1) “SEAL Team” season-opener, 9 and 10 p.m., CBS. This is a big week for CBS: Three more dramas arrive Friday, leaving only two fall shows (“Evil” and “Equalizer”) pemding. And “SEAL” starts with a two-parter, as the team heads into the mountains (shown here) to find a terrorist leader. Jason (David Boreanaz) is soon separated from the rest. The second hour includes treacherous tunnels that are booby-trapped. Read more…
1) “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (shown here), 8 p.m., CBS. This is widely regarded as a classic, a Christmas gem for 56 years. So my opinion – good song, so-so story that would have been much better at half this length – can safely be ignored. Have fun. Read more…
Many shows vanish in an eyeblink. Moments after fading from the screen, they fade from our minds.
Then there’s Netflix’s “The Crown” (shown here), which sticks around. Two weeks after the fourth season arrived (Nov. 15), the British press has been awash with commentaries. Even the New York Times – located 3,500 miles from Buckingham Palace – had several pieces about it, including Nov. 27 and 28. So let me jump in here, with a few comments:
From a sheer drama-craftsmanship view, this season is a resounding success. Even with some flaws – and there are big ones – it is brilliantly written, filmed and (mostly) played. Catch all 10 episodes.
And accuracy? That seems to be another matter. Read more…
1) “CMA Country Christmas,” 9-10 p.m. ABC. This is usually a festive two hours, in front of a cheery audience. But now it aims for the at-home feel of traditional holiday specials. Thomas Rhett and his wife Lauren host; they’re shown here with Florida GeorgiaLine. Also performing are Tim McGraw, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Little Big Town, Lady Antebellum and Dan + Shay, plus Darius Rucker with dynamic violinist Lindsey Stirling. Read more…
For months, show-business has been adjusting to a less-is-more approach.
At times, the result can be splendid. Kelli O’Hara showed that with gorgeous solos during PBS specials for Memorial Day and the 4th of July.
But now there’s a flip side – a reminder that more is more. Viewers will see her Christmas concert (shown here), taped a year ago with the Tabernacle Choir.
“It’s so moving to hear that sound,” she said. “It’s like an ocean wave washing over you.” Read more…
1) “Fargo” season-finale, 10 p.m., FX. This hour is both fascinating and frustrating … which makes it typical “Fargo.” In 1951 Kansas City, Loy (Chris Rock, shown here) finds his life collapsing He’s barely clinging to his crime empire and has been told (incorrectly) that his son is dead. But last week, the mortician’s daughter showed what she had learned about a lethal nurse. That sets up tonight’s big moments – lots of them. This is brilliantly written and filmed, but we kind of wish it had a couple fewer endings. Read more…
1) “Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire,” 8 p.m., CBS. Amid the cascade of look-alike Christmas cartoons, we need variety. That’s what we get from this drolly clever film and (at 8:30) it sequel, “Legemd of the Lost Tribe.” These were made in England, then redubbed with Americans (plus Hugh Grant as Blitzen) doing the voices. Ben Stiller plays Robbie (shown here), whose dad is Rudolph; his real dad (Jerry Stiller) plays Old Jingle and Trash Bag. Britney Spears is Donner, with Leah Remini as Vixen. Read more…
1) “MacGyver,” “Magnum, P.I.” and “Blue Bloods” season-openers, 8-11 p.m. Friday, CBS. In one sudden swoop, we get an entire night of adventure hours. That starts with Mac (shown here) and his team infiltrating a glamorous hotel; they must find someone with key information … but she has a new identity and a new face. Then Magnum’s new case leads to Higgins being shot and TC being abducted. And on “Blue Bloods,” Frank (Tom Selleck) and the City Council speaker (Whoopi Goldberg) clash over protests. Read more…
This sounds like the title of the worst holiday movie ever: “COVID Conquers Christmas.”
Fortunately, it didn’t work out that way. TV people adapted, adjusted, improvised. In quantity, we’ll have about the usual number of Christmas shows – somewhere between a zillion and way too many.
And in quality? We’ll notice some changes, right away on Thanksgiving Day. One “parade” (on NBC) will only ba a block long, with some of the music acts taped in advance; the other (on CBS) will mix new music with clips of past parades. At night on ABC, Derek and Julianne Hough (shown here) will start with a new song-and-dance number … then simply show ones from past specials. Read more…
1) “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (shown here), 8 p.m.,, NBC. Here is one of TV’s all-time greatest moments, a perfect blend of two witty geniuses – author Dr. Seuss and animator Chuck Jones. Catch it often; It will be on TBS on Dec. 6 and 13, on TNT on Dec. 17 and then back to NBC on Dec. 25. Read more…
