Daily Best Bets

Bet-bets for Feb. 17: Austen and all-stars

1) “An American in Austen,” 8-10 p.m.,, Hallmark. Lots of people might imagine being in the world Jane Austen created for her best character, Elizabeth Bennett. In this film, that happens: A modern Austen buff (played by a Canadian actress, shown here, who happens to be named Eliza Bennett) is transported to that era. Also, “Paging Mt. Darcy” (2024), set at an Austen conference, reruns at noon. Read more…

Best-bets for Feb. 16: Dramas return, “Oppenheimer” arrives

1) “Blue Bloods” season-opener, 10 p.m., CBS. This wraps up a packed week, with season-openers for virtually all CBS shows. It’s the final season for “Blue Bloods,” “Young Sheldon” and “Bob (Hearts) Abiishola,” but with a difference: The others will end in May; “Blue Bloods” will pause this summer, then wrap up in the fall. Tonight, Jamie goes undercover in a human-trafficking wing and his dad (Tom Selleck, shown here)m the police commissioner, again battles the mayor. Read more…

Best-bets for Feb. 15: Sheldon leads a surge of openers

1) “Young Sheldon” season-opener, 8 p.m., CBS. Gradually, this has become less about Sheldon and more about his quirky clan. Now that peaks as the final season begins, with Sheldon and his mom in Germany. They bring some good moments, but the best ones are back home, where a tornado flattened his grandmother’s house. Now she’s wedged in (shown here) with the rest of the crowd, including Sheldon’s dad, siblings, baby niece and more. Read more…

Best-bets for Feb. 14: Spend Valentine’s with a designer, an alien and a sea monster

1) “Resident Alien” season-opener, 10 p.m., Syfy and USA Network. This gem is finally back, with its blend of solid scii-fi and goofy humor. Sent to destroy all humans, an alien killed the local doctor, took his body … then decided he might like people. Now some of them know his secret, one boy can see his real form (shown here) … and a more-evil alien is in town. The result, as usual, is an odd delight. Read more…

Best-bets for Feb. 13: “La Brea” ends, “Leap” leaps on

1) “La Brea” series-finale, 9 p.m., NBC. A wild and bizarre tale (shown here in a previous episode) concludes with a lot to settle. Last week, Levi was killed by soldiers; also, Maya grabbed the chip – which might propel the deadly military project that created this trouble. Now the answers seem to be in the year 1965, Gavin heads there with his daughter, his niece and Sam … whose daughter may be captive with Gavin’s wife and son. Read more…

Best-bets for Feb. 12: new shows on CBS, old greats on PBS

1) “Gospel,” 9-11 p.m. today and Tuesday, PBS. Henry Louis Gates goes back to the start of a splendid artform. We see the preachers (including Aretha Franklin’s father) with a rich musicality and the singers with a message. He introduces the early masters — writer Thomas Dorsey, singer Mahalia Jackson (shown here), etc. — and, on Tuesday, modern forces who merge rock, gospel and show-biz flair. Read more…

Best-bets for Feb. 11: It’s a super Sunday

1) Super Bowl, 6:30 p.m. ET, CBS. For the fourth time in five years, the Kansas City Chiefs are here. They’ve won two of those and their stars (Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce) fill pop culture. Now they face the San Francisco 49ers (shown here), in a year that had no dominant teams. In the regular season, the Chiefs were 11-6; the 49ers were 12-5, then needed two come-from-behind wins in the playoffs. Read more…

Best-bets for Feb. 10: soulful surge, plus Oscar films

1) “Super Bowl Soulful Celebration,” 8 p.m., CBS. We’re in a stretch that soars with gospel music. On Friday, Erica Campbell co-hosted a PBS concert; now she links with her sister, in the gospel duo Mary Mary. There’s also a chorus of pro football players, plus R&B and pop (Earth, Wind & Fire, Robin Thicke) and Kirk Franklin (shown here), who will be featured in a PBS gospel documentary, Monday and Tuesday. Read more…

Best-bets for Feb. 9: gospel surge starts, “Transplant” ends

1) “Gospel Live,” 9 p.m., PBS. Over five days, we’ll hear spectacular voices do stirring songs. Henry Louis Gates co-hosts this concert, with great moments from Shelea, Erica Campbell (shown here), John Legend and more. He also has a terrific gospel documentary Monday and Tuesday. In between, CBS has “Super Bowl Soulful Celebration” at 8 p.m. Saturday and Andra Day before the Super Bowl on Sunday. Read more…