ALSO SEE: 2022 NASCAR TV Schedule on FOX Sports and NBC
All Times Eastern. PBS programming varies regionally.
Monday, May 2
American Idol: “The Great Idol Reunion”
ABC, 8pm
In a celebration of the milestone 20th season, American Idol greats Ruben Studdard, Scotty McCreery, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Lauren Alaina, Kris Allen, Maddie Poppe, Laine Hardy, Willie Spence, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Grace Kinstler, Laci Kaye Booth, past judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, and additional surprise guests will reunite on the Idol stage for a night of unforgettable performances.
Surprise! Surprise! @PaulaAbdul and @YO_RANDYJACKSON are headed back to the #AmericanIdol judges’ table for a special reunion episode this coming Monday.https://t.co/ArDUovPonJ
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) April 27, 2022
Signora Volpe
Acorn TV
New Series!
This three-part detective drama was filmed on location in the stunning Lazio and Umbria regions of Italy. It follows Sylvia Fox (Emilia Fox), a former high-ranking British spy. When she arrives in Italy for the wedding of her niece Alice (Issy Knopfler), she’s disillusioned with her job at MI6 headquarters in London and in need of a break. But then the bridegroom disappears, leaving a dead body in the lake at the bottom of his garden, and Sylvia takes it upon herself to solve the mystery. Despite the unpromising start to her holiday, the Brit is enchanted by Umbria, and is surprised and pleased to find herself reconnecting with her estranged sister Isabel Vitale (Tara Fitzgerald), who lives in the handsome hillside town of Panicale. When she stumbles upon a beautiful, derelict old house, Sylvia decides to buy it, quit her job and start anew. However, never being someone cut out for a quiet life, she finds herself involved in more mysteries — from the disappearance of a young woman a quarter-century ago, to the theft of a truffle pig and a blackmail plot against the son of a Russian politician. At first, police Captain Giovanni Riva (Giovanni Cirfiera) resents Sylvia’s interference, but he soon begins to seek her help. Episodes are available Mondays.
The Neighborhood: “Welcome to the Quinceañera”
CBS, 8pm
In the new episode “Welcome to the Quinceañera,” Calvin and Tina (Cedric the Entertainer and Tichina Arnold) offer to throw a quinceañera for Yoli (guest star Alycia Pascual-Pena), a teen Calvin is mentoring at his auto shop.
9-1-1: “May Day”
FOX, 8pm
The members of the 118 race to the rescue when a fire breaks out at the 9-1-1 call center in the new episode “May Day.”
American Song Contest: “The Live Semifinals Part 2”
NBC, 8pm Live
The live semifinals of the competition series continue tonight.
Antiques Roadshow: “Grounds for Sculpture, Hour 3”
PBS, 8pm
Enjoy more fascinating finds at the scenic Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, New Jersey, including a German Hanukkah menorah, a 1946 David Burliuk oil painting and a 1988 Ai Weiwei One Man Shoe sculpture. Can you guess which is appraised at $100,000?
Elizabeth
Smithsonian Channel, 8pm
New Series!
In “Queen in Waiting,” see an in-depth look at Elizabeth II’s early years before she became the youngest monarch to wear the crown in 100 years.
Special Theme: Busby Berkeley: “Early Career Success”
TCM, beginning at 8pm
Catch a Classic!
Legendary choreographer and musical director Berkeley William Enos — better known as Busby Berkeley — is the subject of this month’s Special Theme on Turner Classic Movies. Parts or all of the first four Mondays in May on TCM will be devoted to memorable films that Berkeley choreographed, directed or both. This evening’s five-film lineup features some of his early work on Hollywood films, to which he brought the famous skill that he had displayed on Broadway in the 1920s in his direction of large, finely regimented groups of dancers into attractive geometric patterns. Given that Berkeley’s groundbreaking visions of this sort had started becoming too large to be contained to the stage, it made sense that he would bring them to film productions like the ones airing tonight. Things kick off with 42nd Street (1933), the iconic, Best Picture Oscar-nominated backstage musical that has been added to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry due in no small part to Berkeley’s dynamic dance designs. Following that are two other 1933 films whose musical numbers Berkeley not only choreographed but also directed, and are now part of the Film Registry as well: Gold Diggers of 1933, led by Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, Aline MacMahon and Ginger Rogers; and Footlight Parade, starring James Cagney (showing off his dancing skills on the big screen for the first time), Blondell, Keeler and Dick Powell. Gold Diggers introduced the famous standard “The Gold Diggers’ Song (We’re in the Money)” during a Berkeley-designed number that was among those risqué enough to have likely led to conflict with various local censorship boards. To head off potential problems of this nature in certain areas, Berkeley directed some alternate takes for cuts of the movie sent to those areas, one of the earliest examples of this in American cinema. Finishing up tonight’s lineup are two 1934 musical comedies with numbers choreographed and directed by Berkeley: Dames, led by Keeler, Powell and Blondell, which introduced the classic tune “I Only Have Eyes for You”; and Fashions of 1934, starring William Powell and Bette Davis.
