Month: November 2019

1) “The Unicorn,” 8:30 p.m., CBS. For half an episode, this is standard-sitcom stuff. Trying to reboot his life, a year-plus after his wife’s death, Wade (Walton Goggins) hosts the Thanksgiving dinner. There’s a turkey problem, a mumbly teen-ager and a football zealot, plus disputes over coffee and place-settings. It’s moderately funny and sort of adequate. Then, in the final minutes, we’re reminded that Goggins (shown here in a previous episode) was a terrific drama actor, long before doing comedy. It becomes a terrific episode. Read more…

1) “Stumptown,” 10 p.m., ABC. As she invites friends over for Thanksgiving, Dex has little to be thankful for. Her latest job involves dirtying the reputation of a decent politician; also, she’s distrustful of her friend’s new girlfriend (played by Monica Barbato, shown here). Despite good intentions and sharp dialog, it’s a dark and dreary hour. Read more…

1) “Frontline: For Sama,” 10-11:30 p.m., PBS. As Russian bombers destroyed the Syrian city of Aleppo, a young journalist sent reports over the internet. She married the doctor who led a makeshift hospital; years later, they pondered taking their baby to safety. Eventually, Waad Al-Khateeb (shown here) took her films and linked with a British director, weaving a five-year story that has it all – love, death, youthful idealism, war-weary pain, lifesaving and lives lost. The result is simultaneously painful and bracing. Read more…

1) “Dancing With the Stars,” 8-10 p.m., ABC. We’re just a week from the finale now. Last week, Sean Spicer, the former presidential press secretary, was ousted. He finished sixth … which puts him well ahead of how civilians (politicians, businessfolk, etc.) usually do. Remaining are actors James Van Der Beek and Kel Mitchell, singers Lauren Alaina and Ally Brook and “bachelorette” Hannah Brown (shown here with pro partner Alan Bersten). Read more…

1) “Masterpiece: Poldark” finale, 9 p.m., PBS. For five seasons we’ve seen Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner, shown here) try to pierce layers of corruption in England’s ruling class. Last week (rerunning at 8 p.m.), he found his ore had been stolen and traded for weapons, stockpiled for a French invasion. Officials still did nothing, so now he tries a makeshift effort as a double agent. The result is wildly unbelievable; villains here seem incapable of finishing off anyone. Still, it’s an emotional end to a lush and epic story. Read more…

1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. Harry Styles (shown here with Kenan Thompson) hosts and is the music guest, putting him in elite turf. The first person to do both on the same night was Desi Arnaz, 43 years ago (and 18 years before Styles was born); the most recent was Chance the Rapper, three weeks ago. Others include Sting, Drake, Ludacris and Gaga, plus the old masters (Mick Jagger, Elton John, Paul Simon) and the opposite (Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus) and more. Read more…