Best-bets for June 19: Three drama openers and a music cascade

1) “Hotel Portofino” (shown here) opener, 8 p.m., PBS. On a gorgeous stretch of the Italian Riviera, Bella has spiffed up a little hotel. She hopes to draw her fellow Englishmen; she may even find a match for her son, a handsome lad who barely survived the world war. On the surface, this is classic PBS, “Downton” meets “Durrells.” But it’s set in the 1920s and Fascism is rising; also, Bella’s husband is a jerk, some guests are iffy and romance rarely goes as planned. At times, this six-parter is too soapy, with cliché characters; at others, it’s a sweet summer pleasure. Read more…

1) “Hotel Portofino” (shown here) opener, 8 p.m., PBS. On a gorgeous stretch of the Italian Riviera, Bella has spiffed up a little hotel. She hopes to draw her fellow Englishmen; she may even find a match for her son, a handsome lad who barely survived the world war. On the surface, this is classic PBS, “Downton” meets “Durrells.” But it’s set in the 1920s and Fascism is rising; also, Bella’s husband is a jerk, some guests are iffy and romance rarely goes as planned. At times, this six-parter is too soapy, with cliché characters; at others, it’s a sweet summer pleasure.

2) “Masterpiece: Endeavour,” 9-11 p.m., PBS. At first, this “Inspector Morse” prequel delivered solid, hour-long mysteries, catching Endeavour Morse early in his police career. Now it’s gone for a current trend – fewer shows (only three this year), each movie-length. That would be fine if they were strong stories, worthy of the extra time; they’re not. In the opener, there’s a campus murder and Morse must protect a soccer star. Also, he mopes about lhis ost love (Joan Thursday, his colleague’s daughter) and drinks a lot.

3) “Juneteenth: A Global Celebration of Freedom,” 8-11 p.m. ET, CNN. Top talents combine, marking the day when some slaves belatedly learned they were free. Questlove co-leads a show that has his group (Roots), plus Yolanda Adams, Billy Porter, Mickey Guyton, Mary Mary and more, including storytellers, Earth, Wind and Fire and a 68-piece orchestra. There’s more Black-themed shows on PBS World (9 p.m. to midnight), AXS (all day), Sundance, VH1, BET and the PBS World and PBS Passport streaming sites.

4) “Animal Kingdom” opener, 9 and 10 p.m., TNT. Rippling through the first hour are flashbacks to the days when “Smurf” was running crime schemes with her twins — Andrew (now called “Pope”) and Julia – and their adoptive brother. The teens try a scheme on their own, shaping their lives in unexpected ways.. Now both women are dead; Smurf’s sons and grandson (Julia’s son) struggle with a scheme from an old cohort. The result will surprise you — as this show often does.

5) Much more: Showtime ends one season (“I Love That for You,” 8:30 p.m.) and starts another (“Flatbush Misdemeanors,” 11 p.m.). CW has new specials with the “Black Pack” singers (Taye Diggs, Eric Bellinger and Ne-Yo) at 8 p.m. and spoken-word poet Brandon Leake at 9. And Fox Nation launches “Duck Family Treasure”; Jase and Jep Robertson, brothers best-known for “Duck Dynasty” – search for buried treasure.

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