Bob Hearts Abishola: “Who Raised You”
CBS, 8:30pm
In the new episode “Who Raised You,” Douglas (Matt Jones) is finally ready to introduce Olivia (guest star Edy Gamen) to his family, but he sets some ground rules to make sure Dottie (Christine Ebersole) plays nice.
NCIS: “The Brat Pack”
CBS, 9pm
NCIS investigates teenage partygoers who are suspected of breaking into Marine Corps Base Quantico in the new episode “The Brat Pack.”
9-1-1: Lone Star: “Shift-Less”
FOX, 9pm
Owen (Rob Lowe) travels to Los Angeles to confront his estranged father and some painful childhood memories in the new episode “Shift-Less.”
NCIS: Hawai‘i: “Nightwatch”
CBS, 10pm
The murder of a seaman has the NCIS team called in to work the case on their day off in the new episode “Nightwatch.”
Lil Jon Wants to Do What?
HGTV, 10pm
New Series!
Music superstar Lil Jon helps skeptical homeowners who feel trapped in a boring home find their design wild side with startlingly unconventional renovation ideas that seem impossible to execute. Throughout the design process, his renovation collaborator, expert builder/designer Anitra Mecadon, and her team remain undaunted by Lil Jon’s extraordinary proposals and stay determined to make his creative vision a reality.
I Was There: “Oklahoma City Bombing”
History, 10pm
Host Theo E.J. Wilson travels back in time to April 19, 1995, when Oklahoma City is rocked by a two-ton fertilizer bomb shortly after 9am, the catastrophic result of years of planning by domestic terrorist Timothy McVeigh. Theo investigates the layers of this complicated story, going beyond the Ryder box truck carrying the explosives and into the mind of the man who perpetrated one of the evilest acts in American history.
The Endgame
NBC, 10pm
Season Finale!
In the first season finale, “Happily Ever After,” an escape plan goes haywire and old foes face off, while Val (Ryan Michelle Bathé) learns a secret about Owen (Kamal Angelo Bolden).
Independent Lens: “Try Harder!”
PBS, 10pm
At San Francisco’s Lowell High School, the students, a majority of whom are Asian American, are stressed out. This documentary film pulls back the curtain on the grueling college application process amid high-achieving Lowell seniors, who share their dreams and anxieties about getting into a top university, and poses the question: Is college worth the grind?
Tuesday, May 3
TCM Spotlight: Around the World in 80 Movies
TCM, beginning at 6am
Catch a Classic!
All day every day on Tuesdays (and continuing well into Wednesdays) this month, Turner Classic Movies is taking you on a tour of the world via film, with lineups ultimately totaling 80 titles set in and produced at various spots across the globe. Today’s initial lineup is focused on North, South and Central America, and features: Captains of the Clouds (1942) and Beautiful Banff and Lake Louise (1935), both representing Canada; Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956), Al Capone (1959), The Toast of New Orleans (1950), The Clock (1945), From Here to Eternity (1953), Singin’ in the Rain (1952) and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), all representing the good ol’ USA; The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) (Mexico); Only Angels Have Wings (1939) (Peru); Sons of the Sea (1941) (Atlantic Ocean); Down Argentine Way (1940) (Argentina); The Pirate (1948) and Colorful Curacao (1939), representing the Caribbean; Holiday in Havana (1949) (Cuba); Payment on Demand (1951) (Haiti); Glimpses of Guatemala (1946) (Guatemala); Green Mansions (1959) (Venezuela); and Flying Down to Rio (1933) (Brazil).
Holey Moley
ABC, 8pm
Season Premiere!
Season 4 of everyone’s favorite extreme mini-golf competition series features a collaboration for the ages when Muppets favorites unite with on-camera commentating duo Rob Riggle and Joe Tessitore, making for some un-fore-gettable high jinks. Also returning are sideline correspondent Jeannie Mai as well as executive producer and resident golf pro Stephen Curry. Both new and past fan-favorite holes will be featured every week, along with additional special guest appearances and other surprises along the way.
The Resident: “Risk”
FOX, 8pm
When one of the doctors is shot outside the hospital, the ER is put into lockdown and the team races to save one of their own in the new episode “Risk.”
Young Rock: “Corpus Christi”
NBC, 8pm
Texas, 1996: Dwayne (Uli Latukefu) gets an incredible opportunity: His first match will be for the WWF. After meeting legends and future legends backstage, he soon discovers there’s more to the match than just the moves; he needs to get a hostile audience to care.
Mr. Mayor: “Titi B.”
