TMZ cashes in on Depp vs. Heard

Distractions come in many shapes and sizes, and it’s difficult to predict what people will find to divert their attention from school shootings, rising prices, the threat of nuclear war and the sense that a former president tried to stage a violent coup d’etat and was foiled only by his own delusions and the scatterbrained antics of his Keystone Kop confederates like Rudy and that “My Pillow” guy. To escape, our nation turned its lonely eyes to the sight of two famous, attractive people hashing out their trashy private lives in a public legal spectacle.

We’re talking about the recently concluded defamation suit lodged by Johnny Depp (“Pirates of the Caribbean”) against his former wife, actress Amber Heard. Perhaps not since the O.J. trial has a celebrity scandal been so hotly debated. It launched commentary from the lowest depths of social media to the op-ed pages of respected organs of the press. Some contended that Heard had ended the era of #MeToo with charges that destroyed a career without foundation. Others felt that the groundswell of animus against Heard amounted to an orgy of misogyny.

Between these opposite camps, a third party emerged, a group of people who claimed to be “above” following the case at all. I think of them as a variation on the old crowd that used to say, “I don’t watch television” or “I only watch public television.”

A recap of the events, the charges, the controversy and the costume changes emerges on “TMZ Presents Johnny Vs. Amber: From Love to Hate” (9 p.m., Fox).

› Netflix launches “That’s My Time with David Letterman.” In this series, the former talk show host showcases new standup talent, inviting them to perform a set and then sit down for a conversation.

“Time” continues the tradition of talk show hosts acting as talent scouts and popularizers of emerging acts. For years, Johnny Carson’s couch was the most sought-after venue for comedians — the standup equivalent of a papal blessing.

The streaming element of “Talk” offers a kind of curated showcase, where, one presumes, every act will be good, or at least praised. Among the amusing aspects of a five-nighta-week showcase is the possibility that some acts may bomb.

› or some talent may irk Letterman to the point that he unleashes his inner crankiness. It’s the possibility of failure or disaster that makes success that much sweeter.

› After an impressive career as a lawyer and champion of the underdog, a woman (Simone Missick) must adopt an impartial stance as Judge Lola Carmichael in the legal series “All Rise” (8 p.m., OWN, TV-14). Canceled after two seasons on CBS, “Rise” was picked up by Oprah Winfrey’s network.

› At a family gathering observing the 10th anniversary of his father’s death, a young man learns more about his crime boss uncle than he should in the 2021 thriller “The Birthday Cake” (7:20 StarzEncore). First-time director Jimmy Giannopoulos assembled an impressive cast, including Ewan McGregor, Val Kilmer and Lorraine Bracco, but the film received generally dismal reviews.