By RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com, originally filed Sunday, February 21, 2016
The Academy Awards Sunday is much anticipated mostly because Chris Rock is host during a year when all the major acting categories have zero minorities.
The favorites for best film are "Spotlight" and "The Revenant" with "The Big Short" given an outside chance. And really: can Leo DiCaprio possibly lose for best actor following what he went through in "The Revenant"?
James Franco, in the meantime, has entered the TV game (in a sense) with a Hulu time-travel series called "11.22.63" where his character tries to prevent the JFK assassination. This does not sound like "Back to the Future."
And the still popular "Big Bang Theory" hits the incredible 200th episode threshold this Thursday, a point only a handful of comedies have ever achieved.
This covers Monday, February 21 through Sunday, February 27, 2016.
MONDAY
"11.22.63" 3:01 a.m. Hulu (new series) — High school history teacher Jake Epping (James Franco) travels back in time to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
"The Bachelor" 8 p.m. ABC — Ben goes on hometown dates to meet the families of the final four ladies.
"Supergirl" 8 p.m. CBS — Supergirl battles the deadly Master Jailer, who is hunting and executing Fort Rozz escapees.
"Antiques Roadshow" 8 p.m. GPB — In Charleston, S.C., a Francis Sommer astronomical regulator clock; an 1899 Oscar Wilde manuscript poem; and a 1960 René Portocarrero "Catedral" oil painting.
"The X-Files" 8 p.m. Fox (10th season finale) — The season concludes with people all across the country falling gravely ill.
"Major Crimes" 9 p.m. TNT — A startling discovery is made in a church.
"The Biggest Loser" 9 p.m. NBC (17th season finale) — The winner of the $250,000 prize is crowned.
"Lucifer" 9 p.m. Fox — A shooting at a fashion show intrigues Lucipher.
"Scorpion" 9:01 p.m. CBS —Team Scorpion must stop an influx of drugs that are being smuggled into the country by drones.
"Recovery Road" 9 p.m. Freeform — Maddie chooses Cynthia as her sponsor.
"Better Call Saul" 10 p.m. AMC — Mike brokers a deal to keep a potentially messy situation from unraveling.
"Castle" 10:01 p.m. ABC — Castle gets abducted and must solve puzzles and mind games with a group of strangers.
TUESDAY
"NCIS" 8 p.m. CBS — Dr. Taft experiences the rush of an NCIS case when he is assigned surgical duty.
"Hollywood Game Night" 8 p.m. NBC — The celebrity players are Kesha; Mira Sorvino; Taye Diggs; Rachel Ray; Jaime Pressly; and Loretta Devine.
" Finding Your Roots" 8 p.m. GPB — Neil Patrick Harris, Gloria Steinem and Sandra Cisneros learn about their family histories.
" Fresh Off the Boat" 8 p.m. ABC — Louis and Jessica hire Billie Jean King to coach Emery.
" NCIS: New Orleans" 9 p.m. CBS — The team tracks stolen Navy TNT to a warehouse.
"Rizzoli & Isles " 9 p.m. TNT — A woman is murdered in a grisly scene reminiscent of a horror film.
"The Grinder " 9:30 p.m. Fox —Stewart believes there is a conspiracy against the firm and investigates.
"American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson " 10 p.m. FX — Jury selection begins and jury experts are sought by the prosecution and defense teams.
" Chicago Fire" 10 p.m. NBC —Casey reconsiders his run for alderman after he's targeted by a propaganda campaign.
"Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce" 10 p.m. Bravo (second season finale) — The ladies help Delia following Gordon's news.
WEDNESDAY
"American Idol" 8 p.m. Fox — Judges pick eight of the top 10. The other six fight for the final two slots with America voting for the first time this season.
"Criminal Minds " 9 p.m. CBS — Women are found dead inside their own homes throughout Los Angeles.
"Law & Order: SVU " 9 p.m. NBC — A famous actor is arrested for rape.
"Modern Family " 9 p.m. ABC — A powerful storm hits Los Angeles and causes widespread power outage.
