TV best bets with returns of ‘Westworld, ‘Black Monday,’ finale of ‘The Bachelor,’ Marc Maron

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Originally posted Sunday, March 8, 2020 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog

HBO brings back its vaunted scif-if series "Westworld" Sunday on the same night Showtime returns for more Don Cheadle and "Black Monday."

Of series closing shop this season, you’ve got ABC’s “The Bachelor,” the CW’s “Black Lightning,” HBO’s “McMillion$,” CBS’s “Carol’s Second Act” and “The Unicorn,” “Bravo’s “Project Runway,” HBO’s “Avenue 5” and NBC’s “Lincoln Rhyme.”

Netflix’s comedy special of the week features Marc Maron.

This covers Monday, March 9 through Sunday, March 15, 2020

MONDAY

"9-11 Lone Star" 8 p.m. Fox (two-hour first season finale) — Owen and the 126 crew race to a gender reveal party gone horribly wrong, and a father/son trapped in a cave during a spelunking excursion.

"The Neighborhood" 8 p.m. CBS — When Calvin decides to film a local TV commercial, he enlists Dave, Tina, and Marty to help. It doesn't take long for creative differences to arise.

"The Bachelor" 8 p.m. ABC — Season finale part one.

"The New Pope" 9 p.m. HBO (first season finale) — John Paul III addresses his followers with a message of love that resonates.

"Black Lightning" 9 p.m. the CW (third season finale) —Black Lightning faces off against Gravedigger.

"Bull" 10 p.m. CBS — Bull joins a a defense team of a doctor who has his DNA connected to a homicide.

"McMillion$" 10 p.m. HBO (first season finale) — As the trial nears, many of the defendants take plea deals and cooperate with the government, but George Chandler and others decide to fight to prove their innocence.

"Manifest" 10:01 p.m. NBC  As a storm rages outside the Stone home and anxieties boil over inside, Olive frantically searches for meaning in a centuries-old text.

"Dispatches From Elsewhere" 10:05 p.m. AMC  While searching for Fred Wynn at the Shareholders meeting, the gang has their first encounter with Octavio; Janice explores her past.

"Briarpatch" 11 p.m. USA  Allegra and Singe investigate Packingtown.

TUESDAY

"Marc Maron: End Times Fun" 3:01 a.m. Netflix — Marc Maron wades through a swamp of vitamin hustlers, evangelicals and grown male nerd children, culminating in a gleefully filthy end-times.

"The Resident" 8 p.m. Fox — When Nadine's father comes to town for her birthday, Devon enlists the help of the whole staff, as well as one of his patients, to ensure that he makes the best first impression.

"The Bachelor" 8 p.m. ABC (24th season finale) — Peter will choose between Hannah Ann and Madison.

"Empire" 9 p.m. Fox —Lucious hunts for a record deal for Yana but is met with surprising feedback from the label execs.

"The Haves and the Have Nots" 9 p.m. OWN (seventh season finale) — Jim plots for revenge.

"This is Us" 9 p.m. NBC — The Pearsons visit New York City.

"For Life" 10 p.m. ABC — In a unique episode taking us back nine years, Marie struggles in her marriage to Aaron as she deals with the turbulence of Aaron's arrest, trial and incarceration.

"New Amsterdam" 10 p.m. NBC — Max, Bloom and Reynolds frantically recount a patient's past encounter that could throw them into a massive lawsuit.

WEDNESDAY

"Survivor" 8 p.m. CBS  Teams are switched up. Amazingly, Parvati, Boston Rob and Sandra are still in the game!

"SEAL Team" 9 p.m. CBS — Bravo Team travels overseas for a foreign training exercise to disguise their true mission – to rescue a high-value target that is being held hostage.

"Lego Masters" 9:01 p.m. Fox — The remaining teams are tasked with two challenges of speed and strength. The first is a timed challenge to build a car.

"S.W.A.T." 10 p.m. CBS — Deacon's second job places the SWAT team in the middle of a kidnapping case when a prize fighter's wife is abducted.

"Twenties" 10 p.m. BET — Hattie keeps looking for her "happy place" to write; Marie is put against the only other black executive in her workplace; Nia is doubting her career path

THURSDAY

"Hospital Playlist" 3:01 a.m. Netflix (new series)  Every day is extraordinary for five doctors and their patients inside a hospital, where birth, death and everything in between coexist.

"Station 19" 8 p.m. ABC  The Station 19 crew responds to a drunk driver scene.

"Last Man Standing" 8 p.m. Fox  After finding out that Ed is skipping Oudoorman's Annual Bass Festival for Bonnie's fancy art gala, Mike attempts to convince his mother-in-law to have a change of heart.

"Young Sheldon" 8 p.m. CBS  The Cooper family must nurse the school librarian back to health after George Sr. hospitalizes her.

"The Unicorn" 8:31 p.m. CBS (first season finale)  As Grace prepares to attend her first dance, Wade strongly feels Jill's absence and leans on his friends to get through it.