NBC, 8:30pm
Neil (Ted Danson) accidentally angers mega-influencer Titi B. and must apologize or deal with the wrath of her followers. Meanwhile, Jayden (Bobby Moynihan) coaches Arpi (Holly Hunter) on how to be less abrasive at personal appearances.
The Chase
ABC, 9pm
Season Premiere!
On the Sara Haines-hosted The Chase, Ken Jennings and Mark “The Beast” Labbett will step down as Chasers, making way for Victoria Groce (“The Queen” of all things trivia), speed-quiz titan Brandon “The Lightning Bolt” Blackwell and Jeopardy! vet Buzzy Cohen, who will join returning Chasers Brad Rutter and James Holzhauer.
Spring Awakening: Those You’ve Known
HBO, 9pm
Fifteen years after the Tony-winning Broadway run of Spring Awakening, the original cast and creative team reunited for a spectacular, one-night-only reunion concert. This documentary chronicles their journey back to the stage, following the players as they reconnect and rediscover the beauty and timelessness of the hit musical.
The Curse of Oak Island
History, 9pm
Season Finale!
Season 9 concludes with “Treasure Island.” After more than a decade of tireless work, the Laginas and their dedicated team have not only proved that the Oak Island mystery is more profound than anyone thought possible, but are also closer than anyone who came before them to finally recovering the treasure.
This Is Us: “Miguel”
NBC, 9pm
This episode follows Miguel (Jon Huertas) over the years.
American Experience: “Flood in the Desert”
PBS, 9pm
This episode looks at the March 1928 collapse of the St. Francis Dam, the second deadliest disaster in California history; the resulting flood killed more than 400 people and washed away the reputation of William Mulholland. A self-taught engineer, Mulholland had ensured the remarkable growth of Los Angeles by building an aqueduct that piped water from the Owens Valley across the Mojave Desert, 233 miles away. But the bursting of his St. Francis Dam, which formed the city’s largest single reservoir, was a colossal engineering and human failure.
7 Little Johnstons
TLC, 9pm
Season Finale!
The Johnstons say goodbye to their Finnish exchange student, Joose. Then, Elizabeth drops a bomb on her parents about her future plans with Brice.
Who Do You Believe?
ABC, 10pm
New Series!
This innovative new series features simultaneous storytelling to take viewers through compelling true-crime cases from dual perspectives. In each episode, the audience steps into the shoes of two contrasting narratives to hear the accounts directly from the victims and criminals with never-before-revealed details. Then the viewer plays armchair detective to deduce and piece together different versions of the truth.
The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch
History, 10pm
Season Premiere!
The nonfiction series begins Season 3 with this episode premiering at a special time (the series moves to its regular time slot an hour earlier beginning next Tuesday). With full, unprecedented access to one of the most infamous and secretive hot spots of paranormal and unidentified aerial phenomena-related activities on Earth, the new season follows the scientists, researchers and experts as they push their experiments beyond anything that has been done on Skinwalker Ranch before.
True Conviction
Investigation Discovery, 10pm
Season Finale!
The true-crime series’ fourth season concludes with “A Cold-Hearted Conspiracy.” A couple on an evening stroll with their young son is struck down in a hail of gunfire. Under the looming specter of a racially motivated hate crime, investigators race to find the gunmen and uncover a twisted trail of lies and betrayal.
Frontline: “The Power of Big Oil, Part 3”
PBS, 10pm
Frontline’s three-part special series that investigates the oil industry’s decades-long attempts to cast doubt on the science of climate change, and exert influence on public perception and policy, concludes with tonight’s episode.
Wednesday, May 4
Moon Knight
Disney+
Season Finale!
The first season of this Marvel Cinematic Universe series led by Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke concludes.
The Circle
Netflix
Season Premiere!
The social media reality competition series is back for Season 4, with its first batch of episodes dropping today.
El Marginal
Netflix
Season Premiere!
In the fifth and final season of this crime drama from Argentina, Pastor (Juan Minujín) and Diosito (Nicolás Furtado), separated after their frustrated attempt to escape, confront new dangers and challenges to their survival. One was locked up, the other went searching for a place outside the walls, and both had to face the consequences of their actions and repair the damage of the past. Meanwhile, inside Puente Viejo, the power struggles continue. Borges (Claudio Rissi), James (Daniel Pacheco) and Bardo (Ariel Staltari) are heading for a brutal settling of accounts with César (Abel Ayala) and Sub 21. All under the watchful eye of the “renewed” director, Sergio Antín (Gerardo Romano).
Summertime
Netflix
Season Premiere!
The Italian drama returns for Season 3, its final season, and as another summer arrives on the Romagna Riviera, Summer (Coco Rebecca Edogamhe) seems ready to live the new season with the thoughtlessness she has never had, Dario (Andrea Lattanzi) receives an offer he can’t refuse, Sofia (Amanda Campana) returns with the fear of now being a stranger to her friends, and Ale (Ludovico Tersigni) is torn by deep feelings of guilt.
