1) Earth Day fun. This is the day when TV shows us the Earth at its best. That’s led by the National Geographic Channel, with epic mini-series. There’s “Secrets of the Elephant” (shown here) at 9:50 a.m., “Queens” at 12:50 p.m. and the superb “Secrets of the Octopus” (which debuted Sunday) from 7:08 to 10 p.m. Disney+ has the NatGeo shows, debuts “Tiger” and has 15 previous nature epics. Read more…
1) “Secrets of the Octopus,” 8-10:52 p.m., National Geographic Channel. Ignored (or feared) for centuries, octopuses (shown here) are the new media stars. They deserve the attention. They can change color, shape and image; they can hide from a predator, befuddle a prey, befriend a scientist. This terrific three-parter reruns at 10:52 p.m. today and then at 7:08 p.m. Monday, in an Earth Day marathon. Read more…
1) Basketball playoffs begin. LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers needed an extra game (via the “play-in” phase) to get here, but now they’re in the playoffs. At 8:30 p.m., ET on ABC, they visit the Denver Nuggets (shown here ina previous game. That wraps an opening day that has games on ESPN at 1, 3:30 and 6 p.m. in Cleveland, Minnesota and at the New York Knicks. Read more…
1) “Now Hear This,” 9 p.m., PBS. As a young violinist, Scott Yoo was “tortured” by the demands of Nicolo Paganini’s music. Now he explores the legends – some true, some not – surrounding the composer. He also has interesting (but fairly pointless) looks at the masters of other fields. That’s followed at 10 p.m. by splendid virtuosos – saxophonist Joshua Redman, his band, and singer Gabrielle Cavasso (shown here). Read more…
1) “9-1-1,” 8-11 p.m., ABC. The entire shipboard crisis reruns in one burst. After Bobby and Athena start their belated honeymoon, things unfold slowly: Late in the first hour, there’s a problem – and an explosion; late in the second, people onshore begin to suspect something’s wrong. Meanwhile, Bobby and Athena scramble to save lives (shown here). Read more…
1) “Animal Control,” 9:02 p.m., Fox. The network’s only non-cartoon comedy has become a pleasant surprise, mixing brief animal sight gags and some solid character humor. Now we’re back to the dating woes of Frank (Joel McHale, shown here). Having flubbed the apps, he asks Emily to set him up. Also, Patel and Shred try to do the remodeling work on their investment property. Read more…
1) “The Good Doctor,” 10 p.m. Tuesday, ABC. On a rerun night for ABC, here’s the hour that introduced a likable actress to a broader audience. Kayla Cromer, who is on the autism spectrum, co-starred in a snall cable comedy; now she plays Charlie, who is autistic. Tonight (shown here) she works with Shaun (her inspiration for becoming a doctor) and promptly oversteps her role. Read more…
1) “NCIS” (shown here), 9 p.m., CBS. Counting all five “NCIS” shows, this is episode No. 1,000. Appropriately, it focuses on NCIS Director Vance (Rocky Carroll), who’s been in 369 of them. As his son questions Vance’s 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 totally absurd. Read more…
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…
