1) “NCIS: Origins” and “NCIS,” 8 and 9 p.m., CBS. Put these together and you have a compelling, movie-length tale. The first hour (starting with Mark Harmon as the old Gibbs) takes the team to a small town (shown here) for quick twists, fierce action and a so-so finish. The second makes up for that, brilliantly bridging past and present, with a smart story, dabs of humor and deep pools of emotion Read more…
1) “The Paper,” 8:30 p.m., NBC. Twelve years after “The “Office” ended, the fun resumes. The company was sold to a Toledo firm, which has an awful newspaper (shown here). With much idealism and no experience, Ned takes over the paper. Some episodes (already on Peacock) paint him as too foolish, in the Michael Scott mold. This opener, however, is a delight. Read more…
1) “Maigret” season-finale, 9 p.m., PBS. In fiction, crimesolvers tend to live alone; Maigret is a pleasant exceptioon. His wife (played with subtle perfection by Stefanie Martini, shown here) is a psychiatric nurse and a positive force. Now she plays a key role in the compelling end to this two-week story. Read more…
In a world that keeps changing, here’s some reassuring news:
This year, we can again see the original “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (shown here) … often. It will be on cable nine times, as soon as Nov. 10 (7:30 p.m.) and as late as Dec. 21 (7:30 and 10:30).
“Grinch” debuted in 1966, with a confluence of genius — a clever Dr. Seuss book, brilliant Chuck Jones animation and a booming song. It could stand at the top of TV’s holiday history, alongside “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
The difference is that Charlie is now confined to steaming (Apple TV+) “Grinch” will be on both TNT and TBS. Read more…
Maybe we should quit grumbling about all those airline delays.
We should use that down time to create hit TV shows. That happened once.
The latest “TV We Love” episode (9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10, on CW) looks at “Happy Days” (shown here), First, let’s catch an account of the show’s birth: Read more…
1) “The American Revolution” opener, 8 p.m. Sunday, PBS; repeats at 10. Here is Ken Burns at his best — epic in scope (shown here), yet intimately human. Beautifully written by Geoffrey Ward, it sprawls over six nights, catching the complexities of giants (from George Washington to Benedict Arnold) and of regular people, their everyday lives surrounded by warfare. Read more…
1) “I Am Chris Farley” (2015), 8-10 p.m., CW. Farley was compared to one of his comedy idols, John Belushi. They were large men and gifted comedy actors, creating memorable characters. Both starred on “Saturday Night Live” for five years; both died of a drug overdose at 33. Farley created memorable characters, including his overwrought life coach, shown here. Fired from “SNL,” he was building a movie career; here’s a profile. Read more…
ABC will again go into holiday overdrive. The four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas will be stuffed with music, movies and more.
Some things, of course will simply be re-re-reruns. We’ll get double Julie Andrews (“Mary Poppins” and “The Sound of Music”), plus “Home Alone,” “The Santa Clause” and some familiar cartoons.
But alongside that are:
— New specials. A third “Prep & Landing” (shown here) arrives, filling out a three-hour animation block. Also, the “Dancing With the Stars” people will have a holiday hour. Read more…
It will be a rerun Christmas on the CW network, ranging from Dolly Parton to Yogi Bear.
The Hollywood Christmas Parade (Dec. 12) is new each year, but it will be alongside a sea of shows that have been somewhere before. They include:
— CARTOONS (all at 8 p.m.): “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” is Nov. 28, repeating Dec. 10. The 1980 movie “Yogi’s First Christmas” is Dec. 19. Read more…
1) “Great Performances,” 9 p.m., PBS. A dancer since she was 2, Tiler Peck (shown here) became the New York City Ballet’s prima ballerina. Then came a divorce, an injury and her father’s death. Filmed over six years, this sees Peck, now 36, rebuild her life. It closes with gorgeous excerpts from her choreography debut, an NYCB piece set to a Poulenc concerto. Read more…
Best-bets for Sept. 26: “Farm Aid” is back; so is “SNL” 
Best-bets for Sept. 25: quick reruns of new shows 
Best-bets for Sept. 24: Hellish reality and college fun 