"Duck Dynasty " 9:30 p.m. A&E — Willie and his brother compete against their wives in a "frogging" competition as a way of spending quality time together.
"American Crime " 10 p.m. ABC — Leslie's job is in jeopardy in the aftermath of the tragic loss of one of Leyland's own.
"Catfish " 10 p.m. MTV (fifth season debut) — A love triangle is unreeled.
"Code Black " 10 p.m. CBS (first season finale) — Mario confronts Angus about his prescription drug abuse.
"Suits " 10 p.m. USA — Louis considers Anita Gibbs' offer to turn on his compatriots.
"Younger " 10 p.m. TV Land — Josh is in a NY Times profile, which strains his relationship with Liza.
THURSDAY
"American Idol" 8 p.m. Fox — The top 10 is finalized.
"The Big Bang Theory " 8 p.m. CBS (200th episode) — Adam West guests.
"Grey's Anatomy " 8 p.m. ABC — The staff tend to Meredith and her trauma.
"You, Me and the Apocalypse" 8 p.m. NBC —Rhonda horrifies herself when she realizes she will do anything to maintain her freedom
"The Blacklist " 9 p.m. NBC — A State Department official is killed in Beijing.
"Scandal" 9 p.m. ABC — Cyrus designs a new master plan while Fitz is preoccupied.
"Top Chef" 9 p.m. Bravo — A showdown includes woks when the chefs visit San Francisco's Chinatown.
"Mom" 9:01 p.m. CBS — Christy, Jill and Wendy agree to help Bonnie smuggle an illegal substance into Canada.
"Colony" 10 p.m. USA — Will hunts the resistance, bringing him closer to learning his wife's secret.
"How To Get Away With Murder" 10 p.m. ABC — Philip remains a threat as long as his whereabouts are unknown.
"Elementary" 10 p.m. CBS — The identity of Sherlock's mother is revealed and his strained relationship with Morland reaches a breaking point.
"Shades of Blue" 10 p.m. NBC — Harlee decides to help Stahl once she realizes that there's no line Wozniak won't cross.
FRIDAY
"Fuller House" 3:01 a.m. Netflix — Virtually the entire case of "Full House" returns.
"Sleepy Hollow" 8 p.m. Fox — Jenny confronts her father.
"The Amazing Race" 8 p.m. CBS — The race continues in Cartagena, Colombia
"Last Man Standing" 8 p.m. ABC — Mike covets his deceased neighbor's miniature tank collection
"Shark Tank" 9 p.m. ABC — Products that are made in the U.S. are pitched to the Sharks.
" Second Chance" 9:01 p.m. Fox — Duval's sister Helen is dating Wally.
" Hawaii Five-O" 9 p.m. CBS — Sang Min, Five-0's sketchy longtime confidential informant, is accused of murder, so McGarrett asks his old friend Odell Martin to defend him.
" Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta" 9 p.m. TLC (ninth season finale) — Lori's son is getting married, but she has a hard time keeping her opinions to herself, so she asks Monte to help plan the perfect wedding.
" Blue Bloods " 10 p.m. CBS — Linda's coworker needs help dealing with her enraged ex.
WEEKEND
"Suicide Note" 8 tonight Lifetime — A college student allegedly commits suicide, but her roommate refuses to believe that her friend would kill herself and sets out to uncover the truth surrounding her mysterious death.
"88th Annual Academy Awards " 8:30 p.m. Sunday ABC — Chris Rock hosts.
"Hoarders " 9 p.m. Sunday A&E — Updates on some of the most memorable hoarders featured on the show.
"Vinyl" 9 p.m. Sunday HBO — Richie is embarrassed at a record producers banquet honoring his mentor, Maury Gold, when a rival ribs him about the Polygram snafu.
"The Walking Dead" 9 p.m. Sunday AMC — Secretive! The show as of Feb. 20 has released no info about this episode.
"Girls" 10 p.m. Sunday HBO — Fran moves in with Hannah when his roommate's behavior takes a turn for the worse.
" Cutthroat Kitchen" 10 p.m. Sunday Food — William Shatner is the guest judge.
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