1) “The 100th,” 9-11 p.m., CBS. Billy Joel (shown here) has sold 160 million records and gathered all the big awards, including five Grammys. Now comes another milestone – his 100th monthly concert in the 20,000-seat Madison Square Garden, each a sell-out. He’s had three No. 1 hits (”Still Rock and Roll to Me,” “Tell Me About It,” “We Didn’t Start the Fire”), four No. 3’s and such album favorites as “Piano Man.” Read more…
1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. For the second straight week, “SNL” has a big-deal host. Last week was Kristen Wiig (in, surprisingly, a so-so episode). Now it’s Ryan Gosling, fresh from soaring with “Barbie” (shown here) That brought his third Oscar nomination – others were for “La La Land” and “Half Nelson” — and an epic, Oscar-night song. Tonight’s music guest is Chris Stapleton. Read more…
This has been a busy time for CBS, with a flurry of announcements.
They range from the Tony Awards (Ariana DeBose, shown here, will host again) to spin-offs (“NCIS,” “Young Sheldon”), renewals, season-finale dates and even a reprieve for “SWAT” (shown here) which had been cancelled.
Here are highlights:ere” which had been cancelled. Here are highlights: Read more…
1) “NCIS,” 9 p.m. today, CBS. If you include all five “NCIS” shows, this is the 1,000th episode. Appropriately, it focuses on NCIS Director Vance (Rocky Carroll, shown here), who’s been in 369 of them. As his son questions Vance’s obsession with work, a crisis arrives. The team meshes and past stars appear briefly in flashbacks. It’s a big hour, but strains belief. One inaction by a Secret Service agent is truly absurd. Read more…
1) “Franklin” debut, Apple TV+. In 1776, Ben Franklin headed to Paris with his teen grandson. He was 70 or 71 (25 years older than George Washington), gifted in science, romance and people skills; that last one would play a key role in the Revolutionary War. Michael Douglas (shown here), 79, and Noah Jupe, 19, star in a smart and well-crafted series, with the first three episodes (of eight) airing today. Read more…
Ben Franklin kept exceeding limitations.
That was true involving education. “He didn’t go to school past 12 years old,” said Michael Douglas, who plays him (shown here) in a mini-series that starts Friday on Apple TV+. So everything is sort of self-learned.
And it was true involving age. In 1776, where “Franklin” begins, he was already 70 or (some sources say) 71. By comparison, Washington was 44 or 45, Jefferson was 33, Hamilton was 21 or 19.
That senior citizen had a crucial assignment, Douglas, 79, told the Television Critics Association: “The Continental Congress decided, ‘Well, we need Ben,’ because he was was well-known around the world, to do sort of an undercover diplomatic trip to France, to get their support.” Read more…
1) “Young Sheldon,” 8 p.m., CBS. Some shows build an entire finale around a wedding. For “Sheldon,” that’s just one piece of a big, busy episode, five weeks from the series finale. Yes, Georgie and Mandy get married (shown here), in a brisk scene that has both big laughs and warmth. But there’s much more here, ranging from the baby to the illegal casino, affecting 10 great (and varied) characters. Read more…
1) “Abbott Elementary,” 9 p.m., ABC. After two weeks of reruns, this dandy comedy returns to new episodes. Tonight, Jacob (shown here) is startled to learn that his colleagues don’t even read his emails. In fact, they have someone else respond.
Read more…
1) Grand Cayman: Secrets in Paradise” debut, 10 p.m., Freeform. Reality shows like to be in pretty places, with pretty and/or wealthy people. This one is on a small (22 miles long) Caribbean island (shown here) that has busy bankers and 75,000 people. One is Elizabeth Chambers, a TV cook and personality; news arrives about the allegations toward her ex-husband, actor Armie Hammer. Read more…
1) Gershwin Prize, 8-10 p.m., PBS. Elton John (shown here n a previos concert) and his lyricist, Bernie Taupin, get the annual award for popular song. They’re in the front row, hearing their songs — from gorgeous ballads (Garth Brooks, Maren Morris) to gospel-style zest (Billy Porter and a sensational Jacob Lusk). There are big moments from Annie Lennox, Charlie Puth, Metallica, Brandi Carlile, Joni Mitchell … and from John. Read more…
