Weekly Previews

1) “The Irrational” debut, 10 p.m. today, NBC. New dramas – scripted ones, on broadcast networks – are rare these days. But this one, which began filming before the strikes, starts well. Jesse L. Martin (shown here) plays a guy who survived a tragedy, then became a behavioral science professor, working with the police. The opening scene is a gem; the case that follows is quite good. Next week’s hour is so-so, but the third bounces back. We’ll keep watching Read more…

1) “Academy of Country Music Honors,” 8-10 p.m. today, Fox. A Black-and-Brown night honors veterans – Clint Black (shown here), Charlie Daniels, Tim McGraw, Mary Chapin Carpenter – and newer arrivals, Kane Brown, Chris Stapleton and Breland. Carly Pearce hosts; the packed line-up has Keith Urban, Lady A, Lee Brice, Trisha Yearwood, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sara Evans, Priscilla Block, Chris Janson, Anne Wilson, Jordan Davis and The War and Treaty. Read more…

1) “Yellowstone opener,” 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday, CBS. Five years ago, a wobbly cable channel, formerly The Nashville Network and Spike, became the Paramount Network. Most of its shows failed, with a splendid exception. Written and produced by Taylor Sheridan and starring Kevin Costner (shown here), it’s a modern western, with taut dialog and strong characters. Ratings soared; now CBS (also owned by Paramount) will rerun the entire series, from the start. Read more…

1) Pro football season-opener, 8:15 p.m. ET Thursday and Sunday, NBC. At a time when strikes have halted many shows, football is likely to dominate. Each year’s opener includes the Super Bowl champ; that’s Patrick Mahomes (shown here) and the Kansas City Chiefs, hosting the Detroit Lions, who were 9-8 last season. The pre-game fuss starts at 7. On Sunday, it will be the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants at night … and a flood of CBS and Fox games in the afternoon. Read more…

1) Mysteries, 8-11 p.m. Sunday, PBS. We could call this the start of the fall season; three well-crafted shows return for six-week seasons “Unforgotten” (9 p.m.) uses all six weeks for one murder case – and a dilly. In the opener, the new inspector (shown here) arrives on what’s already the worst day of her life. “Van der Valk” (10) has three two-part stories; the first is tangled and intriguing. “Professor T” (8) has a new story each week, with an enigmatic criminologist. Read more…

1) “Riverdale” finale, 9 p.m. Wednesday, CW. A fun tradition ends. For decades, CW has been the home of shows based on superheroes or other youth-culture folks. Now, under new owners, that mostly stops with “Riverdale.” This season, Archie and pals jumped to the ‘50s, then returned to now with their memories wiped. It’s been an odd show, but Lili Reinhart has been excellent as Betty (shown here with Veronica). In this finale, she’s 86 and want to relive the final day of her senior year. Read more…

1) “Stand Up to Cancer,” 8 p.m. Saturday, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and more. Every two years, forces combine for comedy sketches and talks, raising millions for cancer research. This show, the eighth, comes during the writers’ and actors’ strikes, so it will rerun sketches with Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Melissa McCarthy Bill Hader and more. It also reruns music by The Who, Brittany Howard and (shown here) the widow of Chadwick Boseman, who died of cancer at 43. Read more…

1) “The Challenge: USA” opener, 10 p.m., Thursday and 9 p.m. Sunday, CBS. Here’s the final piece in CBS’ August surge. “Big Brother” leads into this show on Thursdays and for three Sundays, and into “Superfan” on Wednesdays; also, “Secret Celebrity Renovations” is 8 p.m. Fridays. “Challenge” (shown here in a previous season) takes 24 reality-show alumni to Croatia. Nine started on “Big Brother” and seven on “Survivor,” including winners Michele Fitzgerald and Chris Underwood. Read more…

1) “Big Brother” opener, 8-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, CBS. This is the week CBS has been pointing to. As strikes loomed, it delayed four summer reality shows until August. That lets them sprawl deep into the fall season, where they’ll be joined by several more. For now, “Big Brother” (shown here with Julie Chen) is at 8 p.m. Wednesdays, 9 p.m. Thursdays and 8 p.m. Sundays; this fall (with Survivor” and “Amazing Race” on Wednesdays), it’s 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 p.m. Sundays.
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1) “Dark Winds” season-opener, 9 p.m. Sunday, AMC. Under his stoic exterior, police Lt. Joe Leaphorn (shown here) has deep layers of emotion. A mining explosion killed his son – his only child, because many Navajo women (including his wife, now a nurse) were sterilized after giving birth. Now he has a case that may be linked to the explosion. Like the first season, this is a six-week story, beautifully crafted, with understated perfection from Zahn McClarnon as Joe. Read more…