classical-music event: At 9 p.m. Friday (Nov. 12), PBS’ has Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Boston Symphony with, as “Great Performances” producer David Horn put it, “the debut of a violin concerto by legendary composer John Williams.” Read more…

Best-bets for Nov. 10: Singers (masked or maskless) lead the night

1) Country Music Association awards, 8-11 p.m., ABC. Luke Bryan hosts and performs, in a star-stuffed night. Performing are all five Entertainer of the Year nominees – Eric Church and Chris Stapleton (who lead with five nominations each), Luke Combs and Miranda Lambert (three each) and Carrie Underwood (one). Also performing: Gabby Barrett (shown here, four nominations, including best new artist), Blake Shelton, Jennifer Hudson, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Mickey Guyton, Thomas Rhett and more. Read more…

Best-bets for Nov. 9: Strong “Resident,” iffy fantasies

1) “The Resident,” 8 p.m., Fox. The two-week baseball break was perfectly timed for this show’s transition. It returns by jumping ahead a few years; the widowed Conrad has changed his life, so he can be with his pre-school daughter. Now, at least for a day, he’s back in his old hospital (shown here, right). With one exception (out-of-character behavior for Bell and Austin), it’s a terrific episode. Read more…

Best-bets for Nov. 7 (out of order): “Dexter” leads a dramatic night

1) “Dexter: New Blood” debut, 9 p.m., Showtime. In its eight seasons, “Dexter” drew four best-drama Emmy nominations, plus five best-actor ones for Michael C. Hall (shown here), as a police technician who secretly killed bad guys. Now here’s the solid start of a 10-part mini-series: For a decade, Dexter has been hiding in upstate New York. In public, he’s cheerful, dating the police chief; in private, he argues with images of his late sister. He meets someone from his past and worries that his old ways may return. Read more…

Best-bets for Nov. 8: Deadly crises in fact and fiction

1) “The Lost Symbol” opener, 10 p.m.. NBC. In three Ron Howard movies, Tom Hanks played Robert Langdon, a master of ancient symbols and codes. Now this prequel has young Langdon (Ashley Zukerman, shown here) trying to save his mentor (Eddie Izzard). The nine-week first season concludes Thursday on Peacock, where you can find the other episodes. To get us in the mood, NBC shelved a rerun of “Ordinary Joe” (which returns next week) and inserted this hour, a robust blend of peril and mystery. Read more…

Week’s top-10 for Nov. 8 has two mega-music nights

1) Country Music Association awards, 8-11 p.m. Wednesday, ABC. All five Entertainer of the Year nominees will perform. That includes Eric Church (shown here) and Chris Stapleton, who lead with five nominations each, plus Luke Combs and Miranda Lambert (three each) and Carrie Underwood (one). Also performing: Gabby Barrett (four nominations, including best new artist), Luke Bryan (who hosts), Blake Shelton, Jennifer Hudson, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Mickey Guyton, Thomas Rhett, Kane Brown and more. Read more…

Magic’s life will become a streaming series

Magic Johnson’s life is now being turned into a four-part documentary series for Apple TV+.
The announcement was made Thursday, three days before the anniversary of a key day: On Nov. 7, 1991, Johnson (shown here) announced that he had tested positive for HIV.
That was at a time when AIDS was considered a death sentence. Johnson, now 62, threw himself into the newest medical protocols and has thrived for 30 years. Read more…

Best-bets for Nov. 6: an “SNL” return … after a 30-year break

1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. Kieran Culkin’s “SNL” debut may have gone unnoticed. He was 9 then and cast as Froggy in a sketch; his brother Macaulay, 11, hosted. Now, 30 years later, Kieran is the host, with Ed Sheeran as music guest. Once merely the brother of the “Home Alone” kid (they’re shown here with their movie parents), he did indie films, getting awards for “Igby Goes Down” (2002). As the troubled Roman in “Succession,” he’s drawn praise, an Emmy nomination … and this belated eturn to “SNL” Read more…

“Lost Symbol” unlocks ancient secrets

Robert Langdon could be the patron saint of anyone who’s ever tackled a crossword, a sudoku or just a bewildering set of Ikea instructions.
He’s a puzzle-solver, one who ponders ancient riddles. He’s fictional, residing in Dan Brown novels … in three Tom Hanks movies … and in “The Lost Symbol” (shown here), a prequel series that shows how this began. Viewers can catch it:
– At the start. The first episode reruns at 10 p.m. Monday (Nov. 8) on NBC.
– At the end of the first season. The ninth and final episode streams Thursday on Peacock. Read more…