1) “Secrets of the Dead” season-opener, 10 p.m., PBS. At its peak, Rome’s Colosseum (shown here) held more than 60,000 people. At its moral depth, it had gladiators fighting, prisoners being executed, African animals being slain. Here’s a fascinating look at the structure itself Read more…
1) “The Lowdown,” 9 p.m., FX, rerunning at 10:11. Last week, Lee’s daughter (shown here with him) found the essays of the late Dale Washberg. Now we hear some of them, recited by Dale (Tim Blake Nelson) and read Lee (Ethan Hawke). We’re propelled into action, emotion and great characters — especially Jeanne Tripplehorn as Dale’s widow; the final minutes are potent. Read more…
1) “Independent Lens,” 10 p.m., PBS. Phil Sharp (shown here) grew up in rural Kentucky, where only 10 percent of classmates went to college. He stuttered and was dyslexic; he was, an educator says, “off-kilter, undaunted, unapologetic.” With homespun optimism, this compelling film says, he led science breakthroughs that have saved 20 million lives on Covid alone. Read more…
At 10, Jane Goodall loved the “Tarzan of the Apes” book, with one exception:
“He married the wrong Jane,” she said recently. “His Jane was a wimp.”
Most fictional women were, when Goodall read the book (1944) and when Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote it (1912). But this Jane (Goodall) didn’t fit any such stereotypes.
Mostly, Goodall (shown here) was known for her perpetual calmness. “I think it’s because of all the months and months I spent in the Rain Forest,” she said.
Now — after her death Wednesday (Oct. 1) at 91 — we can look back at an amazing life of working face-to-face with jungle primates. We can catch her new “Famous Last Words” on Netflix … And National Geographic documentaries, led by the 2017 “Jane” and the 2020 “Jane Goodall: The Hope,” both on Disney+ … And PBS documentaries … And her books. Read more…
1) “Elsbeth” season-opener, 9 p.m. Sunday, CBS. Here’s some logical casting: Stephen Colbert plays a talk-show host, which he is …. Andy Richter plays a sidekick, which he was …. Amy Sedaris plays his wife (isn’t), a comedy writer (is). We quickly see a murder, then watch Elsbeth (shown here with Sedaris and Richter) at work. It’s s fairly good episode; the next one (on Oct. 16) is brilliant. Read more…
1) “A Grammy Salute to Cyndi Lauper,” 8-10 p.m., CBS. In 1983, Lauper (shown here) told us “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” That was in a Grammy-winning album that also had “She Bop” and “Time After Time.” More hits followed, led by “True Colors” and the Tony-winning “Kinky Boots.” She performs here with Cher, John Legend, Sza, Mickey Guyton and more. Read more…
Most people knew that Malcolm-Jamal Warner (shown here) was a skilled comedy actor. He’d been doing that since he was 13.
But in recent years, the Fox network has shown us something else: This guy was gifted at drama — filled with subtle intensity.
Now we see one final example: Warner — who died in a swimming accident in July, at 54 — has an emotional role in “Murder in a Small Town,” at 8 p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 7) on Fox. Read more…
1) “Saturday Night Live” season-opener, 11:29 p.m., NBC. After a huge 50th season — winning nine Emmys for the “SNL50” special — the show regroups. It has five newcomers and lost two key people (Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim) and three newer people (Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim and Devon Walker). Bad Bunny hosts the opener, with Doja Cat (shown here) as music guest. Read more…
Somehow, situation comedies have become cozy artifacts.
They once ruled television. Now they provide fond memories, sort of like your grandpa’s checkers set.
The latest example is “Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion,” from 8-9:30 p.m. Nov. 24 on CBS and Paramount+. That’s a Monday, putting it against a nostalgia show on CW … and a flurry of nostalgia networks. Read more…
1) “Blue Bloods,” 10 p.m., CBS. Next week, this will rerun its finale (shown here). First, here’s a busy hour: Jury-tampering charges against Erin affect key things for her brother Danny and sister-in-law Eddie … whose husband Jamie links with his nephew Joe, to find his stolen car. That follows “Fire Country” episodes involving a ski resort at 8 p.m. and house fire at 9. 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 
