Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Sept. 21: Season starts for “Abbott,” “Survivor,” more

1) “Abbott Elementary” season-opener, 9 p.m., ABC. Already the winner of three Emmys (for Quinta Brunson’s script, the casting and Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara) and all the top Television Critics Association awards, “Abbott” starts its first full season. A new school year beginsmid general optimism … except Janine (Brunson, show here, center, with Ralph right) is hiding her own problems. In the “Abbott” style, the result is moderately funny and immensely likable. Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 20: Love wobbles in fiction and fact

1) “The Resident,” 8 p.m., Fox, and “New Amsterdam,” 10 p.m., NBC, season-openers. Both hospital shows start with intensely personal episodes. On Fox, it’s a medical crisis for someone close to the doctors; on NBC, Max is in deep despair after Helen suddenly broke up with him. (They’re shown here in a previous episode.)bThe latter makes little sense to Max – or to viewers; it drags down a usually first-rate show. Still, these are involving hours, including a key psychiatry one on “New Amsterdam.” Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 19: Opening night is packed

1) “Quantum Leap” debut, 10 p.m., NBC. On opening night of the official TV season, NBC has a winner. It keeps the fun of the original series, whiles adding some extra zing. Ben (Raymond Lee) is a physicist, adapting the program that used to propel Sam into the past … and into other people’s bodies. Once he gets there, however, he can’t remember anything. Back in the lab, people fret and his fiancee (shown here, right) – whom he also doesn’t remember – tries to be helpful as a hologram. Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 18: Gripping Ken Burns film debuts

1) “The U.S. and the Holocaust” (shown here) opener, 8 p.m., PBS, rerunning at 10:12. Over three nights, Ken Burns calmly and brilliantly shows chaos on both sides of the Atlantic. Jews are desperate to leave Germany, but isolationism has swept the U.S. A 1924 law sharply reduced the number of immigrants, mostly choosing ones from Protestant countries. Prominent Americans – Henry Ford, Charles Lindbergh – gave anti-Semitic speeches; tragedy loomed. Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 17: late-night fun, movie tragedy

1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. On Monday, Jason Sudeikis won (for the second straight year) Emmys for best comedy series (“Ted Lilly,” shown here) and best comedy actor. Now here’s a rerun of his hosting gig on “SNL” – the show that won for best variety sketch series. This was Sudeikis’ first turn as host – nine years after he left “SNL”; Brandi Carlisle was the music guest. Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 16: fiery preview, lustful Lucy

1) “CBS Fall Preview,” 9 p.m., CBS. Each September, networks say their new shows are big, bold and entertaining. CBS this year? It’s definitely not big (only three new scripted shows) or bold … but it has some fun moments. “Fire Country” (shown here) – which takes this timeslot in two weeks – mixes strong drama and wildfire fury … “So Help Me Todd” (Sept. 29) is an amiable blend of comedy and crime-solving … “East New York” (Oct. 2) is an adequate cop show.. Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 15: laughs, ghosts, killers, demon

1) “Atlanta” (shown here in a previous seasoh) season-openers, 10 and 10:40 p.m., FX, rerunning at 11:26 and 12:06. This starts with Darius trying to return an item to a store that’s being looted. The result is both funny and bizarre – a sign of what’s ahead. Partly Serling and Seinfeld, partly Fellini and Freud, it’s a strange way to start the final season. The second episode views Ern in therapy … and views a stranger in deetail. The elements seem unrelated … until they merge in an unsettling way. Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 14: Three shows name their winners

1) Finale fever, 9-11 p.m., CBS and NBC. Two summer reality shows simultaneously pick their winners. CBS’ “The Challenge: USA” names its first champion, who will then go on to an international contest; at the same time, NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” has its 17th winner. On Tuesday, viewers saw 11 finalists — four music acts, two magicians and more, including the Mayya dance troupe, shown here. Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 13: country stars and reality finales

1) Academy of Country Music Honors, 8-10 p.m., Fox. The network is busy corralling country fans. It has already aired the “Monarch” opener twice and will run it again at 9:02 p.m. Wednesday; also, that show’s star, Trace Adkins, performs tonight. The show honors Miranda Lambert (shown here), Chris Stapleton, Shania Twain, Morgan Wallen and the “Yellowstone” series. Other performers include Carly Pearce (who hosts), Dierks Bentley, Wynonna Judd, many more. Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 12: daytime shake-up, then the Emmys

1) Emmy awards, 8-11 p.m., NBC. Kenan Thompson (shown here in a “Saturday Night Live” sketch) hosts, with plans for a big opening number. He’s not much of a monologue guy, but other “Saturday Night Live” people (past and present) will be there. They include Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, Amy Poehler, Molly Shannon and Vanessa Bayer. Others range from Will Arnett to Natalie Zea, plus two people from “Squid Game,” a first-year show that’s up for best drama, in a field led by “Succession.” Read more…