If the series of entertaining monologues by top stars that make up the hyper-topical “Coastal Elites” (Fox, 8 p.m.) make it feel seem like a play. Paul Rudnick conceived it that way and even staged it before the world shutdown. Now the COVID world plays into some of the stories even as it makes the shooting of the piece unusual – one person at a time, in order.
Bette Midler plays a devout Dem who reaches her limit encountering a MAGA-hat wearer in Starbucks; Dan Levy tests the boundaries of gay opportunity in contemporary Hollywood; Issa Rae freaks at being approached by a distant college sister, Ivanka. Sarah Paulson finds out a secret about her family’s red state ways and Kaitlyn Dever plays a front line health worker. It’s a pretty incisive piece that speaks to our excruciating times.
A new Saturday night nature series on BBC America seems like it can’t miss: “Animal Babies” (BBC America, 8 p.m.) which starts with cuties from Africa.
There’s some big time prime time network sports, with Clemson at Wake Forest (ABC, 7:30 p.m.) topping a bigger day of college football. There is also Vegas vs. Dallas (NBC, 8 p.m.) in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs; and a showcase baseball with Houston at Dodgers (Fox, 11 p.m.). Other MLB games include Philadelphia at Miami (MLB, 6 p.m.), Detroit at White Sox (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.) San Francisco at San Diego (MLB, 9 p.m.).
The biggest event today, though, may be the women’s singles final in the U.S. Open (ESPN, 4 p.m.).