Sunday TV: The Rise and Fall of HQ Trivia

Remember that moment, about five years ago, when everything stopped each day as an appointed time so you could look at your phone and play HQ Trivia? Each day’s series of ten increasingly difficult trivia questions briefly became addictive even as the prize money rose over the months. But just as quickly as it came, it seemed to disappear, leaving questions answered in the new documentary “Glitch: The Rise & Fall of HQ Trivia” (CNN, 9 p.m.). That a couple of former HQ executives are also producers of the film might undercut some credibility. But it does have the former face of the app, comedian Scott Rogowsky.

The Barefoot Contessa welcomes Misty Copeland on the season premiere of “Be My Guest with Ina Garten” (Food, 11:30 a.m.). 

“American Idol” (ABC, 8 p.m.) continues auditions in New Orleans, Las Vegas and Nashville. 

A drunken night leads to a wedding and relocation in Tennessee in the made-for-TV romance “Married by Mistake” (E!, 9 p.m.). Chloe Bennet and Anthony Konechny star.

A woman falls for a barista in another romance “Something’s Brewing” (UPtv, 7 p.m.) with Kristi Murdock and Jason Cook.

 The struggle continues on “The Last of Us” (HBO, 9 p.m.). 

“The Equalizer” (CBS, 8 p.m.) races to resolve a hostage situation.

A world without Bart is imagined on “The Simpsons” (Fox, 8 p.m.).

“Bob’s Burgers” (Fox, 9 p.m.) becomes popular with cool teens and Tina strives to be among them.

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Saturday: Chris Rock’s Selective Outrage

Before next weekend’s Oscars, Chris Rock has a thing or two to say about last year’s event, when as host he was notoriously slapped by a nominee who was not evicted for his outburst. Tonight’s live comedy special, “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage” (Netflix, 10 p.m.) gives him a unique opportunity. Streaming live worldwide from Baltimore, the event will have its own pre show and after show. Ronnie Chieng hosts “The Show Before the Show” (9:30 p.m.) with a guest list that includes Amy Schumer, Cedric the Entertainer, George Lopez, Ice-T, Jerry Seinfeld, Jimmy Fallon, Kevin Hart, Matthew McConaughey, Paul McCartney, Sarah Silverman, Tracy Morgan, Wanda Sykes, and Woody Harrelson.

“The Show After the Show” (Netflix, 11 p.m.), hosted by David Spade and Dana Carvey, will include JB Smoove and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as guests (Will Smith is apparently not invited).

CBS sports analyst Nate Burleson and “Dancing with the Stars” winner Charli D’Amelio cohost the the 35th Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards 2023  (Nickelodeon, 7 p.m.) from Los Angeles where Adam Sandler will win a special award and Lil Baby and Bebe Rexha are slated to perform. And there will be slime.

Another big awards show is restricted to YouTube, the 38th Film Independent Spirit Awards (YouTube, 5 p.m.) hosted by Hasan Minaj. 

“Frozen Planet II” (BBC America, 8 p.m.) ends its run with David Attenborough looking at parts of the globe especially threatened by climate change. It’s followed by the behind-the-scenes special “The Making of ‘Frozen Planet II’” (BBC America, 9:23 p.m.). 

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Friday: ‘Daisy Jones & The Six,’ the Series

Taylor Jenkins Reid’s bestselling novel about a Fleetwood Mac-like band of the 70s is now a 10-episode series, “Daisy Jones & The Six” (Amazon Prime, streaming). Told in the same oral history form, it seems better than most rock series though it threatens at every minute to turn into “Vinyl.” Still, it stars no less than Elvis’ granddaughter Riley Keough opposite Sam Claflin. Timothy Olyphant pops up as a tour manager. 

New songs were written for the effort, with contributions from Phoebe Bridgers, Jackson Browne and Marcus Mumford. 

The latest reality competition “The Exhibit: The Search for the Next Big Artist” (MTV, 9 p.m.) combine eight fairly accomplished artists (some who have already been in museums) to compete to get a show at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in D.C., whose director Melissa Chiu is lead judge. It may be odd to have artists working in a wide variety of media pitted against eachother, but there’s more of a camaraderie since nobody gets eliminated each week. It gets a prize time slot, after “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (MTV, 9 p.m.). Here’s a longer story I wrote about the show, for SmithsonianMagazine.com.

From Spain comes the new rom-com “Love at First Kiss” (Netflix, streaming) about a teen who can see the future through a kiss. Alvaro Cervante stars. 

