TV Best Bets

Wednesday, Feb. 8: ‘City in the Sky’ Cleared for Departure on PBS

City in the Sky BBC

All Times Eastern.

Wednesday, Feb. 8

City in the Sky: “Departure”
PBS, 10pm
Explore a unique midair metropolis of a million people on flights that crisscross the world daily. The first episode, “Departure,” demonstrates what it takes to get travelers off the ground — from building the world’s biggest passenger plane to controlling the flow of passengers through the busiest airport on the planet to the perils of takeoff in the coldest city on Earth.

So Cosmo
E!, 8pm
New Series!
Step inside the pages of Cosmopolitan magazine and take a look at the real-life drama that takes place within its glossy pages. Meet the sexy and driven young trendsetters and tastemakers whose fresh perspectives inspire the worlds of music, fashion, style, beauty, sex and celebrities.

Blindspot: “Name Not One Man”
NBC, 8pm
The team gets a major break in the Sandstorm case when they discover Shepherd’s (Michelle Hurd) true identity — and a decades-old connection between her and Weller (Sullivan Stapleton).

Spy in the Wild: “Intelligence”
PBS, 8pm
Infiltrate the world of animal intelligence, ingenuity and creativity. Watch our spies disguised as animals observe a gray squirrel stealing Spy Nut, a sea otter cracking open a meal and an orangutan washing with soap!

Speechless: “VAL—VALENTINE’S D-A—DAY”
ABC, 8:30pm
Maya (Minnie Driver) taps her ex-fiancé and Jimmy’s former roommate for help with Jimmy’s (John Ross Bowie) Valentine’s Day gift. Meanwhile, Ray (Mason Cook) is thrilled to discover he has a secret admirer and JJ (Micah Fowler) and Kenneth (Cedric Yarbrough) deliver candy-grams.

Modern Family: “Do You Believe in Magic”
ABC, 9pm
Phil (Ty Burrell) calls upon his alter ego Clive Bixby to help rekindle his romance with Claire (Julie Bowen). Cam (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) help Haley (Sarah Hyland), Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons) and Sal (Elizabeth Banks) stand up for themselves. Alex’s (Ariel Winter) secret admirer is a little too close to the family for comfort.

NOVA: “Ultimate Cruise Ship”
PBS, 9pm
Weighing 54,000 gross tons and stretching over two football fields, the Seven Seas Explorer is no ordinary boat. Join pioneering shipbuilders as they endeavor to build the ultimate cruise ship.

The Magicians: “Divine Elimination”
Syfy, 9pm
Quentin and friends prepare to face The Beast again, while Julia conspires with The Beast and their new ally to lure and trap Reynard.

black-ish: “The Name Game”
ABC, 9:30pm
Dre (Anthony Anderson) and Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross) have a gender reveal party, but Bow and Ruby (Jenifer Lewis) aren’t fond of Dre’s choice for the baby’s name. Diane (Marsai Martin) steps up after Zoey’s (Yara Shadidi) anti-Valentine’s-Day party with her best friend Shelly is kiboshed when Junior (Marcus Scribner) asks Shelly for a date.

The Quad
BET, 10pm
New Series!

This series follows the ambitious yet secretive life of Eva (Anika Noni Rose), the newly elected president of Georgia A&M (one of the historically black colleges and universities), her administration, and the entering freshman class. The freshman are led by Zoe, Eva’s rebellious daughter; Cedric, a talented rapper; and Bojohn, who is looking to achieve victory and success as the school’s first white starting quarterback. The staple of Georgia A&M is its prestigious marching band, led by their charismatic yet ruthless leader, Art Diamond. Art’s power and influence proves a challenge to Eva, but she manages to find strong allies in Ella Grace, dean of the history department, and football coach Eugene Hardwick. Though the students and faculty come from different places and face different challenges, one similarity remains — everyone is looking to make a name for themselves at Georgia A&M.

Code Black: “Fallen Angels”
CBS, 10pm
Season Finale!
In the Season 2 finale, “Fallen Angels,” the doctors work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to find an antidote to the deadly viral outbreak at Angels Memorial.

Legion
FX, 10pm
New Series!

Noah Hawley (FX’s Fargo) is the creator of this stylish, mind-bending action/drama based on a Marvel Comics character. Legion (a.k.a. David Haller) is the mutant son of Charles Xavier, whose varying superpowers are controlled by the many sides of his multiple personality disorder. This series begins with David (Dan Stevens, Downton Abbey) in a mental hospital, where events reveal his superpowers to a sinister agency looking to exploit them. Aubrey Plaza, Rachel Keller, Jean Smart, Jeremie Harris, Amber Midthunder and Bill Irwin also star.

Chicago P.D.: “I Remember Her Now”
NBC, 10pm
The body of a 15-year-old girl is found crushed in an abandoned building after she runs away from a treatment center for troubled girls. Voight (Jason Beghe) sends Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) undercover as a guard to work from the inside at the center, where he believes the girls are trading sexual favors for something in return.

