Mike Hughes on TV

1) “Genius: Aretha,” opener, 9 and 10:08 p.m. Sunday, National Geographic; rerunning at 11:05 p.m. and 12:12 a.m. Few humans could match the awesome range and talent of Aretha Franklin. Cynthia Erivo (shown here) can. In these first two hours (of a four-night, eight-hour run), she ranges from gospel and soul to jazz and a gripping ballad. She’s also a gifted actress, in a story that bounces between Franklin’s youth and early career, but has a sameness – type-A guys (her dad and her husband) intruding on greatness. Read more…

1) “Kids Choice Awards, 7:30-9 p.m., Nickelodeon, rerunning at 9:30. Kenan Thompson hosts and Justin Bieber (shown here) performs – a year later than expected. Bieber was scheduled for last year, until the show was delayed two months and done virtually. This one will also be virtual, but he’ll sing “Anyone” and (with Quavo) “Intentions.” His wife Hailey will appear; so will Kim Kardashian, Lin-Mamuel Miranda, Gal Gadot, BTS, Millie Bobby Brown, Anthony Anderson, Jennifer Garner, Tiffany Haddish and more. Read more…

1) The Maltese Falcon” (1941), “Casablanca” (1942) and “Citizen Kane” (1941), 8 p.m., 10 p.m. and midnight ET, Turner Classic Movies. A great era im filmmaking is celebrated here.. Each movie was shot stylishly in black-and-white, with a smart script and strong characters. Humphrey Bogart stars in the first two; Orson Welles stars in “Kane,” which he also directed. The American Film Institute puts it No. 1 on its all-time list, with “Casablanca” No. 3 and “Maltese Falcon” No. 31. Read more…

1) “Coronaversary.” It was a year ago today that the World Health Organization declared a pandemic. Now Joe Biden plans a speech at 8 p.m. ET; in Eastern and Central time zones, the networks will nudge their schedules back 20-30 minutes. That’s on a big night for ABC (shown here), when its dramas return. And a “Jimmy Kimmel Live: Coronaversary Show” is set for about 11:55 p.m. ET on ABC. Pete Buttigieg, who guest-hosted the show a year ago, will be there, with Kimmel, Joel McHale and music guest Adam Duritz. Read more…

1) “Chicago P.D.,” 10 p.m., NBC. Easily the best of NBC’s three Chicago dramas, “P.D.” sometimes surprises us with a great episode. It did that at the end of last season, when Atwater (LaRoyce Hawkins, shownhere) reported on a bad cop; now it finds a way to isolate him with Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger) and a White cop arrested for shooting a Black student. Here are the show’s best characters – one Black, one White, both fiercely honest but with differing perspectives. The result is beautifully written and acted. Read more…

1) “New Amsterdam,” 10 p.m., NBC. Last week’s season-opener took us to a post-pandemic time, with remnants of the tragedy. Now Dr. Kapoor (shown here with Max in a previous episode) lingers near death, while Elia (his son’s ex-girlfriend) nears the birth of her baby and his grandchild. Meanwhile, Iggy bares his pain and Max’s opioid rules have backfired. It’s a busy – sometimes too busy – hour that stumbles, but ends with steong emotions. Read more…

1) “Snowpiercer,” 9 p.m., TNT, rerunning at 10. Most humans have already been killed by the bitter cold. Now the few survivors – on a thousand-plus-car train – have added to the toll; Till and Layton (shown here in a previous episode) investigate the latest murders. This hour is dark and downbeat – even for an apocalyptic thriller – but sharply crafted. It also finds people worrying about Miss Audrey: Ostensibly on a date with Mr. Wilford, she planned to plant a listening device. Now she hasn’t returned. Read more…