The comedy “Grand Crew” (NBC, 8:30 p.m.) returns for a second season. 

The fashion designing competition “Next in Fashion” (Netflix, streaming) returns for a second season, with Gigi Hadid joining Tan France as cohost. 

The animated “Transformers: EarthSpark” (Paramount+, streaming) has another set of new episodes. 

“Party Down” (Starz, 8:56 p.m.) works a post-pandemic surprise party. 

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Thursday TV: The First Lady Goes to Africa

The First Lady talks with White House correspondent Arlette Saenz in Africa, addressing drought and hunger (and making headlines about a 2024 re-election run) on the special “Jill Biden Abroad” (CNN, 9 p.m.), hosted by Sara Sidner. 

Sarah Shahi returns for the second season of “Sex/Life” (Netflix, streaming) in which a woman is torn between her husband and her past wild life.  A second season also starts for the comic “Framed! A Sicilian Murder Mystery” (Netflix, streaming). 

Was France’s most infamous murderer from 1987 to 2003 aided in any way by his wife? A new true crime documentary limited series, “Monique Olivier: Accessory to Evil” (Netflix, streaming), tries to find out. 

The star of “White Chicks” addresses the Oscar slap in his hour-long comedy standup special, “Marlon Wayans: God Loves Me” (HBO Max, streaming). 

“The Flipping El Moussas” (HGTV, 8 p.m.) sounds like a troupe of aerialists. But they’re actually a couple who flip houses in this new series.

The computer animated “Karate Sheep” (Netflix, streaming) debuts from Xilam Animation. 

Season finales come for “Walker Independence” (CW, 9 p.m.), “Mystic” (UPtv, 8 p.m.), and “Accused: Guilty or Innocent?” (A&E, 9 p.m.). 

“Young Sheldon” (CBS, 8 p.m.) is excited about his new database. 

Todd’s ex-girlfriend wants a favor on “So Help Me Todd” (CBS, 9 p.m.). 

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Wednesday TV: ‘True Lies’ for a New Era

They are not exactly Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis, but Steve Howey and Ginger Gonzaga take up the starring roles of a TV version of “True Lies” (CBS, 10 p.m.), the couple as spies feature from 1994 (that was from James Cameron, no less). 

It’s preceded by the premiere of the 44th season of “Survivor” (CBS, 8 p.m.) where 18 new castaways test  the Fijian waters in a. two-hour premiere. Jeff Probst (who no longer says “come on in, guys” in deference to women) reruns to host. 

The queen of hiph-hop soul stars in her own talk show in the new “The Wine Down with Mary J. Blige” (BET, 10 p.m.).  In its initial episode, she invites Caresha “Young Miami” Brownlee and Taraji P. Henson to talk about relationships and sex.  

“Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” (Fox, 9 p.m.) presumably picks a winner from the four remaining celebrities on the show’s first season finale. 

George Santos, take note: “Cheat” (Netflix, streaming) is a new quiz show where contestants can cheat their way to their prize money. Danny Dyer and Ellie Taylor host. 

“The Mandalorian” (Disney+, streaming) returns for its third eight-episode season, making star Pedro Pascal the star of two simultaneous TV hits (the other is HBO’s ’The Last of Us”). 

Harris takes her anger out on Darlene on “The Conners” (ABC, 8 p.m.). 

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Tuesday TV: Saluting Black Broadway

Black History Month closes out with the musical special ”Black Broadway: A Proud History, A Limitless Future” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings). Recorded at Howard University last fall, it features performances including Stephanie Mills, Nova Payton, Corbin Bleu,Tiffany Mann and Peppermint, pictured above, singing from shows like “The Wiz,” “The Color Purple,” “Company,” “Porgy & Bess” and “Ain’t Misbehavin.’”

The British comedian takes viewers through the stages of creating a musical comedy special in “A Whole Lifetime with Jamie Demetriou” (Netflix, streaming).

Not sure one needs to go abroad to get one’s fix for this show, but here’s “Too Hot to Handle – Germany” (Netflix, streaming). 

“La Brea” (NBC, 9 p.m.) has back-to-back episodes to close out its second season. 

One immediate result of the HBO merger with Discovery (which now owns CNN) becomes is the special  “CNN Primetime: One-On-One with Bill Maher” (CNN, 9 p.m.) with Jake Tapper. 

A blood moon brings out the weirdest cases at “Night Court” (NBC, 8 p.m.). 

“American Greed” (CNBC, 10 p.m.) tells the tale of a B-movie actor turned producer and criminal money launderer.

