1) “The Golden Bachelorette” finale, 8-9:30 p.m., ABC The “overnight dates” brought two jolts: Joan Vassos announced there would be no sex; also, Pascal Ibgui left. That leaves Vassos – 61, a school administrator – with Guy Ganserd, 66, an ER doctor (shown here with her); or “Chock” Chapple, 61, an insurance executive Read more…
TV’s best comedy – that’s “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” – is about to pass two milestones. At 8 p.m. Thursday (Nov. 14), it has:
— Its first Thanksgiving episode (shown here); and
— A story that’s as much about warmth and character drama as about comedy.
That first part is good news, Situation comedies often peak at Thanksgiving, when characters are thrown together in new ways.
But the second is remarkable. Most sitcoms need years to establish characters that can invoke true emotion; “Georgie” does it in its fifth episode. Read more…
Kieran Haile was about 16 when an uncle handed him a book and mentioned a personal connection.
He said, “one of our granddads got chased out of town,” Halle recalled.
He promptly shrugged it off, as busy teens tend to do. The book told about the Wilmington, N.C., insurrection (shown here) and massacre of 1898, which is profiled in a PBS documentary at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12. At first, Haile considered that just another nasty footnote to history.
“Part of me was like, ‘Okay, so what?’” he told the Television Critics Association. “’Like, Black people have always suffered … Why should my family be any different?’” But this was very different. His great-great-grandfather ran the newspaper for a thriving Black community that was shattered by a mob. Read more…
1) “St. Denis Medical” debut, 8 and 8:30 p.m., NBC. In a slow year for comedy, this is just what we need – a sleek, smart workplace show from the “Superstore” people. This time, the setting is a hospital, with an overstressed nurse (Allison Tolman, shown here, of the first “Fargo” mini-series) and an underskilled administrator (Wendi McLendon-Covey of “Goldbergs.”). David Alan Grier, 68, offers droll counterpoint of an older doctor.
Read more…
1) “The American Soldier,” 8-10:05 p.m. today, History; also, 12:03 a.m. On Veterans Day, here’s Read more…
1) “Yellowstone” (shown here), 8 p.m., Paramount Network; 10 p.m., CBS. It’s been quite a ride for this modern western. With sharp dialog and expansive settings, it leaped to No. 1 in the ratings. Then came strikes and Kevin Costner’s movie schedule. After a 22-month gap, this starts its final six episodes. Paramount reruns the season’s previous ones, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Read more…
David Alan Grier has finally entered his family legacy, working in a hospital.
Alas, it took him 68 years to get there. Also, it’s fictional.
Grier (shown here) stars in “St. Denis,” a hospital comedy from the “Superstore” and “American Auto” people. It debuts at 8 and 8:30 p.m. Tuesday on NBC, with Grier as a doctor he describes as “an old curmudgeon,” surrounded by people who are younger and more frantic.
That medical setting should sort of fit. Grier’s father was a psychiatrist; most of the offspring followed suit. “My brothers and sisters – psychoanalyst, psychiatrist, mental health,” he told the Television Critics Association. “That was all part of my upbringing …. I grew up around Black doctors.” Read more…
1) “St. Denis Medical” debut, 8 and 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, NBC. The “Superstore” people have another quick, slick workplace comedy. Allison Tolman (shown here), from the “Fargo” mini-series, plays an overstressed chief nurse, with Wendi McLendon-Covey (“Goldbergs”) as an underskilled administrator. David Alan Grier (shown here), 68, offers the droll counterpoint of an older doctor. Read more…
1) Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. Back in 2020, “SNL” was trying to bounce back after a Covid-hampered season. Chris Rock hosted the season-opener, but Bill Burr – who’d never done it before – had the second episode (shown here). Now Burr has his second turn – a difficult, post-election task. The music guest is Mk.gee. Read more…
1) “Happy’s Place,” 8 p.m., NBC. One story puts the show’s best characters — Bobbie (Reba McEntire, right) and the bar’s cook (Rex Linn) in a fishing cabin. The other pairs the worst characters, Bobbie’s half-sister (left) and the bartender. The resulting episode – no surprise here – is half-good. Read more…
Best-bets for Dec. 6: The end is near for football and “Blue Bloods” 
Best-bets for Dec. 5: Elsbeth leads a busy CBS 
Best-bets for Dec. 4: music, comedy and a final peak 
