1) “The Paper,” 8:30 p.m., NBC. In last week’s opener, Ned took over a sagging Toledo newspaper, planning to slowly nudge along its makeshift staff. Now Esmeralda sabotages that by canceling the wire services; these novices (shown here with Ned) must learn quickly. It’s a funny start for the show, which has already streamed on Peacock. Read more…
(Here are the five TV best-bets for Sunday, Nov. 16; feel free to use in any form — all or some, print and/or web)
1) “The American Revolution” opener, 8 p.m. PBS; repeats at 10. Ken Burns’ masterful film opens with 13 colonies having little in common — until they’re linked by a hatred of British taxes. This first (of six) chapters takes us through Lexington, Concord and the siege of Boston. Some Englishmen expected a quick, easy war; it would take eight brutal years. Read more…
1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. Glen Powell hosts, with his career in overdrive. His “Running Man” action film opened Friday in theaters — where he scored with “Twisters” and (shown here) “Anyone But You.” He also has the Hulu comedy series “Chad Powers” and the Netflix drama “Hit Man.” Olivia Dean is tonight’s music guest. Read more…
1) “Stumble,” 8:30 p.m., NBC. In last week’s opener, an intense cheer-team coach (Jenn Lyon) was fired from Sammy Davis Senior Junior College, where her husband is the football coach. She went to a nearby school and assembled a makeshift team, which collapsed (literally). Now (shown here), she shares a media event with her old school. Sight gags — some of them quite funny — abound. Read more…
1) Elsbeth,” 10 p.m.. CBS. Tony Hale, a familiar chump on “Arrested Deveolpment and (with two Emmys) “Veep,” plays a tech billionaire who frets about an uprising of the masses. He builds a home bunker … then finds nasty uses. Elsbeth (shown here with her police colleagues) probes the case, in a fairly good episode that also sees her deal with the widow of her nemesis, Judge Crawford. Read more…
1) “The Golden Bachelor” finale, 8-10 p.m., ABC. In pro football, Mel Owens was a 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker. He was a starter for six of his nine seasons and an honorable-mention All-Pro. Now he’s a lawyer, 66, choosing between two retirees: Cindy Cullers (shown here, center), 60, was a biomedical engineer; Peg Munson (ri8ght), 62, was a firefighter and a bomb tech. Read more…
1) “NCIS: Origins” and “NCIS,” 8 and 9 p.m., CBS. Put these together and you have a compelling, movie-length tale. The first hour (starting with Mark Harmon as the old Gibbs) takes the team to a small town (shown here) for quick twists, fierce action and a so-so finish. The second makes up for that, brilliantly bridging past and present, with a smart story, dabs of humor and deep pools of emotion Read more…
1) “The Paper,” 8:30 p.m., NBC. Twelve years after “The “Office” ended, the fun resumes. The company was sold to a Toledo firm, which has an awful newspaper (shown here). With much idealism and no experience, Ned takes over the paper. Some episodes (already on Peacock) paint him as too foolish, in the Michael Scott mold. This opener, however, is a delight. Read more…
1) “Maigret” season-finale, 9 p.m., PBS. In fiction, crimesolvers tend to live alone; Maigret is a pleasant exceptioon. His wife (played with subtle perfection by Stefanie Martini, shown here) is a psychiatric nurse and a positive force. Now she plays a key role in the compelling end to this two-week story. Read more…
1) “I Am Chris Farley” (2015), 8-10 p.m., CW. Farley was compared to one of his comedy idols, John Belushi. They were large men and gifted comedy actors, creating memorable characters. Both starred on “Saturday Night Live” for five years; both died of a drug overdose at 33. Farley created memorable characters, including his overwrought life coach, shown here. Fired from “SNL,” he was building a movie career; here’s a profile. Read more…
