Year: 2021

1) “Impeachment,” 10 p.m., FX. The second half of this superb, 10-week series starts with an hour that’s simultaneously funny and tragic. Monica Lewinsky (wonderfully played by Beanie Feldstein, shown here) is suddenly detained by the FBI. She’s free to go, but advised not to. For 12 hours – some of them spent waiting for her mom – she and some bewildered FBI guys (one of them played by Colin Hanks) co-exist in a hotel room and wander a shopping mall. It’s a bizarre half-day in American political history. Read more…

1) “Roswell” season-finale, 8 and 9 p.m., CW. “This is better than a soap opera,” one character says. And longer, too. In these two hours, we get way too many heart-to-heart talks. Individually, each is written and played well; combined, this feel like Dr. Phil has invaded the sci-fi universe. The story mixes aliens with special powers and mere Earthlings without. Most aliens are good, but Mr. Jones is pure evil … and looks like good-guy Max (shown here with Liz, the brainy scientist). That stirs science talk we can’t pretend to understand. Read more…

1) “The Equalizer” season-opener, 8 p.m., CBS. After scoring big in the ratings last year, “Equalizer” has a high-octane return. A bank robbery turns lethal; then the cop who almost arrested Robyn needs her help. That comes at a tough time for Robyn (Queen Latifah): Her former CIA boss is angry; so is her daughter, who knows she’s been lying about her work. Also, her tech guy faked his death five years ago. She considers quitting … then plunges ahead in a strong hour, with a little girl (shown here) to rescue and bad guys to catch. Read more…

1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. Kim Kardashian West (shown here) is someone the show usually likes to mock; now, instead, she’s the host. It will be her first time on “SNL,” but her estranged husband Kanye West has been the music guest seven times. He usually brings a visually ambitious number – as does Halsey, who tonight has her fourth turn as music guest. Read more…

1) “Nancy Drew” season-opener, 9 p.m., CW. In the early books, Nancy was 16, poking around crime scenes after school; not any more. She’s a waitress, applying to an Ivy League school. She’s learned she’s an heiress. And she confronts nastiness, human and supernatural. Tonight, a mystery begins and a nemesis returns. Those parts are so-so, but two character portions are excellent: Nancy (shown here with her friend Ace) meets an FBI profiler who may be her equal; and her friend, who proposed to Nick, anxiously awaits a response. Read more…

1) “Ghosts” debut, 9:01 and 9:30 p.m., CBS. The Thursday comedies often fit a formula: Most are from Chuck Lorre, the “Big Bang” producer; most (except “Young Sheldon”) are done in front of a studio audience. Now comes a bold step – giving the best slot to a non-Lorre show that’s filmed movie-style (no audence), awash in sight gags and special effects. Rose McIver (“iZombie”) is terrific; at first (shown here), she and her husband don’t see the ghosts in her house. Then a near-death experience changes everything; big laughs ensue. Read more…