Month: May 2020

1) “Council of Dads,” 8 p.m., NBC. Amid all TV’s summer silliness, it’s refreshing to see a drama in the “This Is Us” mode. After getting a week off (for “Red Nose Day”), the intense “Blindspot” is at 9 p.m.. with the quieter “Dads” at 8: Christmas is coming and Robin (Sarah Wayne Callies, shown here) worries: She’s a doctor; her late husband was the fun one who brightened the holidays for the kids. Before his death, he asked three friends to be part-time “dads,” but they’re floundering. Now two of his kids face troubles. Read more…

1) “Agents of SHIELD” season-opener, 10 p.m., ABC. In a summer when the superhero movies have been delayed, we need something. The likable “Stargirl” is Tuesdays on CW; now this Marvel show begins its seventh and final season. The team finds itself in 1931 New York City (shown here), with its ship ready to time-jump at any moment. It must figure out what happened, before the past and future face disaster. To lure us in, ABC has Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World” (2014), from 8-10 p.m. Read more…

1) “America’s Got Talent” season-opener, 8-10 p.m. NBC. This ratings champion works at a high-octane, high-decibel level. It wants lots of energy from performers, judges and studio audience. So it’s good that the auditions were done early, when crowds were still allowed. Later this summer, “AGT” may follow the “Idol”/”Voice” style of social-distancing; for now, however, here’s the full commotion. Sofia Vergera is the new judge, alongside Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel; Klum and Vergara are shown here, seducing a sow. Read more…

1) “Barkskins” debut, 9 and 10:03 p.m. ET, National Geographic; rerunning at 11:03 p.m. and 12:03 a.m. ET. This was supposed to be a big night for Nat Geo, launching “Genius: Aretha.” Alas, that was delayed and this eight-hour tale (shown here) – beautifully crafted, but grim and brutal – was inserted. Author Annie Proulx (“The Shipping News, “Brokeback Mountain”) is descended from French settlers who arrived 15 years after the Mayflower. This tells of indentured servitude, mail-order brides and a scheming land grab. Read more…

1) “National Memorial Day Concert,” 8 p.m., PBS, rerunning at 9:30. The Washington event (shown here in a previous year) usually draws a mega-crowd. It was canceled this year, but the TV show, — with passionate tributes and powerhouse music — continues. A few tributes and choral groups will rerun from past years, but there are new performances — taped by small crews — from stars of country (Trace Adkins), classical (Renee Fleming) and Broadway – Tony-winners Cynthia Erivo and Kelli O’Hara and Tony-nominee Christopher Jackson. Read more…