Monday TV: ‘Returned,’ as a U.S. Series
It’s a little tiresome how many perfectly fine foreign series have been slavishly remade into American versions. The first reaction to “The Returned” (A&E, 10 p.m.) is like that, especially…
Friday TV: Underwood’s Back, as President
Things should be quite different for the anticipated third season of “House of Cards” (Netflix, streaming, starting today). Frank Underwood has already become President (which is where “Veep” will start…
Thursday TV: Bikini Season
Why go sexist just once a year for the ratings? CBS doubles up on its usual Christmatime “Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show” with the even skimpier “Victoria’s Secret Swim Special” (CBS,…
Wednesday TV: ‘Survivor,’ ‘Race’ Starts
It's a full night reality show pileup on CBS with the 90 minute premieres of both "Survivor" (CBS, 8 p.m.) and "The Amazing Race" (CBS, 9:30 p.m.) together on the…
Tuesday TV: Farewell, ‘Parks and Rec’
The series finale for "Parks and Recreation" (NBC, 10 p.m.) will be tinged with more sadness than usual, due to the untimely death of executive producer Harris Wittels last Thursday.…
Monday TV: Lead Belly and Snowden
Black history month isn't quite over until it's time to salute "Legend of Lead Belly" (Smithsonian, 8 p.m.), the bluesman Huddie Ledbetter, whose songs continued to inspire performers ever since,…
Sunday TV: Oscars Overkill One More Time
As many times as he's hosted other such events, it's the first time Neil Patrick Harris gets to do the Oscars. So he'll do the opening and then pretty much…
Saturday TV: ‘Independent Spirit Awards’
The best part of Oscar weekend is the much more low-key, much less hyped, and much more interested in cinema Film Independent Spirit Awards (IFC, 5 and 11 p.m.). Fred…
Friday TV: All About August Wilson
A strong case is made for the greatness of American playwright August Wilson on tonight's "American Masters" (PBS, 9 p.m.) through endorsements by esteemed actors who's worked with him, as…
Also on Thursday: Odd Remake of ‘Couple’
It hardly seems necessary to formally remake "The Odd Couple" (CBS, 8:30 p.m.). Though it went off the air 40 years ago, the reruns of the original Jack Klugman-Tony Randall…