1) “Dancing With the Stars” finale, 8-11 p.m.,, ABC and Disney+. Five people remain, ranging from conservationist Robert Irwin, 21, (shown here with Witney Carson) to actress Elaine Hendrix, 53. Others are gold-medal gymnast Jordan Chiles and TikTok star Alix Earle, both 24; and Dylan Efron, 33, who does YouTube adventures with his brother Zac. One will be the 34th champion. Read more…
1) “Everybody Loves Raymond” reunion, 8-9:30 p.m. today, CBS. It’s time to celebrate one of TV’s great shows. Over its nine seasons, “Raymond” drew seven best-comedy Emmy nominations, winning twice. Now its 30th anniversary will be celebrated with clips, tributes to the late Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle, and a reunion of the other stars, including Ray Romano and Brad Garrett. They’re shown here, with the latter overshadowed, as usual. Read more…
1) “The Great Escaper” (2023), 9 p.m., PBS. Always a neatly understated actor, Michael Caine, now 92, has a role that fits perfectly. It’s a quietly moving (and true) story of a vet, turning 90 as time neared for the 70th anniversary of D-Day. Glenda Jackson, who died at 87 in the year this movie debuted, is excellent as his wife; they’re shown here. Read more…
1) “Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story,” 8-10 p.m., Hallmark. Last year, Hallmark scored with a love story set among Kansas City Chiefs fans. Now we meet adamant Buffalo Bills fans. Morgan and Gabe (shown here) don’t seem to realize they should be a couple. Then she learns that a mysterious benefactor helped her uncle (Joe Pantoliano) long ago. The Bills help her search. Read more…
1) “The American Revolution” finale, 8 p.m., PBS, rerunning at 10:11. Both sides had thought a British victory was inevitable. Now life flips: Washington makes false documents, saying he’ll attack New York; then he lets them be stolen. Instead, he marches South, joining the French navy to trap the enemy and (depicted here) triumph. Soon, an epic war — and a brilliant Ken Burns documentary — conclude. Read more…
1) “9-1-1: Nashville,” 8-11 p.m., ABC. The Thursday dramas are resting; they’ll be back, with new episodes, on Jan. 8. For tonight, we can catch up on this show’s first three episodes. The opener has a tornado threatening a country-music festival. The second sees the storm batter a water tower; the third has a child in a trailer, hanging off a bridge. LeAnn Rimes (shown here) co-stars as a struggling country-music singer. Read more…
1) CMA Awards, 8-11 p.m., ABC. There are familiar stars here, including Lainey Wilson (who hosts), Kelsea Ballerini (shown here), Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert and Kenny Chesney. But there are also new-artist nominees — Stephen Wilson Jr. (alone and with Shaboozey) and Trent Wetmore. And Luke Combs links with rapper BigXthaPlug. Read more…
1) “Murder in a Small Town,” 8 p.m., Fox. Beautifully directed by Amanda Tapping (the “Stargate” star), this is as gorgeous visually as it is nasty emotionally. Short on sleep, Sid crashed his police car into a woods; Karl (left, the police chief), fresh from an argument with Cassandra, is in Seattle to confront the artist/serial killer (center) he arrested. The rest is grimly compelling. Read more…
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…
