Now that “Saturday Night Live” has tried its first social-distancing episode (shown here), three key questions appear:
Will “SNL” do it again? Was it a ratings success? And was it good?
The answers: We don’t know yet … Definitely … And, well, sort of. Read more…
1) “The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel” (shown here), 8-10:33 p.m., Lifetime. The glorious gospel sound of the Clarks is perfect for the Easter weekend … or for any other time. It’s a sound that has influenced everyone from Whitney Houston to “American Idol” contestants. So it’s logical that Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige and Missy Elliott have produced this film, which reruns at 11:30 a.m. and 10:03 p.m. Sunday. Aunjanue Ellis plays Mattie Moss Clark, molding five daughters into mainstream success. Read more…
The music world keeps juggling genres and descriptions. It has rock and rap and R-&-B, hip hop and pop and more.
But at their roots, some people say, is gospel music in general and the Clark Sisters in particular. “I may rap,” Queen Latifah said, “but I got Clark in my heart.”
Others agreed. “I sing R&B music,” Shelea Frazier said, “but gospel is a lifestyle. So I’m always going to sing in the name of Jesus.”
That makes their movie (shown here) logical for this weekend. Lifetime will debut “The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel” on Saturday, then repeat it twice on Easter Sunday. Read more…
Even in the darkest times, Elmo (shown here) remains eager and upbeat. So now, of course, he’ll have a special during the coronavirus shutdown.
“Sesame Street: Elmo’s Playdate” will be 7 p.m. Tuesday (April 14) on HBO, many of its sister channels, and PBS Kids. Guests include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Anne Hathaway and Tracee Ellis Ross. Read more…
1) “Magnum P.I.,” 9 p.m., CBS. After waiting on the shelf for 10 weeks, this show is finally back. “Hawaii Five-0” has ended its 10-year run; now “Magnum” gets the timeslot … and the state of Hawaii. Tonight, Kumu (Amy Hill) is kidnapped by a man accused of killing his wife; Magnum and Higgins (shown here) try to rescue her. Read more…
As the coronavirus shutdown lingers, TV networks have empty spots at the end of their season.
Now CBS has a temporary solution: It will wipe aside its Sunday line-up – “God Friended Me,” “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “NCIS: New Orleans” – and replace it with movies.
During May, all five Sundays will be movie nights – two Indiana Jones films (shown here), plus “Titanic,” “Forrest Gump” and “Mission: Impossible.” Read more…
1) “Will & Grace,” 9 p.m., NBC. Two generations of broad comedy have a cheery mash-up. “Will & Grace” – with a skilled cast and a great director (Jim Burrows) – meets “I Love Lucy.” With Will (Eric McCormack) as Ricky, the others do Lucille Ball’s classic scenes. Megan Mullally’s grape-stomping bit is so-so, but Sean Hayes’ candy-assembly-line one is terrific (with Lucie Arnaz, Ball’s daughter, as the supervisor) … and Debra Messing is a delight when tackling the Vitameatavegamin commercial. Shown here, from left: McCormack, Mullally, Messing, Hayes. Read more…
While many TV shows have stopped filming, “All Rise” will take an alternate approach:
On May 4, it will have an episode about the shutdown … filmed shutdown-style.
One of the show’s producers is Gil Garcetti, the former Los Angeles County district attorney. He’s been talking to the others, CBS said, about how the legal system works amid social-distancing.
That led to a story in which Judge Lola Carmichael (Simone Missick) presides over a trial from her home. Other characters will be shown in their homes, using FaceTime, WebEx, Zoom and more. Director Michael Robin will use some special effects and will have a lone camera person, inside a vehicle, getting shots of a now-desolate Los Angeles Read more…
Our TV sets have a new function this weekend: They can be portals to a virtual Easter.
Other years have had plenty of Easter shows, but they didn’t seem as necessary. People went to church and to family gatherings and more.
This year, however, many churches are closed, sending their services online. TV has a bigger role.
The broadcast networks do a little. ABC has already had its annual “Ten Commandments”; NBC came up with a late addition: At 7 p.m. Sunday, it will rerun its “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,” an ambitious production with John Legend, Sara Bareilles, Alice Cooper and lots of Broadway stars. Read more…
1) “Modern Family” series finale, 9 and 9:30 p.m., ABC, with an overview at 8. For 11 seasons and 22 Emmys (five for best comedy), this has offered consistently clever comedy, built around a lovingly mismatched family. “Modern Family” (shown here in a previous episode) started with Mitchell and Cam adopting a baby; now they have their new baby and new house. Also, Phil and Claire decide that one of the kids must move out. And Gloria is successful at work, but frets that her husband and son don’t really need her. Read more…
Best-bets for July 19: Messi soccer, gory vampire 
Best-bets for July 18: Spielberg, sports & “SNL” 
Best-bets for July 17: warfare in Cuba, Troy and beyond 
