Best-bets for Feb. 14: “Idol”returns, Lincoln lingers

1) “American Idol” season-opener, 8 p.m., ABC. Last spring, “Idol” did an impressive job of adjusting to social-distancing, with talented people (including Nick Merico, shown here) and strong, at-home performances. Now auditions begin in three California cities. Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie are again the judges; Ryan Seacrest hosts … as he’s been doing since the opener, in the summer of 2002. Read more…

1) “American Idol” season-opener, 8 p.m., ABC. Last spring, “Idol” did an impressive job of adjusting to social-distancing, with talented people (including Nick Merico, shown here) and strong, at-home performances. Now auditions begin in three California cities. Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie are again the judges; Ryan Seacrest hosts … as he’s been doing since the opener, in the summer of 2002.

2) “Lincoln: Divided We Stand” debut, 10 p.m. and 1 a,m. ET, CNN. Abraham Lincoln was 10 when his new stepmother arrived with furniture, cooking gear … and books, which changed his life. He hated farmwork, but loved to read (despite his dad’s objections) and tell stories. He was a self-taught lawyer, a one-term congressman, a failed Senate candidate … and a great president. This starts a fascinating documentary series, alongside the excellent “Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy,” at 9 and midnight ET.

3) Valentine’s Day movies. This has been a busy Valentine weekend for Hallmark – which debuted “Playing Cupid” Saturday and reruns it at 7 p.m. today – and Turner Classic Movies. The latter has Martin Scorsese’s elegant “Age of Innocence” (1993) and Barbra Streisand’s moving “The Way We Were” (1973) at 8 and 10:30 p.m. ET. Also, CMT has upbeat musicals – “Mamma Mia” (2008) at noon and 7:30 p.m., “Grease” (1978) at 2:30 and 10. “Grease 2” (1982) at 5 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.

4) “The Great North,” 8:30 p.m., Fox. After a couple post-football episodes last month, this animated show has what it calls its premiere episode, with Wolf trying to create a grand gesture for his six-month anniversary with Honeybee. It’s mildly funny … as is the Valentine’s Day episode of “Bob’s Burgers” at 9. Leading into them at 8, “The Simpsons” has Bart finding the diary of his old teacher.

5) ALSO: After its terrific opener last week, “The Equalizer” settles into its regular 8 p.m. spot on CBS. It’s followed by new hours of “NCIS: Los Angeles” and “NCIS: New Orleans,” at 9 and 10. The “Saints & Sinners” series debuts its first movie at 9 p.m. on Bounce, a Black-oriented digital and broadcast channel. And at 10 p.m. are the finales of two well-crafted mini-series – “The Long Song” on PBS and Bryan Cranston’s “Your Honor” on Showtime.

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