TV Best Bets

Wednesday, May 9: An Intense ‘Chicago P.D.’ Season Finale on NBC

James Dimmock/NBC

All Times Eastern.

Wednesday, May 9

Chicago P.D.: “Homecoming”
NBC, 10pm
Season Finale!
As the battle between the Intelligence Unit’s Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) and CPD auditor Denny Woods (Mykelti Williamson) comes to a head, will Voight be able to keep Detective Olinsky (Elias Koteas) from being indicted for a murder that Voight himself committed?

Riverdale: “Chapter Thirty-Four: Judgement Night”
The CW, 8pm
When an incident at the sheriff’s station triggers an all-out war between the North and the Southside, Archie (KJ Apa) and Jughead (Cole Sprouse) find themselves in the fight of their lives.

The Blacklist: “Lawrence Dane Devlin”
NBC, 8pm
When Samar (Mozhan Marnò) lands in the crosshairs of an unconventional Blacklister, Aram (Amir Arison) and the task force spring into action to find her before it’s too late. Meanwhile, Red (James Spader) journeys to Costa Rica to prevent the duffel bag of bones from being sold to the highest bidder at an underground auction.

Nature: “The Mating Game”
PBS, 8pm
Getting ahead in the mating game requires some astonishing behavior — from promiscuous prairie dogs to backstabbing manakins, kidnapping macaques and hyenas with a bad case of sibling rivalry.

Alex, Inc.: “The Fever”
ABC, 8:30pm
Using a voice translator to understand what Bengali-speaking Joya (Anjali Bhimani) said about him, Alex (Zach Braff) accidentally discovers a family secret. Deirdre (Hillary Anne Matthews) mistakenly erases the focus group results and tries to recreate them before Alex gets back to the office. Soraya (Audyssie James) pretends to be sick to avoid participating in her recital.

Modern Family: “The Escape”
ABC, 9pm
Haley (Sarah Hyland) meets Arvin’s (Chris Geere) parents (Kate Burton, Jim Piddock), which leads to an unexpected reunion with all of her ex-boyfriends. Meanwhile, the family uses a nursing home visit with Jay’s (Ed O’Neill) mean sister, Becky (Mary Louise Wilson), to settle old scores. But while Jay, Claire (Julie Bowen) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) compete for her time, Phil (Ty Burrell), Cam (Eric Stonestreet) and Gloria (Sofia Vergara) end up trapped in the basement with no way out.

SEAL Team: “The Graveyard of Empires”
CBS, 9pm
Series star David Boreanaz directed the new episode “The Graveyard of Empires.” Following a helicopter crash, the SEALs must proceed with the mission as hostiles bear down on them and an injured and impaired Jason (Boreanaz) goes after their target alone.

Botched
E!, 9pm
Season Premiere!
Dr. Terry Dubrow and Dr. Paul Nassif are back for their fifth season, as they continue to transform lives and restore their patients’ through reconstructive procedures.

Iron Chef Gauntlet
Food Network, 9pm
Season Finale!
Will the last competitor standing best a veteran and claim the venerable Iron Chef title? Find out tonight.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: “Guardian”
NBC, 9pm
Fin (Ice-T) investigates a man’s claim that his sister was gang-raped.

NOVA Wonders: “Are We Alone?”
PBS, 9pm
Join astronomers and engineers on a hunt for life on worlds near and far. Discover the next generation of telescopes, probes and robots that are getting us one step closer to answering one of humanity’s biggest questions: Are we alone?

The Expanse: “Triple Point”
Syfy, 9pm
The search for Prax’s (Terry Chen) daughter comes to a head, while Admiral Souther’s (Martin Roach) men plan for mutiny aboard the Thomas Prince.

American Housewife: “Finding Fillion”
ABC, 9:30pm
Sometimes, great actors make awful guest stars (Brad Pitt on Friends). Other times, awful actors make great guest stars (Jean-Claude Van Damme on Friends). Castle veteran Nathan Fillion hits the sweet spot: He’s a wonderful actor who’s a delight wherever he drops in. On tonight’s American Housewife (and in next week’s finale), he plays himself. “I’m a version of me that I think people imagine me to be,” Fillion says. “Personable, but a little Hollywood.” The sitcom’s mom, Katie (Katy Mixon), and her daughter Taylor (Meg Donnelly) hunt down the former Firefly star at a sci-fi convention.

Designated Survivor: “Target”
ABC, 10pm
White House Council Kendra Daynes (Zoe McLellan) finds herself in a dangerous situation that puts another White House staffer’s life at risk, while Agent Wells’ (Maggie Q) search for answers results in an unexpected trip.

