1) “Doc,” 9 p.m., Fox. Struggling to remain a doctor, despite losing eight years of memories, Amy has been opposed by Richard (now her boss) and Sonja (shown here). Now we see the human side of both. Richard (Scott Wolf) faces a rough problem at home; Sonja encounters a man from her past. This hour (the seventh of 10) packs potent emotion. Read more…
1) “Thomas Jefferson” opener, 8-10 p.m., History. Jefferson (shown here, in a painting) was filled with contrasts: He was shy (his inaugural address was barely audible), but his writing roared … He sold all his books (creating the Library of Congress) to avoid bankruptcy – then bought more … And he wrote of freedom, but failed to free his slaves. It’s an intriguing story, told over three nights. Read more…
Imagine scriptwriters losing all of their favorite moves.
No car chases, no foot races. No bursts, blasts, infernos or explosions; hardly any zombies, vampires or space ships.
With such deprivation, writers would have to resort to wit and character and nuance and such. That’s how the first golden age of TV drama began.
Shows were done in small spaces with large cameras. They were done live; there was no room for error … or for second-guessing.
“We had technical freedom, creative freedom, financial freedom,” director Fielder Cook told journalist Gordon Sander, adding: “Nobody could come and take it away from us, because nobody knew how to do it but us.” Read more…
1) “SNL50: The Anniversary Special,” 8-11 p.m. ET, NBC. This live event (with red-carpet at 7) will be busy. It includes four of the first-year stars plus many that followed – Eddie Murphy (shown here), Will Ferrell, Kate McKinnon, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Kristen Wiig, Chris Rock and more. Also, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks and other hosts. Read more…
1) “The Americas” and “Suits LA,” 7 and 9 p.m. Sunday, NBC. After lots of football and specials, NBC remakes Sundays. First, a gorgeous wildlife documentary series, starting with the Atlantic Coast (shown here) the first hour and Mexico the second. Then comes a new show from the creator of “Suits.” This one focuses on entertainment lawyers and stars Stephen Amell (“Arrow”). Read more…
1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:30 p.m., NBC. On the eve of its 50-year celebration, “SNL” reruns it first episode. It’s not like the current version, with a huge cast doing sketches; instead, it’s a ragtag variety show, blending sketches from a small with music from Billy Preston and Janice Ian, comedy from Andy Kaufman and Jim Henson and mini-monologs from George Carlin. Read more…
1) “Saturday Night Live” concert, 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT), Peacock. As “SNL” launches its 50-year celebration, it has this live mega-concert. It includes Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, Bonnie Raitt (shown here), Eddie Vedder, Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Brittany Howard, Jelly Roll, Chris Martin, Brenda Carlile The Roots, the Backstreet Boys, Arcade Fire and more. Read more…
There is something to be said for benign obscurity.
Just ask Mike White, whose “The White Lotus” (shown here) starts its third season at 9 p.m. ET Sunday (Feb. 16) on HBO and Max. “I’ve never worked with this kind of scrutiny,” he said.
In the old days, life was simple. He wrote and acted in indie films that were often loved by movie buffs and ignored by others.
Then came “White Lotus,” about strangers in a resort. It won 10 Emmys, including three for White – best writer, director and limited series.
HBO promptly decided it wasn’t limited, after all. It could keep coming back – each time with new people in a new resort in a new country. Read more…
1) “Elsbeth,” 10 p.m., CBS. Ever since “Rear Window,” mysteries have offered the idea of a silent, distant witness. Now the distance is thousands of miles: Through an art installation, a Scottish singer (Ioann Gruffudd, who’s played Lancelot and Horatio Hornblower) sees a crime that Elsbeth (shown here) sees in Manhattan. It’s a fun story that has twists appropriate for Valentine eve. Read more…
When “Saturday Night Live” has its 50-year celebration, most of its major stars – from Eddie Murphy to Will Ferrell to Kate McKinnon (shown here) – will be there.
That will be at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) Sunday, Feb. 16, on NBC, with a red-carpet show at 7. It wraps up a three-day weekend of “SNL” events.
The show had already said many of its hosts and music guests – Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, Sabrina Carpenter, etc. — will be there. It also announced that its first episode (from Oct. 11, 1975) will rerun at 11:30 p.m. Saturday.
Now it says most of the stars from that long-ago opener will be at Sunday’s show — Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris and Laraine Newman. Read more…
Best-bets for Feb. 9: survivors, skaters, librarians 
Best-bets for Feb. 8: Super Bowl … and much more 
Best-bets for Feb. 7: First full day of Olympics 
