“A Thousand Yards” – NCIS comes under attack by a mysterious enemy from the past. Also, Vance tries to mend fences with his estranged son by explaining why, despite the ongoing dangers of his job, he still chooses to stay at NCIS, on the CBS Original series NCIS, Monday, April 15 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)* Episode marks the 1,000th episode of the NCIS franchise. Daniela Ruah (NCIS: LOS ANGELES) and Vanessa Lachey (NCIS: HAWAI’I) make a special appearance. Pictured (L-R): Rocky Carroll as Leon Vance. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Week’s top-10 for April 15: celebrating “NCIS” and Earth Day

1) “NCIS,” 9 p.m. today, CBS. If you include all five “NCIS” shows, this is the 1,000th episode. Appropriately, it focuses on NCIS Director Vance (Rocky Carroll, shown here), who’s been in 369 of them. As his son questions Vance’s obsession with work, a crisis arrives. The team meshes and past stars appear briefly in flashbacks. It’s a big hour, but strains belief. One inaction by a Secret Service agent is truly absurd. Read more…

1) “NCIS,” 9 p.m. today, CBS. If you include all five “NCIS” shows, this is the 1,000th episode. Appropriately, it focuses on NCIS Director Vance (Rocky Carroll, shown here), who’s been in 369 of them. As his son questions Vance’s obsession with work, a crisis arrives. The team meshes and past stars appear briefly in flashbacks. It’s a big hour, but strains belief. One inaction by a Secret Service agent is truly absurd.

2) “Secrets of the Octopus,” 7:08 to 10 p.m.. Sunday, National Geographic Channel. Each Earth Day, Nat Geo has magnificent nature shows, including one from “Titanic” producer James Cameron. Now (on Earth Day eve), he has a compelling look at these clever shapeshifters. Part of last years series (elephants) reruns Sunday from 9:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m., followed by the splendid “Queens” series.

3) “NCIS: Hawaii,” 10 p.m. today, CBS. Now for episode No. 1,001. Tennant (Vanessa Lachey) is in the previous hour, as is Kensi of the now-departed “NCIS: Los Angeles,” but they’re only on video screens, in a throw-away scene. Now Tennant’s team has a crisis of its own: A Marine has been killed during training. Tracking the suspect into the wilderness, people find a dark secret;

4) Basketball. The pro playoffs begin with a “play-in” to fill the final four spots. Those games could include some long-time powerhouses (Lakers, Warriors) that have been struggling this year. Games are at 7:30 and 10 p.m. ET Tuesday on TNT and Wednesday and Friday on ESPN. The full tourney starts Saturday, with games at 1:10, 3:30 and 6 p.m. ET on ESPN; then 8:30 on ABC

5) “The Good Doctor,” 10 p.m. Tuesday, ABC. Trimmed to 10 episodes this season, ABC’s Tuesday dramas pause for key reruns. On “The Rookie” (9 p.m.), Nolan and Bailey go on their honeymoon … and, of course, find a a crime. Then “Good Doctor” introduces Charlie, who became a doctor after hearing about Shaun. She’s played by the delightful Kayla Cromer who, like Charlie, is autistic.

6) “Animal Control,” 9:02 p.m. Wednesday, Fox. This show – Fox’s only non-cartoon comedy – has become a surprise, skillfully mixing character comedy and brief animal sight gags. Now things return to the dating woes of Frank (Joel McHale). Having flubbed the apps, he asks Emily to set him up. Also, Patel and Shred try to do the remodeling work on their investment property.

7) “Young Sheldon” and “Ghosts,” 8-9 p.m. Thursday, CBS. Maybe the moral is to never leave town. When Georgie and Mandy started their honeymoon last week, their baby was passed around because his grandma’s illegal casino was raided. Now that story continues; then the ghosts have a crisis, after Sam and Jay try a getaway. That’s on a promising night that has Blair Underwood on “Elsbeth” at 10.

8) “Law & Order: Organized Crime,” 10 p.m. Thursday, NBC. Stabler is inside a ring that uses military veterans and honeybees as a cover for drug-smuggling. Now he can’t help Randall find their younger brother Joe, an addict who is on the run. That follows another deeply personal story: On “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” Benson tries to help Maddie’s family, while fretting the kidnapper’s trial.

9) “Manhunt” finale, Friday, Apple TV+. Twelve days after he killed Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth was slain. But Edward Stanton, who led the search, had wanted him alive to face judgment. After a moving flashback (with Lincoln), we see the conspiracy trial. Also Friday, Apple continues Michael Douglas as Ben Franklin and Netflix has the second of Zach Snyder’s two “Rebel Moon” epics.

10) “Alice & Jack” finale, 10 p.m. Sunday, PBS. Two brilliantly subtle actors capture a story that ripples with unspoken pain and warmth. First is a flashback to the minutes before Alice (Andrea Riseborough) met Jack (Domhnall Gleeson). Then we return to current time, with bittersweet depth. That follows a key “Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office,” setting up next week’s triumphant finish.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *