1) “The Bachelor,” 8-10 p.m. , ABC. On the eve of Valentine’s Day, this is the logical place to see romance. Zach Shallcross (shown here) is on the Bahama beaches with 14 women (out of the original 30), including four nurses, a therapist, a medical sales rep and a rodeo racer, They try all-terrain vehicles, deep-sea diving and other things we rarely get to do with our Valentine. Read more…
1) Super Bowl, 6:30 p.m. ET, Fox. At first, the Kansas City Chiefs seemed like Super Bowl regulars. They were in the first one (in 1967) and lost, then in the fourth and won. And then came a half-century drought. The Chiefs finally returned in 2019, winning behind 24-year-old quarterback Patrick Mahomes. They lost with him in 2021 and now return — facing the Philadelphia Eagles, who have a 24-year-old quarterback (Jalen Hurts, shown here) of their own. Read more…
Los Angeles is used to the arrival of new superstars, ready to dazzle.
That happens in sports, mostly – Kareem, Magic, LeBron, Gretzky, Beckham, etc. But it also happened in the classical-music world: In 2007, Gustavo Dudamel (shown here), 26, was designated as the incoming music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Jason Schwartzman, the actor-director-producer, once recalled that debut concert. “It was so exciting and exilarating,” he said. “The second he began, there was such a contagious feeling in the room.”
Now that excitement will cross the continent. It was announced this week that Dudamel will move to the New York Philharmonic, beginning in 2026. Read more…
1) “The Masked Singer” opener, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Fox. Fresh from the Super Bowl, Fox has its best shot at ratings success. At 8 p.m. Thursday is Gordon Ramsay’s “Next Level Chef,” which had its season-opener after the game. And on Wednesday is this show, which has unmasked great singers (Jewel, Jennifer Holliday) and others, from Dog the Bounty Hunter to Larry the Cable Guy. The opener (shown here) will introduce three singers and unmask two. Read more…
1) “The Perfect 10,” 8-9:30 p.m., Fox. On Super Bowl eve, this documentary (narrated by Andre Braugher) profiles the 10 players who won the top awards for college (Heisman Trophy) and pros (Hall of Fame). There are six running backs (including O.J. Simpson), a quarterback (Roger Staubach) and Paul Hornung, who was both; plus receiver Tim Brown (shown here) and defensive back Charles Woodson. That’s followed at 9:30 by a transplanted “First Things First.” Read more…
1) “Lopez vs. Lopez,” 8 p.m., NBC. This gets a much-needed boost from Neil Flynn (shown here) and Eden Sher, as the new neighbors. They play father and daughter – just as they did in “The Middle,” a much better comedy; as it happens, he’s George’s old friend-turned-foe. Flynn and Sher have a solid approach – as does Mayan Lopez, who is George’s daughter, on the show and in real life. They’re a welcome relief from the other characters, all overwrought. Read more…
On Super Bowl Sunday, we’re expected to set real life aside.
There’s no time for parenting, pets or pragmatic chores. We’re supposed to focus on football, plus commercials, music (shown here with Rihanna) and more.
With that in mind, here’s a guide for the casual viewer. At the end, we’ll include some alternatives. Read more…
1) “Hell’s Kitchen” finale, 8-10 p.m., Fox. This season, Gordon Ramsay (shown here) has pitted “20-somethings” against “40-somethings,” with the young folks dominating. They had six of the final eight and four of the final five (including two who are only 24 and 21). Now the final three includes Dafne Meja, 29, and Alejandro Najar, 28, plus Alex Belew, 40. In the first hour, they create menus and dinners, with one ousted. Then eliminated contestants will return to help the final two. Read more…
1) “Not Dead Yet” debut, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m., ABC. Gina Rodriguez (“Jane the Virgin”) adds another distinctive comedy/drama. She plays a former star reporter, now confined to writing obituaries … and seeing the ghosts of her subjects. The opener (shown here), with Martin Mull as guest ghost, is excellent; the second episode spends too much of its time on so-so workplace scenes. Read more…
As “A Million Little Things” starts its final season (shown here), most of the little things have slid aside.
The show has become a tangle of big things – divorce and despair, romance and recovery, cancer and paralysis and dementia and more.
And in the midst of that, it has kept its humor. This series, said creator DJ Nash, is “telling the audience that we are going to cry, but we’re goint to laugh even more.”
Both parts, tears and laughter, start with Gary, played by James Roday Rodriguez. Last season ended with news that his cancer is back; the new one starts with him recording messages to his unborn child.
It’s a tricky time to also go to for laughs, but that fits the actor. Read more…
