Beat-bets for May 11: Let’s visit dinosaurs or Chicago

1) “Nova: Dinosaur Apocalypse,” 9 and 10 p.m., PBS. Long ago, a meteor struck Mexico, sending clouds that killed the dinosaurs and more. Now – some 2,000 miles (and 66 million years) away – paleontologists in North Dakota have apparently found remnants of the meteor and some of its victims. “Nova” spent three years filming the work, adding special effects and David Attenborough (shown here). The result is fascinating – top-drawer science, related in a thoroughly entertaining way. Read more…

1) “Nova: Dinosaur Apocalypse,” 9 and 10 p.m., PBS. Long ago, a meteor struck Mexico, sending clouds that killed the dinosaurs and more. Now – some 2,000 miles (and 66 million years) away – paleontologists in North Dakota have apparently found remnants of the meteor and some of its victims. “Nova” spent three years filming the work, adding special effects and David Attenborough (shown here). The result is fascinating – top-drawer science, related in a thoroughly entertaining way.
2) “Chicago P.D.,” 10 p.m., NBC. This is consistently the best of the three Chicago shows, as we see tonight. A grisly case raises questions about the staying power of childhood trauma … an issue that Burgess and Ruzek were already worried about, as they guide young Mikayla. The plot is far-fetched, both in its set-up and solution, but it’s a deeply moving story, done with understated intensity.
3) “Chicago Med” and “Chicago Fire,” 8 and 9 p.m., NBC. Here are the other Chicago shows – jumping between stories without making much impact. “Med” includes hidden ailments for both aa doctor and a patient. “Fire” starts with a daring rescue, then drifts.  Kidd and Sevaride, lovers at home, have a work dispute. Hermann has some silliness with a new bar-owner. And we can finally decide whether Violet is being paranoid in feeling that Emma is scheming to steal her job.
4) “The Masked Singer,” 8 p.m., ABC. The show pauses for a week, before picking its new champion. After dumping lots of ringers – Rudy Giuliani, Dog the Bounty Hunter, etc. – in the early rounds, it’s reached the musicians. Last week, Shaggy and En Vogue were unmasked; next week’s finale had Firefly, Ringmaster and Prince. For tonight, there’s a “Road to the Finals” recap, followed at 9:01 by the “Domino Masters” finale.
5) “His Girl Fridy” (1940), 8 p.m., Turner Classic Movies. Here’s a remake of “The Front Page,” retaining the quick-paced wit and adding the heat of a star reporter (Rosalind Russell) working for her ex-husband (Cary Grant). That’s in a strong movie night that includes “American Sniper” (2014) at 8 p.m. on AMC, the “Sopranos” prequel “The Many Saints of Newark” (2021) at 9 on HBO and “The Butler” (2013) at 6:45 on Showtime, leading into “Sheryl” (2022), a terrific Sheryl Crow documentary, at 9.

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