1) “Night Court” debut, 8 and 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, NBC. Here are key pieces of past comedy hits: There’s “Night Court” and John Larroquette, who won four straight Emmys as Dan Fielding, before withdrawing from consideration. And there’s Melissa Rauch – Bernadette on “The Big Bang Theory” – playing the new judge. She wants Fielding back (they’re shown here) — but this time handling the defense. The result is big and broad … and, at times, quite funny.
2) “Accused” debut, 9 p.m. Sunday, Fox. The good news is that this is special – an anthology series that tells a different story (built around a courtroom trial) each week; stories vary widely in theme, style and impact. And the bad? Fox has tentatively made an awful choice to open the series. Michael Chiklis plays a surgeon, on trial in a case involving his son. This is beautifully filmed and deeply involving … but devastated viewers might decide not to come back.
3) Football, 8:15 p.m. ET today, ABC and ESPN. There’s one more game in the first round of the pro playoffs. Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Bucs – division champions, despite an 8-9 record – host the Dallas Cowboys, who are 12-5 despite an awful showing in the regular-season finale. The winner plays in one of the two games Sunday; there are also two games Saturday. The field also has Kansas City, Philadelphia and the five winners this past weekend.
4) “Bob (Hearts) Abishola” return, 8:30 p.m today., CBS. After missing last week (because of the “NCIS” crossover), one of TV’s best comedies has its first new episode in six weeks. Amid old worries (Bob’s risky plan to bring production to Detroit) is a dispute on whether Dele should be driving. Comedy fans will also note that “The Neighborhood” is back at 8 … but the season-opener of TBS’ brilliant “Miracle Workers” has been delayed.
5) “American Experience,” 9-11 p.m. Tuesday, PBS, Zora Neale Hurston savored an all-Black world twice – first in her Florida hometown, then at Howard University. For the rest of her life, however, she was bringing her culture to white audiences via novels, plays and anthropology reports. It was a bumpy ride; in her final years, she was a cleaning woman. But she drew raves and transformed the views of many people who dismissed cultures as “primitive.”
6) “New Amsterdam” series finale, 9-11 p.m. Tuesday, NBC. It’s been a busy, five-season run for Max. His wife died … he fell in love with Helen, who left him … and he fell for Wilder, a gifted surgeon played by Sandra Mae Frank, who is deaf. Now the series ends with a crisis for the cancer trials. That’s on the same day that another hospital show wraps up. At 8 p,.m., Fox’s “The Resident” ends a season that was trimmed from 22 to 13 episodes.
7) “Abbot Elementary” 9 p.m. Wednesday, ABC. Now this has a fresh batch of awards – Golden Globes for best comedy series, actress (Quinta Brunson) and supporting actor (Tyler James Williams). That joins its three Emmys (including Brunson) and American Film Institute award. This episode goes to the art of fundraising: Barbara’s class flubs its candy sales; then Ava offers some unconventional techniques. Also, there’s a debate involving a found cat.
8) “That ‘90s Show” debut, Thursday, Netflix. This is a rarity – a strong week for situation comedies; even a streamer steps up, with this 10-episode sequel to “That ‘70s Show.” Topher Grace and Laura Prepon appear briefly as Eric and Donna, but the focus is on their teen-ager, spending the summer with her grandparents (Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp). She soon meets the son of Kelso and Jackie; as you might have guessed, he’s flirty and charming.
9) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m. Saturday, NBC. A dozen years ago, Aubrey Plaza and Michael B. Jordan were both supporting players in NBC-produced shows (“Parks and Recreation” and “Friday Night Lights”). Now they’re movie stars, getting their first turns as “SNL” hosts. Next week, is Jordan, with Lil Baby as music guest; this week (with Sam Smith as music guest) is Plaza, who has soared with “Emily the Criminal,” “White Lotus” and more.
10) “All Creatures Great and Small,” 9 p.m. Sunday, PBS. For three seasons, we thought we knew Siegfried, the stern veterinarian who hired James. Now a beautifully crafted hour brings him into focus. We see him in World War I, debating the fate of Army horses; and in the ‘40s, trying to save one horse. The result is subtle and deeply moving, It follows a detour for “Miss Scarlet and the Duke” – an episode with no Duke, but lots of clever twists.