1) “The Voice” finale, 8-10 p.m.,NBC. In his last season, Blake Shelton has two finalists – Grace West, 19, and NOIVAS, 30. They perform tonight, along with Gina Miles, 18; D.Smooth, 25; and the sister trio Sorelle (shown here), plus guest performers Lewis Capaldi and Alex Newell. A re-cap will be from 8-9 p.m. Tuesday, leading into the two-hour finale. Read more…
All the major TV networks have now set their plans for next season.
That used to be a big deal, you know. It’s a smaller deal now (with viewers fleeing to streamers), but it offers an intriguing look at different approaches to the writers’ strike, ranging from family-friendly (“Wonderful World of Disney” revived) to frisky (“FBoy Island,” shown here, That includes:
— Three networks – ABC, Fox and CW – are already resigned to the strike lingering. They’ve assembled makeshift fall plans that can be devoid of new, scripted, live-action shows.
— The other two – CBS and NBC – show some optimism … which they might have to discard. Read more…
1) “NCIS: Los Angeles” series-finale, 9 p.m., CBS. On the final Sunday of the season, lots of shows wrap up for now … and this one ends its long run. “NCIS: LA” has been around for 14 seasons, putting it in the all-time top-10 among dramas. Anna (a former Chicago cop and the estranged daughter of a former KGB agent) and Callen were planning their wedding. (They’re shown here.) Then chaos intervened: A federal agent and some military-grade weapons are missing. Read more…
Dealing with duo forces – new owners and the ongoing writers strike – the CW is tossing out most of its schedule.
Gone next season will be the superheroes that filled the mini-network. Only two scripted shows will be back: “All American” arrives this fall, paired withg Courtney B. Vance’s “61st Street” (shown here); “Walker” is expected at mid-season.
The rest of the line-up has reality shows, plus scripted ones that have already started airing in other countries, mainly Canada. Read more…
1) “The Voice” finale, 9-10 p.m. today and 8-11 p.m.. Tuesday, NBC. In his last season, Blake Shelton has two finalists (shown here) – Grace West, 19, and NOIVAS, 30. They perform tonight, along with Gina Miles, 18; D.Smooth, 25; and the sister trio, Sorelle, plus guest performers Lewis Capaldi and Alex Newell. Tuesday has a recap (8-9 p.m.), then more guests (CeeLo Green, Maroon 5, Toosii and Diplo & Lily Rose), tributes to Shelton … and a winner. Read more…
Gene Luen Yang never expected his graphic novel to be read by the multitudes … or by anybody.
“I actually did ‘American Born Chinese’ as a Xeroxed comic,” he told the Television Critics Association. “I would finish a chapter; I’d take it to my local Kinko’s. Remember Kinko’s.
“I would staple it by hand and I’d sell like 16 copies. It would be like 15 of my friends and my mom.”
He’s way past that now. On Wednesday (May 24), Disney+ debuts the entire eight-part “American Born Chinese” mini-series (shown here). In the 17 years since it was formally published, it’s caught on big. Read more…
1) “NCIS: Los Angeles,” 8 p.m., CBS. On the eve of the series finale (ending a 14-season run), this goes back to an October episode, sandwiching Sam (LL Cool J) with generational problems on both ends. His dad needs a new caregiver; his son (they’re shonw here) is being blamed for a plane crash. Read more…
1) “SWAT” season-finale, 8 p.m., CBS. It’s been a hectic time for this show. At first, CBS canceled it; ratings were strong … but not strong enough to match the growing expense of a show nearing its seventh year. Then came quick negotiations; “SWAT” was given a final, 13 episode season. Tonight, it wraps a two-parter: A federal agent (Timothy Hutton) has a personal war on a drug cartel, sending Hondo (shown here) and others into battle. Read more…
ABC has taken a drastic step that other networks avoided:
It is acknowledging that the writers’ strike will scuttle the start of a normal season, this fall. Instead, it has planned something very abnormal – a complete, 22-hour schedule with no new, scripted episodes.
That would cut off viewers from “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Station 19,” “The Rookie,” “The Good Doctor,” “Will Trent” and more, including “9-1-1,” which is moving to ABC from Fox. To fill all those holes in the schedule, the network will:
— Give double-duty to its “Bachelor” franchise: “The Golden Bachelor” – an older-person version of the show – will be at 10 p.m. Mondays (past the bedtime for some seniors). For people who prefer friskier singles in swimwear, “Bachelor in Paradise” (shown here from last season) will be 9-11 p.m. Tuesdays Read more…
1) “Grey’s Anatomy” season-finale (shown here), 9 and 10 p.m., ABC. One of the longest-running dramas in TV history wraps its 19th season. (Next year, it ties “Gunsmoke,” trailing “NCIS” and a pair of “Law & Order” shows.) The finale revolves around the wedding of Doctors Simone Griffith and Trey Delgado, in her grandmother’s backyard. That forces Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) to meet her ex-boyfriend Nick; it’s Pompeo’s first return since dropping out as a regular. Read more…
