1) Figure skating, 8-10 p.m., NBC. As always, the female skaters (shown here) dominate TV’s attention. They had their short programs Thursday on the USA Network and now move to NBC for the finals. Meanwhile, the men have their short programs from 5-7 p.m. today on USA, with the finals from 3-6 p.m. Sunday on NBC. Other finals are Saturday — free dance, 2-4:30 p.m., NBC; pairs, 8-10 p.m., USA. Read more…
1) “Poker Face” debut, Peacock. Rian Johnson, writer-director of the “Knives Out” gems, links with Natasha Lyonne for a superb series. She’s terrific as Charlie, with an innate sense of when people are lying. In the opener (shown here), she’s living in a Las Vegas trailer, when casino boss (Adrien Brody) tries to harness that skill; she’s soon on the run, solving self-contained mysteries slong the way. Except for one flaw – scenes that flash back a few days, without telling viewers – this is a fresh and entertaining show. Read more…
1) “Nature,” 8 p.m., PBS. Underwater life is filled with communal efforts; now we see some examples, beautifully filmed. A carrier crab (show here while carrying) gives rides to a fire urchin – which provides protection with its venom … Shrimps keep eels tidy; surgeonfish remove algae fron turtles … Golden jacks hang around dugongs, grabbing any shrimps they stir up … Some creatures even go in the mouths of others, for clean-up work. It’s a fascinating world. Read more…
1) “American Auto” season-opener, 8:30 p.m., NBC. Once again, there’s a defect in one of the Payne cars; this one has disastrous consequences – including a forest fire. Katherine (Ana Gasteyer, shown here in a previous episode), the boss, worries about her job … Wesley, the heir, worries about having to sell his boat … and Sadie flubs a press conference. It’s a funny episode, with a surprising conclusion. Read more…
1) “The Bachelor” opener, 8-10 p.m., ABC. After a third-place “Bachelorette” finish, Zach Shallcross (shown here) is in control. He’s a former tech executive, 6-foot-4 and 26 years old; now he meets 30 women, including a child therapist named Charity and an Oklahoma rodeo racer named Brooklyn. There are sales people and marketers, of course; there are also serious sorts, including four nurses and a nursing student. Read more…
1) “All Creatures Great and Small,” 9 p.m., PBS. For three seasons, we thought we knew Siegfried, a stern veterinarian who makes steep demands on everyone, including himself. Now a beautifully crafted hour offers a fresh perspective. It flashes back to World War I, when he debated the fate of Army horses; then we see him in the ‘40s (shown here), trying to save one horse. The result is subtle and deeply moving, Read more…
1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. A dozen years ago, Aubrey Plaza and Michael B. Jordan were supporting players in NBC-produced shows (“Parks and Recreation” and “Friday Night Lights”). Now they’re movie stars, wth their first turns as “SNL” hosts. Next week, is Jordan, with Lil Baby as music guest; this week (with Sam Smith as music guest) is Plaza, who has soared with “Emily the Criminal” (shown here), “White Lotus” and more. Read more…
1) “The Godfather” (1972), 12:30 and 9 p.m., AMC. Francis Coppola’s gem had a passionate story, crisp dialog, strong visuals and some of Hollywood’s best actors, led by Al Pacino, Marlon Brando (shown here) and James Caan. Then “The Godfather, Pari II” (1974) – at 4:30 p.m. and 1 a.m. — added Robert De Niro. The original film is No. 2 (behind “Citizen Kane)” on the American Film Institute’s all-time list; “Part II” is No. 32, the only sequel in the top 100. Read more…
1) “That ‘90s Show” (shown here) debut, Netflix. For eight years, “That ‘70s Show” gave us nostalgia, humor and some fresh young stars. Now Topher Grace and Laura Prepon return briefly as Eric and Donna, but the focus is on their smart and snarky teen, spending the summer with her grandparents (Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp). She meets the son of Kelso and Jackie, who – no surprise here – turns out to be flirty and charming. Read more…
1) “Nature,” 8 p.m., PBS. Here’s a fresh approach, centering on a tree that prospered for five centuries in the Scottish highland. The hour imagines the natural history around it and adds some human history – farmers, rebels, even the future Queen Mary. The notion is a stretch, but it offers gorgeous scenes (the generic Scottish scene here isn’t from the show), plus insights into evolving nature. Read more…