Code Black: “La Familia”
CBS, 10pm
In the new episode “La Familia,” Jesse (Luis Guzmán) is shocked when his brother (guest star Efrain Figueroa) is brought to Angels Memorial after being pinned down in a warehouse collapse.

Krypton: “Savage Night”
Syfy, 10pm
A resistance movement begins to form to impede the Voice of Rao’s (Blake Ritson) increasing power and influence.

Colony: “Puzzle Man”
USA Network, 10pm
Will (Josh Holloway) and Katie (Sarah Wayne Callies) put themselves at risk to make contact with the Resistance, while Broussard (Tory Kittles) pieces together IGA secrets left behind in L.A.

Thursday, May 10

Safe
Netflix
New Series!
Michael C. Hall (Dexter) returns to television in this new series from bestselling crime thriller author Harlan Coben. After his teenage daughter goes missing under mysterious circumstances, widowed surgeon Tom Delaney (Hall) begins unearthing dark secrets about the people closest to him.

Grey’s Anatomy: “Cold as Ice”
ABC, 8pm
One of Grey Sloan Memorial’s own is seriously injured, leading the team to reflect on what is truly important to them. Meanwhile, Nicole Herman (Geena Davis) pays a visit to Grey Sloan and talks to Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) about an exciting opportunity.

The Big Bang Theory: “The Bow Tie Asymmetry”
CBS, 8pm
Season Finale!
Sheldon and Amy (Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik) have quite the wedding guest list! Jerry O’Connell (as Sheldon’s bro), Laurie Metcalf (his mom), plus Kathy Bates and Mark Hamill (in top-secret roles) all appear.

Young Sheldon
CBS, 8:30pm
Season Finale!
In the Season 1 finale, “Vanilla Ice Cream, Gentlemen Callers, and a Dinette Set,” Sheldon (Iain Armitage) interferes when Meemaw (Annie Potts) is pursued by two gentlemen callers (recurring stars Richard Kind and Wallace Shawn).

Station 19: “Hot Box”
ABC, 9pm
In the final days before the new Station 19 captain is announced, Pruitt (Miguel Sandoval) warns Andy (Jaina Lee Ortiz) not to be disappointed with the outcome. Meanwhile, Ben (Jason George) gets upset with Pruitt for telling Bailey (Chandra Wilson) the dangers of firefighting, and the team gets trapped inside the garage of a burning house, putting several lives at risk.

Mom
CBS, 9pm
Season Finale!
Cap and … frown? The college graduation of single mother Christy (Anna Faris) should be a happy time for her and strong-willed mom Bonnie (Allison Janney), both recovering alcoholics. But unexpected circumstances dim the pomp on the sharp comedy. Christy discovers that her ex Patrick (Steven Weber) is getting hitched. In a fit of anger and sadness, she picks up an old habit: gambling.

Chicago Fire: “One for the Ages/The Grand Gesture”
NBC, 9pm
Season Finale!
The two-hour season finale begins at a special time. In “One for the Ages,” Boden (Eamonn Walker) takes a big step toward a major career decision, while Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) becomes increasingly distrustful of Renée’s (guest star Sarah Shahi) motives with Severide (Taylor Kinney). Then, in “The Grand Gesture,” Boden’s chances for a promotion are met with potential complications; Dawson (Monica Raymund) and Casey (Jesse Spencer) don’t see eye-to-eye on an important decision; and Kidd finds herself struggling to find time with Severide.

Atlanta: “Crabs in a Barrel”
FX, 10pm
Season Finale!
Another season of the trippy, visionary comedy about Georgia rapper Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry) and his cousin and manager Earn (Donald Glover) comes to a close. The episode title, “Crabs in a Barrel,” doesn’t hint at a happy ending, though.

S.W.A.T.: “Hunted”
CBS, 10pm
In the new episode “Hunted,” Hondo (Shemar Moore) and Deacon (Jay Harrington) must apply all their training and skills to evade a gang of armed mercenaries pursuing them in the mountains.

Friday, May 11

Bill Nye Saves the World
Netflix
Season Premiere!
Bill Nye returns for Season 3 of his show, which finds the scientist and educator continuing to tackle topics from a scientific point of view, dispelling myths and refuting anti-scientific claims.

The Kissing Booth
Netflix
Original Film!
This is a film adaptation of teenage author Beth Reekles’ young-adult novel of the same name (Reekles wrote the book when she was 15). It follows a 16-year-old girl, who loves to party but who has never been kissed, as she is suddenly swept up in a romance with the hottest boy in school. Joey King and Joel Courtney star, along with Molly Ringwald, who is no stranger to teen dramas herself.