The Goldbergs: “Sunday Chow-Fun Day”
ABC, 8pm
With Adam’s graduation approaching, Beverly debates staying on as William Penn Academy’s Quaker Warden. Forever butting heads with principal Ball, her choice also affects his decision to stay or not. Meanwhile, Erica tries to get out of the Schwartzes’ longstanding tradition of dinner together every Sunday and the subsequent household chores. She soon realizes the importance of finding balance between the demands of family and marriage.
Music’s Greatest Mysteries: “Deadheads, Exes and K-Pops”
AXS TV, 8pm
Topics explored in this episode include a revealing look into the exes who inspired Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” and how K-pop’s “Black Ocean” is making waves across the world.
The Masked Singer: “One Mask Hurrah — Round 3 Finals”
FOX, 8pm
Round 3 concludes with three singers performing. Two singers will be unmasked and one singer will move on to the Season 7 finale in the new episode “One Mask Hurrah — Round 3 Finals.”
Gorgona: Snake Prison Island
Smithsonian Channel, 8pm
See how the Alcatraz of Colombia has transformed from a notorious prison into a wildlife sanctuary unlike any other.
Yvette Mimieux Memorial Tribute
TCM, beginning at 8pm
Catch a Classic!
Famed actress Yvette Mimieux passed away Jan. 17 at the age of 80, and Turner Classic Movies will be remembering her tonight with a lineup of five of her most notable films. The evening begins with Light in the Piazza (1962), a romantic comedy/drama featuring Mimieux in one of her more acclaimed roles, as a mentally disabled young American woman who, while on summer holiday in Italy with her mother (Olivia de Havilland), finds love with a local man (George Hamilton) who mistakes her impairment for simple naivete. Up next is 1960’s Where the Boys Are, with Mimieux portraying one of a group of college women traveling to Fort Lauderdale for spring break. One of the earliest teen films to explore changing sexual mores among adolescents, it is mostly a comedy, though Mimieux’s character features in a serious subplot addressing date rape. Dolores Hart, Paula Prentiss, Connie Francis and Hamilton costar. Following that is Dark of the Sun, a 1968 adventure film about commandos and mercenaries on a steam-train mission across the Congo to recover uncut diamonds and rescue a band of refugees. Featuring scenes that were pretty harrowing and graphic for its time (and still can be hard to watch), the film was initially panned but has developed a cult following, including filmmakers Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino. Rod Taylor and Jim Brown costar. Taylor also appears with Mimieux in the evening’s next film, which marked a breakthrough for the actress: The Time Machine, the classic 1960 adaptation of H.G. Wells’ famous sci-fi tale. Concluding tonight’s Mimieux celebration is Toys in the Attic (1963), a drama based on Lillian Hellman’s Tony-winning play and led by Dean Martin and Geraldine Page.
The Conners: “The Best Laid Plans, a Contrabassoon and a Sinking Feeling”
ABC, 9pm
Darlene struggles to cope with the stress of construction and, after a serious accident, she reevaluates everything and makes a life-changing decision. Elsewhere, Lou, a familiar face from the past, returns as Mark’s combative contrabassoon teacher, but after he butts heads with Mark, Dan steps in, only to realize that their similarities may outweigh their differences.
Domino Masters: “Semi Final: Hot Wheels”
FOX, 9pm
In the new episode “Semi Final: Hot Wheels,” four teams compete in a Hot Wheels-themed domino toppling and chain reaction tournament with a spot in the finals on the line.
Why the Heck Did I Buy This House?: “Kids and Chaos”
HGTV, 9pm
A family loves that they get to live next door to Grandpa, but their own home has been completely taken over by their kids’ clutter. Kim Wolfe arrives to help them carve out some personal space and make the house work before they decide to give it up for good.
See No Evil
Investigation Discovery, 9pm; also streams on discovery+
Season Premiere!
The true-crime series returns for Season 9, beginning with tonight’s episode, “The Tragedy on Tennessee 14.” When someone murders a Tennessee state trooper in the middle of the highway, investigators turn to his dashcam for answers. A manhunt quickly gets underway, but it takes even more surveillance video to pick up the killer’s trail and crack the case.
A Million Little Things: “Slipping”
ABC, 10pm
Maggie and Gary go to great lengths to entertain an unexpected visitor; Regina fears Tyrell is moving too quickly with a new love interest; and Rome supports a student who is ready to reveal their truth. Star David Giuntoli directs.
Good Sam
CBS, 10pm
Season Finale!
The medical drama starring Sophia Bush and Jason Isaacs concludes its first season with “To Whom It May Concern.”
Thursday, May 5
The Porter
BET+
New Series!
