Franken Cut From Letterman Salute
When it comes time, finally for the honoree at “The Mark Twain Awards: David Letterman” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings), to take the stage after 90 minutes of praise…
Also Tonight: ‘Baltimore Rising’
TV news coverage of the uprisings that followed the 2015 death of Freddie Gray were, like the earlier death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and others that would follow,…
Also Monday: Late Night Trump Bump
On the special “Late Night in the Age of Trump” (CNN, 9 p.m.) Brian Stelter and Bill Carter takes a look at how comics take on the White Hours, particularly…
His Problem with Apu
Writer and standup comic Hari Kondabolu started his rant against Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the cartoon Kwikee Mart owner, way back when he was on “Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell.” To…
Also on Sunday: ‘American Music Awards’
Perhaps because the music industry has fallen so dramatically, the American Music Awards (ABC, 8 p.m.) aren’t such a big deal either. Traces Ellis Ross hosts, presumably on the basis…
Saturday TV: Jon Stewart’s Autism Benefit
Jon Stewart returns to TV to host the biennial “Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism” (HBO, 8 p.m.) from Madison square Garden, a telethon that usually has…
Tony Bennett Gets the Gershwin Prize
The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song usually goes to songwriters. An exception came this year with the award to Tony Bennett, who as a singer over a…
Friday TV: Oscar-Contending ‘Mudbound’
I’m all for the trend of Netflix buying big movies at film festivals and debuting them online the same day they premiere in theaters. The latest one, a likely Oscar…
Thursday TV: ‘Better Things’ Ends Season
It's been a difficult time for Pamela Adlon of “Better Things” (FX, 10 p.m.) -- largely because of what we've learned about her mentor and producer Louis C.K. Still, true…
Bob Dylan, Mavis Staples at the Anthem
“Forever Young” is not a song Bob Dylan played in his first show at the big new rock club The Anthem in D.C. Tuesday, but it is something he embodied.…