Mike Hughes

1) “Clarice,” 10 p.m., CBS. This richly crafted series has had one persistent flaw: It uses the cliché of higher-ups who ignore evidence and just get in the way. That’s been especially true of Clarice’s FBI boss, Krendler; a terrific actor (Michael Cutlitz, shown here) has been stuck in a one-note role. Now the remedy begins by a simple means – bringing in someone much worse. As Krendler is investigated, he adds much-needed depth. It’s a good episode – in a darkly Gothic way – but ends with the story in limbo. Read more…

1) “Resident Alien,” 10 p.m., Syfy. This clever gem seemed simple at first: An alien (shown here) arrived to kill all Earthlings, but lost parts of the device he needs. To buy time, he killed Harry (a reclusive doctor) and assumed his human form; the mayor’s son is the only one who sees through his disguise. Then the twists began: Last week, Harry’s wife arrived; now we meet the town’s new doctor, plus an obsessive general (Linda Hamilton of “Terminator” fame). There’s humor, as usual, and then a dramatic finish. Read more…

1) “New Amsterdam” season-opener, 10 p.m., NBC. Filming in New York, where the pandemic peaked early, this hospital drama abruptly ended its season. Now, almost a year later, it’s back. First, a terrific montage takes us through the crisis; then we’re in a post-pandemic time, with emotions still raw for Max (Ryan Eggold, shown here with Freema Agyeman) and one of the doctors near death. And then … well, a plane crashes. It’s a strong hour. Read more…

1) “Debris” debut, 10 p.m. , NBC. When an alien spacecraft exploded, it scattered debris over the hemisphere. Those chunks have an other-worldly power to manipulate physics (including a floating body, shown here) and feelings. Now officials, working in secret, try to find and suppress the debris; bad guys want to harness the energy. “Debris” faces an eternal problem: Networks often cancel sci-fi shows abruptly, leaving crises in limbo. Still, this one can tell a self-contained story with each piece found; the opener packs strong emotions. Read more…

1) Golden Globe awards, 8 p.m. ET, NBC, with red-carpet at 7; on the West Coast, 5 p.m. PT (red-carpet at 4), rerunning at 8. Two terrific hosts, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler (shown here) are back … but not together. They’re in New York and Los Angeles, respectively. Viewers might not recognize many of the nominated movies; even the TV shows – all from cable or streaming – are sometimes obscure. The dramas: “The Crown,” “The Mandalorian,” “Ozark,” “Ratched” and “Lovecraft Country”; comedies: “Emily in Paris,” “The Great,” “Ted Lasso,” “Schitt’s Creek” and “The Flight Attendant.” Read more…