TV networks are taking a healthy (if tardy) interest in their own history.
Coming next month are specials celebrating 100 years of NBC (counting radio) and 75 years of “I Love Lucy” (shown here). Details include: Read more…
1) “Darius, Dolly and 60 Years of Celebration,” 10 p.m., ABC. Coming up Wednesday is the Country Music Association’s 60th award show; first, Robin Roberts has a preview. It looks at Darius Rucker (shown here) — who’s also the subject of a documentary Roberts produced for Hulu and Disney+) — and at the late Dolly Parton, who will be the subject of a tribute Wednesday Read more…
1) “Carnival of the Animals,” 10 a.m., PBS; 2:30, 5 and 10:30 p.m., PBS Kids. Here’s a delight: Gustavo Dudamel conducted this half-hour Saint-Saens piece and produced a charming (mostly wordless) cartoon for it. (Shown here is a previous cartoon with a somewhat similar style.) PBS reruns it at 10:30 p.m. Friday, after Dudamel’s first TV concert as New York Philharmonic conductor; then PBS Kids has it three times Saturday. Read more…
The timing works out neatly: Taylor Swift has rediscovered country music … shortly after country rediscovered women.
That all comes together with the 60th Country Music Association Awards, 8-11 p.m. Wednesday (Nov. 18) on ABC. Swift will sing, Lainey Wilson will host, Ella Langley and Miranda Lambert will lead the nominations.
Swift (shown here in her country phase) first attended the CMA’s 20 years ago, when she was 16. The next year, she won the Horizon Award, two years after that, in 2011, she became (at 19) the youngest Entertainer of the Year winner ever.
She repeated in 2013 and went pop, leaving a macho Nashville. Consider: Read more…
1) “Marshals” and “Tracker,” 8 and 9 p.m., CBS. After a week off, these ratings-leaders are back. First, Cal, the team leader, has left to see a cancer specialist. That puts Andrea in charge; she’s quickly tested when Kayce leaves the jurisdiction, helping Mo (shown here) find his nephew. Then Colter tries to find the estranged daughter of Reenie’s mentor. Read more…
1) CMA Awards, 8-11 p.m. Wednesday, ABC. It’s a good time for country women. Ella Langley (shown here) and Miranda Lambert lead in nominations, including two best-singles (“Choosin’ Texas” and “Be Her”) from the Langley album Lambert produced and co-wrote. Lainey Wilson hosts; all three will perform, as will Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Megan Moroney and more. Read more…
1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. John Mulaney (shown here), a favorite at “SNL,” returns. He was a writer on the show, co-creating Bill Hader’s Stefon character. Since then, he’s hosted six previous times, often offering parts of a stand-up comedy routine, instead of the usual host patter. Phoebe Bridgers has her second turn as music guest. Read more…
1) “Happy’s Place,” 8 p.m., NBC. This comedy is elevated by guest stars — again. Last week, it was Jane Lynch; this time, it’ James Denton and (really) a duck. One flirts (shown here) with Reba McEntire — just as he did in her “Reba” show; the other imprints on Steve. Despite some flaws, it’s a funny episode. Read more…
1) “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” 9 p.m., NBC. Last week, “Chicago Fire” had its 300th episode; now “SVU” (same producer and same network) doubles that. It’s the 600th, trailing only “The Simpsons” (815) and “Gunsmoke” (635). For this hour, Christopher Meloni is back as Stabler; earlier (shown here with Mariska Hargitay), he did 12 seasons, left for a decade and now returns occasionally. Read more…
1) “Band of Brothers,” 11:30 a.m. to 1:49 a.m., AMC. On Veterans Day, here’s a rerun of a mini-series (shown here) about a real-life World War II unit. It’s masterfully done — as is Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan,” at noon and 8:05 p.m. on Showtime. Also, military-movie marathons are on Turner Classic Movies and digital channels called FMC and Movies. Read more…
Best-bets for Nov. 17: country, crime and dancers 
Best-bets for Nov. 16: pondering punishment, savoring Saint-Saens 
Best-bets for Nov. 15: cops, crooks and marshals 
