1) “The Voice” finale, 8-10 p.m. today and 8-11 p.m. Tuesday, NBC. Tonight, the final five each perform a ballad and an uptempo song. John Legend has Nathan Chester, 27, and Bryan Oleson (shown here), 49; Reba McEntire has Asher HaVon 31, and Josh Sanders, 35; Dan + Shay have Karen Woldrup, 36. On Tuesday, after music by Jelly Roll, Thomas Rhett, The Black Keys, Lainey Wilson, etc. — there’s a winner.
2) “The Good Doctor” series-finale, 10 p.m. Tuesday, ABC. Seven years ago, Freddie Highmore began a subtly moving performance. At 25, he played Shaun, an autistic doctor who would become e a husband, father and respected surgeon. Now he and the other doctors face one of their toughest cases, while pondering their futures. Also ending its run is “Grownish,” at 10 p.m. Wednesday on Freeforrm.
3) “National Memorial Day Concert,” 8 p.m. Sunday, PBS, rerunning at 9:30. Each year, on Memorial Day eve, this offers a passionate blend of music and stories. This time that has three Broadway stars (Tony-winners Cynthia Erivo, Ruthie Ann Miles and Patina Miller) and two country stars – Gary LeVox (of Rascal Flatts) and Jamey Johnson, with a song he wrote after funerals for his fellow Marines.
4) Gordon Ramsay rush, Fox. At 8 p.m., today, “MasterChef Junior” has its finale, with three amazing chefs, ages 10 and 11. Ramsay then disappears for all of two days. At 9 p.m. Wednesday, he and Lisa Vanderpump lead teams of entrepreneurs in “Food Stars.” Next week he adds two more shows – “Uncharted” (Tuesdays on National Geographic) and “MasterChef” (Wednesdays on Fox)..
5) “So You Think You Can Dance” finale, 9 p.m. today, Fox; Each week, the bottom dancers have done solos, to decide who’s eliminated. But Madison Alvarado, 21, has simply never been near the bottom. Last week, when everyone had a solo, she dazzled the judges with a jazz-funk piece. Now comes the finale, with Dakayla Wilson and Anthony Curley, both 18, and Alvarado.
6) “Survivor” finale, Wednesday. Three 8 p.m. shows find their champions. Two do it in an hour.– Fox’s “The Masked Singer” (down to Gumball and Goldfish) and ABC’s “Jeopardy Masters”; CBS’ “Survivor” needs three hours, counting the reunion, It still has its five contestsnts – Charlie Davis, 26; Kenzie Petty, 29; Ben Katzman, 31; Liz Wilcox, 35, and Maria Shrime Gonzalez, 48,
7) More finales. Most will return in the fall, including the “FBI” shows (8-11 p.m. Tuesday, CBS), the “Chicago” shows (8-11 p.m. Wednesday, NBC) and “Abbott Elementary” (9 p.m. Wednesday, ABC). Others won’t be back until mid-season: Fox’s “The Cleaning Lady” (8-10 p.m. Tuesday) and ABC’s “Will Trent” and “The Rookie” (8 and 9 Tuesday) and “The Conners” (9:30 Wednesday).
8) “Elsbeth” season-finale, 9 p.m. Thursday, CBS. Surrounded by towering, glowering models, Elsbeth might seem out of place. She’s 5-foot-4, with colorful clothes in quirky combinations. But now we actually get an Elsbeth-inspired fashion show As this starts, she’s about to be sent back home; things get goofy at first, then make sense. Laura Benanti, a Broadway-musicals star, plays a model..
9) “Purlie Victorious,” 9 p.m. Friday, PBS. Three weeks before the Tonys, here’s a show with six nominations, including best play revival, actor (Leslie Odom Jr.) and supporting actress (Kara Young, with Carol Burnett-style moves),. It’s not for everyone: Like many plays, it can feel too broad; the turbo-speed dialog is a challenge. Still, this offers a frothy blend of humor and rage in the Old South..
10) ALSO: Summer replacement shows are already trickling in; soon, it will be a gusher. Last week, Fox launched “I Can See Your Voice” at 8 p.m. Thursdays; now it pairs that with Niecy Nash’s “Don’t Forget the Lyrics,” at 9. Then CBS has RuPaul Charles’ “Lingo” at 8 and 9 p.m. Friday. The first hour has teachers vs. doctors and friends vs. newlyweds. The winners go on to the next hour.
You may also like
-
Week’s top-10 for Oct. 7: “Tracker” leads a spurt of openers
-
Week’s top-10 for Sept. 30: music, murders and veeps
-
Week’s top-10 for Sept. 23: Debuts, country and a vital “Choice”
-
Week’s top-10 for Sept. 16: “Matlock” leads start of new shows
-
Week’s top-10 for Sept. 9: time to win awards … and the White House