1) “Nature,” 8 p.m., PBS. Her name is “Grizzly 399” and her following is huge. She’s “the most famous bear that ever lived,” we’re told, using humans in the Grand Tetons National Park to shield her cubs from predatora. At about 24, she had quadruplets, which are rare; at 27 (a year past the average life span), she had her 23rd cub. It’s a remarkable story, often told through Tom Magnesen, the ace photographer who took this photo. Read more…
1) “The Good Doctor,” 10 p.m., ABC. Only three episodes remain in this seventh and final season. Now a young patient needs a medical procedure, but his parents can’t agree. That challenges three doctors, two (Shaun and Charlie, shown here on the right) on the autism spectrum. Read more…
1) “NCIS” season-finale, 9 p.m., CBS. Probing the innards of a ship (shown here), the team finds three bodies. When Parker and Knight (Gary Cole and Katrina Law) investigate, thay’re trapped inside, as it’s about to be sunk. We’re betting they survive; “NCIS” seems unsinkable. It will be back next season, its 22nd; it will be joined then by a prequel (Mark Harmon narrating Gibbs’ early adventures) and by “NCIS: Sydney.” Read more…
1) “Parish” season-finale, 9 p.m., AMC, repeating at 10. A great story has an ending that’s merely semi-great. Gray Parish (Giancarlo Esposito, shown here) is a former getaway driver with conflicting goals – revenge his son’s death or withdraw from the crime world, to preserve the rest of his family. Now those collide. The finale is well-crafted and high-octane, yet feels out-of-sync with what preceded it. Read more…
1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC, In a 32-episode stretch, only Bad Bunny has doubled as host and music guest. Now Dua Lipa (shown here) does. Also, “Weekend Update” could be interesting. We’ll see if Colin Jost or Michael Che have comments about Jost’s uneven (but often funny) turn at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. Read more…
1) “Unfrosted,” Netflix. In the 26 years since his show ended, Jerry Seinfeld has avoided long-form projects. One exception was “The Bee Movie,” an animated film he co-wrote and voiced. Now he co-wrote and directed this film, about (really) the race to be create Pop-Tarts. He stars, alongside Melissa McCarthy (they’re shown here), Jim Gaffigan Amy Schumer, Jack McBrayer, Dan Levy, Hugh Grant and more. Read more…
1) “Ghosts” season-finale, 8:30 p.m., CBS. This s something Isaac wouldn’t have believed during his lifetime, 250 years ago: He’s marrying another man … who was a British officer … whom he killed during the Revolutionary War. (They’re shown here, in a previous episode.) Now the wedding is complicated by an unexpected guest, wrapping up a 10-episode, post-strike season. Read more…
1) “Jeopardy Masters” opener, 8-9 p.m., ABC. In nine hours, spread over four weeks, top players will compete. James Holzhauer (shown here with host Ken Jennings), Amy Schneider, Matt Amodio, Mattea Roach, Victoria Groce and Yogesh Raut are involved. That takes the next four Wednesdays (nudging “The Conners” to 9:30), plus three Mondays and two Fridays. Read more…
1) “The Veil” opener, Hulu. This starts with a bleak, barren stretch of snow. In a refugee camp in Turkey, a woman is suspected of being a lethal ISIS leader. Now a spy has arrived. We don’t know her real name or her mission; she doesn’t know what to think of the suspect. What emerges are tautly written moments for two gifted people, Elisabeth Moss (shown here) and Lebanese actress Yumna Marwan. Read more…
1) “Bob (Hearts) Abishola,” 8:30 p.m., CBS. Gina Yashere has been key to this deceptively clever show. Her character (Kemi) is mostly just brash and bold, but Yashere also co-created and co-produces “Bob,” molding the contrast between casual Midwesterners and blunt Nigerians. Now it’s time for Kemi’s Las Vegas wedding (shown here). A week later – way too soon – the fifth and final season ends. Read more…
