1) “Nova: Mammal Origins,” 9 p.m., PBS. In our minds, we’re descended from the boldest beasts, which ruled the planet. Science, alas, finds that mammals probably evolved from critters (depicted here) who burrowed and hid, while the big guys were vanquished. That’s illustrated here, with terrific special effects. Read more…
When viewers met Jeanine Mason, she was a teen dancer, quick and joyful.
Now she’s a vigilante suspect (fictionally), filled with rage. That requires some acting.
“There’s a lot of anger, there’s a lot of fear” in the character, Mason (shown here) told the Television Critics Association. “We wanted you to be scared of her, certainly, but … you see how much she’s carrying.”
That’s for the second season of “Cross,” which starts with three episodes Wednesday (Feb. 11) on Amazon Prime, then has five weekly episodes. Read more…
For a big-time attorney, Mickey Haller seems to be in perpetual jeopardy.
In the first three “Lincoln Lawyer” (shown here) seasons, thugs chased, threatened and beat him. He survived, with the help of brains, guts, two ex-wives and a biker.
But in this fourth season, those thugs have badges and subpoenas. Things get a lot more complicated.
The 10-part season just arrived on Netflix. It has a few flaws — some detours that are kind of empty stuffing, plus an ending that feels anti-climactic. Still, it’s a terrific story, with Mickey facing huge stakes and getting great help. Read more…
1) Winter Olympics. It’s time for the short-program start of men’s figure skating. That begins at 12:30 p.m. ET on USA, with NBC taking over for the top-seeded guys (including U.S. whiz Ilia Malinin and Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama, who has b eaten him twice on short programs, including, shown here, Satuirday) from 1:45-5 p.m. NBC also has men’s skiing at noon, women’s luge at 12:45 and cross-country sprint at 1:15. As usual, it re-packages the day from 8-11 p.m Read more…
Two series — both of them popular and praised — have new homes for their reruns:
— “Schitt’s Creek” has just moved to HBO Max; and
— “Downton Abbey” (shown here) has set a deal that will put the first three seasons at 10 p.m. Sundays on PBS, from May 17 to Sept. 13. The other three seasons will rerun a year later. Read more…
1) “Independent Lens: The Librarians,” 10 p.m., PBS. Big or (shown here) small, libraries have been quiet refuges. Librarians have been the kindly source of words and wisdom; nNow, however, they’re under attack. Modern book-burners demand the removal of subjects ranging from sexuality to slavery. This compelling film follows several; some lost their jobs, others keep up the quiet fight. Read more…
So it turns out that Italy has quite an impressive history.
The early minutes of the Olympic ceremony remind us of that. It has hints of fashion and film, art and opera and more. It referred to Verdi and Da Vinci and Armani and Fellini; it didn’t mention Mussolini, but time was limited.
It even played the Lone Ranger theme song, although in Italy (and most of the world) that’s a tune about an archer shooting an apple off his kid’s head.
(Italy, it should be noted, had made some of the greatest cowboy films in history, just none about masked men. It’s also pretty good at art and opera.) Read more…
1) Super Bowl, 6:30 p.m. ET, NBC. The New England Patriots (shown here) have already been to the Super Bowl 11 times (a record), winning six (tied with the Steelers). Now they face the Seattle Seahawks, who have been here three times, winning once. Both were 14-3 in the regular season. Read more…
1) Winter Olympics, NBC. The first full day has mostly-live coverage from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, then repackages it from 8-11. Figure-skating continues its team event, with men’s short program (1:45 to 3:15) and then the free dance finals — including U.S. leaders Madison Chone and Evan Bates (shown here) from 4-5 p.m.. Also: free-skiing (8 a.m.), speed-skating (10:05), luge (12:45 p.m.) and a snowboarding final (3:15 p.m.). Read more…
1) Olympic figure-skating. The men — led by U.S. whiz Ilia Malinin — start at 12:30 p.m. ET Tuesday on USA, then 1:45 to 5 on NBC; their finals are 1 p.m. Friday, USA; 3-5 p.m,, NBC. Ice dancers are 1:20 p.m. today, USA; 2:40 to 5, NBC. Pairs start at 1:45 p.m. Sunday, USA, 3-5 p.m., NBC. And it’s all repackaged on NBC, from 8-11 p.m. nightly. Read more…
Best-bets for Feb. 11: early mammals, evolved skaters 
Best-bets for Feb. 10: Men’s duel begins anew 
Best-bets for Feb. 9: survivors, skaters, librarians 
