Daily Best Bets

1) “Country Music: Live at the Ryman,” 8-10 p.m., PBS. Next Sunday, Ken Burns’ brilliant “Country Music” begins. First, here’s a great concert — country’s best songs, done superbly. Many are jet-paced: Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Vince Gill and other gifted instrumentalists go high-octane. But there are also ballads, sung with heartbreaking passion – a Johnny Cash one by his daughter Roseanne … a Hank Williams one by his granddaughter Holly (shown here in a previous concert) … “Crazy,” sung with stunning power by Rhiannon Giddens. Read more…

1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. As a first-time host, Halsey reflected on when she was a Jersey girl named Ashley Frangipane, watching “SNL” every week. Now, at 24, she’s a mono-named star – and an impressive one. As music guest(shown here) in this rerun, Halsey had some Gaga-esque moments, offering visual and vocal splendor. And as host, she blended into sketches well. It was a night that had a so-so start, then soared, including some clever satires of politicians with blackface pasts. Read more…

1) “Live From Lincoln Center,” 9-10:30 p.m., PBS. OK, this isn’t live AND it isn’t from the Lincoln Center; other than that, the title is quite accurate. We follow the Chamber Music Society, as it visits and performs in iconic Greek settings (shown here). Classical pieces flow from the Ancient Amphitheater of Larissa, the Church of the Taxiarchon in Pelion and more. Read more…

1) Pro football season-opener, 8:20 p.m. ET , NBC. In 1920, the Decatur Staleys were 10-1-2, almost becoming the first champions of what’s now the National Fooball League. They became champs the next year … then changed their name to the Chicago Bears. The ’21 season was also when the Green Bay Packers joined, creating a fierce rivalry. Now the NFL’s 100th season begins with the 199th game between them. The Packers (led by Aaron Rodgers, shown here) lead 97-95-6, but the Bears, who host, are coming off a 12-4 season. Read more…

1) “MasterChef,” 8 p.m., Fox. Two weeks from its finale, this is down to the final six home chefs. There are four men, ranging from Nick DiGiovanni, 22, to Subha Ramiah (shown here), 54, and two women – a stay-at-home mom (Shari Mukherjee, 34) and a former Army interrogator (Sarah Faherty, 31). Now — in the show’s first global episode – they’re flown to Gordon Ramsay’s flagship restaurant in London, where they serve 36 guests, including his family. Read more…

1) “Mayans M.C.” season-opener, 10 p.m. FX. Three weeks before the big networks start their season, one of the most popular cable shows is back. It’s tough, taut and often brutal (especially tonight); it also has complex characters with sparse words and deep layers of emotion. At the core is EZ Reyes (JD Pardo), a probationary member of the motorcycle club; his brother hates him and his father (Edward Olmos, shown here with Pardo) has dark secrets. Meanwhile, the feds try to wipe out the rebel leader … unaware she has a deal with the cartel. Read more…

1) “The Big Bang Theory,” 8:30 p.m., CBS. Next week, “Big Bang” starts rerunning its terrific, one-hour finale over two Mondays. To set that up, here’s an excellent rerun that highlights supporting characters: Leonard ‘s mom (Christine Baranski) visits, seeming suspiciously warm and nice. Also, Stuart (shown here with Denise) has finally overstayed his welcome at the home of Howard and Bernadette. Read more…

1) “Mrs. Wilson,” 8-11 p.m., PBS (check local listings). Ruth Wilson (shown here) has been terrific in lots of fictional tales, including “Luther” and “The Affair.” But she also found this true story in her own family: Alexander Wilson, her grandfather, wrote 24 spy novels and more. He was a professor, a porter and an officer in the MI6 spy service. But when he died, his widow found multiple wives, children, identities and lies. It’s a fascinating story, rerunning here, with Wilson subtly perfect as her stunned grandmother. Read more…

1) Football, ABC and beyond. It’s the first full day of the college season, so let’s get used to it. From now on, Saturdays will be stuffed with football. ABC has a tripleheader — Mississippi at Memphis at noon ET, second-ranked Alabama hosting Duke at 3:30 p.m. and then perhaps the day’s best match-up, with Oregon (ranked No. 11, shown here with quarterback Justin Herbert) at Auburn (No. 16) at 7:30. Fox has Ohio State (No. 5) hosting Florida Atlantic at noon ET and Stanford (No. 25) hosting Northwestern at 4; cable has much more. Read more…

1) “Big Family: The Story of Bluegrass Music,” 9-11 p.m., PBS. In two weeks, PBS will launch “Country Music,” a brilliant Ken Burns film sprawling over eight nights and 16 hours. Consider this a prequel. It’s not as tightly crafted as a Burns film, but it offers a deep and detailed look at a homemade sound that keeps adding layers. “It’s a huge, powerful sound,” says Darroll Anger, a music professor. It brings “explosive creativity,” says Chris Thile (shown here), a musician. And it’s done by genial, downhome folks. Read more…