1) “American Ninja Warrior” couples championship, 8-10 p.m., NBC. For NBC, this starts a summer surge. Tonight (shown here) – a week before the regular “ANW” season begins — 12 couples compete. On Tuesday, “America’s Got Talent” starts its season. Both shows lead into new game-show episodes; tonight it’s “The Weakest Link,” with host Jane Lynch and eight military veterans. Read more…
Morgan Spurlock, who died Thursday at 53, did much to expand the noble world of documentaries.
Like Michael Moore, he showed that “look at me” can be a legitimate technique … and that a light approach can fit a serious subject.
And unlike most people, he showed that everyday subjects can be documentary-worthy. That began two decades ago, with “Super Size Me” (shown here).
Spurlock died of complications from cancer, a spokesman said. He left a rich body of work that fit neatly into the prime of cable-TV. Read more…
1) “National Memorial Day Concert,” 8 p.m., PBS, rerunning at 9:30. On the eve of Memorial Day, here’s a passionate blend of music and true stories. The music is from Broadway’s Cynthia Erivo, Ruthie Ann Miles and Patina Miller, plus country’s Gary LeVox (of Rascal Flatts) and Jamey Johnson, with a song about his fellow Marines. Stories are told by Bryan Cranston, BD Wong and more. Read more…
After a prolonged pause, the CW network has decided the obvious: “Wild Cards” (shown here) will be back for a second season.
That won’t be until 2025, but it will be for 13 episodes, compared to 10 for the first year.
The light-hearted crime show did relatively well in the ratings, but the network was noncommittal about its future. The news finally came two months after the show’s first season ended and a week after the network set its fall schedule. Read more…
1) “I Am Steve McQueen,” 8-10 p.m., CW. One generation has Sir Steve McQueen, the Oscar-winning director; another had this Oscar-nominated actor (shown here). As a teen, he was in the reformatory; as a Marine, he was in the brig. He battled directors, raced motorcycles and died at 50. He was a potent film force; one example, “The Great Escape” (1963), will be 5 p.m. ET Sunday on Turner Classic Movies. Read more…
1) “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Station 19” finales, 9 and 10 p.m. Thursday, ABC. Last week on “Station 19,” a wildfire roared toward Seattle. Now “Grey’s” feels the impact; the hospital is overwhelmed with burn and smoke victims. Then we see the “Station 19” firefighters (shown here) continuing to battle the blaze. That wraps the seventh and final season for the show; “Grey’s will be back for its 21st year. Read more…
1) “Purlie Victorious,” 9 p.m.,, PBS. Three weeks before the Tonys, this has six nominations, including best play revival and two for its actors (shown here): Leslie Odom Jr. romps through a blitz of florid dialog, as the scheming but good-hearted Purlie; Kara Young offers some Carol Burnett-style moves, as his accomplice. They partly conquer the show’s broad humor and turbo-speed dialog. Read more…
1) “Elsbeth” season-finale, 9 p.m., CBS. Amid some towering, glowering fashion models, Elsbeth (shown here) seems out of place. She’s 5-foot-4, given to bright clothes and brighter smiles. But before this hour ends, we’ll see an Elsbeth-inspired fashion show That part gets a tad goofy at times, but there’s also a solid murder mystery. It’s a fairly good finish to a terrific first season. Read more…
Leslie Odom Jr. spent much of his youth soaking up Philadelphia’s arts world.
He studied dance at Philadanco, acting at New Freedom Theatre, both at a performing-arts high school. But overshadowing all of that was the church.
“What the church connected me to was conviction in performance,” Odom, a Tony-winner for “Hamilton” — told the Television Critics Association.
It’s fine to sing the right notes and dance the right moves, but the bigger goal is to project passion. That became a goal “any time … I stood up in front of the congregation to do some reading. Or certainly when I heard the pastor deliver a sermon and stir us.”
Now that fits his starring role in “Purlie Victorious” (shown here) at 9 p.m. Friday (May 24) on PBS. Read more…
1) “Survivor” finale and reunion, 8-11 p.m., CBS. Five people remain and one will be a million-dollar winner. Maria Shrive Gonzalez (shown here, right, in last week’s episode), 48, a parent coach, faces younger folks — Charlie Davis, 26, a law student; Kenzie Petty (center), 29, a salon owner; Liz Wilcox, 35, a marketing strategist; and Ben Katzman (left), 31, a “shred” guitarist in the band DeGreaser. Read more…