The Expanse: “Static”
Syfy, 10pm
Holden and Miller butt heads about how the raid was handled.

Suits: “Teeth, Nose, Teeth”
USA Network, 10pm
Rachel receives a letter that creates an unexpected issue for Harvey and Louis; Mike’s mentorship gets put to the test; Donna gets a surprise from the IT department.

Thursday, Feb. 9

NHL Hockey: N.Y. Islanders at Philadelphia
NBCSN, 7pm Live

John Tavares leads the N.Y. Islanders against Claude Giroux and the Philadelphia Flyers in this Thursday night NHL matchup on NBCSN.

Grey’s Anatomy: “None of Your Business”
ABC, 8pm
Maggie (Kelly McCreary) is surprised when her mother shows up at the hospital. Bailey (Chandra Wilson) faces a difficult decision when an attending refuses to work with Eliza (Marika Dominczyk). Stephanie (Jerrika Hinton) gets caught up in Owen (Kevin McKidd) and Amelia’s (Caterina Scorsone) personal drama.

College Basketball: North Carolina at Duke
ESPN, 8pm Live

Two of college basketball’s biggest rivals take to the floor at Cameron Indoor Stadium as the North Carolina Tar Heels take on the Duke Blue Devils on ESPN.

MasterChef Junior
FOX, 8pm
Season Premiere!
Culinary kids face off for cooking prowess and big prizes when the series returns for its fifth season. But before they can win the title of “MasterChef Junior,” they must master deliciously fun challenges and impress award-winning chef Gordon Ramsay, renowned pastry chef Christina Tosi and an array of celebrity guest judges.

Superstore: “Valentine’s Day”
NBC, 8pm
Well-intentioned Amy (America Ferrera) and Glenn (Mark McKinney) get caught up in the Valentine’s Day spirit by playing matchmaker, and quickly learn what happens when you try to force love.

NBA Basketball
TNT, beginning at 8pm Live

TNT has a Thursday night NBA doubleheader featuring LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Oklahoma City to face Russell Westbrook and the Thunder. The second game has the Boston Celtics in the Pacific Northwest to take on the Portland Trail Blazers.

Powerless: “Wayne Dream Team”
NBC, 8:30pm
With a new product idea greenlit, Emily (Vanessa Hudgens) tries to get her team inspired but can’t seem to break through their obsession with Fantasy Super Hero League.

Scandal: “Fates Worse Than Death”
ABC, 9pm
In the midst of a national crisis, Cyrus’ (Jeff Perry) fate is sealed. Meanwhile, Olivia (Kerry Washington) and the gladiators will stop at nothing to get to the truth.

Chicago Med: “Theseus’ Ship”
NBC, 9pm
Dr. Rhodes (Colin Donnell) convinces Dr. Latham (guest star Ato Essandoh) to join him for a medical trip out of town, which puts Latham’s personality issues to the test. Dr. Manning (Torrey DeVitto) treats an 8-year-old cancer patient who wants to give up on the battle.

How to Get Away With Murder: “Go Cry Somewhere Else”
ABC, 10pm
Tensions in the courtroom run high as the prosecution levels a new charge against Annalise (Viola Davis). Meanwhile, as detectives call Oliver (Conrad Ricamora) in for questioning, Nate (Billy Brown) uncovers a crucial piece of information that could call his own innocence into question.

Training Day: “Tehrangeles”
CBS, 10pm
Kyle (Justin Cornwell) grows concerned that Frank’s (Bill Paxton) rogue tactics will put a kidnapped girl’s life at even greater risk after a former member of Libya’s elite “Amazonian Guard” bodyguard unit becomes involved in the deal in the new episode “Tehrangeles.”

The Blacklist: “Isabella Stone”
NBC, 10pm
The task force springs into action to find a sophisticated criminal (guest star Melora Hardin) who has been targeting Red’s (James Spader) businesses. An unexpected event sets Tom (Ryan Eggold) on the hunt for information about his past.

Impractical Jokers
truTV, 10pm
Season Premiere!
Pranksters Sal, Joe, Murr and Q capture all-new dares — and the amazed, confused or flabbergasted reactions of unsuspecting strangers — on hidden cameras. After completing each dare, the four friends are given a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down to determine whose prank succeeded and whose failed. At the end of each episode, the member of the quartet with the most fails faces a humiliating punishment.

Friday, Feb. 10

Abstract: The Art of Design
Netflix
This documentary demystifies the contemporary creative experience for a wide audience by bringing us inside the lives and minds of some of the greatest designers working today in a variety of disciplines. By seeing the world through these designers’ eyes, Abstract shows viewers in a fresh and inspiring way how design impacts every aspect of life and exposes them to a new perspective on design thinking.

David Brent: Life on the Road
Netflix
In this original film, fans of the original British version of The Office can catch up with what Ricky Gervais’ cringingly awkward boss character David Brent has been up to 12 years later. Brent is now a traveling salesman chasing his dream of being a rock superstar with his band, Foregone Conclusion.

