1) Olympic figure-skating. The men — led by U.S. whiz Ilia Malinin (shown here) — start at 12:30 p.m. ET Tuesday on USA, then 1:45 to 5 on NBC; their finals are 1 p.m. Friday, USA; 3-5 p.m,, NBC. Ice dancers are 1:20 p.m. today, USA; 2:40 to 5, NBC. Pairs start at 1:45 p.m. Sunday, USA, 3-5 p.m., NBC. And it’s all repackaged on NBC, from 8-11 p.m. nightly.
2) More Olympics. There are plenty of skiers, snowboarders and more. On weekdays, NBC is mostly live from noon to 5 p.m. PT, repackages the day from 8-11 p.m. and has more at 11:35. On weekends, it’s 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 8 to 11; and 11:30 to 1. The USA Network is basically all-day; CNBC is 5-8 p.m. weekdays, 5-11 p.m. on weekends.
3) “Nova: Mammal Origins,” 9 p.m., PBS. We might dream that mammals evolved from mighty creatures. Alas, evidence indicates we’re descended from little critters that burrowed and hid, while the big guys were smited. That’s illustrated here, with great special effects. It follows an excellent “Nature,” focusing on freshwater parenting.
4) Valentine’s Day movies, Saturday. The Hallmark Channel has Valentine-themed films every two hours, from 8 a.m. to the new “Because of Cupid” at 8 p.m. Great American Family has an all-day romance marathon. And others have the classics, led by “Casablanca” at noon ET on Turner Classic Movies and “The Notebook” at 8 p.m. on HBO.
5) “Survivor,” 8 p.m. today through Friday, CBS. As its 50th edition nears, “Survivor” repeats 10 key episodes this week and next. That’s part of a rerun-stuffed time for CBS … and for ABC, which repeats “High Potential” (9-11 p.m., Tuesday), “Shifting Gears” (8-10, Wednesday), “9-1-1: Nashville” (8-11, Thursday) and tonight’s “American Idol” (9-11 Sunday).
6) “Independent Lens: The Librarians,” 10 p.m. today, PBS. Usually thought of as life’s quiet heroes, librarians have been under attack. Modern book-burners demand the removal of subjects ranging from sexuality to slavery. This compelling film follows several librarians. Some lost their jobs; others struggle to keep libraries as non-judgmental refuges.
7) “Cross” season-opener, Wednesday, Amazon Prime. Aldis Hodge is back as the sharp police detective from James Patterson novels. Now a rich guy (Matthew Lillard) has big-agriculture schemes, fought by a vigilante (Jeanine Mason). That arrives one day after the return of Hulu’s “The Artful Dodger,” with the former “Oliver Twist” schemer in Australia.
8) “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette,” 9 p.m. to midnight ET Thursday, FX and Hulu. He was “America’s prince,” known to almost everyone; she was a fashion consultant, known to a few. In these three episodes (six weekly ones follow), their love fades and revives. They’re very likable opposites, but his family ranges from blank to cartoon-ish.
9) Basketball, 5 p.m. ET, Saturday and Sunday, NBC. In the middle of its Olympic obsession, NBC keeps pausing for other sports. First was the Super Bowl; now it’s the NBA All-Star Games. On Saturday are the skills contests, with slam dunks, three-point shots and such. Sunday has three eight-man teams, in a round-robin of 12-minute games.
10) “The Simpsons,” 8 and 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Fox. Unlike the others, Fox has new episodes all week. (That includes a fun “Next Level Chef,” at 8 p.m. Thursday.) At 8 Sunday, the 800th episode is in Philadelphia for a national dog show and a conspiracy adventure. At 8:30, Homer has a crumbless-cracker business. Then the show leaves until April.