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…
1) “Night Court” debut (shown here), 8 and 8:30 p.m., NBC. This blends key pieces of past comedy hits: There’s “Night Court” and John Larroquette, who won four Emmys as Dan Fielding, before withdrawing from consideration. And there’s Melissa Rauch, who was Bernadette on “The Big Bang Theory.” Now she plays the daughter of Judge Harry Stone, taking over his courtroom … and luring Fielding back. The result is big and broad and, often enough, quite funny. Read more…
1) “Bob (Hearts) Abishola” return, 8:30 p.m., CBS. After missing last week (because of the all-night “NCIS” crossover), one of TV’s best comedies has its first new episode in six weeks. When we left it, Abishola was fretting: Bob mortgaged the house to finance a risky step, moving sock-production back to Detroit. Now there’s a new dispute on whether Dele (shown here with Bob) should be driving. Read more…
1) Critics Choice Awards, 7-10 p.m., CW. Five days after the Golden Globes, here’s another show honoring the best in movies and TV. This one is hosted by Chelsea Handler, with Jeff Bridges getting a lifetime award. Best-movie nominees include the “Top Gun” and “Avatar” sequels. plus “Elvis” (shown here), “Tar” “Fabelmans,” “Glass Onion,” “Babylon,” “RRR,” “Women Talking,”“The Banshees of Inishien” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” Read more…
1) Football, 4:30 p.m. ET, Fox; and 8:15 p.m., NBC. The college season has finally finished, but the pros are just starting their play-offs. That starts now with San Francisco (shown here) hosting Seattle and then Jacksonville hostingh the Los Angeles Chargers. There are three more games Sunday, plus Monday Night Football. The six winners will then join the two top-seeded teams; all will be two wins from the Super Bowl. Read more…
