Week’s top-10 for Nov. 16: J-Lo, demons and lots of season-openers
1) “American Music Awards,” 8-11 p.m. Sunday, ABC. Ten months ago, Jennifer Lopez teamed with Read more…
Weekly Previews
Week’s top-10 for Nov. 9: Country, plus lots of season-openers
1) Country Music Association awards, 8-11 p.m. Wednesday, ABC For the first time in almost forever, an award show has a studio audience – a small, safe one, the CMA says. Hosts are Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker (shown here) – the show’s first Black host in 45 years; the previous one, Charley Pride, gets a lifetime award. Rucker and McEntire will perform together. He’ll also link with Lady Antebellum; she’ll link with Thomas Rhett, Hillary Scott and Chris Tomlin. And Jason Aldean leads a Charlie Daniels tribute. Read more…
Week’s top-10 for Nov. 2: New show, new (?) president
1) Election night, Tuesday. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET (an hour before most Eastern Read more…
Week’s top-10 for Oct. 26: “This Is Us” leads trio of openers
1) “This Is Us” season-opener, 9-11 p.m. Tuesday, NBC. Here’s a sign that TV is nudging back to normal: The best broadcast-network drama returns – sooner than first announced and with back-to-back episodes. Birthdays are big here – shared by Kevin, Kate and their adopted brother Randall. Now it’s their 40th, amid gloom. Their mom left to try an experimental Alzheimer’s treatment; as last season ended (shown here), Kevin blamed Randall for her decision and blurted out that he wishes his parents never adopted him. It could be tense. Read more…
Week’s top-10 for Oct. 19: “Voice” and comedies return
1) “The Voice” season-opener, 8-10 p.m. today and Tuesday, NBC. A perennial ratings-leader returns, with its star and his loved-interest. The star is Blake Shelton; in 18 editions, he’s had seven winners and 11 runners-up – sometimes both at the same time. His life partner is Gwen Stefani (they’re shown here), with no winners in four previous seasons. The other two judges have started strong: Kelly Clarkson has had three wins in five seasons; John Legend has had one in three. The auditions begin, with Carson Daly as the host. Read more…
Week’s top-10 for Oct. 12: Music stars, reality debuts and bad Bart
1) Billboard Music Awards,” 8-11 p.m. Wednesday, NBC. After a half-year delay, the awards finally arrive, with lots of top performers. They include Kelly Clarkson (shown here), the host; Garth Brooks, getting the Icon Award; and Post Malone, leading with 16 nominations. Songs will range from a premiere by Demi Lovato to En Vogue’s 30-year-old “Free Your Mind.” Also performing are BTS, Sia, Alicia Keys and Luke Combs, plus links – Deja Cat with Tyga; Khalid with Swae Lee and country’s Kane Brown. Read more…
Week’s top-10: The machines take control
1) “NeXt” debut, 9 p.m. Tuesday, Fox. For decades, science-fiction has fretted about robots taking over. In this solidly made series, that’s imminent. A driverless car refuses to take suggestions; an Alexa-type device whispers schemes to a little boy. What’s happening? A genius (John Slattery, shown here) knows: He wrote a code that lets computers educate themselves; it was too much, he realized – but he’s been fired and the program is unfettered. It’s a strong start to a 10-week tale that was set for spring/summer, then delayed. Read more…
Week’s top-10 for Sept. 21: Fox starts its season; others come close
1) “L.A.’s Finest” opener, 8 p.m. today, Fox. This is important – not because of the show itself (which is pretty good), but what it represents: It’s the start of a makeshift TV season – full-scale on Fox (including “The Simpsons,” shown here), fairly full on the other broadcast networks. “Finest” has already been on the Spectrum cable system, but it’s new to most viewers. Gabrielle Union (reviving her “Bad Boys II” character) and Jessica Alba play police detectives. The opener has clever dialog, movie-quality chase scenes … and absurd plot twists. Read more…
Week’s top-10 for Sept. 14: Country awards, Emmy awards
1) Academy of Country Music awards, 8-11 p.m. Wednesday, CBS. With a five-month delay, this found ways to do live, social-distanced music. Performers will be scattered over three spots – the Grand Ole Opry’s past and current home and a nightclub. And there will be plenty of them. Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani (shown here) do “Happy Anywhere”; Carrie Underwood does a medley of women’s hits. Also: host Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Trisha Underwood, Kane Brown, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, more. Read more…
Week’s top-10 for Sept. 7: Chiefs and ninjas and putters and such
1) Football season-openers, 8:20 p.m. ET Thursday and Sunday, NBC. This is what we need now – the fun and zest of pro football. It starts with the champion Kansas City Chiefs, hosting the team (Houston Texans) they beat to get to the Super Bowl (shown here). On Sunday night, the Los Angeles Rams (9-7 last year) host the Dallas Cowboys (8-8). All the other teams play earlier on Sunday or in ESPN’s doubleheader on Monday. And after a slow first week, college football will have a fairly busy line-up on Saturday. Read more…