For King + Country joins Jimmie Allen on “CMT Crossroads” (CMT, 10 p.m.). 

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Capital Radio 2-27: Steinbeck, Train Wrecks

The birthday of John Steinbeck brings a lot of songs associated with his literary output. We remember Chuck Jackson who died Feb. 16, including a couple of his singles written by Burt Bacharach, who also died this month. 

The Ohio train disaster brought back a bunch of classic train wreck songs, from the “Wreck of the Old ’97,” to “Engine 143,” The Great Nashville Railroad Disaster,” and “The Wreck of the Triple One.” And don’t forget Scott Joplin’s “The Great Crush Collision March,” commemorating the worst publicity stunt ever: a planned collision of two locomotive engines that drew 40,000 and killed three. 

The centenary of Doc Watson’s birth this week drew a few of his tunes, and Elvis Costello’s just completed 10-night run in New York City inspired another set. Closed with new things from Beck and Gorillaz.

Here’s the link to the whole show; the setlist follows. 

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Monday TV: The Legacy of Black Cowboys

One more story before Black History Month ends: “American’s Hidden Stories: The Black Wild West” (Smithsonian, 9 p.m.) about the sheer number of American cowboys at the end of the 19th century — estimated to be one in four. 

“NCIS” (CBS, 9 p.m.) reaches its 450th episode. 

The finale of “America’s Got Talent: All Stars” (NBC, 8 p.m.) has the 11 finalists performing alongside Weezer, Babyface, Adam Lambert, Lindsey Stirling and Terry Fator.

Season finales also come for “Alert: Missing Persons Unit” (Fox, 8 p.m.) and “C.B. Strike” (HBO, 9 p.m.). 

“The Bachelor” (ABC, 8 p.m.) goes to Estonia, and not to prepare aid to Ukraine. 

Hasan Minhaj is guest host all week on “The Daily Show” (Comedy Central, 11 p.m.).

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Sunday TV: Final Season for ‘The Blacklist’

James Spader dons his hat for the last time as the 10th and final season for “The Blacklist” (NBC, 10 p.m.) begins on a new night. Anya Banerjee joins the cast, whose returning members also include Diego Klattenhoff, Hisham Tawfiq and Harry Lennix. 

Season finales come for two first season shows: “1923” (Paramount+, streaming) and “Mayfair Witches” (AMC, 9 p.m.).

President Biden’s visit to Ukraine is the first topic on the eighth season premiere of “The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth” (Showtime, 8 p.m.). The resilience of Ukrainians is showcased on “CNN Special Report” (CNN, 8 p.m.). 

The 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (Netflix’s You Tube channel, 8 p.m.) won’t be streaming annually on Netflix until next year. So this year’s event is an odd one — on the service’s YouTube channel. The nominees here are familiar from Oscar nods. 

A new comedy special “Lavell: Crawford: Thee Lavell Crawford” (Showtime, 10 p.m.) was talked at New Orleans. 

“The Last of Us” (HBO, 9 p.m.) has naturally been renewed for a second season; its seventh episode is on tonight. 

Carl finds his roots on “The Simpsons” (Fox, 8 p.m.).

“The Great North” (Fox, 8:30 p.m.) is invaded by a strange group in the woods. 

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Saturday TV: 54th NAACP Image Awards

The 54th Annual NAACP Image Awards (BET, MTV, VH1, CMT, Comedy Central, Paramount, POP, Smithsonian, TV Land, 8 p.m.) are presented live from Pasadena. Queen Latifah hosts. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” leads nominations with 12, followed by “Abbot Elementary” with nine. Among those receiving special awards are Gabrielle Union, Dwayne Wade and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson. 

From a sold-out arena in Los Angeles, it’s “The Weeknd: Live at Sofi Stadium” (HBO, 8 p.m.). 

“Frozen Planet II” (BBC America, 8 p.m.) explores the forests and tundra of northern regions and its grizzly bears, wolves, bison and caribou. 

Basketball on two levels are on prime time broadcast TV, with Boston at Philadelphia (ABC, 8:30 p.m.) in the NBA, and Indiana at Purdue (Fox, 7:30 p.m.) in college basketball, one of many, many games today listed below.

Alexandra Turshen uses magic to create her ideal man in the made-for-TV rom-com “Made for Each Other” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.) with Aaron O’Connell and Matt Cohen.

Samantha Mantis plays a mother who is held hostage with her kids in the made-for-TV thriller “12 Desperate Hours” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.). Gina Gershon directs the screenplay based on an Ann Rule true crime story. 

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