Working for Oprah has its benefits

There’s an added benefit to doing an Oprah Winfrey Network show: You might meet Oprah Winfrey.
Well, maybe not a three-dimensional, in-person Oprah, during this social-distancing era. But there’s her image, talking to you on your computer screen.
“It was like some angel landed in the Zoom,” said Maahra Hill (shown here), who has the title role in “Delilah,” at 9 p.m. Tuesdays (starting March 9) on OWN.
Jill Marie Jones, who co-stars, recalled the first such Zoom call: “She had her Oprah voice that was just so golden goodness. And then she said my name in her Oprah voice and I just died.” Read more…

Best-bets for March 7: royals who fled, moms who robbed

1) “Oprah With Meghan and Harry,” 8-10 p.m., CBS. Exactly a year ago, Meghan Markle had her last official duty in the royal family. She and her husband, Prince Harry (they’re show here), have since moved to the U.S. and become financially independent. Their son Archie turns 2 on May 6; their third anniversary is May 19. This Valentine’s Day, they announced that Markle is pregnant. Now this special – scheduled for 90 minutes, then expanded – has her conversing with Oprah Winfrey; then they’re joined by Harry. Read more…

Best-bets for March 5: Mac, Murdoc, Murphy, more

1) “MacGyver,” 8 p.m., CBS. Murdoc (shown here) has been Mac’s prime villain forever … and now he’s showing up more often. In the original show (which started in 1985), he did seven episodes in seven year; now, midway through its fifth season, the reboot has its 11th Murdoc episode. He links with Andrews (Joe Pantoliano) to hack devices and steal secrets from Mac and friends. Read more…

Paramount Plus: “Star Trek” to “SpongeBob” and beyond

As the streaming services harvest their latest Golden Globe awards, a newcomer arrives.
On Thursday (March 4), Paramount Plus debuts. It will immediately offer a new “SpongeBob” movie (shown here) and series, with plans to revive everything from “Frasier” to ”Beavis ad Butt-Head.”
And it leaves a key question: Do we really need another streaming service?
No, actually, but don’t worry. This is simply a bigger, bolder version of one of the first streamers. Read more…

Best-bets for March 4: FBI folks fret; teens sing

1) “Clarice,” 10 p.m., CBS. This richly crafted series has had one persistent flaw: It uses the cliché of higher-ups who ignore evidence and just get in the way. That’s been especially true of Clarice’s FBI boss, Krendler; a terrific actor (Michael Cutlitz, shown here) has been stuck in a one-note role. Now the remedy begins by a simple means – bringing in someone much worse. As Krendler is investigated, he adds much-needed depth. It’s a good episode – in a darkly Gothic way – but ends with the story in limbo. Read more…

Best-bets for March 3: “Resident Alien” keeps topping itself

1) “Resident Alien,” 10 p.m., Syfy. This clever gem seemed simple at first: An alien (shown here) arrived to kill all Earthlings, but lost parts of the device he needs. To buy time, he killed Harry (a reclusive doctor) and assumed his human form; the mayor’s son is the only one who sees through his disguise. Then the twists began: Last week, Harry’s wife arrived; now we meet the town’s new doctor, plus an obsessive general (Linda Hamilton of “Terminator” fame). There’s humor, as usual, and then a dramatic finish. Read more…

Freeform finds good drama in “Good Trouble”

Five years ago, a cable channel transformed – again..
It had been the Christian Broadcasting Network … then the Family Channel … then Fox Family … then ABC Family. Now it would be Freeform.
“’Freeform’ evokes a mood, a sense of spontaneity, creativity,” Tom Ascheim, the channel’s president, insisted. His channel would focus on “that place between childhood and adulthood, … between your first kiss and your first kid.”
That’s a tough target; Freeform has missed several times, but has hit the mark twice. On opposite coasts, those shows depict young people (likable and telegenic) starting careers amid personal chaos: Read more…

Best-bets for March 2: Hospitals and “news variety”

1) “New Amsterdam” season-opener, 10 p.m., NBC. Filming in New York, where the pandemic peaked early, this hospital drama abruptly ended its season. Now, almost a year later, it’s back. First, a terrific montage takes us through the crisis; then we’re in a post-pandemic time, with emotions still raw for Max (Ryan Eggold, shown here with Freema Agyeman) and one of the doctors near death. And then … well, a plane crashes. It’s a strong hour. Read more…