1) “The Clash of Nations,” 8-10:05 p.m., History. Two boxing matches (1936 and ’38) were seen as global symbols. Max Schmeling (left) represented “German superiority”; Joe Louis (right) was the rising Black American. This film debuts on Juneteenth (which marks the end of slavery), preceded by films on Jesse Owens (6 p.m.) and the stars who followed Jackie Robinson (4). Read more…
1) “Surviving Earth,” 8 p.m.. NBC. A lush, tropical era prevailed for millions of years, we’re told. As this hour begins (232 million years ago) that’s ending. Rains abate as new creatures — early mammals (shown here) and dinosaurs — roam. With great special effects, it’s a fairly good hour, followed by a splendid “Americas” rerun visiting the Amazon. Read more…
1) “The Simpsons,” Disney+. Yes, a new episode is arriving in June — and for streaming-only. Disney+ is celebrating the fact that it now has all 37 seasons of the show, plus the movie and shorts. This one has Marge (shown here in a previous episode) imagine life with alternate Homers; there will be two more new episodes this summer. Read more…
1) “Becoming Katharine Graham,” 9-11 p.m., PBS. A rich socialite, Graham (shown here) was a friend of Kennedys and Reagans. Then her life transformed at 46; her husband’s death left her in charge of the Washington Post. She steered it through Watergate, the Pentagon Papers and more. It’s a great story and (despite an awful music score) an interesting film. Read more…
1) “The Last Twins,” 10p.m., PBS. Judith Richter was a married grad student before spotting a magazine article (shown here) that hinted at her father’s amazing story: In Auschwitz, twins were being studied; older than the others, Emo Spiegel became a big brother and then a protector, walking them to their homelands after liberation. It’s a great story, wrenching at first and then uplifting. Read more…
1) “Grantchester” season-opener, 9 p.m., PBS. For a decade, this has given us some likable villagers (including three crime-solving vicars) and smart stories. Now the 11th and final season starts with a drive-in movie fundraiser, then offers a sharp murder mystery. In eight episodes, this will take the vicar (shown here) and others through times of angst and joy. Read more…
1) UFL championship game, 3 p.m. ET, ABC. It’s the final game of the football season (or, at least, pf the oft-ignored spring season). The Louisville Kings and D.C. Defenders (shown here in red) were only 6-4 and 5-5 during the regular season, but they prevailed in the playoffs; now they collide in Washington, D.C. Read more…
1) World Cup, 3 and 9 p.m. ET, Fox. Here are the Cup openers for two teams with home-field advantage. First, Canada faces Bosnia and Herzegovina, at 3 p.m. in Toronto; then the U.S. faces Paraguay, at 9 in Los Angeles. (Mexico had its opener Thursday, in Mexico City.) There’s much more soccer ahead (shown here is action from a previous Cup); these are also on Telemundo and stream on Peacock and Fox One. Read more…
1) “Surviving Earth” debut, 8 p.m., NBC. Some 252 million years ago, the Earth was locked in a heat wave. Many creatures died; some (shown here_ persisted, plodding toward the poles and the high ground. It’s a dramatic story, told with great special effects. But attempts to lighten it (special-effect creatures frolicking) seem pointless; leave that part to the superb “Americas,” rerunning at 9. Read more…
1) “The Floor” finale, 8-10 p.m., Fox. There are some wild combinations here — a “wine” category for someone who’s not old enough to drink (shown here, right), a “world religions” one for someone who’s never been in a church. Ultimately, we see the show’s strength and its flaws and unfairness. The strengths prevail, in a fast-paced finish. Read more…