This eight-part limited series is a coproduction of the CBC and BET+. Set in the early 1920s and inspired by real events, the drama follows train porters Junior Massey (Aml Ameen) and Zeke Garrett (Ronnie Rowe Jr.), and their friends and families, as a tragedy on the job sets them on starkly different paths to better lives — and on a direct collision course with each other. While Junior takes advantage of a broken system to pursue money and power in gambling and bootlegging, Zeke fights the railway to change the system from within by unionizing the Black porters. Mouna Traoré, Loren Lott, Olunike Adeliyi and Alfre Woodard also star.
The Staircase
HBO Max
New Series!
This eight-episode true-crime drama explores the life of Michael Peterson (Colin Firth), his sprawling North Carolina family and the suspicious death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson (Toni Collette). Three episodes are available today; subsequent new episodes are available Thursdays.
Clark
Netflix
New Series!
This drama from Sweden stars Bill Skarsgård as Clark Olofsson, the notorious criminal whose actions gave rise to the expression “Stockholm syndrome.” Based on the truths and lies revealed in Olofsson’s autobiography, the series offers a fictional take on how he was able to make all of Sweden fall in love with him despite several counts of drug trafficking, attempted murder, assault, theft and dozens of bank robberies.
The Pentaverate
Netflix
New Series!
What if a secret society of five men, the Pentaverate, has been working to influence world events for the greater good since the Black Plague of 1347? In this six-episode comedy, Canadian journalist Ken Scarborough (Mike Myers) finds himself on a mission to uncover the truth and just possibly save the world in the process. Myers plays eight different characters in the series, which also stars Ken Jeong, Keegan-Michael Key, Debi Mazar, Richard McCabe, Neil Mullarkey, Lydia West and Jennifer Saunders. Jeremy Irons narrates.
Star Trek: Picard
Paramount+
Season Finale!
This Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) spinoff series led by Patrick Stewart reprising his iconic role of Jean-Luc Picard concludes its second season. The series will be back for a third and final season, in which Stewart will be joined by TNG costars LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis and Brent Spiner.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Paramount+
New Series!
This newest entry in the Star Trek franchise is a spinoff of Star Trek: Discovery, itself a spinoff of Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS). Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn and Ethan Peck reprise the roles they originated during Discovery’s second season to positive fan reaction as, respectively, Capt. Christopher Pike, Number One (Una Chin-Riley, Pike’s second in command) and science officer Spock in this series that picks up after the events of Discovery Season 2. It follows the voyages of the starship Enterprise — on a mission to explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations, and boldly go where no one has gone before, as TOS’ famous intro narration described — in the decade before Capt. Kirk’s command of the ship. Speaking of James Tiberius Kirk, the character will appear in the second season of Strange New Worlds, which has already begun filming, and will be portrayed by Paul Wesley. Other characters familiar to fans of TOS regularly appearing in Strange New Worlds are Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) and a young Cadet Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding). Christina Chong portrays Enterprise crew member La’an Noonien Singh. La’an is confirmed to be a relative of famous Trek villain Khan Noonien Singh, who will pose a grave threat to Kirk and crew in the future, so it will be interesting to see how the dynamics play out here. With Strange New Worlds, executive producer Akiva Goldsman, who also wrote and directed the premiere episode, says that they “hope to chase some of those values” found in TOS. “We have tried to harken back to some of the values and styles of the original series, the first Star Trek that got those of us who are a little older ignited on our Star Trek journeys.” New episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds are available Thursdays beginning today. — Jeff Pfeiffer
Girls5eva
Peacock
Season Premiere!
The comedy about a one-hit-wonder ’90s girl group that reunites to give their dreams another shot is back for Season 2. Three episodes are available today, with subsequent new episodes available Thursdays.
Station 19: “Death and the Maiden”
ABC, 8pm
Andy’s fate remains unknown as a trial date is set. Meanwhile, Vic and Sullivan are approached by an unexpected guest, and the crew responds to a row of townhouses on fire.
MasterChef Junior Edition: “Jalapeño Business”
FOX, 8pm
The nine remaining junior chefs create a spicy, fried finger-food favorite in the new episode “Jalapeño Business.”
Law & Order: “Severance”
NBC, 8pm
A new episode of the Law & Order reprisal premieres tonight.
This Old House: “Saratoga Springs: New Vision”
PBS, 8pm
Working with a tight budget, the owners of the house in Saratoga Springs take on demo and backyard preparations; the architect shares his vision for the project; a local docent shares the history of the area’s springs; and the builder installs an air scrubber system.
Star of the Month: Anna May Wong
TCM, beginning at 8pm
Catch a Classic!
