1) “The Voice,” 8 p.m., NBC. The show slated its first social-distance episode for Monday: After naming which of four people (includings before the finale. Nelson Cade III, shown here) would get the 17th and final spot, it had them all perform, with viewers voting. Here’s the results show, just two weeks. Read more…
1) “All Rise,” 9 p.m., CBS. Consider this a grand experiment, flawed but fascinating, For the first time, a major network drama has made a full social-distance hour. Judge Carmichal (Simone Missick, shown here) is preparing her first virtual trial, with two of her friends (Mark and Emily) as prosecutor and defense attorney; Judge Benner supervises … while learning to cook. We see the whole thing via video chats, sometimes punctuated by a mellow Los Angeles disc jockey. The whole thing is shot at the actors’ homes, then edited cleverly. The people parts are great; the virtual-courtroom parts are an illogical mess. Experiments are like that. Read more…
1) “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” season-finale, 9 p.m., NBC. This has been a splendid anomaly. The concept – Zoey (Jane Levy, shown here) hears people’s thoughts via pop songs – seems silly; piled on top are a romantic triangle, a dying dad and workplace intrigue. But for some people (including me), this is wondrous, bursting with originality, glowing colors, bright sounds and endless likability. That peaks with tonight’s final number – seven minutes, one continuous shot, perfectly crafted. “Zoey” is truly extraordinary. Read more…
1) “Kids Choice Awards,” 8 p.m., Nickelodeon. Other award shows have been postponed, but this goes ahead in a social-distancing way, with the sub-title, “Celebrate Together.” Victoria Justice (shown here) will host, Asher Angel will sing “All Day” and LeBron James will get the Generation Change Award. Guests – presumably long-distance – will include Dwayne Johnson, Ariana Grande, BTS, Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes, Ellen DeGeneres, Lil Nas X, Ellen DeGeneres and the cast of “Avengers: Endgame.” Read more…
1) “Blue Bloods” season-finale, 10 p.m., CBS. With coronavirus shutdowns, CBS’ strong Friday season is ending early. Next week, “Magnum” and “MacGyver” conclude; tonight – three episodes sooner than usual – it’s “Blue Bloods,” with a three-generation tale. Sean, 16, tracks a DNA report of a mysterious relative. His father Danny, a police detective, probes the murder of a witness. The police commissioner (Tom Selleck, shown here) — who ia Danny’s father and Sean’s grandfather — gets a woman’s request that her son get safer duty. Read more…
1) “Council of Dads” return, 9 p.m., NBC. After a grim prognosis, a man asked three friends to help raise his three kids if he died; he did. That was in the opener, which followed the “This Is Us” season-finale. Now that episode reruns at 8 p.m., leading to the secis ond one, another good one. One “dad” tries too hard, another doesn’t try hard enough, the third feels guilty. Also, the widow (Sarah Wayne Callies, shown here) feel overwhelmed and the eldest daughter has married and plans to move to New York City. Stick around; there’s a sharp plot twist at the end. Read more…
1) “What We Do In the Shadows,” 10 p.m., FX. Guillermo (the terrific Harvey Guillen, shown here) once seemed gentle and harmless, the mild aide (called a “familiar”) to do-nothing vampires in Staten Island. Then he learned he’s descended from vampire-hunters; now he uses his skills to protect his masters. Tonight, he infiltrates a vampire-hunter club. The result isn’t for everyone, but many people will consider this an odd delight. Read more…
1) “Secrets of the Dead” return, 8 p.m., PBS. The Notre-Dame cathedral (shown here) in Paris has had a huge role in fiction and fact. The hunchback hid there; it’s held the funerals of presidents and the coronation of Napoleon. When it burned a year ago, the rebuilding task seemed overwhelming. Still, this terrific film shows that it’s been constantly renewed. Construction started in 1160 and took a century; a 20-year remodeling began in 1844. Details – from flying buttresses to gargoyles – were added gradually. Read more…
1) “The Voice,” 8-10 p.m, NBC. This is a perfect time to catch up, as the show prepares for its detour. It had taped its episodes early, trimming to 17 contestants (including Arei Moon, shown here). But that was before the coronavirus was forcing shows to shut down or use social-distancing. Now “Voice” pauses to show what’s happened so far. Next week, the three-week finals will have music from home, “American Idol” style. Read more…
1) “Homeland” series-finale and “Penny Dreadful” debut, 9 and 10:10 p.m., Showtime. One of the all-time great series concludes. Carrie (the superb Claire Danes, shown here in a previous episode) returns to Afghanistan, trying to revive the peace treaty. That’s followed by a stylishly filmed tale set in 1938 Los Angeles, complete with Nazis, old Hollywood, radio evangelism and the demons of Mexican folklore. That last part is an odd but interesting detour from a strong drama, with the terrific casting of Nathan Lane as a crusty cop. Read more…
