Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for April 2: compelling look at dark day

1) “Oklahoma City Bombing,” 8-11 p.m., National Geographic. As the 30th anniversary (April 19) nears, here’s a compelling look at the bombing (shown here) that took 168 lives. We meet a woman who was pinned for six hours, another who lost two young sons, a man who fought his way out. We see the coverage, the capture, the quietly taut emotions of Oklahoma people. Read more…

Best-bets for April 1: Liza and lots of dramas

1) “Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story” (2024), 9-11 p.m., PBS. A fascinating life is recounted in this film, which was a hit in New York movie theaters. Liza Minnelli (shown here), 78, has soared (an Oscar, an Emmy, three Tonys an honorary Grammy) and crashed (four divorces, alcoholism, drugs). She recounts it all with optimism, amid a flurry of clips Read more…

Best-bets for March 30: Bart’s back; basketball booms

1) “The Simpsons” return, 8 p.m., Fox. For 31 years, “Simpsons” has been a Sunday staple. So it was a jolt, when Fox actually rested it. After six sad, Homer-less weeks, it’s back; Bart becomes a celebrity DJ (shown here) and Homer pushes Ned Flanders too far. “Family Guy” slides to 8:30, “Great North and “Krapopolis” stay at 9 and 9:30 and “Grimsburg” rests. Read more…

Best-bets for March 28: greatness on ice and in concert

1) “Jacqueline du Pre: Genius and Tragedy,” 9 p.m., PBS. At 17, du Pre (shown here) burst onto the music scene. “She was simple, she was caring, she was smiling,” conductor Zubin Mehta says here. Friends called her “Smiley”; others called her the “golden girl.” Then multiple sclerosis ended her cello-playing at 28. This is a superb profile, filled with great music Read more…

Best-bets for March 25: silly Schmo, serious protest

1) “The Joe Schmo Show” finale, 9 p.m., TBS. This has been a grand spoof – a fake reality show, with lots of actors and a real guy who isn’t in on the joke. And it’s been better than expected, because the guy (Ben from Baltimore, shown here) is open and likable. Now he’s competing with his best friend on the show, for $100,000. The result combines humor and warmth. Read more…

Best-bets for March 24: “Bachelor” ends, “Origins” returns

1) “The Bachelor” finale, 8-11 p.m., ABC. It’s time for Grant Ellis, 30, to make his decision. Ellis, a day trader, has gone from 25 women to two – Litia Garr (shown here with Ellis), 31, a venture capitalist; and Juliana Pasquarosa, 28, who’s in client services. Now they’re in the Dominican Republic, where he briefly played pro basketball; his parents visit and he makes his choice. Read more…