Daily Best Bets

1) “Country Music,” 8 p.m. (rerunning at 10), PBS. When Johnny Cash (shown here) left the Air Force, he had no clear plan. He was an Arkansas guy, newly married to a Texan he’d met during training. After moving to Memphis, where his brother lived, he was a bad salesman and an aspiring musician. He learned from a black bluesman and eventually met Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and more. That story – plus others, including the rise of Patsy Cline – wraps up the first half of Ken Burns’ brilliant, two-week series. Read more…

1) “America’s Got Talent” finals, 8-10:01 p.m., NBC. The 10 finalists get one more chance to impress us. Then viewers vote; on Wednesday, the show will have its 14th champion. There are lots of singers – Kodi Lee, Emanne Beasha and Benicio Bryant, plus the Detroit Youth Choir (shown here), the Ndlovu Youth Choir and Voices of Service. But there’s also variety — comedian Ryan Niemiller, violinist Tyler Butler-Figuera and two dance groups, the acrobatic V.Unbeatable and the light-up Light Balance Kids. Read more…

1) “So You Think You Can Dance” finale, 8-10 p.m., Fox. As usual, this started with a rich blend of genres, from tap and ballroom to salsa and hip-hop. And as usual, contemporary dancers fill most of the final four. There are three – Sophie Pittman and Mariah Russell, from Tennessee, and Gino Cosculluela from Miami. The lone exception is Bailey Munoz, who’s a “b-boy” or breakdancer from Las Vegas. Read more…

1) “Country Music,” 8 p.m., PBS, rerunning at 10. Over eight nights and 16-plus hours, Ken Burns’ brilliant documentary will watch country music transform, while scrambling to keep its roots. The later chapters will include lots of first-person stories and TV clips; this opener, however, settles for old photos, second-hand accounts and great narration. In 1927, a New York producer set up recording sessions in Bristol, Tenn; Jimmie Rodgers (shown here) and the Carter family came, giving country a great start. Read more…

1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. John Mulaney (shown here was an “SNL” writer for five years, best-known for molding Bill Hader’s hilarious Stefon. He returned when Bill Hader hosted, to write more Stefon. Mulaney’s been busy lately with everything from acting to stand-up to (for a year) his own situation comedy. Here’s a rerun of his second turn as host, with Thomas Rhett as music guest. Read more…

1) “American Masters,” 9 p.m., PBS. These days, people keep seeing (and re-seeing) Raul Julia in the two “Addams Family” (shown here) films. But that was just part of a wide-ranging career. Julia arrived from Puerto Rico at 24, ready for Shakespeare and Broadway and talk shows and more. Before his death (at 54, of a stroke after intestinal troubles) he also did passionate roles as Latino activists. Here’s a fond portrait. Read more…

1) “Mr. Inbetween” season-opener, 10 p.m., FX, rerunning at 11. Ray is your average bloke — a caring father, a friend who will help you hide your porn or dispose of a body. He’s also a skilled hit man, which is important tonight (shown here), when he’s asked to check up on two less-skilled guys. There’s a droll feeling here that makes the show fun even when nothing happens; then … well, something happens. That’s followed by a rerun that reminds us to always check the trunk before stealing a car. Read more…

1) “Snowfall” season-finale, 10 p.m., FX, rerunning at 11. The last two weeks have delivered fierce jolts. First, Franklin killed Andre, the honest neighborhood cop. Then Melody – Andre’s daughter, Franklin’s former girlfriend – shot Franklin three times, leaving him for dead. Will he survive? Where does the show go from here? Viewers will have to wait until the final minutes to find out. Much of this hour – frustrating, yet fascinating – is a “what if” detour. Then key questions are answered. Read more…

1) “Bring the Funny” finale, 10:01 p.m., NBC. This started with 40 acts – stand-up comedians, sketch groups, even offbeat “variety acts.” Now it has a final five going for $250,000. One, announced tonight, is the “save” by viewers’ vote; the others are two stand-ups (Taccara Williams, shown here, and Ali Siddiq), plus a sketch act (The Chris & Paul Show) and a musical singing trio called Lewberger. Read more…

1) “The Big Bang Theory,” 9:30 p.m., CBS. Some great shows — “Seinfeld” and “Sopranos” and such – have had so-so finals, but not this time. TV’s best comedy departed with wit, warmth and more. Here’s the first half (shown here), with Sheldon and Amy nervously awaiting Nobel news; the rest is next week.. Read more…