TV best bets with Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Katherine Heigl, Britney Spears biopic, 'Humans'

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Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

This was posted on Sunday, February 12, 2017 by Rodney Ho on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog

Some big-name stars are on TV this week with HBO bringing film stars Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley and Nicole Kidman starring in a limited series called "Big Little Lies" on Sunday.

Katherine Heigl tries to revive her career period with CBS's "Doubt" Wednesday. The juicy premise: Heigl plyas Sadie Ellis, a defense attorney who starts to fall in love with her client accused of murdering his high school girlfriend 24 years ago. Laverne Cox ("Orange is the New Black") joins her.

And if you want to absorb the Britney Spears story in its most tawdry way, Lifetime offers an unauthorized biopic Saturday:

And for the few of you watching "The New Celebrity Apprentice," it's Boy George facing off against Matt Iseman Monday night. I'm sure Donald Trump will find more reasons to mock Arnold Schwarzenegger about this.

This covers Monday, February 13 through Sunday, February 19, 2017.

MONDAY

"The Bachelor" 8 p.m. ABC — All of Nick's relationships are called into question as the remaining women deal with Nick's admission that the process may not be working for him.

"24: Legacy" 8 p.m. Fox — Carter escapes from the precinct and tries arrange a meeting with Grimes to do the exchange.

"The New Celebrity Apprentice" 9 p.m. NBC (15th season finale) — Boy George vs. Matt Iseman, not two people most anyone imagined would be in position to win.

"The Young Pope" 9 p.m. HBO (first season finale) — Gutierrez returns to Rome a changed man after the Kurtwell investigation.

"APB" 9:01 p.m. Fox — A pharmacy robbery causes the injury of a child during Gideon's ride-along with Murphy.

"Eagles of Death Metal" 10:03  p.m. HBO — Members of the American rock band Eagles of Death Metal cope with horrific tragedy after a Parisian concert of theirs becomes the site of a mass shooting in November 2015.

"Timeless" 10 p.m. NBC — Flynn escalates his agenda by landing in 1931 Chicago to call in a favor from infamous gangster Al Capone.

"Humans" 10 p.m. AMC (second season debut) — Niska faces a critical decision, while Mia, Leo and Max remain in hiding.

"Quantico" 10 p.m. ABC — The recruits break into the NSA on a mission to delete their personal information.

"Scorpion" 10 p.m. CBS — Walter and Sylvester go undercover as competitors at an international-chess competition in order to extricate a U.S. spy from a foreign country before her identity is exposed.

TUESDAY

"The Middle" 8 p.m. ABC — Frankie and Mike's constant bickering in response to a burst pipe in the basement prompts the kids to organize a family intervention.

"NCIS" 8 p.m. CBS — When Abby's homeland security think tank is compromised, it's discovered that a theoretical terror playbook has been stolen and is being auctioned on the black market. The episode concludes on "NCIS: New Orleans" at 10.

"The Battle of the Ex-Besties" 9 p.m. Oyxgen (new series) — Former best friends pair up and must race to their new house to stay in the game in the series premiere of this reality-competition show about "frenemies" embarking on daunting challenges while confronting their past differences.

"Fresh Off the Boat" 9 p.m. ABC — Jessica is excluded from the Neighborhood Watch because of her not being a team player.

"This is Us" 9 p.m. NBC — Kevin stresses about the premiere of his play and receives support from an unexpected source.

"The Have and the Have Nots" 9 p.m. OWN — Jim gauges Veronica's loyalty to the group.

"Bones" 9:01 p.m. Fox — Booth delves into his past when dead bodies start turning up around Washington, D.C.

"Being Mary Jane" 10 p.m. BET — Mary Jane and PJ are homesick while Niecy's rash decision has some dire consequences.

"Chicago Fire" 10 p.m. NBC — Boden and House 51 face the heat after he makes a split-second decision at an accident scene that undercuts a superior.

WEDNESDAY

"Hunted" 8 p.m. CBS — One team consider risking the competition for a secret rendezvous with a loved one.

"Blindspot" 8 p.m. NBC — A secret society must be infiltrated by the team in order to solve a tattoo.

"Madiba" 8 p.m. BET (part three) — Mandela is finally released from prison, but his liberation does not come without cost as he is unable to reconcile his marriage.

"Navy SEALs: America's Secret Warriors" 8 p.m. History — A look at how the SEALs were instrumental in the battle of the War on Terror.

"Criminal Minds" 9 p.m. CBS — A BAU member gets in trouble in Mexico and the International Response Team is called in to help.

"Law & Order: SVU" 9 p.m. NBC — Top youth hockey players are investigated by the squad following a violent hazing incident in a locker room.

"Modern Family" 9 p.m. ABC — Phil eyes a property he's always had a desire to develop and wants Jay to be a coinvestor.

"Star" 9:01 p.m. Fox — At a neighborhood block party, Hunter surprises Star by inviting a superstar recording artist/producer to the event.

"City in the Sky" 10 p.m. GPB — How the "city in the sky" is kept functioning and safe between take-off and landing.

"Doubt" 10 p.m. CBS (new series) — A successful defense attorney (Katherine Heigl) begins falling for her client (Steven Pasquale), a charismatic surgeon who just might be guilty of committing a grisly murder in the series premiere of this drama.

"The Quad" 10 p.m. BET — After giving Jason an ultimatum, Eva gets an unexpected overture from Derek.

