By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Sunday, January 31, 2016
The most popular TV event of the year - the Super Bowl - celebrates its 50th year with former Atlantan Cam Newton helming the 17-1 Carolinas vs. the Denver Broncos, with an aging Peyton Manning going for his second Super Bowl title. More than 100 million will watch the CBS telecast on Sunday.
Another huge event (relatively speaking) is a 10-part miniseries about the O.J. Simpson murder case in the mid-1990s featuring a cavalcade of stars, including Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J., John Travolta as Robert Shapiro and David Schwimmer as Robert Kardashian. FX debuts the spectacle on Tuesday night.
ABC is offering up a two-night miniseries Wednesday and Thursday about Bernie Madoff, the disgraced financier played by Richard Dreyfuss. Madoff's Ponzi scheme was considered one of the biggest financial frauds in history.
"Madoff is universally despised, as well he should be," Dreyfuss tells NPR's Robert Siegel. But Dreyfuss believes there's a bit of Madoff in everyone: "All you have to do is find that part of you that has been despicable, and you can find it if you look hard enough," he says.
This covers Monday, February 1 through February 7, 2016.
MONDAY
"The Bachelor" 8 p.m. ABC — Ben and 11 bachelorettes travel to Mexico City.
"Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" 8 p.m. the CW — When Rebecca learns Josh is a volunteer at a camp for at-risk teens.
"Antiques Roadshow" 8 p.m. GPB — Little Rock features a 1983 Truman Capote Playboy manuscript; a jazz musician photograph archive, ca. 1945; and a Mississippian effigy figure, ca. A.D. 1000-1500.
"The X-Files" 8 p.m. Fox — Mulder and Scully investigate a dead body in the woods.
"Supergirl" 8:02 p.m. CBS — A twisted version of Supergirl, one who's the mirror image of the Kryptonian hero, sets out to destroy her National City counterpart.
"The Biggest Loser" 9 p.m. NBC — One contestant sends two others home for a week.
"Lucifer" 9 p.m. Fox — Chloe gets help from Lucifer on the investigation into the death of a movie star's son.
"The Magicians" 9 p.m. Syfy — Quentin and Julia have an unexpected, and somewhat volatile, reunion.
"Recovery Road" 9 p.m. Freeform — Maddie blows off her curfew to hang out with her friends who continue their hard-partying lifestyle and make fun of her sobriety.
"War & Peace" 9 p.m. A&E, History, Lifetime — Natasha has doubts about Andrei's love for her.
TUESDAY
"Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials 2016" 8 p.m. CBS — Boomer Esiason and Katharine McPhee countdown the top 50 commercials.
"Hollywood Game Night" 8 p.m. NBC — Al Michaels; Rich Eisen; Apolo Ohno; Tara Lipinski; Nate Burleson; and Maurice Jones Drew.
" Finding Your Roots" 8 p.m. GPB —Business mogul Richard Branson and architects Maya Lin and Frank Gehry about their ancestors.
"Fresh Off the Boat" 8 p.m. ABC — The Huangs' plan to celebrate Chinese New Year with family in Washington, D.C.
"The Muppets" 8:30 p.m. ABC — The "Up Late" crew returns from hiatus and everyone is rested and ready to get back to work.
" Chicago Med" 9 p.m. NBC — Dr. Manning returns from maternity leave and treats a teen with a history of medical issues.
"Marvel's Agent Carter " 9 p.m. ABC — Peggy and the SSR discover that beautiful Hollywood star Whitney Frost harbors a dangerous secret , and that she's more than just a pretty face.
"American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson " 10 p.m. FX (new series) — Investigators visit the home of O.J. Simpson following the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman
"Rattled " 10 p.m. TLC (new series)— Four couples who become first-time parents.
" Chicago Fire" 10 p.m. NBC —The team responds to a mass shooting.
WEDNESDAY
"Madoff" 8 p.m. ABC — The story of infamous financier Bernie Madoff, whose fraudulent activities led to a major fallout with his family and his eventual imprisonment after he committed a massive financial scam that resulted in the loss of billions of dollars for his clients around the world.
"American Idol " 8 p.m. Fox — Third round of Hollywood Week.
"Mike & Molly " 8:31 p.m. CBS — Joyce reveals she's leaving her house to Victoria in her will, which leaves Molly in shock.
"Duck Dynasty " 9 p.m. A&E — The team surprise two veterans with a trip to Monroe and stage a "color run" to raise awareness for wounded soldiers.
