1) “Night Court,” 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, NBC. It’s time for a musical courtroom. An iffy producer claims he’ll put Dan’s life story on Broadway. It takes too long, but the episode does end with a rousing number. Dan and Abby (John Larroquette, shown here, and Melissa Rauch) are OK; others show strong vocal talent. Read more…
\For screenwriters, there’s a helpful chaos theory.
It’s one of the reasons that “Anora” (shown here) – in theaters now, on Hulu starting March 17 – was a worthy winner of five Academy Awards, including best picture.
That still doesn’t mean everyone should rush to see it. This film has enough of many things – sex, nudity, language – to disrupt fragile souls and bring arrests in fragile nations.
But it also has much more – great characters, perfect performances (especially by Oscar-winner Mikey Madison) and clever chaos. Read more…
1) “Ringo & Friends at the Ryman,” 8-10 p.m., CBS. As a Beatle, Ringo Starr recorded Buck Owens’ “Act Naturally”; it was clear he likes country. Now, 60 years later, Starr (shown here), 84, does that song and others with Brenda Lee, Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris, Jamey Johnson, Mickey Guyton, Jack White, Molly Tuttle, Rodney Crowell and more. Read more…
Media people keep straining to reach the “early adapters” – the people who are always ready to try something new.
But now TV networks are leaning tbe other way. They need the late adapters … and country music is getting fresh attention. Consider:
— The Grand Ole Opry – snubbed by TV and cable for decades – is getting three hours of prime time on NBC and Peacock. On March 19, Blake Shelton (shown here) will host a 100-year celebration that includes approximately everyone.
— That’s shortly after two other events: On March 9 (8-10 p.m., ABC) country star Carrie Underwood takes over as an “American Idol” judge . The next day (8-10 p.m., CBS), Ringo Starr is at the Ryman Auditorium (the Opry’s former home), surrounded by country singers.
— And this fall, CBS has Shelton and Keith Urban in “The Road,” focusing on emerging country stars. Read more…
1) “Dark Winds” opener, 9 p.m., AMC, repeating at 10:09 and 11:18. After a long and eerie flash-forward, stories pile up in a richly crafted episode: Joe and Chee (shown here) search for two teens, amid talk of a monster … An FBI agent (Jenna Elfman) probes a case he buried … And his former deputy has an emotional encounter at the border. Read more…
1) “Ringo & Friends at the Ryman,” 8-10 p.m. today, CBS. In his Beatle days, Ringo Starr recorded Buck Owens’ “Act Naturally.” Ever since, it’s been clear he likes country. Now Starr (shown here), 84, does that song and others with Brenda Lee, Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris, Jamey Johnson, Mickey Guyton, Rodney Crowell, Molly Tuttle, Jack White and more. Read more…
1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. For Lady Gaga (shown here), appearances on “SNL have been rare, but spectacular. She’s been the music guest four times in the past 15 years (not counting Peacock’s “SNL” mega-concert), often with visually ambitious numbers. Only once, however, did she double as host; now comes her second time doing both. Read more…
The CW network will continue to keep Wednesdays as its oasis of new, scripted shows.
This spring, that will include the debut of “Sherlock & Daughter,” the return of “Children Ruin Everything” and the third season of “Sullivan’s Crossing” (shown here) … just five months after the second one ended. Read more…
As “Righteous Gemstones” (shown here) starts its final season (10:01 p.m. Sunday, March 9, on HBO), it might seem sort of fleeting.
This is the fourth nine-episode season. Next to, say, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (26th season, 565 episodes) that’s a mere blink of an eye.
Still, it feels like it goes way back. “When we finished the pilot in 2018, it was a different world,” said Tim Baltz, who co-stars.
The first season went smoothly enough; the second didn’t. “We were shooting for two days and then we shut down for Covid,” said Danny McBride, the show’s creator and star. Read more…
1) “North by Northwest” (1959), 8 p.m. ET, Turner Classic Movies. Post-Oscars, there are still good movies to try. This zesty Hitchcock adventure (shown here with Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint) is surrounded by the Marx Brothers’ “A Day at the Races” (1937) at 6 and “Lover Come Back” (1961) — an amiable Rock Hudson/Doris Day film with an Oscar-nominated script — at 10:30. Read more…
