“Mayans M.C.” is roaring back – full-throttle, as always.
The motorcycle drama (shown here) as returned to its slot at 10 p.m. Tuesdays. Add that to “Snowfall” (10 p.m. Wednesdays) and FX – the best channel on basic-cable – is finally near its full strength.
Both shows faced half-year delays because of the pandemic, leaving FX with few originals. Now both are in their usual state – passionate, profane, fiercely violent, fervently emotional. Read more…
1) “A Grammy Salute to the Sound of Change,” 9-11 p.m., CBS. Starting Sunday, viewers can savor Cynthia Erivo’s awesome vocal skill. In National Geographic’s “Genius: Aretha,” she ranges from gospel to disco. First, catch her here, singing John Lennon’s “Imagine.” There’s much more: John Fogerty does “Fortunate Son” and “Promised Land” … Gladys Knight (shown here) and others do Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?” Greats songs are done by Andra Day, Billy Porter, Yolanda Adams and more. Read more…
1) “Mayans M.C.” season-opener, 10 pm., FX. One of TV’s best (and roughest) dramas is finally back. It’s been 16 months since the previous season ended. Now this border town is filled with soldiers; the bikers have lost their drug sources. Dita Galindo convinced EZ and Angel (shown here in a previous episode) to kill her, making it look like a suicide. Their dad (Dita’s ex-lover) is despondent; so is her son, the drug boss. The result – acted and directed with subtle skill – is deep and dark and brutal; the final minutes are especially nasty Read more…
1) “The Bachelor” finale, 8 p.m., ABC. Tonight, Matt James can choose Michelle Young (a Minnesota teacher, shown here with James) or Rachael Kirkconnell (a Georgia designer), in a show filmed prior to the controversy: James is the first Black bachelor; Kirkconnell has attended a pre-Civil War South party and allegedly mocked classmates who like Black men. Host Chris Harrison suggested leniency; for the 10 p.m. follow-up, he’s replaced by Emmanuel Acho, author of “Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man.” Read more…
The coastal expanse of Northern Ireland seems to be waiting for a tough murder mystery.
Now it has one. “Bloodlands” (shown here) opens Monday (March 15), for a four-week run on the Acorn streaming service.
“The idea came from that very distinct sense of place,” writer Chris Brandon told the Television Critics Association. He wanted “a story that really used the landscape of Northern Ireland.” Read more…
1) Grammy awards, 8-11 p.m.ET, CBS (5 p.m. PT, rerunning at 8:30). After 40 years, Ken Ehrlich – creator of the “Grammy moments” mash-ups – has retired from producing the show. He avoided comedians, but now now Trevor Noah hosts. Performers include Billie Eilish (shown here), BTS, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Cardi B, Dua Lipa, Post Malone, Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard and Megan Thee Stallion, plus DaBaby, Lil Baby, Bad Bunny, Doja Cat, Black Pumas and country’s Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris and Mickey Guyton. Read more…
1) “Genius: Aretha,” opener, 9 and 10:08 p.m. Sunday, National Geographic; rerunning at 11:05 p.m. and 12:12 a.m. Few humans could match the awesome range and talent of Aretha Franklin. Cynthia Erivo (shown here) can. In these first two hours (of a four-night, eight-hour run), she ranges from gospel and soul to jazz and a gripping ballad. She’s also a gifted actress, in a story that bounces between Franklin’s youth and early career, but has a sameness – type-A guys (her dad and her husband) intruding on greatness. Read more…
1) “Kids Choice Awards, 7:30-9 p.m., Nickelodeon, rerunning at 9:30. Kenan Thompson hosts and Justin Bieber (shown here) performs – a year later than expected. Bieber was scheduled for last year, until the show was delayed two months and done virtually. This one will also be virtual, but he’ll sing “Anyone” and (with Quavo) “Intentions.” His wife Hailey will appear; so will Kim Kardashian, Lin-Mamuel Miranda, Gal Gadot, BTS, Millie Bobby Brown, Anthony Anderson, Jennifer Garner, Tiffany Haddish and more. Read more…
1) The Maltese Falcon” (1941), “Casablanca” (1942) and “Citizen Kane” (1941), 8 p.m., 10 p.m. and midnight ET, Turner Classic Movies. A great era im filmmaking is celebrated here.. Each movie was shot stylishly in black-and-white, with a smart script and strong characters. Humphrey Bogart stars in the first two; Orson Welles stars in “Kane,” which he also directed. The American Film Institute puts it No. 1 on its all-time list, with “Casablanca” No. 3 and “Maltese Falcon” No. 31. Read more…
Summertime television may be back to normal – or close to it – this year.
NBC has announced a prompt start for two audience favorites (“America’s Got Talent” and “American Ninja Warrior”) and a critics’ darling (“Making It,” shown here).
“Ninja Warrior” will start Monday, May 31, with “Talent” the next night. “Making It” is two days later, on Thursday, June 3. That compares to last summer: Read more…