"Law & Order: SVU " 9 p.m. NBC — An early-morning rubber duck hunt determines what ingredients the teams use in the next challenge
"Hell's Kitchen " 9:01 p.m. Fox — An early-morning rubber duck hunt determines what ingredients the teams use in the next challenge
"American Crime " 10 p.m. ABC — Taylor talks to the police about his actions on the night he was allegedly assaulted.
"Suits " 10 p.m. USA — Mike and Louis need to ID an anonymous tipster in order to diffuse a damning piece of evidence.
"Younger " 10 p.m. TV Land — Josh and Liza go to dinner and Josh learns more about her.
THURSDAY
"American Idol" 8 p.m. Fox — The top 24 are named.
"Madoff " 8 p.m. ABC (part two of miniseries) — Bernie Madoff falls.
"You, Me and the Apocalypse" 8 p.m. NBC — Scotty proposes a plan to save the world.
"The Big Bang Theory " 8:01 p.m. CBS — Sheldon's grandmother, aka Meemaw, visits and there's friction between her and Amy.
"The Blacklist " 9 p.m. NBC — Red and Liz attempt to stop a negotiator who's trying to unite two rival crime families.
"Top Chef" 9 p.m. Bravo — Restaurant wars time!
"Mom " 9:02 p.m. CBS — Bonnie happens upon her former girlfriend (Rosie O'Donnell) when she drags Christy to a new AA meeting.
"Colony" 10 p.m. USA — Will earns the respect of his new colleagues.
"Baskets" 10 p.m. FX — One of Martha's best friends is murdered and Chip comes to her aid.
"Elementary" 10 p.m. CBS — Holmes and Watson search for a killer without any physical evidence to help them after a bomb explodes in the New York City morgue.
"Shades of Blue" 10 p.m. NBC — Harlee and Tess intercept a heroin shipment from a local drug kingpin.
FRIDAY
"Last Man Standing" 8 p.m. ABC — Mike persuades Kristin and Ryan to become homeowners.
"Sleepy Hollow" 8 p.m. Fox — Abbie's disappearance leads Ichabod to form an unlikely alliance to save her, while Jenny faces an old adversary.
"47th Annual NAACP Image Awards" 8 p.m. TV One — Anthony Anderson hosts.
"Undercover Boss" 8 p.m. CBS — The CEO of 4 Wheel Parts, which supplies truck tires, goes undercover.
"The Vampire Diaries" 8 p.m. the CW — Stefan tries to help Damon regain his grip on reality, while secretly struggling with his own experience in the Phoenix stone.
" Second Chance" 9 p.m. Fox — A series of murders involving young prodigies may be linked to an unsolved case and forces
" Super Bowl's Greatest Halftime Shows" 9 p.m. CBS — It's doubtful they'll be highlighting a certain Janet Jackson appearance.
"Shark Tank" 9 p.m. ABC — Veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs try to drum up support.
" Guy & Hunter's European Vacation: Greece" 10 p.m. Food (new series) — Guy Fieri and his son Hunter embark on a food vacation that takes them to 13 different cities in seven European countries. Yes, Anthony Bourdain, Guy keeps getting work!
" Here We Go Again" 10 p.m. TV One (sneak preview) — This half-hour comedy set in Atlanta showcases the tragedies and triumphs of four very different women and the men who love them. Official debut: February 9.
WEEKEND
"Manson's Lost Girls" 8 tonight Lifetime — The true story of Linda Kasabian and the other women who were members of Charles Manson's cult.
"Saturday Night Live" 11:29 tonight NBC — Former 'SNL' writer and 'Seinfeld' creator Larry David hosts.
"Kitten Bowl " noon Sunday Hallmark — Beth Stern hosts.
"Puppy Bowl " 3 p.m. Sunday Animal Planet — Watch for Gordon, an English setter picked by the Atlanta Humane Society.
"Super Bowl 50 " 8 p.m. Sunday CBS — A compelling matchup between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers, with Coldplay at halftime.
"Downton Abbey" 9 p.m. Sunday GPB — The battle over the hospital reaches a climax.
" Shameless" 9 p.m. Sunday Showtime — Frank helps Erica through the cancer concierge process.
" Late Show With Stephen Colbert" 10 p.m. Sunday CBS — A special post-Super Bowl episode.
"Mercy Street" 10 p.m. Sunday GPB — The Green girls and Frank devise a plan to help Tom escape.
"Billions" 10 p.m. Sunday Showtime — Axe deals with a betrayal; Chuck learns the inner workings of Axe Capital.
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