For those who are unaware of actress Wong Liu Tsong — better known as Anna May Wong — the next few months will offer some opportunities to discover this pioneer of Hollywood’s early era who is regarded as the first Chinese American movie star. Later this year, Wong will round out 2022’s inaugural group of women spotlighted in the U.S. Mint’s four-year American Woman Quarters Program (this also makes Wong the first Asian American to appear on U.S. currency). More immediately, you’ll be able to enjoy the star’s charismatic acting when she is honored by Turner Classic Movies each Thursday night in May — which is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month — with lineups featuring a number of her films. The titles primarily include her work in the silent and early sound eras. Those were particularly tough times for Asian American actors in Hollywood, who often faced being typecast in stereotypical supporting roles and losing out on lead roles entirely due to the practice of “yellowface,” where white actors would portray Asian characters, often as a caricature. Despite such hurdles and frustrations throughout her career, Wong was able to achieve international stardom as an actress and a fashion icon, and you can see why this month on TCM beginning with tonight’s lineup, which kicks off with The Toll of the Sea (1922). A variation of the Madame Butterfly tale set in China instead of Japan, this silent film is one of the earliest Hollywood productions shot in color and features Wong in her first leading role, albeit one that placed her in one of the limited character stereotypes Hollywood offered Asian American actresses at that time, that of a naive, self-sacrificing young woman. Also airing tonight are two silent films Wong made in 1927: Mr. Wu, a drama featuring her in one of the supporting roles she was often relegated to as a result of Hollywood’s censorship against depicting mixed-race couples onscreen; and Old San Francisco, with Wong, in a supporting role as a gangster’s right-hand woman, stepping into another of Hollywood’s Asian female character stereotypes: the cunning and deceitful “dragon lady.” Airing in between The Toll of the Sea and Mr. Wu is the TCM premiere of a 2019 documentary called Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood. The hourlong production expands its focus beyond just Wong to take a look at Hollywood’s overall treatment of Asian Americans onscreen and off from World War II through the Cold War. Shirley J. Lim, an associate professor in the history department of Stony Brook University and author of the 2019 book Anna May Wong: Performing the Modern, will cohost tonight’s titles with TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz.
Grey’s Anatomy: “Should I Stay or Should I Go”
ABC, 9pm
Bailey faces an unhappy Catherine who is facing audits for several of her Foundation hospitals. Meanwhile, Addison is back at Grey Sloan; tensions rise between Meredith and Richard; and Owen returns to work.
Call Me Kat
FOX, 9pm
Season Finale!
In the Season 2 finale “Call Me Shellfish,” Kat (Mayim Bialik) tries to keep her anxiety under control while coming up with a plan to save the café.
Windy City Rehab: “Change of Scenery”
HGTV, 9pm
Alison Victoria joins forces with a husband-and-wife Realtor team to restore a three-bedroom Spanish Revival in California’s Hollywood Hills. She takes on a complete gut rehab after the grand property sat empty for years in this historic and iconic neighborhood.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: “Did You Believe in Miracles?”
NBC, 9pm
When a student’s school reports a girl missing, the squad must track down a trusted family friend for answers. Meanwhile, Benson (Mariska Hargitay) gets a Mother’s Day surprise.
How We Roll: “The Power of Positive Thinking”
CBS, 9:30pm
Tom (Pete Holmes) asks Archie (Chi McBride) to listen to a podcast about positivity in order to change his coaching style in the new episode “The Power of Positive Thinking.”
Welcome to Flatch: “Dinner, Dresses and Dumps”
FOX, 9:30pm
Kelly (Holmes) plans a special dinner for when her father (guest star Jason MacDonald) comes home in the new episode “Dinner, Dresses and Dumps.”
Law & Order: Organized Crime: “Lost One”
NBC, 10pm
When a 9-year-old girl is kidnapped in connection with the Brotherhood, Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and the task force must work together with Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and the SVU to track down the culprits before it’s too late.
Friday, May 6
Bosch: Legacy
Amazon Freevee (formerly known as IMDb TV)
New Series!
Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) is back in this 10-episode spinoff of the long-running Prime Video series Bosch, with the former LAPD detective now beginning a new chapter in his life as a private investigator. His first job calls him to the estate of ailing billionaire Whitney Vance (William Devane), where Bosch is tasked with finding Vance’s only potential heir. Along the way, the detective finds himself clashing with powerful figures who have a vested interest in that heir not being found. Meanwhile, Bosch’s daughter, Maddie (Madison Lintz), follows in his footsteps as a rookie patrol officer with the LAPD. The first four episodes are available today; two new episodes are available subsequent Fridays.
The Big Conn
Apple TV+
New Series!
This true-crime docuseries tells the unbelievable true story of larger-than-life attorney Eric C. Conn, who defrauded the government out of over half a billion dollars in the largest Social Security fraud case in history. The series premieres on the same day as a companion podcast (available on Apple Podcasts) that will explore Conn’s con and outrageous lifestyle further, with additional interviews and behind-the-scenes details. All four episodes are available today.
Tehran
Apple TV+
Season Premiere!
The thriller about a Mossad agent (Niv Sultan) who goes deep undercover on a dangerous mission in Tehran returns for Season 2. Glenn Close joins the cast this season. The first two episodes are available today, with new episodes available on subsequent Fridays.
