1) “The ’90s Boy Band Boom,” 8-10 p.m., CW. In the early ’90s, AJ McLean says here, record sales were all “grunge or rap.” He was in the Backstreet Boys (shown here), which sputtered at home, then spent two years abroad. It had wild stunts, loud clothes and sales of 130 million records. This fun film traces many of the groups that offered odd touches and bouncy music. Read more…
1) “Suffs,” 9 p.m., PBS. For the next two Fridays, PBS gives us full-scale, Broadway-style musicals. Next week is the silly fun of “Top Hat,” but this one (shown here) is an involving look at the drive that brought women the vote in 1920. Shaina Taub won Tonys for her book and her music score; she also does a solid job as Alice Paul, an unrelenting American hero. Read more…
1) “Grey’s Anatomy” (shown here in a previous episode) season-finale, 10 p.m., ABC. The 22nd season ends with a crisis (the aftermath of last week’s bridge-collapse) and change. It’s the final episode for Owen (Kevin McKidd) and Teddy (Kim Raver); they’ve been there for 18 and 12 seasons. Nick (Scott Speedman), who’s been scarce in recent years, may be back as a victim. Read more…
1) “Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure,” 8 p.m., PBS. Two days before David Attenborough turns 100, PBS notes his most ambitious project. “Life on Earth” (shown here) debuted in 1979, after three years and 1.5 million miles of travel to 30 countries, filming 600 animals. In this amiable hour, Attenborough and others fondly recall the adventure Read more…
1) “NCIS: Origins” season-finale, 9 p.m., CBS. Next week, the other “NCIS” shows wrap their seasons. First, “Origins” (shown here in last week’s episode) gets the focus, amid much confusion. There was Gibbs’ surprise marriage to Diane Sterling. And there are rumors that the office will be closed and the team will be scattered. Read more…
1) “American Idol,” 8-10 p.m., ABC. We’re a week from the finale, with five singers left — Hannah Harper, Jordan McCullough, Keyla Richardson (shown here), Chris Tungseth and Braden Rumfelt. Pretending to be a 20th-year class reunion, the show includes people from the 2006 season (Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee finished 1-2) and from “Dancing With the Stars.” Read more…
1) “Call the Midwife,” 8 p.m., PBS. Setting up next week’s deeply moving finale, “Midwife” (shown here in a previous episode) juggles key stories. There’s Rosalind’s romance … Sister Monica Joan’s health troubles … and a girl we met a decade ago, when she was born with defects linked to thalidomide. Read more…
1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. After two weeks of reruns, “SNL” closes the season with three new episodes. That starts with youth: Olivia Rodrigo (shown here in a previous concert), 23, has her first turn as host and third as music guest. (By comparison, the May 16 season-finale has Will Ferrell, 58, and Paul McCartney, 83.) Next week has Matt Damon and Noah Kahan. Read more…
1) “Now Hear This” season-finale, 9 p.m., PBS. This is the show’s best hour yet, a visit to Iceland. The scenery is stunning (shown here in a generic view, not from the show), the people are appealing — “we’re doers,” one says — and the music is abundant. With only 400,000 people, Iceland averages 500 new albums a year. This hour ranges from choral music inside a volcano to a thundering cello concerto. Read more…
1) “Grey’s Anatomy” return, 10 p.m., ABC. After a three-week rest, “Anatomy” (shown here in a previous episode) is back to wrap its 22nd season. Next week is the season-finale, including the departure of Teddy and Owen. Tonight, however, it’s a big-deal crisis: The Royal Bridge collapses, putting all the doctors into action. Read more…
