1) “Saturday Night Live” season-opener, 11:29 p.m., NBC. The 50th season starts, with Jean Smart(shown here) – fresh from her Emmy win for “Hacks” – hosting and Jelly Roll as the music guest. Chloe Troast, Punkie Johnson and Molly Kearney won’t be back; three newcomers arrive, with Maya Rudolph returning for sketches that include Kamala Harris. Read more…
In a presidential election year, democracy hits overdrive.
Candidates and campaigns blitz to every state. Every issue is vital, every vote matters, every citizen is important, every ….
Oops, we meant to say every vote matters – IF it’s from one of the swing states. All citizens matters – IF they’re among the ones (less than 18 per cent of the nation) who live there.
“There are only about seven states that are going to make a difference in this election,” Polly Baca – featured in a PBS documentary at 10 p.m. Monday (Sept. 30) – told the Television Critics Association. Read more…
1) Hispanic Heritage Awards, 10 p.m., PBS. Leslie Grace (shown here) had a splendid movie debut, starring in the “In the Heights” musical. Now Grace, 29, hosts and sings; other performers include Omar Apollo, Alejandra Guzman, Cafe Tacuba (alternately, Cafe Tacvba) and a tribute to Tito Puente. Read more…
ABC has finally answered a lingering question about its fall schedule:
What, exactly, will it show Sundays, on the Disney movie night?
The answer is a mix of new-ish films — the reboots of “Little Mermaid” (shown here) and “Haunted Mansion” and the latest Indiana Jones tale — and classics (“Coco,” “Moana” “Mrs. Doubtfire”). There will be a Halloween emphasis in October, before broadening the range.
All of that will start a week later than originally announced – on Oct. 6, instead of Sept. 29. Read more…
1) “Grey’s Anatomy” (shown here) season-opener, 10 p.m., ABC. It’s the 21st season, passing “Gunsmoke” on the all-time list. Among scripted, primetime shows, that’s topped only by “The Simpsons” and two “Law & Order” shows, heading into No. 36, 26 and 24. “Station 19” is gone now, so Ben (Jason George) returns to “Grey’s.” Read more…
The world has long known that John Leguizamo can be a funny guy,
His starred in a Mario Brothers movie in 1993, had his own sketch-comedy show on Fox in ‘96. He’s been the voice of Sid the Sloth in “Ice Age” movies and specials. He’s also been the voice of Jack Sprat, Sir Butterscotch and folks named Dizzy, Fluffy, Ziggy and Zip.
But there’s another side “I am a history nerd …. I’m like the Rain Man of Latin facts,” Leguizamo (shown here) told the Television Critics Association. Read more…
www(Here are the five TV best-bets for Wednesday, Sept. 25; feel free to use in any form – all or some, print and/or web)
1) “Chicago P.D.” season-opener, 10 p.m., NBC. Easily the best of the three Chicago shows, this is also the most intense. Now Voight (shown here) is angrier than ever. He barely survived a kidnapping last season; now his favorite colleague (Hailey) is gone. Voight throws himself into a lethal drug case. The result packs a powerful punch, including a final jolt. Read more…
1) “The Choice,” 9-11 p.m., PBS. Once every four years, the “Frontline” people create a side-by-side portrait of the presidential candidates. The result tends to be deep, detailed and even-handed. Even against strong competition — including top people (shown here) on the “America’s Got Talent” finale — this is must-see TV. Read more…
1) “The Voice,” 8-10 p.m., NBC. The 26th season begins, with Reba McEntire as the only judge returning from the 25th. Gwen Stefani will have her eighth turn, but skipped last spring; Michael Buble and Snoop Dogg will have their first. Tonight, that leads into the debut of “Brilliant Minds” (shown here), Next week, the auditions will also include Tuesdays; this week, that’s the night for the “America’s Got Talent” finale. Read more…
Strange things happened in our living rooms during the pandemic.
“Everyone was back on the couch, watching television and film,” Skye Marshall told the Television Critics Association. “And for the very first time as an actor, I felt like an essential worker.”
And strange things happened in TV offices, as people scrambled for new ideas … or, preferably, new old ideas. That’s sort of what sparked “Matlock” (shown here with Jason Ritter, Kathy Bates and Marshall) which is — like its title character — deceptively brilliant. Read more…
Best-bets for Jan. 18: Chiefs, Chappelle, more 
Best-bets for Jan.17: a double-Sam night 
Best-bets for Jan. 16: “Law” returns, “Dutch” improves 
