1) Olympic figure-skating, USA Network and NBC. This was supposed to be the key time for viewers, with women skating solo. That’s live during USA’s morning (4-9:25 a.m. today, 5-9 a.m. Thursday) and taped for NBC’s evenings (8-11:30 p.m.). The problem came with the event’s star, Russia’s Kamila Valieva (shown here), 15. After she skated brilliantly in the team event, word came that she’d tested positive for a banned drug. An agency ruled that she can compete today, but there will be a probe before deciding who gets the medals.
2) More Olympics. NBC has live coverage of men’s Alpine slalom, with the first round in prime time (8-11:30 p.m.) and the finals latenight (12:05-2 a.m.). Also in prime is taped coverage of two-man bobsled and team pursuit speedskating. There’s more, from 2-5 p.m. on NBC and all day on USA. Men’s hockey is live on USA, including a play-off game at 9:25 a.m. and quarter-finals at 11 p.m. and 1:30 a.m.
3) “Queens” season-finale, 10 p.m., ABC. Preparing for induction into the Hip Hop Hall of Fame, the women find their lives in chaos. They miss Brianna, who has faked her death. (She’s played by Eve, who wanted to leave during her pregnancy, but could return if there’s a second season.) Meanwhile, Valeria plans her solo tour and Naomi faces fresh questions about who is JoJo’s biological father.
4) “American Experience,” 9 p.m., PBS. The U.S. diplomatic corps used to be described as “pale, male and Yale.” Ivy League guys got the top posts; the few Blacks were sent to African embassies and rarely promoted. Here’s a profile of three men – Edward Dudley, Terence Todman and Carl Rowan – who helped change that. This hour is as stiff as a diplomatic speech, but tells an interesting story.
5) “State of the Union,” 10 p.m., Sundance. In the opener, Ellen (Patricia Clarkson) stunned Scott (Brendan Gleeson) with news that she wants a divorce. Tonight, they’re again at a coffeeshop, waiting for their marriage-counselor session. He’s struggling with all of this … and with trying to determine if the barista is male or female. There will 10-minute episodes for 10 weeknights, in this crispy, witty series.