Day: March 15, 2026

Best-bets for March 18: chefs, cops and Trekking

1) “America’s Culinary Cup,” 9:30 p.m., CBS. Here’s a sign that “Cup” contestants (some are shown here) are an interesting bunch: In the final showdown, we deeply don’t want either chef to lose. One does, in an hour focusing on sustainability. In the showdown, two chefs use parts that most people throw away. Both seem to do well; one departs and tears are shed. Read more…

For one night, at least, there will be A LOT on TV

Television can seem like an all-or-nothing, feast-or-famine world.
One moment, there’s little worth watching. The next, there’s an overload.
Fortunately, we’re heading into overload land. One night — Sunday, March 22 — has three debuts and two season-openers, plus the regular shows. There would be even more if ABC hadn’t made the late decision to pull “Bachelorette.”
It opens the 15th season of “Call the Midwife.” It has the third “Forsytes” series (shown here), the 40th-or-more “Count of Monte Cristo” and the zillionth (approximately) Biblical epic.
The shows vary drastically, from the glittery “Forsytes” to the dark “Monte Cristo.” But all are ambitious. Alongside the regular dramas — “Tracker,” “Marshals,” “Dark Winds” — they’re in an overstuffed night. They are: Read more…

Best-bets for March 17: a zesty St. Pat’s Day

1) “Finian’s Rainbow” (1968), 5:30 p.m. ET, Turner Classic Movies. OK, we don’t usually associate Francis Coppola with Irish culture. But before his “Godfather” films, he beautifully directed this zesty musical. Tommy Steele and Fred Astaire star(they’re shown here), with Petula Clark, Tommy Steele a Don Francks star, with some great comic moments from Al Freeman Jr. Read more…