TUESDAY’S BEST PICKS
7 PM ( ESPN) 2020 Heisman Trophy Presentation Like a lot of recent sporting events, the crowning of the nation’s top college player this year will look different. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony will be held virtually so look for favorites like Alabama’s Mac Jones, Ohio State’s Justin Fields, Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Florida’s Kyle Trask -quarterbacks all — to appear via satellite. 8 PM ^ Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Educator Henry Louis
Gates Jr. continues his quest to “get into the DNA of American culture,” with new episodes of this hit genealogy series, in which he reveals ancestral history to celebrity guests, then shares their emotional experience with viewers. In the new episode “Breaking the Silences,” Gates welcomes CBS News journalist Gayle King, Oscar-winning screenwriter and director Jordan Peele and actress and comic Issa Rae (HBO’s “Insecure”).
8 PM & Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist In the aftermath of the first season’s tearjerker finale, which saw the death of beloved family patriarch Mitch Clarke (Peter Gallagher), Season 2 opens with his daughter, Zoey (Jane Levy), returning to work after an extended bereavement period and discovering a shifting dynamic in both her work and romantic life. For starters, former rivals Max and Simon (Skylar Astin, John Clarence Stewart) are now buddies, although both are still smitten with Zoey. They’re also both tight with Zoey’s neighbor and confidante, Mo (Alex Newell).
8 PM _ Gordon Ramsay’s American Road Trip If you wonder whether chef Gordon Ramsay is a 24/7 Grumpy Gus, as suggested by some of his reality shows, check out this new two-hour special that follows Ramsay as he embarks on a road trip with two of his best friends, chef Gino D’Acampo and restaurant staff manager Fred Sirieix. The trio takes in the sights of the western United States from their RV, exploring hidden culinary gems in Arizona, California, Nevada and other locales. It’s a bromantic side of Ramsay most fans have never seen. 8PM* MOVIE The Lion King Jon Favreau directed this 2019 “photorealistic computer-animated remake” of the 1994 animated blockbuster that chronicles the coming of age of Simba (now voiced by Donald Glover), a lion cub whose royal father (voice of James Earl Jones) has been murdered by Simba’s villainous uncle (voice of Chiwetel Ejiofor). The voice cast also includes Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Alfre Woodard, Beyoncé and John Oliver. Tonight’s ABC airing marks the first of three broadcast premieres of iconic Disney titles airing on successive Tuesday nights.
8 PM ( MAX) MOVIE Lucy in the Sky Noah Hawley (TV’s “Fargo”) co-wrote and made his feature directorial debut with this 2019 drama based somewhat loosely on a real-life tabloid scandal involving astronaut Lisa Nowak’s criminal activities around a messy romantic triangle with a male fellow astronaut. Natalie Portman heads the cast as Lucy Cola, an astronaut whose space journey leaves her feeling unmoored from her mundane life on Earth. Jon Hamm stars as the colleague with whom Lucy drifts into an affair; Dan Stevens plays her underappreciated spouse. Zazie Beetz and Ellen Burstyn co-star.
9 PM ^ PBS American Portrait This four-part docuseries draws from more than 11,000 personal stories submitted by people across America that is part of this crowd-funded storytelling project exploring what it means to be an American today. Tonight’s premiere, “I Dream,” features selfshot stories that explore the state of the American Dream, which for many involves home ownership, career success and more education. All of them underscore both the opportunities and obstacles that come with pursuing this ideal.
9 PM & This Is Us Kate (Chrissy Metz) confronts her painful past, while Randall’s (Sterling K. Brown) brush with viral fame leads him to a wholly unexpected discovery in the new episode “A Long Road Home.” Meanwhile, Kevin (Justin Hartley) ponders the question of which future path would be the best one for him to take. Mandy Moore also stars.
9 PM ( BRV) The Real Housewives of Dallas New housewife and physician Tiffany Moon joins the cast for Season 5 of this reality series, alongside returning Brandi Redmond, D’Andra Simmons, Kameron
Westcott, Kary Brittingham and Stephanie Hollman. Among this season’s story lines, Stephanie launches her own foundation, drawing motivation from her husband’s skepticism that she won’t follow through with the venture. D’Andra, meanwhile, enlists the services of a Shaman as she resolves to be more sensitive to others, which includes reconnecting with an estranged side of her family.