Diane Lane, Ben Schnitzer and Amber Tamblyn star in a strong new series “Y: The Last Man” (Hulu, streaming), based on the graphic novel series by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra. The set up is gripping, with something that has killed half the population in their tracks. That the half is entirely male (except for one) sets up a female society trying to survive – and one guy on the loose. What makes the FX production stand out is writing that rises it above the genre origins.
“Ultra City Smiths” (AMC, 11:05 p.m.), the hardbitten detective drama with a stellar voice cast of Jimmi Simpson, Kurtwood Smith, Kristen Bell, Dax Shepard, Bebe Neuwirth — and Tom Waits as narrator) gets a different cast as its animated with baby dolls. The latest quirky work from Steve Conrad (of “Patriot” and “Perpetual Grace”) makes its cable debut after its debut earlier on the streaming AMC+.
The new British series “Finding Alice” (Acorn TV, streaming) (not to be confused with the Apple+ Israeli import “Losing Alice”), stars Keely Hawes as a woman surviving in an odd dream house after her husband died falling down the stairs.
The animated “Little Ellen” (HBO Max, streaming) tells the tales of a 7-year-old Ellen DeGeneres, who by the way, begins her final season of her award-winning daytime show “Ellen” (syndicated, check local listings).
It’s also the first day for fellow daytime shows “Dr. Phil” (syndicated, check local listings), “The Drew Barrymore Show” (syndicated, check local listings), Jerry Springer’s “Judge Jerry” (syndicated, check local listings) and “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (syndicated, check local listings).