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…
1) “Rescue HI-Surf” season-finale, 9 p.m., Fox. On his daughter’s graduation day, Sonny confronts his friend Vince – who’s been dealing drugs from the lifeguard stand. His team, awash in romantic woe, has a bigger task, rescuing snorkelers. It’s a mildly interesting hour, with a party-time finish (shown here). Read more…
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…
1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. Fresh from her Oscar-winning work in the excellent “Anora” (shown here), Mikey Madison has her first turn as host. Country singer Morgan Wallen is the music guest Read more…
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…
