‘Outlander’ returns for fourth season
Based on a wildly popular series of novels, “Outlander” (8 p.m. Sunday, Starz, TV-MA) returns for a fourth season. A period piece in every sense of the word, it stars Caitriona Balfe as Claire Fraser, a nurse who survived World War II only to be magically transported to 1743 Scotland.
Not to give too much away, but Claire and her 18th-century Highlander husband, Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), have since relocated to the backwoods of colonial North Carolina, where they have to deal with the arbitrary laws of the powers-that-be. It’s particularly tough on Claire, who is alone in knowing that the American Revolution is around the corner. And a tad tough for the viewer not otherwise besotted with the costumes, cheekbones, bodices and bodies. Or the mercurial laws of time travel.
› Until somebody starts the Dead Celebrity Network, Reelz will have to do. Anybody looking for a documentary about the death or murder or maybe even the autopsy of somebody famous can almost certainly find it there.
On Saturday, Reelz further defines itself with the new show “Murder in the Family” (9 p.m., TV-14), hosted by notorious tabloid journalist Geraldo Rivera. “Family” will profile those celebrities who have experienced the murder of a loved one. That’s a pretty specific group.
But it includes Dave Navarro, Jennifer Hudson, Dylan McDermott, Kelsey Grammer, Donatella Versace and Woody Harrelson — certainly enough to start, or even fill, a cable season. Not to be confused with that other Reelz series, “Murder Made Me Famous.”
› The new documentary series “Shut Up and Dribble” (9 p.m. Saturday, Showtime, TV-MA) examines the history of the NBA, its political and social impact, as well as the outspoken nature of players past and present.
The “Dribble” title was inspired by a dismissive taunt from
Laura Ingraham, the provocative Fox News Valkyrie who has become the face of the network as it has increasingly identified with fringe white-identity politics.
› Speaking of the passage of time, celebrities Josh Groban, NCT 127, Leslie Odom Jr., Meghan Trainor and Zac Brown Band gather to celebrate “Mickey’s 90th Spectacular” (8 p.m. Sunday, ABC, TV-PG), commemorating the 1928 Mickey Mouse cartoons that launched the Magic Kingdom and a media empire.
› Awards season is getting closer. Until then, we’ll have to settle for the 2018 MTV EMAs (7 p.m. Sunday, MTV, TV-14). Hailee Steinfeld hosts from Bilbao, Spain. These are the Europe Music Awards, after all.
Performers include Nicki Minaj, Halsey and Rosalia. Janet Jackson will be honored as this year’s Global Icon.
› Pierce Brosnan hosts the 7th Annual Breakthrough Prize (10 p.m. Sunday, National Geographic), lauding new advances in science and technology.
› HBO launches a partnership with “Axios” (6:30 p.m. Sunday, TV-14) for four weekly news-related programs, airing Sundays in November. Axios is a website for journalists that provides very concise newsletters covering business, technology, politics and media trends.
The HBO-Axios partnership already made news by breaking the story of the president’s plans to try and dispense with 14th Amendment protections for certain American citizens.
If Axios followed the philosophy of the website and its newsletters, it would probably be 15 minutes long. Tops.
Contact Kevin McDonough at kevin .tvguy@gmail.com.