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…
Science and fiction have always had a cozy relationship. Magnify the facts a tad and you have wild whimsy.
That’s clear in “Constellation,” an Apple TV+ eight-parter that has its first three episodes Wednesday (Feb. 21).
This is a blend, producer-director Michelle MacLaren told the Television Critics Association, with parts “drama, thriller, horror.” Still, she said, “we The story clearly sounds like fantasy/horror. Having barely survived in space, an astronaut returns to what doesn’t feel like her world. “Her gut feeling,” said Noomi Rapace, who plays her, “is saying. ‘This is not my baby, (shown here), but she looks like my baby.’”wanted it to be based in reality.” 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…
Some roles require little acting – a subtle smile, a sly smirk, maybe a pregnant pause.
Then there’s Max, on “Wild Cards,” who does … well, everythinng. “It’s kind of like a dream role,” said Vanessa Morgan (shown here), who plays her.
The show (8 p.m. Wednesdays on CW) has a cop (Giacomo Gianniotto) reluctantly paired with Max. A lifelong con artist, she has a bag of tricks (literally) from which she has produced wigs, pistachios and a grappling hook. 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…
Tuesdays have become a feast-or-famine time for ABC.
For months, the night was confined to reruns and reality and such. Now, starting Feb. 20, comes a drama surge.
It’s the second season of “Will Trent,” the sixth of “The Rookie” (shown here), the seventh and final one of “The Good Doctor.” Three popular shows return, back-to-back.
And then, after just 10 episodes, their seasons will be done. More on that later. Read more…
Sam Spade’s French adventure is ending now. Zombies are ready to take his timeslot.
First, the story needs to be resolved – or, in this case, semi-resolved. The “Monsieur Spade” (shown here) finale is 9 p.m. Sunday (Feb. 18) on AMC.
Viewers can also catch the full, six-episode experience on the Acorn or AMC+ streaming services. They’ll find an Americana classic – the tough, terse-talking private eye – transferred to an opposite world.
“I just thought it was as far away from Sam Spade as possibly could be: Having a vineyard, even drinkng wine at all,” producer-director Scott Frank told the Television Critics Association. 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…
Best-bets for Nov.8: a semi-happy place; a musical salute 
Best-bets for Nov. 7: ABC is back; CBS is fun 
Best-bets for Nov. 6: San Diego goes wild; Fox has fun, fun, fun 