Dynasty: “Dead Scratch”
The CW, 8pm
Season Finale!
Hopefully someone’s checking the guest list for Moldavians, because Sammy Jo (Rafael de la Fuente) and Steven (James Mackay) are prepping to tie the knot and we remember what happens when folks on Dynasty get hitched …

BattleBots
Discovery Channel, 8pm
Season Premiere!
The robot-fighting series returns, featuring machines from all over the world duking it out for supremacy in the ever-growing world of robot combat sports. Chris Rose and Kenny Florian return to call the action, while Jessica Chobot serves as sideline reporter, with Faruq Tauheed back as ring announcer. New episodes will also air on Science Channel beginning May 16.

Meghan Markle: An American Princess
FOX, 8pm
Days before the royal wedding, FOX presents an inside look at Meghan Markle’s life and potential legacy as the first American to marry into the British royal family since 1937. With insight from broadcast journalist Piers Morgan, Meghan’s half-sister Samantha, Harry’s biographer Katie Nicholl and Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell, the two-hour special will examine Meghan’s life before Harry, and explore how both her career as an actress and her passion for activism might shape her role as a member of the royal family.

Blindspot: “Defection”
NBC, 8pm
Jane (Jaimie Alexander) is forced to recruit someone from her past to help take down a dangerous alliance.

Hawaii Five-0
CBS, 9pm
Recurring cast members Terry O’Quinn and Willie Garson return in the new episode “Ka Lālā Kaukonakona Haki ’Ole I Ka Pā A Ka Makani Kona (The Tough Branch That Does Not Break in the Kona Gale).” McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin) joins Junior (Beulah Koale) and his Navy SEAL team on a covert mission to capture an elusive target who is holding his mentor, Joe White (O’Quinn), hostage.

Live From Lincoln Center: “Andrew Rannells in Concert”
PBS, 9pm
Known for his Tony-nominated, Grammy-winning performance as Elder Price in The Book of Mormon and as Elijah in HBO’s Girls, Andrew Rannells brings his signature blend of superb vocal prowess and wry wit to a sparkling set of songs.

Blue Bloods: “My Aim Is True”
CBS, 10pm
Season Finale!
Police commissioner and patriarch Frank (Tom Selleck) has a hunch about a rash of recent murders. “He believes they’re tied to an old case that resulted in an overturned conviction and a reward for the six men wrongly imprisoned,” executive producer Kevin Wade reveals. “So the whole family bands together to investigate.” On the personal front, Detective Danny (Donnie Wahlberg), who’s been grieving his late wife, Linda, for a year, begins to move on. Danny’s brother, beat cop Jamie (Will Estes), also deals with matters of the heart. His relationship with partner Eddie (Vanessa Ray) “takes a surprising turn,” Wade hints.

Saturday, May 12

Verizon IndyCar Series: INDYCAR Grand Prix
ABC, 3:30pm Live
Top IndyCar drivers Josef Newgarden, Alexander Rossi, Sebastien Bourdais and others take to the road course that incorporates part of the oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the INDYCAR Grand Prix on ABC.

Abuse of Power
Oxygen, 7pm
New Series!
Oxygen’s latest foray into juicy true crime could be called Men Behaving Badly. Lauren Sivan hosts this look at prominent figures’ misdeeds that kicks off with a spotlight on Atlanta lawyer Fred Tokars, who hired a hit man to kill his wife in the 1990s.

Ransom: “Legacy”
CBS, 8pm
In the new episode “Legacy,” Eric (Luke Roberts) fights to save his mother, renowned surgeon Annette Beaumont (guest star Maria Ricossa), after she is kidnapped and ordered to perform heart surgery on a dangerous crime boss. Eric soon realizes he needs help from his estranged father, Phillip Hingston (guest star John Bourgeois).

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Kansas 400
FS1, 8pm Live
Top Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer take on Kansas Speedway’s 1.5-mile tri-oval in this primetime race on FS1.

Patrick Melrose
Showtime, 9pm
New Miniseries!
Showtime’s new limited series is based on the wildly popular British book series written by Edward St. Aubyn, and based loosely on his fascinating life. In a tour de force, Benedict Cumberbatch plays the titular character, who struggles to overcome the damage inflicted by a horribly abusive father and a mother who passively condoned it. Each episode is devoted to one of the five novels in the book series and hilariously skewers the upper class. From childhood trauma, to wild substance abuse as an adult, and ultimately toward recovery, the humorous and jaw-dropping saga encompasses the South of France in the 1960s, New York in the ’80s and Britain in the early 2000s.

Saturday Night Live: “Amy Schumer/Kacey Musgraves”
NBC, 11:30pm Live
Comedian/actress Amy Schumer, now starring in the feature film I Feel Pretty, returns to SNL for her second time as host. She is joined by country music singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves, who is making her first appearance as musical guest.