1) “George Jones: Still Playin’ Possum,” 9-10:30 p.m., PBS. Leaping from song to song, this is like a turbo-charged history of country music. Some of Jones’ hits zip zestfully (Justin Moore’s “White Lightning,” Tim Watson’s “One Woman Man”), some dig pits of pain, closing with Brad Paisley’s “He Stopped Loving Her Today” (shown here). Dierks Bentley, Sara Evans, Trace Adkins, Wynonna and more perform vibrantly. Read more…
1) “Genius: MLK/X” conclusion, 9 and 10:08 p.m., National Geographic Channel. A well-crafted miniseries peaks in tonight’s first hour (shown here), with the passage of the Civil Rights Act … and the only time that Martin Luther King and Malcolm X met. The second hour sees them in transition– Malcolm to a global view, King to fresh issues, including Vietnam, before each was killed (three years apart) at 39. Read more…
1) “Abbott Elementary,” 9 p.m., ABC. “Abbott” is off to a strong start this season, with Janine working in a school-district job. Now she tries – reluctantly – to train a substitute for her classroom work; also at Abbott (shown here), the staff tries to update the drug policy, after a student is caught smoking. That’s in a mostly comedy night, from “Conners” (Bev and Jackie in Chicago) to “Judge Steve Harvey (a clown goes rogue). Read more…
1) “The Good Doctor’ season-opener, 10 p.m., ABC.. Over six seasons, Shaun has evolved from a timid teen, autistic and socially clumsy, to a gifted surgeon who’s now a husband and a new dad. Now the 10-episode final season begins, with a crisis. As Shaun and Lea (shown here) adjust to parenthood, he has a dilemma, with two babies needing a transplant. Read more…
1) “America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League” finale, 8-10 p.m. today, NBC. The show has its top ten acts – three apiece on the Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel teams, two with Heidi Klum and Mel B. There’s a singer, a choir and a drumline, plus two aerialists (including Aidan Bryant, shown here), two dance acts, an acrobat duo, a rollerblade duo and a shadow act. Last Monday, all 10 performed and viewers voted; now one wins $250,000. Read more…
1) “The Equalizer” season-opener, 8 p.m., CBS. It was nine months ago that a former CIA colleague put Robyn’s people in grave danger. That was the season-finale; then the strikes pushed back the new season. Now Robyn (Queen Latifah, shown here) makes her move … and learns of the decision that led to the death of another agent. Read more…
1) “An American in Austen,” 8-10 p.m.,, Hallmark. Lots of people might imagine being in the world Jane Austen created for her best character, Elizabeth Bennett. In this film, that happens: A modern Austen buff (played by a Canadian actress, shown here, who happens to be named Eliza Bennett) is transported to that era. Also, “Paging Mt. Darcy” (2024), set at an Austen conference, reruns at noon. Read more…
1) “Blue Bloods” season-opener, 10 p.m., CBS. This wraps up a packed week, with season-openers for virtually all CBS shows. It’s the final season for “Blue Bloods,” “Young Sheldon” and “Bob (Hearts) Abiishola,” but with a difference: The others will end in May; “Blue Bloods” will pause this summer, then wrap up in the fall. Tonight, Jamie goes undercover in a human-trafficking wing and his dad (Tom Selleck, shown here)m the police commissioner, again battles the mayor. Read more…
1) “Young Sheldon” season-opener, 8 p.m., CBS. Gradually, this has become less about Sheldon and more about his quirky clan. Now that peaks as the final season begins, with Sheldon and his mom in Germany. They bring some good moments, but the best ones are back home, where a tornado flattened his grandmother’s house. Now she’s wedged in (shown here) with the rest of the crowd, including Sheldon’s dad, siblings, baby niece and more. Read more…
1) “Resident Alien” season-opener, 10 p.m., Syfy and USA Network. This gem is finally back, with its blend of solid scii-fi and goofy humor. Sent to destroy all humans, an alien killed the local doctor, took his body … then decided he might like people. Now some of them know his secret, one boy can see his real form (shown here) … and a more-evil alien is in town. The result, as usual, is an odd delight. Read more…
