Best-bets for July 31: “Little Women,” big talent

1) “Little Women” (2019), 8 p.m., Starz. This story is perfect for its time – and any other time. It was admired in 1868; 150 years later, PBS viewers put it No. 8 on their favorite-novels list. Jo March, wise and determined, came alive in 1933 (Katharine Hepburn), ‘49 (June Allyson), ‘94 (Winona Ryder), 2018 (Maya Hawke) and here. This won an Oscar for its costumes and nominations for best picture, its script (by talented director Greta Gerwig) and Saoirse Ronan and Florence Pugh, as Jo and Amy. Read more…

1) “Little Women” (2019), 8 p.m., Starz. This story is perfect for its time – and any other time. It was admired in 1868; 150 years later, PBS viewers put it No. 8 on their favorite-novels list. Jo March, wise and determined, came alive in 1933 (Katharine Hepburn), ‘49 (June Allyson), ‘94 (Winona Ryder), 2018 (Maya Hawke) and here. This won an Oscar for its costumes and nominations for best picture, its script (by talented director Greta Gerwig) and Saoirse Ronan and Florence Pugh, as Jo and Amy.

2) “Great Performances: Present Laughter,” 9 p.m., PBS. Subtlety may be fine for books and movies and “Little Women,” but theater is often big and brash. Noel Coward wrote this to give himself a splashy role, playing a self-obsessed actor. Kevin Kline handles it here with Tony-winning perfection. Kate Burton and Cobie Smulders are also first-rate, but several other roles – a mad playwright, a young lover, a distraught friend – are horribly overwrought. Uneven and too long, the show is still kind of fun.

3) “The Greatest #Athome Videos,” 8 p.m., CBS. This is sort of a secret series, disguised as specials. The first one (“Greatest #Stayathome Videos”) was May 15; now (with a slight name change) we have more on four Fridays, starting last week. Cedric the Entertainer hosts, showing an erratic collection of homemade work, some quite funny and a few warm. That includes a bride and groom who had to cancel their big wedding, but recorded their first dance; now Cedric surprises them.

4) “Magnum P.I.,” 9 p.m., CBS. Bobby Lee is known for comedy, including eight years on “MADtv” and this summer on CBS’”Game On.” But here is his third of four (so far) episodes as Jin, the informant. When he learns an innocent woman is targeted, he asks Magnum to help.

5) “Get Even” and “The Umbrella Academy” debuts, any time, Netflix. Both series aim strongly for young viewers. “Even” finds prep-school girls fearing they’re being framed for murder. “Academy” has some time-travel, which could be useful; Last season, Vanya knocked off part of the moon, which smashed into Earth. That’s one of those times when you’d like a do-over.

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