"Deputy" 9 p.m. Fox — When Charlie and Joseph arrest a man on his way to a major drug deal, they end up bringing a bigger fight than expected back to the station.

"Grey's Anatomy" 9 p.m. ABC — A wealthy inventor arrives at Grey Sloan and asks Koracick for help, while Meredith struggles to save a woman with diabetes who has been rationing her insulin.

"Will & Grace" 9 p.m. NBC — Jack helps Karen sneak into the manse to retrieve her coveted ring, but they're shocked to find it on the hand of Stan's new girlfriend, Val.

"Project Runway" 9 p.m. Bravo (18th season finale) — The remaining designers rush to put the final touches on their collections, balancing advice from experts while trying to not lose their own point of view.

"Mom" 9:01 p.m. CBS (150th episode) — Christy, Bonnie and the ladies step in to help when Marjorie babysits her granddaughter for the first time.

"Carol's Second Act" 9:31 p.m. CBS (first season finale)  When Carol is selected to present a case to the entire hospital, her boyfriend Dr. Lewis asks her to reconsider.

"Tommy" 10 p.m. CBS — Mayor Buddy Gray puts added pressure on Tommy to quickly solve a high-profile kidnapping when a baby is taken from a prominent local businessman, capturing the attention of the citizens of L.A

"Law & Order: SVU" 10 p.m. NBC — The case of a teenage girl assaulted in the projects leads to a startling discovery. Benson puts her trust in someone from her past.

"A Million Little Things" 10:01 p.m. ABC — It's the first anniversary of Jon's death and everyone reflects on how much their lives have changed over the last year.

"Waka & Tammy" 10 p.m. WE-TV (new series) — Waka and Tammy are rocked by the challenges of married life; money, sex, family and fame.

FRIDAY

"Agatha Christie's The Pale Horse" 3:01 a.m. Amazon (new series) — When a murder investigation is launched into the death of a young woman, a mysterious list of names is discovered in her shoe, prompting an inquiry not only to find the killer but also to understand the list of names.

"100 Humans" 3:01 a.m. Netflix — One hundred hardy souls from diverse backgrounds participate in playful experiments exploring age, sex, happiness and other aspects of being human.

"MacGyver" 8 p.m. CBS —When Russ' first love, Emilia, is kidnapped by the same rebels he fought during his private military contract days, he takes the Phoenix team to a small, impoverished town to rescue her and rid the town of the rebels for good.

"Shark Tank" 8 p.m. ABC — A mother has spent a huge amount of money on her healthier beverage alternative for kids. An entrepreneur from Lakewood, New Jersey, believes he has the next AirBnB, while mothers from San Antonio, Texas, believe they have found the way to maintain peace and calm on.

"Hawaii Five-O" 9 p.m. CBS — While Five-0 investigates a scheme to rob tourists, Tani helps Girard Hirsh prove the innocence of his elderly uncle when he's suspected of murder.

"Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt For the Bone Collector " 9 p.m. NBC (first season finale) — Lincoln is forced to save his son, Camden, by putting himself at risk and confronting The Bone Collector in a deadly face off, mano a mano.

"Blue Bloods" 10 p.m. CBS —Frank and Garrett devise a plan to convince Mayor Chase to work better with others.

WEEKEND

"American Idol" 8 p.m. Sunday ABC — An audition takes place on a yacht, where the judges will deliberate on whether or not their "boat vote" will send a hopeful to Hollywood.

"God Friended Me" 8 p.m. Sunday CBS — When the God Account sends Miles the names of three employees of an old movie theater he and Ali used to go to as children, he makes it his mission to help the theater's owner, Mr. Johnson, raise the money to save the theater before it closes down.

"Outlander" 8 p.m. Sunday Starz —Claire and Jamie's colonial life in America is under threat, as they're pinned between their ties to the Crown and a rising undercurrent of unrest.

"Homeland" 9 p.m. Sunday Showtime — Upheaval in Washington brings an investigation to Kabul.

"Westworld" 9 p.m. Sunday HBO (third season debut) — If one is stuck in a loop, it's best to try walking in a straight line.

"The Walking Dead" 9 p.m. Sunday AMC — Alpha and the Whisperers attack Hilltop, with Negan's help.

"Zoe's Extraordinary Playlist" 9 p.m. Sunday NBC — Things get complicated for Zoey at Simon's engagement party. Maggie has a night out alone, but it doesn't go as planned.

"Good Girls" 10 p.m. Sunday NBC — Sick of working for Rio, the women take drastic measures to strong-arm Lucy.

"The Rookie" 10 p.m. Sunday ABC — Officers Nolan and Harper investigate a murder which may have national security implications, while Officer Bradford must confront his past when he crosses paths with a homeless veteran.

"Black Monday" 10 p.m. Sunday Showtime (second season debut) — After the fallout from Black Monday, Dawn and Blair pursue a new deal from different directions while Mo runs from his past.

"Avenue 5" 10 p.m. Sunday HBO (first season finale) — A search party commences for Matt, who's in hiding with a guilty conscience—and the airlock codes.