1) “Dolly Parton – From Rhinestones to Rock & Roll,” 10 p.m., ABC. On the eve of the Country Music Association awards, Robin Roberts interviews Parton (shown here). She ranges from Parton’s early years to her new album, linking with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Pat Benatar, Steven Tyler and more. Read more…
1) “Kitchen Nightmares.” 8 p.m., Fox. At a restaurant called Juicy Box, Gordon Ramsay logically orders juice. “The juicer is kind of like broken,” the cheery waitress (shown here) says. So is a walk-in refrigerator; it should be 38-40 degrees, but is now 74. Also, there are no printed menus and the opening time has been switched from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. This hour – set for Oct. 23, then delayed because of baseball – is a good one, with likable people making major mistakes. Read more…
1) “The Simpsons,” 8 pm., Fox. Once a year, “Treehouse of Horror” offers tales that are sometimes witty, sometimes gory, always wonderfully bizarre. Now – a week later than usual – we get a new batch. The first two are fairly good and a bit gruesome: Marge plunges into the game universe (shown here) to save Bart; Lisa solves a crime. The third one is the real gem, offering a world full of Homer-ic people. Read more…
1) “Planet Earth III” opener, 8-9:09 p.m., BBC America. At 31, David Attenborough led a TV voyage to Raine Island (shown here), a 79-acre speck near Australia that is vital to green turtles. Now, 66 years later, the opener of this eight-week series (which he narrates) includes a returns to Raine. That’s in an episode filled with great footage and smart narration. Previous “Planet Earth” episodes rerun all day. Read more…
1) “Great Performances,” 9 p.m., PBS. Kate Prince is a gifted choreographer, creating vibrant blends of hip hop and other contemporary dance styles. Now she’s crafted a show (shown here), backed by the music of Sting. The story tells of a family that must flee its country, then finds pain and joy as refugees. Backed by such songs as “Roxanne” and “Every Breath You Take,” the result is emotional and involving Read more…
1) “SEAL Team” return, 10 p.m., CBS. After years on CBS, this show slid over to the Paramount+ streamer. It aired the first four episodes of the fifth season on CBS, then made the jump. Now it’s back, filling a strike-time void. It starts with the two-parter that opened that fifth season: The crew members (including David Boreanaz, shown here, center, in a previous episode) get at-home time, starts a “training exercise” … and learn it’s a real (and dangerous) rescue mission. Read more…
1) “Quantum Leap,” 8 p.m., NBC. For Raymond Lee (shown here, center), this is a leap into fairly familiar turf. Lee (who has Korean roots) plays Ben, forever leaping into different bodies; now he’s in a young Korean-American. It’s April 29, 1992, the day of battles between Korean merchants and Blacks who were angered by a not-guilty verdict for the Los Angeles police who beat Rodney King. This hour gets way too talky, but does deliver emotional impact. Read more…
1) “The Swarm” season-finale, 9 p.m., CW. The first seven episodes –slow, but solidly crafted – have had the seas churning. Whales attacked; crabs marched ashore. Secret drilling on the ocean floor may have unleashed a creature; last week, scientists arrived by ship to see. One tried to communicate; another tried a mini-sub mission. Now something has infiltrated the ship and one person is in a coma. Charlie (the talented Leonie Benesch,shown here) faces a lonely decision. Read more…
1) “Ghosts,” 8 and 8:30 p.m., CBS. This likable show finally returns – but only for one night and two reruns. These are the Halloween ones, both excellent, from the first two seasons: Neighborhood kids plan to vandalize the place; the ghosts try to help. Then a séance accidentally brings someone from Hetty’s past (shown here). After that, be patient: Tentative plans have reruns returning Nov. 16, alongside the original, British version of the show. Read more…
1) “The Simpsons,” 7 and 8 p.m., Fox. Most years, this is the night for a new “Treehouse of Horrors” (an example is shown here),with witty and/or gruesome tales. But this year’s episode – two OK stories and then a gem – is delayed until next week. Instead, we get reruns of last year’s “Treehouse” (including a charming anime tale) and “Bob’s Burgers” (ominous orchard trip) at 7 and 7:30. Then a new “Simpsons” has a “documentary” about Mr. Burns and a young woman’s start-up scheme. Read more…