"Legion" 10 p.m. FX — David reflects on his past with the help of new friends.

"Six" 10 p.m. History — The team deals with a loss, while Rip faces with his new captor.

"Suits" 10 p.m. USA — Harvey and Mike walk a fine line when they partner on a class action.

THURSDAY

"Masterchef: Junior Edition" 8 p.m. Fox — The Top 20 chefs are revealed after the final 12 spots are filled following a series of challenges that involve steak, lobster and cupcakes.

"Grey's Anatomy" 8 p.m. ABC — Eliza's new phase of teaching begins and the residents look forward to it, but trouble arises when they wind up stuck in the middle of bickering attendings.

"Powerless" 8:30 p.m. NBC — The team loses a client due to Van's incompetence.

"Chicago Med " 9 p.m. NBC — A multi-vehicle accident during a blizzard puts the staffers in full scramble mode as they brace for an influx of victims.

"Nashville " 9 p.m. CMT — Rayna and Deacon take precautions as Hockney tests the limits of the restraining order.

"Top Chef " 9 p.m. Bravo — The finals kick off in Mexico with the chefs creating a meal using goat.

"Scandal" 9:01 p.m. ABC — Cyrus faces a big challenge, but that does not deter him from trying to prove he's not guilty.

"Mom " 9:01 p.m. CBS — A heartbroken Bonnie drives everyone crazy, so Christy begs Adam to take Bonnie back.

"The History of Comedy " 10 p.m. CNN— A look at women in comedy.

"The Blacklist" 10 p.m. NBC — The task force targets a sophisticated criminal who's been aiming at Red's businesses.

"How To Get Away With Murder" 10 p.m. ABC — A powerless Annalise vows to get revenge on Denver and Atwood.

"Colony" 10 p.m. USA — When the Resistance reaches out to Katie, Will chooses to help his wife bury her past.

"Training Day" 10 p.m. CBS — The rift between Kyle and Frank grows when Kyle refuses to adhere to one of Frank's morally ambiguous rules.

FRIDAY

"Rosewood" 8 p.m. Fox — Details about Villa's past are revealed during the search for a counterfeit currency big shot.

"Last Man Standing" 8 p.m. ABC  — Vanessa wants to make friends and starts a lending library in her neighborhood.

"MacGyver" 8 p.m. CBS  Bounty hunters kidnap a fugitive that Mac and Jack are trying to track down.

"Hawaii Five-O" 9 p.m. CBS — McGarrett and Five-0 once again become entangled in the twisted mind games of serial killer Dr. Madison Gray when she stumbles into HPD covered in blood that matches Alicia Brown's and claims she has amnesia.

"Shark Tank" 9 p.m. ABC— Two former Google employees from Boulder, Colo., have developed a subscription service that teaches kids how to code.

"Sleepy Hollow" 9 p.m. Fox — The return of Molly's father from duty just before her 11th birthday has Diana wondering if wants to be part of their daughter's life again.

"Blue Bloods" 10 p.m. CBS — Linda's brother asks for help from Danny after he lands in trouble with the mob.

"The Rap Game" 10 p.m. Lifetime — The kids receive feedback from a focus group, leaving one artist feeling overconfident and another humbled.

WEEKEND

"Britney Ever After" 8 p.m. Saturday Lifetime —The life story of pop sensation Britney Spears is dramatized, including her ascension to fame, relationship troubles, public breakdown and ultimate reemergence as a prominent entertainer in the music industry.

"The Zoo" 10 p.m. Saturday Animal Planet (new series) — A behind-the-scenes look at the Bronx Zoo.

"The Good Fight" 8 p.m. Sunday CBS (new series) — "The Good Wife" spin-off begins with a large financial scam destroying the reputation of a young lawyer and wiping out her mentor Diane Lockhart's savings.

"The Paley Center Salutes NBC's 90th Anniversary" 8 p.m. Sunday NBC — NBC's 90-year history is celebrated with special guests, including Ted Danson, Tina Fey, William S.hatner and Jennifer Lopez.

"The Real Houswives of Atlanta" 8 p.m. Sunday Bravo — The women return to Atlanta following the dramatic end to their glamping getaway.

"Mercy Street" 8 p.m. Sunday GPB — Lisette helps connect a disfigured, amnesiac soldier with his family.

"Victoria" 9 p.m. Sunday GPB — A pregnant Victoria chooses a regent in case she dies while giving birth.

"Big Little Lies" 9 p.m. Sunday HBO (new series) — Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley and Nicole Kidman star in this limited series about marriage, motherhood and murder.

"Homeland" 9 p.m. Sunday Showtime — Keane gets sidelined; Carrie's work follows her home.

"The Walking Dead" 9 p.m. Sunday AMC — On the search for a missing Alexandrian, Rick and his group encounter a mysterious collective, whose inhabitants are unlike any they have come across.

"Girls" 10 p.m. Sunday HBO (sixth and finale season debut) — Hannah goes on a road trip to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., with Marnie and Desi.

"Billions" 10 p.m. Sunday HBO (second season debut) — Chuck faces scrutiny within his office and from the Attorney General.

"Elementary" 10 p.m. Sunday CBS — Holmes and Watson investigate the murder of a former professional eSports video game player who died after being assaulted in front of his fans during a live video stream.

"The Royals" 10 p.m. Sunday E! (third season finale) — Holmes and Watson investigate the murder of a former professional eSports video game player who died after being assaulted in front of his fans during a live video stream.