Netflix streams ‘Seven Seconds’
Fans of complex, gritty realism have some bingeing ahead of them. “Seven Seconds” (TV-MA) premieres on Netflix, created by Veena Sud (who also is behind AMC’s adaptation of “The Killing”). As in that series, the sun rarely shines on “Seven Seconds,” shot in some of the more unglamorous sections of Jersey City, set against the taunting affluence of the Manhattan skyline.
While racing to the hospital bedside of his pregnant wife, distracted white police officer Peter Jablonski (Beau Knapp) hits a young black bicyclist. Against Jablonski’s better instincts, his superior officer, Mike Diangelo (David Lyons), decides to cover up the incident and urges the distraught driver to go see his wife in the hospital.
Much to the officers’ surprise, the boy survives but suffers severe brain injuries after being left untreated for so long. Over the course of 10 episodes, the truth emerges, exposing the kinds of police corruption, indifference and institutional racism that Diangelo’s cover-up was supposed to hide.
Regina King and Russell Hornsby star as the injured boy’s parents, Latrice and Isaiah. British actress ClareHope Ashitey (“Doctor Foster”) has the most pivotal role of all as flunky prosecutor K.J. Harper, who’s driven to alcoholism by the drudgery and paperwork of her job. At first, Diangelo and his cohorts try to use her to prosecute a homeless man for the crime. But even she can smell something fishy. And that leads to a sobering awakening.
Viewers may recall Regina King from the highly praised but little watched ABC series “American Crime.” That drama, like “Seven Seconds,” did not lend itself to weekly installments. All three seasons of “American Crime” can be streamed on Netflix, as well as four seasons of the American version of “The Killing.”
GLOBAL CUISINE
Seen recently as a culinary ambassador for NBC Sports during its Olympic coverage, chef David Chang hosts the eight-episode Netflix series “Ugly Delicious” (TV-MA), visiting with chefs, artists, writers and food activists all over the globe.
‘TICK’ STREAMS
In other streaming news, the live-action comic-book parody “The Tick” begins the second half of its first season on Amazon Prime.
AARP MOVIE AWARDS
Alan Cumming hosts the 17th Annual Movies for Grownups Awards (9 p.m., PBS). Produced by AARP Magazine, the ceremonies feature appearances by Helen Mirren, Gary Oldman, Annette Bening, Alfre Woodard, Blythe Danner, Saoirse Ronan and many more.
Cumming will perform musical parodies of “Get Out,” “Lady Bird,” “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” “The Shape of Water” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”
This marks the first year the awards have been broadcast on television. They can also be streamed at pbs.org/gperf and on PBS apps.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
› Coverage of the 2018 Winter Olympics (8 p.m., NBC) includes alpine skiing, snowboarding, bobsled and speed skating. NBCSN coverage (8 p.m.) includes men’s biathlon and women’s curling.
› Steve Harvey hosts “Showtime at the Apollo” (8 p.m., Fox, repeat, TV-14).
› An arcade game character (John C. Reilly) deviates from the script in the 2012 animated comedy “Wreck-It Ralph” (8 p.m. ABC, TV-PG).
› Comics perform on “The 3rd Annual Howie Mandel Stand-Up Gala” (8 p.m., CW, repeat, TV-14).
› Joan Fontaine won a Best Actress Oscar for “Suspicion” (8 p.m., TCM), the only Academy Award ever bestowed on a performance in a film directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
› Erin and her ex battle in court on “Blue Bloods” (10 p.m., CBS, repeat, TV-14).
› Saoirse Ronan, Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Rob Beckett and Keala Settle appear on “The Graham Norton Show” (10 p.m., BBC America, TV-14).
› A comic and former inmate performs at a Texas penitentiary in the standup special “Ali Siddiq: It’s Bigger Than These Bars” (11 p.m., Comedy Central, TV-MA).
› “Big Brother: Celebrity Edition” (8 p.m., CBS).
› Malcolm Goodwin appears on “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” (9:30 p.m., CW, repeat, TV-PG).
› “20/20” (10 p.m., ABC).