To Mom (and Dad), With Love
Apple TV+
This new Peanuts holiday special is themed around Mother’s Day.
Along for the Ride
Netflix
Original Film!
The summer before college, Auden (Emma Pasarow) meets the mysterious Eli (Belmont Cameli), a fellow insomniac. While the rest of the seaside town of Colby sleeps, the two embark on a nightly quest to help Auden experience the fun, carefree teen life she never knew she wanted. Sofia Alvarez (screenwriter of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) wrote and makes her feature directorial debut with this film based on the young adult novel of the same name by Sarah Dessen. Kate Bosworth, Andie MacDowell and Dermot Mulroney also star.
Marmaduke
Netflix
Feature Film Exclusive!
Pete Davidson voices the messy but lovable (and very large) titular Great Dane in this animated comedy based on the beloved comic strip. Although Marmaduke has a big heart, the mischievous pooch can’t stay out of trouble. Does he have what it takes to shine in the swanky world of dog shows? The voice cast also includes J.K. Simmons as Marmaduke’s canine rival, Zeus, and David Koechner as Phil, patriarch of the Winslows, Marmaduke’s family.
The Sound of Magic
Netflix
New Series!
This live-action Korean fantasy/drama, based on the popular webtoon Annarasumanara, follows Yoon Ah-yi (Choi Sung-eun), a girl who had to grow up too fast and is struggling with the harsh realities of life. She begins to experience a world beyond her imagination when she meets Rieul (Ji Chang-wook), an enigmatic magician living in an abandoned amusement park who — although grown up — wants to remain a kid.
The Takedown
Netflix
Original Film!
This French action comedy is a sequel to 2012’s On the Other Side of the Tracks and features Omar Sy (Netflix’s Lupin) and Laurent Lafitte reprising their roles as cops Ousmane Diakité and François Monge, an unlikely duo with very different styles, backgrounds and careers. They are reunited for a new investigation that takes them across France, with what seemed to be a simple drug deal turning out to be a high-scale criminal case.
The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith
Prime Video
New Series!
This Canadian true-crime docuseries from director Nathalie Bibeau (The Walrus and the Whistleblower) follows the cold case and controversial investigation into the 1974 murder of 22-year-old Beverly Lynn Smith in her home in Oshawa, Ontario. Woven together from firsthand accounts, expert interviews, family archives and rare access to key participants, the series explores the unrelenting enigma of ethics and accountability in this provocative criminal case.
The Wilds
Prime Video
Season Premiere!
Season 2 of the drama continues to follow the harrowing ordeal of a group of teenage girls stranded on a deserted island, and not by accident — they’ve secretly been recruited into an elaborate social experiment. The new season ratchets up the drama by revealing that the girls aren’t the only ones being studied. There’s a new set of subjects: an island of teenage boys, who must also fight for survival under the watchful eye of the experiment’s puppet master.
The Blacklist: “The Bear Mask”
NBC, 8pm
Feeling the weight of recent pressures, Aram (Amir Arison) turns to an unusual outlet for release.
Magnum P.I.
CBS, 9pm
Season Finale!
In the Season 4 finale episode “Close to Home,” Magnum and Higgins (Jay Hernandez and Perdita Weeks) take on a dangerous mission in a high-security correctional facility after a ruthless criminal abducts Beth Katsumoto (guest star Shawna Christensen).
Sheryl
Showtime, 9pm
This documentary chronicles musical icon Sheryl Crow’s rise to fame while confronting sexism, depression, perfectionism and cancer. It features interviews with Crow, footage from her tours and the recording studio, and interviews with friends including Keith Richards and Laura Dern.
Love After Lockup
WE tv, 9pm
Season Finale!
In the Season 4 finale, will the couples’ love survive after lockup, or is it all just a con?
Blue Bloods
CBS, 10pm
Season Finale!
Season 12 of the police drama starring Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg and Bridget Moynahan concludes with “Silver Linings.” Blue Bloods has been renewed for Season 13.
Zero Hour!
TCM, 10:15pm
Catch a Classic!
Although this 1957 airplane-in-distress drama takes itself very seriously, fans of the 1980 movie Airplane! may find themselves chuckling throughout the film. Airplane! is basically a shot-for-shot parody of Zero Hour! at many points, and those familiar with the comedy will recognize some of the character types and/or names (like Dana Andrews’ Ted Stryker), the plot and stretches of dialogue that Airplane! lifted from Zero Hour! The screenplay for the drama was written by Arthur Hailey, who also wrote the novel Airport, which inspired several of the ’70s disaster films that were also spoofed in Airplane! While played straight, Zero Hour! can’t really escape its association with the zaniness of Airplane!, and that makes it a unique watch. Even for those unfamiliar with the comedy, the heightened melodrama and some over-the-top plot elements of this movie make it a bit humorous in its own right, and it’s tempting to want to go back and say to the creators of the film, “Surely, you can’t be serious.” Zero Hour! is airing as the middle film in a triple feature of air-disaster movies commemorating the 85th anniversary of the Hindenburg crash. It is preceded by The Hindenburg (1975) and followed by Back From Eternity (1956).
