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…
1) Basketball. The college tournament is down to 16 teams and will eliminate four of them tonight. CBS has Alabama and Brigham Young at 7:09 p.m. ET, Arizona and Duke (shown here) at about 9:39. TBS and TruTV have Maryland and Florida at 7:39 and Michigan and Auburn at about 10:09. Read more…
1) “The Conners” (shown here) season-opener, 8 p.m., ABC. It’s the end of a great run that spans 37 years. “Roseanne” thrived from 1988-97, then came back big in 2018. When Roseanne Barr was fired, it changed title and said her character had died. Now a six-episode final season begins. Darlene lands a promotion; her aunt Jackie wants to sue a drug company. Read more…
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…
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…
1) “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light” opener, 9 p.m., PBS. “Wolf Hall” was the potent story of Henry VIII (Damian Lewis, shown here) and Thomas Cromwell (Mark Rylance), an ex-blacksmith who was his fixer. A decade latter, this excellent sequel wraps Cromwell’s story. After executing Anne Boleyn, Henry covets a marriage to Jane Seymour (Kate Phillips). Read more…
1) “The Go-Go’s” (2020), 8-10 p.m., CW. Bursting out of the punk-rock scene, this was unique at the time – an all-female rock band. Its debut album in 1982 hit No. 1 and had the No. 2 single, “We Got the Beat.” The Go-Go’s (shown here) sold seven million records and launched Belinda Carlisle’s solo career. Read more…
1) “Happy’s Place” season-finale, 8 p.m., NBC. This show has ts flaws, due to dumbing down Gabby and Isabella. But it has improved, has been renewed and tonight focuses on two of its best characters, Bobbie and Emmett. Some people push for a romance … which makes sense: The actors (Reba McEntire and Rex Linn, shown here in a previous episode) have been a real-life couple for years. Read more…
1) Basketball. The college tournament gobbles up CBS’ line-up. Today and Friday, that wipes out three soap operas (including the new “Beyond the Gates”) plus, at night, comedies, mysteries and cops. The soaps will be back next week, but the Thursday/Friday primetime shows are off for two weeks. Read more…
1) “Opry 100,” 8-11 p.m., NBC and Peacock. The Grand Ole Opry turns 100 on Nov. 28. Now, a tad early, Blake Shelton hosts a live mega-concert. Performers include Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Clint Black, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Kelsea Ballerini (shown here), Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Jelly Roll, Luke Combs and more. Read more…
