1) “The Equalizer,” 8 p.m., CBS. This excellent drama (shown here ina previous episode) won’t be back next season, so we should savor the reruns — today and at 10 p.m. Wednesdays. Today, Robyn tries to help a family that lost everything in a mysterious fire. Read more…
The Wednesday-night Canadian connection will continue this summer.
The CW network will air the fourth season of “Family Law” (shown here) at 8 p.m. Wednesdays, starting July 23. That comes a week after the season-finale of “Sullivan’s Crossing” … which took the timeslot after “Wild Cards.”
All three are from Canadian networks, a steady source of middle-of-the-road shows on CW. Read more…
1) “Girl From the North Country” (shown here), 9 p.m., PBS. In a boarding-house in 1934 Duluth, life is overwhelming. There are layers of snow and of secrets; the Depression has left people with no money and little hope. We get deep human portraits and powerfully performed Bob Dylan songs, including Mare Winningham doing “Like a Rolling Stone” and “Forever Young.” Read more…
1) “Transplant” season-openers, 8 and 9 p.m., NBC. It’s a strong start for this well-made Canadian medical drama. The first hour finds two incoherent people (one with a foot amputated) in the woods; the second has a giant sinkhole. There are also key personal glimpses of Bash (shown here), the Syrian immigrant; in brief flashbacks, we learn about his rescuer.
Read more…
The pandemic twisted a lot of show-business careers, for bad (mostly) and good.
For Scotty Hasting, it was good. He went from a struggling war veteran to an emerging country-music star. And now he’ll perform for the masses at PBS’ Memorial Day eve concert.
“When it gets quiet, the demons come out,” Hasting said. “Covid was way too quiet.”
He needed a distraction. Fortunately, an old guitar was nearby. Read more…
1) “Survivor” finale, 8-11 p.m., CBS. Five people still have a shot at the million-dollar prize. There’s Eva Erickson, Ph.D. candidate and hockey player; Kyle Fraser (shown here in last week’s episode), 31, a lawyer; Kamilla Karthigesu, 31, a software engineer; Mitch Guerra, 34, a gym coach; and Joe Hunter, 45, a fire captain. Two will be trimmed; then the final three plead their case. Read more…
There was a time when TV networks seemed to take long summer snoozes.
Viewers could just watch reruns. After all, there weren’t many alternatives.
Not any more. With streamers and pay-cable channels pouring out new shows year-around, the broadcast networks struggle to remain relevant. This summer, they’ll have scripted dramas (a few), sports (A LOT), specials and the usual collection of reality and game shows, including “Bachelor in Paradise” (shown here in a previous year). Read more…
1) “The Voice” finale, 8-11 p.m., NBC. This starts with a recap of Monday’s songs by the final five (shown here, from left, Jadyn Cree, Renzo, Lucia Flores-Wiseman, Jaelen Johnston and Adam David). At 9, there are guest performances: the coaches (with their finalists); former coaches Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, Alicia Keys and Chance the Rapper; plus Joe Jonas, James Bay and more.
Read more…
1) “The Voice,” 8-10 p.m., NBC. The final five get one more chance to gather votes. Michael Buble has two finalists — Jadyn Cree and Adam David; others have one each: John Legend has Renzo (shown here); others are Jaelen Johnston (Kelsea Ballerini) and Lucia Flores-Wiseman (Adam Levine). The performances will be recapped Tuesday, leading into a star-stuffed finale. Read more…
(This is a re-written version of the latest chapter of a book-in-progress, “Television, and How It Got That Way.” For the full book, so far, click “The Book,” under “categories.)
People thought television would kill the movies. It didn’t.
They thought cable would kill television. It didn’t.
Then streaming came along and killed (or seriously wounded) all of them.
That started in 2013, when Netflix suddenly had “House of Cards” and a Marvel surge. It broadened two years later, with “The Crown” (shown here) and more. Read more…
Best-bets for June 28: music, young comic, old Mel 
Best-bets for June 27: Swayze, spies, soccer 
Best-bets for June 26: fun with Larry & Taylor 
