Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Nov. 18: grief on ABC, fun on CBS and cable

1) “Station 19” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” 8 and 9 p.m., ABC. It’s Thanksgiving on both shows, as people try to deal with last week’s tragedy. Dean Miller was killed in an explosion. (Okieriete Onaoowan, who plays him, wanted to leave the show.) Vic, his sometimes-girlfriend, was shattered; Ben (Jason George, shown here, center) promised that he and Bailey (from “Grey’s Anatomy”) would raise Dean’s son. Now the firefighters link with Station 23 for the holiday; at the hospital, Bailey and Richard seek emergency surgeries. Read more…

Best-bets for Nov. 17: The Thanksgiving laughs begin

1) “The Goldbergs,” 8 p.m., ABC. Many of TV’s best comedy episodes have centered on Thanksgiving – when people are thrown together in fresh ways. Now this year’s crop starts here. Linda Schwartz plans afeast; Beverly Goldberg – whose daughter is engaged to Linda’s son – gets competitive. Also, Beverly (shown here at the head of the table) is surprised when her father-in-law (Judd Hirsch) brings a new “lady friend.” Read more…

Best-bets for Nov. 16: superheroes, super troubles

1) “The Flash” season-opener, 8 p.m., CW. Now for something really big: This show– which finished its seventh season in July – starts its eighth with a five-week epic. The world is in peril (again) and all of the superheroes – well, all the ones in CW’s universe – are needed. A villain named Despero arrives; The Flash assembles his friends. We quickly see Brandon Routh as The Atom (shown here with The Flash); also on the way are Batwoman, Green Arrow, Black Lightning, Sentinel, Damien Darkh and Reverse Flash. Read more…

Best-bets for Nov. 15: strong drama in fiction and fact

1) “Ordinary Joe,” 10 p.m., NBC Most weeks, this leaps nimbly between Joe (James Wolk) in three variations of his life – a rock star (married to Amy), nurse (married to Jenny) and cop (unmarried). Tonight, however, the focus is sharply on Amy, beautifully played by Natalie Martinez (shown here with Wolk in a previous episode). She’s dating Cop Joe and pondering the future with a friend of Nurse Joe. But the real power comes alongside Rock Star Joe: Amy is a congressional aide whose boss has just been killed; tonight’s final 10 minutes pack fierce emotions. Read more…

Best-bets for Nov.14: On a busy night, Adele reigns

1) “Adele: One Night Only” (shown here), 8:30-10:30 p.m., CBS (but 8-10 p.m. PT). At 33, Adele is already one of the all-time great singers and songwriters. Her first three albums won 15 Grammys; the second is this century’s highest-selling album. Now the fourth – her first new music in six years – goes on sale Friday. In this special — filmed outside the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles — she does some of its songs, plus past hits. She also sits with Oprah Winfrey, discussing her marriage, divorce, weight-loss and raising her son, now 9. Read more…

Best-bets for Nov. 13: holiday flurry & Swift “SNL”

1) “A Picture Perfect Holiday,” 8 p.m., Lifetime. We’re still 12 days from Thanksgiving, but Christmas movies abound. The Hallmark Channel started new ones before Halloween; at 8 p.m. today, it has “My Christmas Family Tree” and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries has “Christmasin My Heart.” Now others jump in. At 7 and 11 p.m. ET, UPtv debuts “A Snowy Christmas.” At 8, Lifetime has Tatyana Ali (shown here) of “Fresh Prince,” as a fashion photographer; on a reluctant vacation, she meets a willdlife photographer. Read more…

Best-bets for Nov. 12: music masters & Disney’s day

1) “Great Performances,” 9-10:15 p.m., PBS. Yes, we know John Williams as the guy whose music propels “Jaws,” “Star Wars,” “Harry Potter” and many more. But he’s also a gifted conductor and classical composer. Williams, 89, conducts the debut of his 32-minute violin concerto for violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter (shown here in a previous concert). They stay for a “Star Wars” love song, then depart; the Boston Symphony carries the rest of a strong musical evening. Read more…

Best-bets for Nov. 11: Agony in war and in peace

1) “Station 19” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” 8 and 9 p.m., ABC. After a two-week break, these dramas are back, big-time: An explosion jolts Seattle, personally affecting people on both shows, especially Dr. Hunt (shown here; see next item). Meanwhile, other stories continue. On “Station 19,” Vic ponders her feelings about Theo and commitment; also, Andy take refuge in Dean’s home. On “Grey’s Anatomy,” Meredith and Amelia – working on their study in Minnesota – get help from a familiar face. Read more…

Best-bets for Nov. 10: Singers (masked or maskless) lead the night

1) Country Music Association awards, 8-11 p.m., ABC. Luke Bryan hosts and performs, in a star-stuffed night. Performing are all five Entertainer of the Year nominees – Eric Church and Chris Stapleton (who lead with five nominations each), Luke Combs and Miranda Lambert (three each) and Carrie Underwood (one). Also performing: Gabby Barrett (shown here, four nominations, including best new artist), Blake Shelton, Jennifer Hudson, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Mickey Guyton, Thomas Rhett and more. Read more…

Best-bets for Nov. 9: Strong “Resident,” iffy fantasies

1) “The Resident,” 8 p.m., Fox. The two-week baseball break was perfectly timed for this show’s transition. It returns by jumping ahead a few years; the widowed Conrad has changed his life, so he can be with his pre-school daughter. Now, at least for a day, he’s back in his old hospital (shown here, right). With one exception (out-of-character behavior for Bell and Austin), it’s a terrific episode. Read more…