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown/A Charlie Brown Valentine
ABC, 8pm
Celebrate Valentine’s Day early with back-to-back Peanuts specials. In Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown, Sally thinks the box of candy Linus bought for his teacher is for her, Lucy demands Schroeder’s attention and Charlie Brown hopes this year’s his year for a valentine. In A Charlie Brown Valentine, Charlie works up the courage to asked his beloved little red-haired girl to a dance, but dials the wrong number and gets Peppermint Patty instead.

Grimm: “Breakfast in Bed”
NBC, 8pm
Nick (David Giuntoli), Hank (Russell Hornsby) and Wu (Reggie Lee) investigate a local hotel after a grisly murder leads to one of its guests, who claims to be haunted by a frightening creature in the night.

Hawaii Five-0: “Poniu I Ke Aloha (Crazy in Love)”
CBS, 9pm
The new episode “Poniu I Ke Aloha (Crazy in Love)” finds McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin) and Danno (Scott Caan) celebrating Valentine’s Day with their girlfriends, while the rest of Five-0 investigates the murder of a man taking a class on how to land women.

Reign
The CW, 9pm
Season Premiere!
In the Season 3 finale, heads rolled — literally. In addition, Prince Charles ascended the throne, and over in Scotland, Queen Mary tried to unify her people while setting her sights on the throne of her rival, Elizabeth. Expect more damask-clad dramatics from these steamy royals in Season 4.

Emerald City: “They Came First”
NBC, 9pm
The Wizard (Vincent D’Onofrio) launches an assault on a village as his power is threatened, and he enlists West (Ana Ularu) to help. Dorothy (Adria Arjona) and Lucas (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) fight to keep Silvie (guest star Rebeka Rea) safe as they journey north to seek Glinda’s (Joely Richardson) assistance.

Smokey Robinson: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song
PBS, 9pm
Join host Samuel L. Jackson for an all-star tribute to singer and songwriter Smokey Robinson, the 2016 recipient of the Gershwin Prize, with a special appearance by Berry Gordy, founder of the Motown record label.

Saturday, Feb. 11

“Frozen Planet” Marathon
BBC America, beginning at 11am
Ahead of the Feb. 18 premiere of Planet Earth II, BBC America airs the 2011 nature documentary series Frozen Planet, which presented stunning footage of life in Earth’s polar regions. The marathon begins with “The Making of Frozen Planet,” and includes “To the Ends of the Earth,” “Spring,” “Summer,” “Autumn,” “Winter,” “The Last Frontier,” “On Thin Ice” and “The Epic Journey.”

College Basketball: Kentucky at Alabama
CBS, 1pm Live

A Saturday afternoon college basketball matchup in the SEC has the Kentucky Wildcats in Tuscaloosa’s Coleman Coliseum to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide on CBS.

College Basketball: Villanova at Xavier
FOX, 2:30pm
Live
A big college hoops matchup in the Big East today has the Villanova Wildcats heading to Cincinnati’s Cintas Center to take on the Xavier Musketeers on FOX.

48th Annual NAACP Image Awards
TV One, 7:30pm Live
The event begins with a 90-minute special in which celebrities including multi-nominees Beyoncé and Solange Knowles, Chance the Rapper, Kendrick Lamar, Donald Glover and Nate Parker strut the red carpet and strike a pose. The awards ceremony follows, celebrating the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film, and honoring individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. Anthony Anderson hosts this year’s ceremony.

Ransom: “Celina”
CBS, 8pm
The clock is ticking in the new episode “Celina” when a French couple hires Eric (Luke Roberts) and his team to rescue their kidnapped baby surrogate who has a dangerous condition and needs immediate medical care.

NBA Basketball: Golden State at Oklahoma City
ABC, 8:30pm Live

This Saturday primetime NBA matchup on ABC has the Golden State Warriors visiting the Oklahoma City Thunder in a homecoming game for former Thunder star Kevin Durant.

A Dash of Love
Hallmark Channel, 9pm
Original Film!
Love, and the culinary world, is whisk-y business when an aspiring chef (Jen Lilley) lands a job at her idol’s restaurant. After a rocky start, she befriends the kitchen’s handsome executive chef (Brendan Penny), but her joy is short-lived. When she discovers her idol is stealing recipes, both she and her hunky new friend are fired to protect the secret. Together, they set out to create their own pop-up restaurant and discover that the most important ingredient is love.

Saturday Night Live: “Alec Baldwin/Ed Sheeran”
NBC, 11:30pm Live
Alec Baldwin makes his record-breaking 17th appearance as guest host tonight, and it seems pretty likely that he’ll bring out his well-received impression of President Donald Trump. Musical guest Ed Sheeran is back for his second appearance on SNL.

About Ryan Berenz 2166 Articles
Member of the Television Critics Association. Charter member of the Ancient and Mystic Society of No Homers. Squire of the Ancient & Benevolent Order of the Lynx, Lodge 49, Long Beach, Calif. Costco Wholesale Gold Star Member since 2011.