1) “Harry & Meghan: The Royals in Crisis,” 8 p.m., Fox. When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (shown here) exited their royal duties, pop culture hit overdrive. Fox says this hour, produced by TMZ, has Mark Cuban, Lisa Vanderpump, Phil McGraw and “more than a dozen people with real ties” to the royals. Read more…
It’s happened twice now in eight years.
The Grammy people were ready for the usual fun and flash and spectacle. Then, at the last moment, there was a stunning death.
In 2012 it was Whitney Houston, who had some of her greatest moments at the Grammys
This year it was Kobe Bryant (shown here), who had his greatest moments at the Staples Center, where the ceremony is held.Both times, the Grammy people responded beautifully. Both times, they had the right person hosting. Read more…
1) “Miracle Workers: Dark Ages,” 10:30 p.m., TBS. King Cragnoor the Heartless earned his name as a young man. His son, alas, remains Prince Chauncley the (To Be Determined). He’s not sure about taking over the family business; neither is Mary Poopshoveler (we’re using a euphemism). She dreams of getting an education … except there’s not currently any knowledge available. This is from the writer of last year’s brilliant “Miracle Workers,” with the same actors (Daniel Radcliffe, shown here,, Steve Buscemi, etc.) in new roles. The result is hilarious.
Read more…
1) “Bob (hearts) Abishola,” 8:30 p.m., CBS. Gina Yashere (shown here) has been the semi-secret strengths of this terrific show. She’s a writer and producer, guiding it through the intricacies of Nigerian/American customs; she also co-stars as Kemi. In this dandy rerun, Kemi has lied – or, at least, been slow to tell the truth – to her friend Abishola. And with Bob’s mom remaining ill, her kids insist she should make a will. Read more…
History tends to remember a few rebels and reformers
.They’re authors and politicians, mostly. But then there’s the guy – now semi-forgotten – who was once the world’s most famous chemist
.That’s Harvey Wiley (shown here with his young “poison squad”), subject of a fascinating PBS profile Tuesday. He was an early target in the war against science. He also was also a reason why we know (sometimes) what we’re eating. Read more…
Ken Ehrlich has his last Grammy telecast Sunday, after 40 splendid years.
Before that, let’s flash back to a key bit. It was “the big one,” Ehrlich wrote, “the one that is generally credited with starting the phrase ‘Grammy moment.'”
That phrase isn’t just hype, you know. It reflects decades of innovative mash-ups, from Elton and Eminem to this year (8-11 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26), with epic numbers built around one song from Lil Nas X and another — ranging from singer Camila Cabell to rapper Common and dancer Misty Copeland (shown here) — built around a song from the “Fame” movie. Read more…
1) Grammys, 8-11 p.m. ET, CBS. On his final Grammycast (after 40 years), producer Ken Ehrlich continues the “Grammy moments” he’s known for. When Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus (shown here) do “Old Town Road,” they’ll add BTS, Diplo and more. A tribute to the late Nipsy Hussle links Kirk Franklin, John Legend, DJ Khaled, and YG. Run-D.M.C. links with Aerosmith … and a song from “Fame”: has Camila Cabello, Joshua Bell, Misty Copeland, Common and more. Also performing: Ariana Grande, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani. Jonas Brothers, Lizzo, more. Read more…
1) Super Bowl, 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox. The Kansas City Chiefs were at the Read more…
1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. After a five-week break, “SNL” is finally back with a new episode, its first in 2020. Adam Driver hosts and Halsey is the music guest. Driver has done this twice before; shown here is a previous sketch with Kate McKinnons. A hear ago, Halsey doubled as host and music guest, doing two spectacular music numbers. Read more…
PASADENA, Cal. – Growing up in Syria, Amani Ballour(shown here) knew a world of rules and limits.
“There are too many differences between boys and girls …. I couldn’t play with boys. I couldn’t climb the tree, I couldn’t ride the bike,” she recalled. “This (was) prevented for girls in my community.”
There were professions open to her – but, again, with limits. A woman could “be a doctor, but a doctor for children or for women in your clinic, but not a manager.”
Then war changed everything. As the Oscar-nominated “The Cave” shows, Dr. Ballour administered an underground hospital in the bomb-battered city of Ghouta, near Damascus. Read more…