Saturday, May 7
Horse Racing: 148th Kentucky Derby
NBC, 2:30pm Live
All the pageantry and tradition of the Kentucky Derby returns to Louisville’s Churchill Downs. Epicenter, Zandon, White Abarrio, Tiz the Bomb, Crown Pride, Cyberknife and Mo Donegal are among the top horses who could be in the starting gate.
The Naked Spur
MOVIES!, 3:30pm
Catch a Classic!
This 1953 film is the third of five memorable Westerns on which star James Stewart and director Anthony Mann teamed, and one of the rare films in that genre to have earned an Oscar nomination for its screenplay, written by Sam Rolfe and Harold Jack Bloom. As in his other collaborations with Mann, Stewart here plays a harder-edged character than the type people had come to expect from his earlier films, but still one who is likable, as Howard Kemp, an embittered rancher turned bounty hunter in the Old West. Robert Ryan costars as his quarry, wanted killer Ben Vandergroat. After Kemp and two associates catch Vandergroat, the outlaw engages in a series of psychological tactics to get his captors to turn on each other. Janet Leigh, Ralph Meeker and Millard Mitchell also star in this acclaimed film that has been added to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry because of how it “infuses a tried-and-true Western scenario with tense psychological complexity through strong, clear storytelling … and vivid Technicolor scenes of the Rockies.”
Buffalo Keepers
INSP, 4pm
This hourlong historical docudrama chronicles the history of the American buffalo — the West’s most iconic animal — from its place as a national symbol to its near extinction and, ultimately, its last-minute rescue. It’s an epic, multigenerational tale of dedication and commitment to carefully tending and breeding the buffalo herds that interweaves the fate of the Native Americans, the expansion of the railroad and the emergence of legendary historical figures like Theodore Roosevelt and Buffalo Bill.
USFL Football: Tampa Bay vs. Birmingham
FOX, 7pm Live
USFL football action on FOX has a Week 4 matchup between the Tampa Bay Bandits and the Birmingham Stallions at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama.
Murdoch Mysteries: “The Night Before Christmas”
Ovation, 7pm
Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) and company’s Christmas at an idyllic country estate turns potentially deadly.
Warming Up to You
Hallmark Channel, 8pm
Original Film!
Kate Wolfe (Cindy Busby) is a fitness instructor who leaves Los Angeles to take a job at her best friend’s wellness retreat. To her surprise, A-list actor Rick Steele (Christopher Russell) is assigned by the studio to train with her for his new feature film. Not only does the duo make a breakthrough athletically, but they also break through some personal walls and find an unexpected friendship that is put at risk when Rick’s costar is also sent to train with Kate. Also stars Caitlin Stryker.
Renovation Goldmine: “All in the Family”
HGTV, 8pm
Joe and Meg Piercy take on two separate renovation projects for cousins who live just a few blocks apart. First, Jen and Melanie’s growing family is bursting out of their third floor apartment, and they’re ready to move to the downstairs of their Chicago greystone. It’s a giant project with a tight budget, so Joe and Meg will use as much of their existing furniture as possible to fully furnish the new space. Just down the street, sisters Kelsey and Tara live together and can’t agree on what to do with their builder-grade kitchen. Joe and Meg will navigate the sisters’ differing opinions to create a single space that functions for all.
Murdered by Morning
Oxygen, 8pm
Season Premiere!
This series documents the captivating stories of victims whose evenings took a turn for the worse and ended in homicide. Detectives sift through an array of suspects from the night of the murder in their search for clues, ultimately leading them to uncover the killer behind each untimely death.
I Bought a Dump… Now What?: “Ballooning Budgets and Near Disasters”
HGTV, 9pm
As the three sets of homeowners get their renovations underway, serious and near-fatal events threaten to derail the projects. The teams must work around a crashing chimney, skyrocketing budgets and severe weather in order to finish their dream homes.
Inspiring America: The 2022 Inspiration List
NBC, 9pm; MSNBC, 10pm; CNBC, 11pm; Telemundo, 12am (late-night)
NBC News’ Lester Holt, Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb host this hourlong presentation of stories about individuals who have made an impact on their communities and industries this past year.
Portals to Hell: “Fort Mifflin”
Travel Channel, 10pm; also streams on discovery+
Katrina Weidman takes Jack Osbourne to one of her favorite hot spots — Philadelphia’s Fort Mifflin, a location rife with the ghosts of wars long past. The pair peel back the layers of haunted history and discover something unexpected is stationed at the fort.