Mike Hughes on TV

1) “The Story of Latenight,” 9 p.m. and midnight ET, CNN. It was almost 60 years ago that TV jumped into the giant, late-night void. After launching “Today,” NBC’s Pat Weaver (Sigourney’s dad) started “Tonight” in 1952. He wanted news and sports; Steve Allen (shown here), the host, preferred comedy, music and talk. The result, one person says, was “chaotic” and “joyous.” When Allen went to prime time, NBC stumbled, then discovered Jack Paar and Johnny Carson … which is where this fun opener ends. Read more…

1) “Tenet” (2020), 8 p.m., HBO. Here’s the film that tried to revive moviegoing. Christoper Nolan (“Inception”) spent $200 million for a time-twisting science-fiction film starring John David Washington (shown here) aimed at big screens. Americans, however, weren’t ready to go back to theaters; it made only $58.5 million here and in Canada, doing better overseas. In the aftermath, other big-budget films were delayed or moved to streaming. “Tenet” did win an Oscar for its special effects and a nomination for its set design. Read more…

1) “MacGyver” series finale (shown here), 8 p.m., CBS. This reboot lasted five seasons (two fewer than the original version), generally doing wel. But the Nielsen ratings dropped 22 percent this year, so Mac won’t be back. Tonight, he and Riley go missing. They wake up in a corn field, with no idea what happened; they must figure out who took them … and how to get nanotrackers out of their bodies. Read more…

1) Football draft, 8-11:30 p.m. ET, ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. As other shows stumble in the ratings, live events get extra attention. This year, ABC will be there for the full ride – the first round tonight (expected to start with Jacksonville choosing Trevor Lawrence, shown here) … the second and third, 7-11:30 p.m. ET Friday … and the final four, noon to 7 p.m. Saturday. Only 224 players will be drafted, but ABC says it has prepared packages on 450 possibilities, with vignettes on 35. It will have 50 cameras in the draft hall, plus others with 40 players and each of the 32 teams. Read more…